The cuisine of Uzbekistan is rich and full of endless variety of real goodies! Hot golden pilaf, crispy samsa, delicate mantis beckoning with its aroma and much more – the names alone can lead to indescribable delight even the most picky gourmet! But it’s better to try these true culinary masterpieces than to listen to thousands and thousands of fascinating stories about their appearance and recipe. Why dissemble – there are an infinite number of types of tortillas in Uzbekistan: each region has its own unique one!
Day 1 Arrival to Tashkent
Arrive to Tashkent’s airport at TBA from TBA, meet and greet service (COMPANY SIGN for meeting), transfer to hotel.
Short tour in Tashkent: Independence Square, Museum of Applied Arts, Amir Temur square, city fountains and modern monuments. In the evening, we going to visit the local food court located in Chor-Su bazaar, the one of the largest bazaars of Uzbekistan and Central Asia. There you can observe variety of local popular meals and get a glue of what are they before your start your trip. In each city and region, there are own local meals unlike each other.
Overnight in Tashkent
Day 2 Tashkent to Samarkand (335km)
Breakfast in hotel and transfer to Samarkand. After short rest upon arrival, we continue with afternoon city tour of Samarkand visiting: Registan square – Madrassa Ulugbek (15th c.), Madrassa Sherdor (17th c.), Madrassa Tilla-Kori (17th c.) located in the heart of Samarkand, which is the symbol of the renaissance era bygone empire and Timurid’s dynasty. Samarkand is famous for its bread, optionally we can visit local bakery and witness the bread making process. Also, optionally we can visit the local food court to taste the local meals and enjoy the oriental atmosphere together with locals.
Overnight in Samarkand
Day 3 Samarkand
After breakfast we have another half day of tours in Samarkand visiting: Ulugbek Observatory (15th c.). Excavations and museum of the ancient city of Afrosiyab, Architectural complex Shokhi-Zinda (11-15th c.), Mausoleum Guri Emir – Tamerlane’s Tomb (14-15th c.), Bibi-Khonum Mosque. Next to Bibi-Khonum Mosque, there is a famous Samakand bazaar – “Siyob” from where we buy all necessary ingredients for our dinner, which we cook together with local cooks for dinner. Optionally, that could be local version of Osh-Palov, or Dimlyama. We go to local house or other specially arranged place and will try to master this local food and enjoy of our experience.
Overnight in Samarkand
Day 4 Samarkand-Urgut-Shakhrisabz-Bukhara (90km+290km)
Breakfast in hotel and transfer to Urgut bazaar (open on Wednesdays, Saturday and Sunday (STC)) Here you can see another local bazaar which is famous for its masters of Suzane (embroidered national style local fabrics) and local jewelry. This is another perfect spot to feel the local atmosphere and cultural uniqueness.
We continue to Bukhara through birth place of Amir Temur, ancient city Shakhrisabz visiting: ruins of Oq-Saroy Palace (14-15th c.), Dor-ut Saodat complex (Khazratiy Imam Mosque (14th c.), Jahongir mausoleum (14th c.), Dor-ut Tillavat complex: Gumbazi-Seiidan, Kok Gumbaz Mosque (15th c.) On the way, you will discover another famous but yet unknown for the most Surkhandarya style “Tandir Gosht” –baked meat with the flavor of Fir. The superb test of the meat is something you will love and might to take with you from Uzbekistan.
Continue to Bukhara, upon arrival straight check into hotel for check in and refreshment before dinner
Day 5 Bukhara
Breakfast in hotel and we start exploring the holy city of Bukhara visiting: Citadel Ark (4th c. BC), Samanid’s Mausoleum (9-10th c.), Chashma Ayub(14th c.), Bolo-Hauz Mosque (beginning of the 20th c.), Covered dome bazaars, Madrassa Nodir-Divan-Beghi, complex Lyabi-Khauz (14-17th c.), Minaret Kalon (12th c.), Kalon Mosque (12th c.), Madrassa Miri Arab (16th c.). Uzbek cuisine is not complete without shashlik – kebabs and Bukhara is famous for its Gijduvan style shashlyks in one of the most popular places of Bukhara. In the evening, we do our experiment with Bukhara style Osh-Palov – “Oshi Sofiy” with local style Pea soup with fresh vegetables and antique traditions in one of the small and cozy national restaurant or local house, decorated in national style.
Overnight in Bukhara
Day 6 Bukhara to Tashkent
After breakfast, we head for out of city trip to visit the “Sitorai Mohi Hosa” – which means ‘firmament of moon and stars”. This place was a residence Bukharian Emir during long and hot summer, where he with his family lived in the palace, enjoying the basin, peacocks and elephants, which once were there, together with rare songbirds. Since, this was one of the latest buildings; we can see the impact of European styles and furniture elements of that time. There is a room – museum of local dress of that time for your attention.
Afternoon flight, as per schedule back to Tashkent, check into hotel, free and easy.
Overnight in Tashkent
Day 7 Tashkent and departure to next destination
Breakfast in hotel and half day city tour upon arrival in Tashkent: Barak-Khan Madrassah (16th c.), The Kaffal-Shashi mausoleum (15th c.), Kukeldash Madrassah (16th c.), the Jum’a mosque (9th c.), the monument of Courage, Tashkent TV tower view, from outside, and the monument of repression victims.
Optional lunch could be done in Central Asian Palov center. Here you can try the Tashkent style, Festive Palov the taste of which you will never forget!
Transfer to Tashkent international airport and departure to next destination