Kazakhstan and Grand Uzbekistan Tour (Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Turkistan, Otrar)

Meet at the THY desk in Istanbul Airport's international terminal at 22:30 and fly to Urgench on THY TK262 at 01:35 (arrival 07:25). Drive to Khiva for breakfast and a tour of Itchan Kala, Kalta Minor, the Shergazi Khan, Allakuli Khan, Abdullah Khan, Muhammad Amin Khan, Kutluk Murad Inak and Islam Khoja madrasas, the Allakuli Khan Mausoleum, the Juma Mosque and minaret, the Sayyid Alauddin Mausoleum and the Palvan Darvaza Gate. Dinner and overnight (Zarafshon Boutique Hotel or similar). Note: a tiring day after an overnight flight.

After breakfast we drive to Bukhara (430 km), visiting the mausoleums of Ali Ramitani and Muhammad Baba Sammasi on the way. Dinner and overnight (Sahid Zarafshon Hotel or similar).

After breakfast we visit the mausoleums and complexes of Amir Kulal and of Baha-ud-Din Naqshband and his mother. A tour of old Bukhara covers the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the Chashma-Ayub spring and mausoleum, the Bolo Hauz Mosque, the Ark Fortress (exterior), the Poi Kalyan complex, the Kalyan Minaret, the Mir-i Arab Madrasa and Lyabi Hauz. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we visit the Golden Chain mausoleums of Abdul Khaliq Gijduvani, Arif Rivgari and Mahmud Anjir Faghnavi in Gijduvan, then drive to Samarkand (230 km) to visit the Imam Bukhari complex and the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum of Timur. Dinner and overnight (Konstantin Plaza Hotel or similar).

After breakfast, a Samarkand tour: Ulugh Beg Observatory, the Imam Maturidi Mausoleum, Shah-i Zinda (Qusam ibn Abbas), the Ulugh Beg, Tilla Kari and Sher-Dor madrasas on Registan Square and the Khoja Ahrar Mausoleum. High-speed train to Tashkent at 18:10 (arrival 20:31). Dinner and overnight (Al Anvar Hotel or similar).

After breakfast, a Tashkent tour: the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Barak Khan Madrasa, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Muyi Muborak Madrasa with the Uthman Quran, Hazrati Imam Mosque, Kukeldash Madrasa, Khoja Ahrar Mosque, Chorsu Bazaar, Amir Timur and Independence squares. We cross into Kazakhstan on foot (500 m) and drive to Turkistan (280 km). Dinner and overnight (Hampton by Hilton or similar).

After breakfast, a Turkistan tour: the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmad Yasawi, ancient Turkistan, the old cemetery, the citadel and the Hilvet underground mosque. We continue to Otrar, home of al-Farabi: the Arslan Baba Mausoleum, the ancient Otrar archaeological site and the Otrar Museum. We cross back into Uzbekistan on foot at Chernyaevka (500 m). After dinner we transfer to the airport. Note: no hotel night due to the flight time.

Fly from Tashkent to Istanbul on THY TK371 at 03:30 (arrival 06:50).