Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent

Arrival in Tashkent. Our driver will meet you and take you to the hotel. Check-in after 14:00.

You'll enjoy a guided tour of Tashkent – the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. The tour includes the Old City, where you'll visit the religious center of Tashkent – the Khast Imam Complex. Here is the famous Quran of Caliph Uthman (7th century). In Khast Imam, you'll explore Barak Khan Madrasah, Tillya Sheikh Mosque, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, and the Imam al-Bukhari Islamic Institute.

After the Old City, you will ride the Tashkent metro to the city center. Exiting at "Kosmonavtlar" station, you'll visit the Museum of Applied Arts, then walk past the Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square. A lunch stop is planned at the Plov Center (open 12:00–13:00).

Tour duration: 5–6 hours

Day 2: Tashkent → Samarkand (Afrosiyob Train)

07:00 – Transfer to the train station. High-speed Afrosiyob train departs at 08:00 and arrives in Samarkand at 10:10 (300 km). Your guide and driver will meet you at the station.

The tour begins with a visit to Ulugh Beg Observatory (15th-century sextant remains), followed by Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Walking through a souvenir-lined alley, you'll arrive at the famous Registan Square – the historic heart of Samarkand. You'll also explore the colorful Siab Bazaar – the city’s largest and oldest market. Here, you can taste freshly cooked local dishes like plov, shashlik, lagman, shurpa, and samsa.

The final stop is the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum – the resting place of Timur and his descendants. Afterwards, enjoy a wine tasting at the Khovrenko Winery.

Tour duration: 6–7 hours

Day 3: Samarkand – Plov Workshop & Konigil Village

Morning transfer to a national guesthouse for a **plov cooking class**. After lunch, continue sightseeing:

- Visit the Afrasiab Museum

- Visit the Tomb of Saint Daniel

- Drive to **Konigil village** to see how traditional Samarkand paper is made from mulberry using ancient methods

Free time in the afternoon.

**Tour duration:** 3–4 hours

Day 4: Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara

08:50 – Transfer to the train station for the 09:50 train to Bukhara. Arrival at 11:20. Transfer to **Gijduvan** (48 km, ~1 hr).

Visit the Gijduvan Ceramic Center owned by renowned master Alisher Narzullaev. Activities include:

- Ceramic painting workshop and demonstration

- Museum of ceramics (works of five generations)

- Gallery of modern ceramics

- Optional cooking class to prepare a traditional dish and bake Gijduvan bread

Return to Bukhara in the afternoon and hotel check-in. Afternoon walking tour of Old Bukhara (UNESCO World Heritage Site):

- Kalyan Minaret & Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasah

- Magoki-Attori Mosque, Ulugh Beg and Abdulaziz Khan Madrasahs

- Trade domes, Lyabi-Hauz Complex, Chor-Minor Madrasah

**Tour duration:** 3–4 hours

Day 5: Bukhara – Sitorai Mokhi Khosa & Cooking Class

Begin with visits to:

- Ark Fortress

- Bolo-Hauz Mosque

- Samanid Mausoleum

- Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum

Then head outside the city to **Sitorai Mokhi Khosa**, the summer palace of the last Emir of Bukhara – a blend of Eastern and Russian architecture. Continue to the **Bahouddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum**.

In the late afternoon, join a **cooking class** to prepare **shurpa** (meat and vegetable soup) or **mampura** (soup with diced meat, vegetables, and noodles). Dinner and overnight in Bukhara.

**Tour duration:** 5–6 hours

Day 6: Bukhara → Vabkent (Ethno Experience)

At 10:00, transfer to **Shirin Ethno-House** in Vabkent (30 km from Bukhara). Today’s highlights:

- Cook **Nohat Shurak** (chickpea soup with meat) and **samsa** (savory pastries)

- Spend time with a local family: help prepare apricot pits, learn about cotton harvesting

Return to Bukhara in the evening. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Bukhara → Khiva (Desert Road)

09:00 – Departure from Bukhara to Khiva (480 km, 7–8 hrs)

The modern highway crosses the **Kyzylkum Desert**, following part of the ancient Silk Road. Stop en route to admire desert and **Amu Darya River** views.

Arrival in Khiva by evening. Hotel check-in and rest.

*Note: Food options along the route are limited. Consider preparing a packed lunch in advance.*

Day 8: Khiva – UNESCO Ichan-Kala & Cooking Class

09:00 – Guided walking tour of **Ichan-Kala** Fortress (UNESCO):

- Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasah

- Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque

- Tash-Hovli Palace, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum

- Islam Khodja Minaret (tallest in Uzbekistan)

After the tour, take a cooking class in the **Restaurant Zaravshan ** to prepare **Tukhum Barak** – Khiva’s famous egg dumplings. Dinner and overnight in Khiva.

**Tour duration:** ~5 hours

Day 9: Khiva → Tashkent (Flight + Chorsu Bazaar)

Morning transfer to **Urgench Airport** (30 km, 35 min) for the flight to Tashkent (1.5 hrs). Upon arrival, transfer to **Chorsu Bazaar** – one of the oldest and liveliest markets in Tashkent.

Enjoy the sights and smells of fresh fruits, spices, breads, dried fruits, and more. Nearby teahouses (“food street”) offer traditional Uzbek dishes. Lunch tasting of a national dish. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Tashkent.

Day 10: Departure

Check-out by 12:00. Free time until your transfer to the international airport.

**End of the gastronomic tour in Uzbekistan.**