DAY

1

TASHKENT – SAMARKAND – TASHKENT

Transfer to railway station, departure to Samarkand by high-speed train “Afrosiab” at 08.00 a.m. Arrival at 10.10 a.m. 

Sightseeing tour: 

Gur-Emir Mausoleum (tomb of Amir Temur)
Gur-Emir is Persian for "Tomb of the King". This architectural complex with its azure dome contains the tombs of Tamerlane, his sons Shokhrukh and Miran Shah and grandsons Ulugbek and Muhammad Sultan. Also honoured with a place in the tomb is Timur's teacher Sayyid Baraka.The earliest part of the complex was built at the end of the 14th century by the orders of Muhammad Sultan.

The main square - Registan
The Registan is the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand. The name Registan means "Sandy place" or "desert" in Persian. Registan Square with three madrasahs of Ulugbek, Sherdor and Tillya-Kori situated on it.

Shakhi Zinda necropolis - unique architectural monuments
The genesis of the Shahi-Zinda necropolis on the slope of Afrasiab hill is connected with Kusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. We know that he took part in the first Arab campaigns to Maverannahr. According to legend, Kusam was mortally wounded on the walls of Samarkand and escaped underground, where he continues to live, hence the name of the necropolis, Shahi-Zinda - "living king".

Observatory of Ulugbek
The largest observatory in Central Asia was built in the 1420's by Ulugbeg. Here, for three decades, scholars, including the outstanding astronomers Qazi-Zadeh Rumi, Djemsnid Giyas ad-Din Kashi and Ali Kushchi, performed measurements of celestial movements.

Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Bibi-Khanym Mosque - The cathedral mosque was given one of the greatest portals of that era.The majestic blue domes of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque are the unusual sight. Its arch was flanked with powerful pylons, with minarets up to 50m in height.

Siab bazaar – oriental market.

Centre of oriental sweets.

Transfer to railway station, departure to Tashkent by high-speed train “Afrosiab” at 05.00 p.m. Arrival at 07.10 p.m.