One Thousand and One Nights
Duration: 13 days/12 nights | Destination: Uzbekistan
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an oriental tale with Roksi Sam Travel. Discover the secrets of ancient Uzbekistan, its magic, and culture!
Blue and ochre cities emerging from the desert, praised by Omar Khayyam, a symphony of madrasahs adorned with turquoise and azure ceramics—let yourself be drawn into the magic of this place. The grandeur of these architectural marvels reflects a cultural and scientific peak, most notably represented by Avicenna. At the time, the Western world was still in its infancy. Twenty years after the end of the Soviet era, Uzbekistan is returning to its roots, and you will discover a heritage that is increasingly being revived. You will also appreciate the beauty of the stark and untouched nature and find, in its authenticity, the spirit of nomads—the heirs of the Steppe Empire.
Day 1: EUROPE – TASHKENT (Fri, Mon, Wed)
Evening departure from Europe by regular flight. Overnight flight.
Day 2: TASHKENT B (Sat, Tue, Thu)
Morning arrival. Meet your Uzbek guide and transfer to the hotel.
Discover the capital of Uzbekistan, a key point at the crossroads of the “Silk Road” and the “Golden Road” coming from Siberia. The capital has preserved its exotic charm through open-air markets and parks with oasis-style vegetation.
Visit the Museum of Applied Arts, located in the luxurious residence of Prince Polovtsev, decorated in 1907 in Uzbek style and housing a rich collection of traditional crafts: carved wood and metal, fabrics, dyed wood, embroidery, ceramics, silver jewelry. Explore the ancient city: the Khast Imam ensemble, the colorful Chorsu Bazaar, and the unique metro system of Central Asia.
Day 3: TASHKENT – URGENCH – KHIVA B (Sun, Wed, Fri)
Morning flight to Urgench, then transfer to Khiva. Check-in at the hotel.
Khiva is the most isolated oasis of the ancient Silk Road, preserved in its original state. Visit this city, which welcomed famous scholars like Al-Khwarizmi, the father of logarithms, and Avicenna, the great physician and philosopher born over a thousand years ago near Bukhara. Amid its winding streets, you’ll discover mosques, madrasahs, mausoleums, and caravanserais: the truncated Kalta Minor minaret rises skyward with its blue ceramic mosaic. The Juma Mosque has 218 carved wooden columns, some centuries old. The Tash Hauli Palace (especially the harem), built in the 19th century, reflects the wealth and opulence of its rulers. The walls of the Kunya Ark, the ancient citadel, dominate the museum-city. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: KHIVA B (Mon, Thu, Sat)
Breakfast.
Continue exploring Khiva: the Tash Hauli Palace, madrasahs, the Alla Kuli Khan caravanserai, and the Juma Mosque.
Lunch in the city. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: KHIVA – BUKHARA BY TRAIN THROUGH THE KIZILKUM DESERT B (Tue, Fri, Sun)
Transfer to the Khiva train station. Depart for Bukhara.
Crossing the Khorezm province and following the Amu Darya river, then through the arid Kyzylkum desert. Arrival in Bukhara by early afternoon. Check-in for three nights in a charming hotel.
Day 6: BUKHARA B (Wed, Sat, Mon)
Two full days dedicated to Bukhara, an important religious and intellectual center during the Samanid era. Restored by Tamerlane after Mongol destruction. Discover this ancient city with its turquoise domes, elegant minarets, madrasahs, mausoleums, and grand ceramic facades.
Visit the Ark Citadel, Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub, Kalyan Mosque and Minaret, Ulugbek Madrasah, trade domes (Tok-i-Sarrafon, Tok-i-Telpak Furushon), Chor Minor Madrasah, and Lyabi Hauz complex. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: BUKHARA B (Thu, Sun, Tue)
Excursion to the Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Complex and the Summer Palace.
Visit the Davron Usto handicraft center (papermaking and miniature painting).
Lunch at the miniature school.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: BUKHARA – SHAKHRISABZ B (Fri, Mon, Wed)
Drive to Shakhrisabz through the steppe. This city, the birthplace of Tamerlane (1336), saw the construction of the Ak Saray Palace and was renamed “Green City.”
