FROM NUKUS TO SEOUL
A cultural tour of Uzbekistan & South Korea

This unique journey to Uzbekistan includes the rare opportunity to see the massive collection of Russian & Central Asia arts and crafts at Nukus – the famous Savitsky Collection along with Yodgorlik the only one place in Central Asia Silk Road where original handmade methods of silk production are still done and the famous Rishtan pottery production centre. The journey has been tailored so that you can add an optional stay in Seoul and visit the DMZ – the border between South and North Korea.

Day 01 October 16 (SAT): Depart North America for Seoul
Today we take our flight to Seoul en-route crossing the International Date Line.

Day 02 October 17 (SUN): Arrive Seoul
Arrival Seoul, capital of South Korea in the late afternoon and we are transferred to our hotel. Round trip transfers & accommodation are part of the international airfare quoted below.
Overnight: June Hotel (1 night)

Day 03 October 18 (MON): Seoul / Tashkent
We are transferred to the airport for our flight to Tashkent - Khush Kelibsizlar - Welcome to Uzbekistan! As we are driven to our hotel in the city center, we get our first glimpse of Tashkent, a city rebuilt after the 1966 earthquake. Tashkent can rightfully claim to be the cultural capital of Central Asia.
Overnight: Dedeman Hotel (1 night) (B, D)

Day 04 October 19 (TUE): Tashkent / Nukus (Flight) / Khiva (Drive)
A short flight gets us to Nukus – a lost town north of Amu Darya, which leads to the Aral Sea. We start with a visit to the Karakalpak Museum where between 50, 000 to 100,000 paintings are stored (see www.savitsky.org). After the museum, we visit the Khojeyli Tombs and Geor Kala then continue our drive to Khiva - a city where time has stood still.
Overnight: Asia Hotel (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 05 October 20 (WED): Khiva
Khiva is one of the four sites in Uzbekistan that has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Our visit starts with the main site of Ichan Kala followed by Kalta Minor, the Kunya Ark, the Rakhimkhon Madrassah, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, the Friday Mosque and the Tashauli Palace and Harem. To complete the feeling, we climb the Khodja Minaret to take in the amazing fairy tale panorama. (B, D)

Day 06 October 21 (THU): Khiva / Bukhara (Drive)
Our drive to Bukhara is through the arid setting of the Kyzyl Kum Desert. Along the way we stop for some refreshments and see how humans have survived over the centuries in this barren landscape. Prior to arrival in Bukhara, a visit will be made to Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the Summer Residence of the former Emirs of Bukhara.
Overnight: Hotel Zargaron Hotel (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 07 October 22 (FRI): Bukhara
One of the grandest of Uzbek centers, Bukhara is an open air museum with many mosques, madrassahs and a grand minaret. We spend the day visiting some of the finest examples of Islamic Architecture in the world, where exquisite tile and mosaic work complements the beautiful brick-work; no wonder the city is a World Heritage Site. Our visit includes the Lab-e-Khauz Complex with the Nadirkhon Devanbegi Madrassah, the Mogak Attari Mosque and the Poi Kalon Minaret. Afternoon visit includes the Madrassahs of Aziz Khan and the Ulugbek Ark Fortress, the residence cum army headquarters of the Bukharan Emirs that houses an interesting collection of objects from those days and the Mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, which features some of the best 10th century brickwork, with a marked Persian influence. (B, D)

Day 08 October 23 (SAT): Bukhara / Gijduvan / Samarkand (Drive)
This morning we head for a local family ceramic factory in Gijduvan. Not only will we see how traditional ceramic crafts are done but we get a very good opportunity to meet with the village folks and see their life style. From here we continue to visit the World Heritage Site of Shakhrisabz, hometown of Tamerlane. This historic centre contains a collection of exceptional monuments and ancient quarters, which bear witness to centuries worth of history, and particularly to the period of its climax in the 15th century under the empire of Tamerlane.
Overnight: President Palace (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 09 October 24 (SUN): Samarkand
Our tour of Samarkand takes us to the major monuments and includes the Registan Mosque and the adjoining madrassas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound. Registan Square is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Samarkand is of the same age as the city of Babylon or Rome. The history of Samarkand is about 2,500 years old and has witnessed a lot of upheavals during the times of Alexander the Great, the Arabic Conquest, Genghis-Khan Conquest and lastly Tamerlane's. Hence, the culture of Samarkand was developed and mixed together with the Iranian, Indian, Mongolian and a bit of the Western and Eastern cultures. Majestic and beautiful city Samarkand has a marvelous and attractive power. In history Samarkand has often been referred to as “Rome of the East”, “Beauty of Sublunary countries”, “Pearl of The Eastern Moslem World". (B, D)

Day 10 October 25 (MON): Samarkand / Tashkent (Drive)
A rural drive view gets us to Tashkent where we visit the old part of the city, the Kafelsashi Mausoleum, the Barak Khana, the Tila Shaikh Mosque and Archives, Kukeldesh Madrassah, the History Museum of Uzbekistan and the Navoi Theatre. Evening dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Dedeman Hotel (1 night) (B, D)

Day 11 October 26 (TUE): Tashkent / Ferghana (Drive)
Morning we take the scenic route through mountains and passes breathing fresh air and stopping at various spots to see and photograph beautiful landscape before reaching the enchanting Ferghana Valley. Enroute we visit the incredible Rishtan – a famous pottery centre where families have kept alive the traditional method of making pottery. We will meet the craftsmen and even get an opportunity to do some hand on. We are then transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Asia Hotel (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 12 October 27 (WED): Ferghana
Day excursion to Andijan & Marghilan. In Andijan we visit the Babur Literary Museum. Babur was the founder of the famous dynasty of rulers who came to be known as the Great Moghuls of India who were well known for their aesthetic architectures like the Taj Mahal, Shalamar gardens, Red Forts, Jami Masjis, etc. Later at Marghilan we visit the souvenir factory of “Yodgorlik” – the only one place in Central Asia where original handmade methods of silk production is still being done. Silk fabric manufactured here is considered as one of the best in the world. (B, D)

Day 13 October 28 (THU): Ferghana / Tashkent (Drive)
This morning we return to Tashkent. Upon arrival check in at our hotel with the afternoon being free for shopping or taking in an opera or a ballet at the Navoi Theatre by subway, which is a highlight in itself!
Overnight: Hotel Dedeman (1 night) (B, D)

Day 14 October 29 (FRI): Tashkent / Seoul
Check out time is by 1100 hrs. The rest of the day is at leisure until our evening transfer to the airport for our flight home via Seoul.(B, D)

Day 15 October 30 (SAT): Arrive Seoul / Vancouver
Arriving Seoul. Round trip transfers & accommodation are part of the international airfare. After an incredible journey to Uzbekistan we arrive Vancouver the same day.

Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures October 16
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Domestic airfare within Uzbekistan International airfare from Vancouver* (US$ 1300.00) Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes Fuel surcharge & air taxes (approx. US$ 365.00) Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, D=Dinner) Insurance & Visa fees All sightseeing and transfers as per the itinerary Drinks/Beverages with meals Services of local English speaking guide Tips/Gratitude to Drivers & Guides Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary   Necessary visa supports   * For add-ons from other cities please enquire
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2010 US $ 3060 US $ 380
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast N/A Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast N/A
Participants
This tour operates with a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 15 participants
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.