Navruz is the blooming of spring in the Oasis! It is also a symbol of youth and eternity; but above all, for the Uzbek people, it is spring! The customs and rituals of Navruz have not disappeared. Fifteen days before the New Year, women perform a thorough cleaning and decorate their homes. They prepare new dresses, pastries, and wheat seeds, which they will sprout as a sign of renewal, as well as cook sumalak.

In UZBEKISTAN, Navruz is celebrated on March 21. This holiday has Persian origins and has been celebrated for 2,500 years in honor of the spring equinox. This tradition, born from Zoroastrianism, announces the arrival of spring and the renewal of the earth, which “awakens” to life. During this period, numerous festivals take place across the country. Races, Buzkashi, cockfights, Kuraş wrestling, and other traditional entertainments follow one another. The festivities begin with the sowing ritual, where abundant food offerings are made. Sumalak – a traditional dish that must be prepared by women. It is cooked slowly over 24 hours and consists of flour, sugar, butter, and spices mixed with barely sprouted crushed wheat grains, symbols of abundance and life. Music and songs are also at the heart of the celebrations, with ancient instruments. Musical gatherings are organized in the best traditions for two unforgettable days of festivities.

Day 1 (Tuesday) 18.03.25 EUROPE – TASHKENT. Night flight.

Services offered by CIE Aerienne on board.

Day 2 (Wednesday) 19.03.25 TASHKENT

Arrival in Tashkent around 7:00 AM. After customs formalities, you will be met by a French-speaking guide. Transfer to the hotel for refreshment and breakfast.

Tashkent City Tour: Tashkent’s architecture features a national character, where ultramodern buildings harmoniously coexist with medieval structures. The city has many parks and gardens, rich in greenery.

• Hazrat Imam Complex – the largest religious center in Tashkent, including the Barak Khan Mausoleum, the Telyashaykh Mosque, and the Abu Bakr Muhammad Kafal Shashi Medrese.

• Chorsu Bazaar.

• Independence Square – one of the largest squares in Central Asia.

• Amir Timur Square – the central point of the new city, founded in the second half of the 19th century and intended for military parades.

• Alisher Navoi Theater Square.

• Free meal provided.

Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Day 3 (Thursday) 20.03.25 SAMARKAND

Breakfast.

Transfer to the train station. Departure to Samarkand by the “Afrosiyob” train at 07:30/09:40 or 08:30/10:56.

Arrival and check-in.

Samarkand, founded over 5,000 years ago, has a culture influenced by a mix of India, Iran, Mongolia, and even the West. This majestic city has been called the “Rome of the East” and “the pearl of the Eastern Muslim world” by historians and poets. Its location on the Silk Road led to its prosperity as one of the world’s greatest capitals from the 14th to the 16th centuries.

Full-day excursion:

• Shahi Zinda Necropolis.

• Afrosiyab Museum.

• Ulugh Beg Observatory.

• Lunch at Karimbek Restaurant.

• Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

• Registan Square.

• Dinner in the city. Night at the hotel.

Day 4 (Friday) 21.03.25 SAMARKAND

Breakfast.

Celebration Day!

Experience all the grandeur of the festival, the costumes, vibrant colors, smiles, and joy of Navruz in Samarkand. Navruz – “new day” – symbolizes new life, new hope, and the awakening of nature after a long winter sleep:

• Visit festive bazaars.

• Tasting traditional dishes. Navruz is a truly important holiday. The whole city gathers in parks and central streets to celebrate and try traditional dishes, dance, and sing. Among the customs of Navruz in Uzbekistan is sumalak, a dish made from wheat sprouts and flour, prepared by women while singing. The sprouted grains symbolize life, warmth, abundance, and health.

Continue the Samarkand city tour:

• Bibi-Khanym Mosque – a monumental architecture, also built by Timur after his campaign in India to demonstrate his power.

• Siab Bazaar – the traditional market of Samarkand.

• Dinner with locals. Night at the hotel.

Note: It is possible that Kukpari horse games may take place near Samarkand during this period. We will attend them if they occur, but the exact date and location are known only 2-3 days in advance, so it’s hard to include it in the program. However, there is a high probability of seeing this game in the region during this time.

Day 5 (Saturday) 22.03.25 SAMARKAND-URGUT-SAMARKAND

Breakfast.

Today we offer an original excursion to Urgut. Located at the foot of the Zeravshan Range, 40 km from Samarkand, at about 1,000 meters above sea level, the ancient city of Urgut is a fascinating center for handicrafts and traditional trade. Many monuments remain in Urgut and its surroundings, a land of picturesque mountains.

Upon arrival in Urgut, we visit the unique grove of ancient trees – Chor Chinor – which means “Four Plane Trees”. Many of the trees are over a thousand years old. On the other side of the park is a pond with sacred spring water. Urgut is also known for its markets and artisans. Here you can buy interesting souvenirs and handmade crafts.

Return to Samarkand. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Night at the hotel.

Day 6 (Sunday) 23.03.25 SAMARKAND-BUKHARA BY TRAIN

Breakfast.

Departure to Bukhara by the “Afrosiyob” train at 09:56/11:23. Transfer to the hotel.

Bukhara is a sanctuary in Central Asia, and its millennia-old history is closely tied to the history of the Silk Road. The old city developed over centuries, leaving traces that are still visible today.

City tour:

• Samanid Mausoleum.

• Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum (12th-14th centuries).

• Bolo-Hauz Mosque.

• Ark Fortress.

• Poi Kalon Square.

• Tim Abdulla Khan Market.

• Lyabi Hauz Complex.

• Kukeldash Medrese.

• Nadir Divan Begi Medrese.

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Day 7 (Monday) 24.03.25 BUKHARA Continued Visits

Breakfast.

Morning excursion: Visit the great pilgrimage site of Bahauddin Naqshbandi, where numerous Uzbek pilgrims come from across the country to pay respects at the tomb of the Sufi saint.

• Sitorai Mohi Khossa Summer Palace.

• Chor Minor Medrese, original in architectural style.

• Visit Maison de Souzani, the embroidery workshop of Rahmon Toshayev.

• Free lunch during visits.

• Free afternoon walk.

Night at the hotel.

Day 8 (Tuesday) 25.03.25 BUKHARA-KHIVA 480 km

Breakfast.

Journey to Khiva, passing along the banks of the Amu Darya River, through the Kyzylkum Desert, and reaching cotton plains reclaimed from the desert with irrigation waters from the Aral Sea.

Panoramic view of the Amu Darya River. Free lunch on the way.

Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Free dinner.

Day 9 (Wednesday) 26.03.25 KHIVA

Breakfast.

Khiva, a typical caravan city, is unique in its city layout and is considered one of the finest examples of traditional city planning in Central Asia. The city was originally built with a rectangular plan based on ancient fortresses.

City tour:

• Ark Fortress.

• Feroz Medrese.

• Kalta Minor Minaret.

• Sayid Aluviddin Mausoleum.

• Juma Mosque.

• Alla-Kuli Khan Caravanserai.

• Tosh Hovli Palace.

• Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum.

• Visit the Islam Khoja Minaret and Medrese.

• Khiva Photography Museum.

• Traditional folk show with dinner at a restaurant.

Night at the hotel.

Day 10 (Thursday) 27.03.25 KHIVA-URGENCH AIRPORT-EUROPE

Breakfast.

Transfer to Urgench Airport according to your international flight schedule. Departure to Europe via Istanbul.

End of our services.