Escorted Tours 2023-24 1st Edition

madrassas and mausoleums before leaving you to explore at your own pace. Day 7: Bukhara B/D Enjoy a day of leisure to explore at your own pace. Day 8: Bukhara to Samarkand B/L/D After breakfast, depart for Samarkand stopping en route at the ‘green city’ of Shakhrisabz. With a well-groomed, green and modern appearance it’s hard to believe the city is over 2,700 years old. The centre of the city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains an exceptional collection of monuments, including the gleaming white Ak Saray Palace. Leaving the Timurids first city behind, continue to the 14th century capital of their empire, Samarkand. Day 9: Samarkand B/D Samarkand is the epitome of a journey along the Silk Road. A trip to Registan, the city’s Timurid heart and Central Square proves this to be a reality. A wide mosaicked square is backed by three immense madrasas, beautifully adorned in intricate blues, green and violet patterns, each one a monument to the city’s place as the intellectual capital of the region. During the middle ages, the city attracted the greatest scholars, architects and scientists around, which can be seen first hand on your visit to Ulugbek’s Observatory. See the sumptuous Gur- Emir, the ornately decorated mausoleum of the royal family. Once a marvel of the east, its influence can be seen in the style of the great architectural tombs of the Mughal dynasty of North India such as the Taj Mahal in Agra. Before dinner, visit the Khovrenko Winery and sample a range of Samarkand wines. Day 10: Samarkand B/D This morning, you’ll visit the Koni Ghil Paper Mill renowned for making paper of such exquisite quality that only sultans, emirs and viziers could afford it. This ‘royal’ paper has been exported along the Silk Road for centuries and many 9th and 10th century Arabic and Persian manuscripts were written on it. After this, you’ll explore one of the treasures of Samarkand, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque built in the late 14th century as a tribute to Tamerlane’s wife as well as his victory in Delhi. It is one of the best-known architectural wonders of Central Asia. You’ll have a chance to do some shopping at the local Siyab bazaar, before having the rest of the day at leisure to explore. This evening, experience a little modern Uzbek culture by enjoying dinner with a local family who will provide a master class in cooking Pilav, a famous rice based dish in Uzbekistan. Day 11: Samarkand to Tashkent B/L/D Take the morning at leisure, you can spend more time shopping in Siab Bazaar or relax with a coffee in the boulevards around Registan Square. Take a train to Tashkent where you can enjoy a festive farewell dinner to round off this unforgettable trip. Day 12: Tashkent to the UK B After breakfast, transfer for your return flight, or continue on your chosen extension. Ark of Bukhara Local Potter, Bukhara Amir Temur Square, Tashkent Meal plan: 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 10 dinners Accommodation: Tashkent, 4 H Milan Hotel Khiva, 4 H Asia Khiva Hotel Bukhara, 3 H Asia Bukhara Samarkand, 4 H Konstantin Plaza Hotel Flights: London Heathrow to Uzbekistan with Uzbekistan Airways Tour pace: Intermediate Extend your tour Fergana Valley, 3 nights, 4 H Full Board from £589 Travel through huge reservoirs and high mountain passes to visit the fertile valley, home to ancient civilisations, Mughal emperors and the third largest silk producer in the world. No Single Supplement Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £299 Departures & from prices 2 Jun 23 £2,499 26 Apr 24 £2,199 16 Jun 23 £2,499 10 May 24 £2,199 30 Jun 23 £2,299 17 May 24 £2,199 4 Aug 23 £2,299 31 May 24 £2,199 1 Sep 23 £2,299 14 Jun 24 £2,199 8 Sep 23 £2,599 28 Jun 24 £2,199 15 Sep 23 £2,299 2 Aug 24 £2,199 22 Sep 23 £2,299 30 Aug 24 £2,199 29 Sep 23 £2,199 6 Sep 24 £2,199 13 Oct 23 £2,099 13 Sep 24 £2,199 27 Oct 23 £1,899 20 Sep 24 £2,199 3 Nov 23 £1,899 27 Sep 24 £2,199 10 Nov 23 £1,799 11 Oct 24 £2,099 1 Mar 24 £1,799 25 Oct 24 £2,099 22 Mar 24 £1,999 1 Nov 24 £2,099 12 Apr 24 £2,099 8 Nov 24 £2,099 19 Apr 24 £2,099 • Tipping paid locally $36 pp per tour 41 Central Asia Hundreds of escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk