YOUR HOLIDAY at a GLANCE

DEDICATED GUIDES

Just You Holiday Director as your host & Specialist Local Guides

RETURN FLIGHTS l Return flights from London l Use of an airport lounge in the UK

3 AND 4 STAR HOTELS

9 nights in 3 & 4-star hotels plus 1 night in flight

19 INCLUDED MEALS

10 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), 8 dinners (D) including a welcome drink and dinner & farewell dinner

LOCAL FLAVOURS

Learn how to make the national dish of Uzbekistan during a cooking demonstration in a local home

ESSENTIALS

Overseas transfers, other transportation & porterage

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS l Guided tour of the capital’s city highlights l Walking tour of Khiva’s architectural complex l Visit a handicrafts centre for woodcarving and carpet weaving l Explore Bukhara’s highlights l Visit local puppet and miniature school workshops l Silk Road Spices tea tasting with local artist performance l Guided tour of Samarkand highlights l Wine tasting at a local winery l Traditional theatrical representation l Learn the ancient art of paper making OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES l Explore the Necropolis and the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara l Explore Shahrisabz, birthplace of Turco-Mogol conqueror Timur

Your itinerary

DAY 1 UK - TASHKENT

Today you will fly to Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital city.

DAY 2 TASHKENT

After arriving at your first hotel and freshening up after your flight, it’ll be time to get your first glimpse of Tashkent on a panoramic tour. The city is a real melting pot of architectural influences, from bustling bazaars to imposing Soviet-era structures. We’ll pass a handful of its highlights before you get to know your fellow travellers over a traditional meal. (D)

LOTTE CITY HOTEL, TASHKENT (4 STAR)

DAY 3 KHIVA

Today, we’ll be leaving the bright lights of Tashkent behind and taking an internal flight to Urgench. From there, it’s a short drive to Khiva, one of the Silk Road’s best preserved cities. It’s a haven for history buffs thanks to its dozens of architectural monuments which largely date back to the 19th century. Examples include the turquoise-tiled Kalta Minor Minaret and Tash-Khauli Palace, famed for its richly decorated interiors.

We’ll also have a walking tour around Ichan Kala, a UNESCO open-air museum at the heart of Khiva, by a Local Guide. Afterwards, you’ll be able to explore a handicraft centre known for its woodcarving and carpet-weaving wares. (B,D)

ORIENT STAR KHIVA, KHIVA (3 STAR)

DAY 4 KHIVA - BUKHARA

Today we will travel from Khiva to Bukhara, via the Kyzylkum desert. The name means 'Red Sands' in Turkic languages and covers a vast area of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. (B,D)

ORIENT STAR BUKHARA, BUKHARA (4 STAR)

DAY 5 BUKHARA

Today we’ll have a full day exploring Bukhara, once a major stop on the Silk Road and an important centre of Islamic culture. The city has no shortage of incredible monuments. A full-day guided tour of this history city will unveil many of them, from the 288 splendid domes of the Poi-Kalyan Mosque to the Lyab-i Hauz comples of madrassahs which dates to the 16th and 17th centuries.

Then, we’ll all head to a friendly local’s home for a memorable cooking class where you’ll get to learn how to prepare plov, Uzbekistan’s national dish. Today will also include a handful of unique heritage activities. Attend a puppet workshop where you’ll learn how to craft a colourful puppet from papier mache, admire tiny works of art at the Bukhara miniature school and sip on fragrant teas at the Silk Road Spice teahouse while watching a performance from a local artist. In the evening, you’ll have dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

ORIENT STAR BUKHARA, BUKHARA (4 STAR)

DAY 6 BUKHARA - DAY AT LEISURE

Today is free for you to spend as you please. Maybe you would like to explore the amazing city of Bukhara further? (B)

ORIENT STAR BUKHARA, BUKHARA (4 STAR)

DAY 7 BUKHARA - SAMARKAND

You’ll have another morning to explore Bukhara at your own pace. If you’d rather get out of the city, join our optional excursion to the Bahautdin Nakshbandi Necropolis (the burial tomb of Nakshbandi, the leader of Sufism) and the stunning Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace (the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara).

After lunch, we’ll take the train to Samarkand. (B,D)

ORIENT STAR SAMARKAND, SAMARKAND (3 STAR)

DAY 8 SAMARKAND

The ancient city of Samarkand has a pretty turbulent history, from being captured by Alexander the Great in 329 BC to being ruled by Genghis Khan during the height of the Silk Road trade. As a result, it has an eclectic culture and fascinating mix of architectural styles, which we’ll explore in detail.

After admiring attractions like the huge Siab bazaar and the mix of intricately tiled mausoleums, we’ll embark on a wine-tasting tour at the Hovrenko Wine Factory. Samarkand’s wine culture dates back centuries and you’ll get to sample several on a tour of this 19th century winery. Later, we’ll enjoy a historical theatrical performance complete with traditional music at the Samarkand Theatre of Historical Costumes. (B,D)

ORIENT STAR SAMARKAND, SAMARKAND (3 STAR)

DAY 9 SAMARKAND - DAY AT LEISURE

Spend the day meandering around Samarkand’s many majestic monuments, or sign up to our optional tour to Shahrisabz. It’s where Uzbekistan’s national hero, Timur, was born in the 14th century, and it was later developed into a thriving city by his descendants. Admire the ruins of Ak-Saray Palace that are covered in gold mosaics, and the impressive Kok Gumbaz Mosque with its eye-catching blue dome. (B,D)

ORIENT STAR SAMARKAND, SAMARKAND (3 STAR)

DAY 10 SAMARKAND – TASHKENT

Enjoy another morning exploring Samarkand, including a trip to the Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand that’s full of ancient archaeological artefacts, and a stop at the Meros Paper Mill to learn about the historic art of papermaking.

In the afternoon, we’ll take another train back to Tashkent and finish the day with a delicious dinner at a local restaurant near the hotel. (B,D)

LOTTE CITY HOTEL, TASHKENT (4 STAR)

DAY 11 TASHKENT - UK

Today we’ll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. (B)

Enjoy a theatrical performance and be mesmerised by the dances and colours of the dress.