An 8-Day Silk And Spice Festival Tour

This unique 8-Day Silk and Spice Festival Tour offers exceptional experiences to enjoy folklore performances, Uzbek traditions, traditional clothing, and mesmerising concerts. This exhilarating tour also includes visits to all of the major sights in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent. In this tour you will explore the Old City of Tashkent where you will visit the Khast-Imam Complex – a spiritual monument located in the heart of Tashkent, wander around the vibrant Siab Bazaar – the largest bazaar in Samarkand, and uncover the fascinating tall minarets that emphasise the beauty of these destinations. During this encaptivating Silk & Spice Festival, you can purchase intricate handmade silk, watch and admire how craftsmen pass their trades down through the generations, and stroll through the fragrant streets lined with delicious spices.

Itinerary

Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara

Day 1: Tashkent – arrival

Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by your driver and transferred to the hotel.

Check in to the hotel.

Free time during the day.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Tashkent – Samarkand

Check out from the hotel and start guided sightseeing tour in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia.

Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman – Ottoman has been preserved.

In Khast-Imom visit Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari.

Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city centre to walk through Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and visit Applied Arts Museum.

Transfer to Tashkent railway station.

The high-speed train, Afrosiyob, departs for Samarkand.

Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Samarkand 

Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start the city tour.

Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory and Gur Emir Mausoleum – the mausoleum of Amir Timur.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Samarkand – Bukhara

Breakfast.

Continue sightseeing: visit Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry.

Enjoy free time with a car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour.

Check out from the hotel at 18:00. At 20:00 transfer to the railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing at 21:00. Arrival in Bukhara at 22:35, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 5: Bukhara

At 09:00 meet your guide and start exploring Bukhara.

Today you will have walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums mausoleums.

Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 6: Bukhara

At 09:00 meet your guide and join the festival parade. The parade will open the festival “Silk and Spices” and take you back to the Bukhara of centuries ago, when caravans loaded with silk and spices travelled from China to Europe, through mountain passes and empty deserts, stopping only in blooming valleys.

Usually, the festival program includes performances from traditional bands from different regions of Uzbekistan, traditional games and sports, master classes, tasting sessions featuring plov at Palov Sayli, and a fashion show from young Uzbek designers. Simultaneously, you will be able to enjoy beautiful architecture of old Bukhara and listen to its legends.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Bukhara – Tashkent

Check out from the hotel till noon. Free time with the guide.

At 14:50 transfer to Bukhara train station. The high-speed train Afrosiyob departs for Tashkent at 15:55.

Scheduled arrival is at 19:40. Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Tashkent – departure

Check-out from the hotel.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

End of the tour.

Price

Guide price per person going the tour on a set departure date

£950

*For departures please enquire at enquiry@asiara-holidays.com