Lunch and city tour. Overnight in hotel with dinner.
Day 9: SHAKHRISABZ – URGUT – CHAPDARA VILLAGE (Sat, Tue, Thu)
Drive by private cars through the Takhtakaracha Pass (inaccessible to buses). Enjoy views of the Kitab plain and Hisar mountains.
Visit the market in Urgut. Lunch in a local restaurant. Continue to Chapdara village (1200 m altitude). Walk around the village and visit a French-language school (*outside school holidays).
Cooking demonstration of plov. Dinner and overnight with a local family.
Day 10: CHAPDARA – ESHON VILLAGE – SAMARKAND B L (Sun, Wed, Fri)
Medium-difficulty hike in the Zerafshan mountains, crossing traditional villages. Picnic lunch in Gijduvan village.
Elevation gain/loss: ±450m.
Drive to Samarkand (2 hours), stop at the Gus village mausoleum. Check-in at hotel.
Day 11: SAMARKAND B (Mon, Thu, Sat)
Explore Samarkand: Registan Square, Bibi Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Rukhobod Mausoleum, and Gur-e-Amir (Tamerlane’s tomb). Visit Ulugbek’s Observatory.
Day 12: SAMARKAND B (Tue, Fri, Sun)
Morning visit to the Afrasiab Museum (with 7th-century fresco) and Siab Bazaar.
Lunch and free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: SAMARKAND – EUROPE B (Wed, Sat, Mon)
Transfer to the airport and flight back to Paris via Turkish Airlines. End of services
What’s Included:
Group transportation
Private vehicles for crossing the Takhtakaracha Pass
Accommodation in shared double rooms:
In Tashkent: MILAN 3* or REGAL STAY 3* (1 early check-in + 1 night)
In Khiva: Madrasah “Silk Road Caravan Serail” or Madrasah “Kosha Darvosa” or similar (2 nights)
In Bukhara: Nodira Begim 3* or similar (3 nights)
In Samarkand: Jahongir Premium or similar (3 nights)
In Shakhrisabz: Kesh Palace (1 night)
In Chapdara: Family stay (rustic) (1 night)
Meals as per the program
French-speaking guide
Entry fees to museums and sites mentioned in the program
What’s Not Included:
International flights Europe – Tashkent, Samarkand – Europe (Turkish Airlines or Aeroflot) and internal flight Tashkent – Urgench (120 EUR currently, subject to change)
Visa (French, Belgian, or Swiss citizens do not need a visa since 05.10.18 for stays of up to 30 days)
Meals not covered in the program
Single supplement fee for accommodation in the city (280 EUR)
Insurance
Photography and video recording rights at sites
Tips for drivers and guides (3-4 EUR per day per person)
Registration and Rules:
Registration for this trip will be considered confirmed after written confirmation and the payment of a 30% deposit of the total trip cost. An invoice detailing the payment method will be sent to you by email after you accept the offer. The remaining amount must be paid one month prior to the departure date, without reminders from us. If you register less than a month before departure, full payment will be required upon accepting the offer.
Cancellation by the Client:
In the event of a cancellation by you (for any reason), more than 50 days before departure, the amounts paid as a deposit will be refunded to you, minus a fixed amount of 100 EUR per person (application fee and bank charges).
Cancellation will result in the following scale of deductions after 50 days prior to departure:
50 to 35 days: 35% of the trip cost
34 to 25 days: 50% of the trip cost
24 to 15 days: 75% of the trip cost
15 to 8 days: 90% of the trip cost
Less than 8 days: 100% of the trip cost
Please note: In case of cancellation, notify us as soon as possible via email or fax, as the cancellation date will be used for calculating the refund.
Any trip interrupted or shortened by the participant for any reason will not be eligible for a refund.
Cancellation by Roksi Sam Travel:
Cancellations may occur due to circumstances beyond our control (political unrest, security issues, etc.). In such cases, the cancellation will be made by Roksi Sam Travel in full, but no further compensation will be provided.
Your guide
to Central Asia
CONTACTS
- +998 78 210 02 09
- +998 66 234 98 64
- Email: roksisamtravel@mail.ru
- Samarkand city, st. Mirzo Ulugbek, 75