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UZBEKISTAN • CENTRAL ASIA<br />
Bukhara<br />
Kalyan minaret • The Ark, an imposing<br />
<strong>for</strong>tress<br />
Lord Curzon described Bukhara as “the most<br />
interesting city in the world”. The city offers an<br />
amazing array of monuments covering 1,000<br />
years of history, including the renowned Kalyan<br />
minaret. It is 47 metres tall and was probably<br />
the tallest structure in Central Asia when built<br />
by Arslan Khan in 1127. The oldest monument<br />
in Bukhara is the Ismail Samani mausoleum,<br />
built in the early 10th century <strong>for</strong> the founder<br />
of the Samanid dynasty. It was partially buried<br />
during Genghis Khan's visit, and so escaped his<br />
attentions.<br />
Khiva & Urgench<br />
Remarkably well-preserved ‘museum city’ of<br />
Khiva with enormous city walls<br />
The Ark, Bukhara<br />
No visit to Bukhara is complete without a<br />
tour of the Ark, an imposing <strong>for</strong>tress that was<br />
continuously occupied from the fifth century<br />
until the 1920s.<br />
The ancient city of Khiva lies around 450km<br />
north-west of Bukhara. Another of the Silk<br />
Road cities, Khiva has been extensively<br />
restored and is in effect a giant open-air<br />
museum. Many of the mosques and madrasas<br />
located within the old city are no longer in use,<br />
but instead contain numerous displays and<br />
collections. The old city is surrounded by an<br />
18th-century mud-brick wall and has four main<br />
entrance gates.<br />
Urgench is the capital of the Khorazm province,<br />
wedged between the Amu Darya River and<br />
the Turkmen border, and is mainly used by<br />
travellers as a transport hub <strong>for</strong> Khiva, which is<br />
around 40km away.<br />
Itchan Kala, Khiva<br />
A suggested itinerary...<br />
Central Asia Explorer<br />
14 days & 12 nights<br />
from £3,595 (incl. flights)<br />
Category • Discovery<br />
Explore two of Central Asia’s contrasting<br />
countries; discover Silk Road history in the<br />
<strong>for</strong>mer Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, and<br />
experience the nomadic culture and green<br />
open spaces of Kyrgyzstan.<br />
Days 1 & 2: Fly to Tashkent, Uzbekistan<br />
Fly overnight to Tashkent and transfer to<br />
the Miran International Hotel <strong>for</strong> 1 night.<br />
Afternoon tour of the old city. (N)<br />
Days 3 & 4: Samarkand<br />
Drive to Samarkand and explore the city,<br />
including Registan Square. Stay at Emirkhan<br />
Hotel <strong>for</strong> 2 nights. The next day, continue your<br />
exploration on a full-day city tour. (B) (B, D)<br />
Days 5 & 6: Bukhara<br />
Travel to Bukhara and visit the silk market,<br />
the Jewish Quarter and Poi-Kalyan complex.<br />
Sample a range of herbal teas in the old part<br />
of the city. Stay 2 nights at Malika Bukhara.<br />
Continue your exploration the following day.<br />
(B, D) (B)<br />
Day 7: Tashkent<br />
Morning at leisure. Take the Afrosiyob train<br />
to Tashkent and transfer to the Miran<br />
International Hotel <strong>for</strong> 1 night. (B)<br />
Day 8: Fly to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan<br />
Fly to Bishkek, via Almaty, and transfer to the<br />
Plaza Hotel <strong>for</strong> a 2-night stay. (B)<br />
Day 9: Ala Archa National Park • Bishkek<br />
Drive south to Ala Archa National Park, which<br />
offers a range of walking options from gentle<br />
strolls to more strenuous hikes. Return to<br />
Bishkek <strong>for</strong> a city tour. (B)<br />
Day 10: Burana Tower • Issyk-Kul lake<br />
Visit the Burana Tower and its surrounding<br />
ruins, an important Silk Road trading post.<br />
See the Bronze Age petroglyphs at<br />
Cholpon-Ata. Overnight at Karven Issyk-Kul<br />
Hotel. (B, D)<br />
Day 11: Karakol<br />
Drive to Karakol and visit the museum<br />
dedicated to the Russian explorer Nikolai<br />
Przewalsky. Stay 2 nights at Hotel Amir. (B)<br />
Day 12: Djety-Oguz<br />
Walk through Djety-Oguz Gorge, with its<br />
impressive red-rock <strong>for</strong>mations and spruce<br />
<strong>for</strong>ests. See a golden eagle hunting show<br />
and join a Uighur family to learn how to cook<br />
traditional dishes. (B)<br />
Day 13: Bokonbaevo • Bishkek<br />
Short walk at Fairy Tale Canyon then continue<br />
to Bokonbaevo village. Visit a local handicraft<br />
centre be<strong>for</strong>e driving to Bishkek and staying<br />
overnight at the Plaza Hotel. (B)<br />
Day 14: Fly home<br />
Transfer to Bishkek airport and fly home. (B)<br />
Tailor-made travel<br />
Contact our experts<br />
020 3930 5211<br />
CoxandKings.co.uk/make-an-enquiry<br />
For more in<strong>for</strong>mation or to book, contact us on 020 3930 5211 or speak to your travel agent<br />
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