Flexible
12 days
Uzbekistan
"Nowruz Celebration on the Silk Road"
Navrouz is much more than a simple New Year's celebration. It represents a symbol of renewal, reconciliation, and hope for a better year ahead. It also encourages deep respect for nature and gratitude for life itself.
The festival of Navrouz is officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, honoring its immense historical, social, and cultural significance in the countries where it is celebrated.
The festival of Navrouz is officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, honoring its immense historical, social, and cultural significance in the countries where it is celebrated.
Day 1: 12/03/2025 | Paris – Istanbul – Tashkent
Flight to Uzbekistan departing at 17:15 (5:15 PM).
Day 2: 13/03/2025 | Tashkent
Flight to Uzbekistan departing at 17:15 (5:15 PM).
Day 2: 13/03/2025 | Tashkent
- Arrival: Arrive in Tashkent at 08:15 AM. You will be welcomed by your French-speaking guide.
- Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at a local Bistro in Tashkent before starting the city tour.
- Morning: Explore the dynamic capital of Uzbekistan, a metropolis of over 3 million people and an ancient Silk Road hub with 2,200 years of history.
- Sightseeing: Visit the Chorsu Bazaar and the Khast Imam Complex. This large esplanade features historical monuments preserved after the earthquake, including mosques, madrasahs, and a mausoleum. You will also see the "Othman Quran" (Mushaf Usman), dating from the 7th century, the oldest Quran in the Islamic world.
- Lunch in the city.
- Afternoon: Continue your discovery with Independence Square, Amir Timur Square, and a tour of the decorative Tashkent Metro.
- Dinner and night at the hotel.
- Breakfast.
- Transfer: Transfer to the airport for the 07:00 flight to Urgench, arriving at 08:20. Transfer to Khiva.
- Discovery: Discover Khiva, one of the wonders of the ancient Silk Road and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990. The city consists of two parts: "Itchan Qala" (inner city) and "Dichan Qala" (outer city), serving as a true open-air museum.
- Morning Tour: The visit begins at the main gate, Ota Darvoza. Highlights include the Kalta Minor truncated minaret, the Mohamed Aminkhan Madrasah, the Mennonite Museum, the King’s seat and the Kunya Ark ancient palace, the Mohamed Rahimkhan Madrasah, the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, and the Islam Khodja Minaret.
- Lunch in the city.
- Afternoon: Continue exploring with the Juma Mosque, the Caravan Saray (the modern-day market), the Tosh Khavli Palace, and the Khan’s Harem.
- Dinner and night at the hotel.
Navrouz: The Celebration of Renewal
Navrouz (or Nowruz) is the Persian New Year, a traditional festival that marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the year in several countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and other regions of Central Asia. The word "Navrouz" literally means "New Day" in Persian, and it is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, typically around March 20th or 21st.
Navrouz (or Nowruz) is the Persian New Year, a traditional festival that marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the year in several countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and other regions of Central Asia. The word "Navrouz" literally means "New Day" in Persian, and it is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, typically around March 20th or 21st.
Navrouz Festival on the Silk Road! (12 Days / 10 Nights)
About this tour
Here is the translation for the next segment of your Navrouz Festival itinerary:
Day 4: 15/03/2025 | Khiva – Bukhara (450 km)
Day 4: 15/03/2025 | Khiva – Bukhara (450 km)
- Breakfast.
- Morning: Free morning to enjoy Khiva at your own pace. Around 11:00 AM, depart for Bukhara.
- Lunch: Organized along the way.
- The Journey: The 450 km distance takes approximately 6.5 hours across the sand dunes and saxaul trees of the Kyzyl Kum Desert. This trip offers the chance to cross the Amu Darya, Central Asia's largest river, and experience the vast desert landscape.
- Arrival: Arrive in Bukhara and transfer to the hotel.
- Dinner and night at the hotel.
- Breakfast.
- City Tour: Today is dedicated to discovering Bukhara, a standout city of the Silk Road. Known as the "Holy Land" and the "City of Knowledge," its historic center has been a UNESCO site since 1993.
- Morning: Visit the most beautiful sites: the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, and the Ark Citadel, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Old Bukhara. Visit the Bolo Khauz Mosque.
- Lunch in the city.
- Afternoon: Continue to the Po-i-Kalyan Complex, featuring the Kalyan Minaret, the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, and the Great Mosque. Visit the Twin Madrasahs (Ulugbek and Abdul Aziz Khan) and stroll through the medieval trading domes (Tims) such as Toqi Zargaron, Toqi Telpakfurushon, and Toqi Sarrafon.
- Artistic Experience: Visit the school of a master miniaturist, work alongside his students, and paint your own miniature in a masterclass.
- Workshops: End the day by visiting artisan workshops: silk carpets, "Suzani" embroidery, and traditional puppet making, where ancestral methods are still in use.
- Dinner in the city. Night at the hotel.
- Breakfast.
- Outskirts Tour: Visit the Naqshbandi Mausoleum, the burial site of one of the most revered Sufi figures of the 14th century. This site is a major center of pilgrimage.
- Morning: Continue to the Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Summer Palace (the Emir's summer residence) and the unique four-minaret Chor Minor Madrasah.
- Lunch in the city.
- Afternoon: Free time to enjoy the atmosphere of the city and its vibrant markets as the Navrouz celebrations approach.
- Dinner in the city. Night at the hotel.
Voici la traduction en anglais de la suite et de la fin de votre itinéraire spécial Fête de Navrouz :
Day 7: 18/03/2025 | Bukhara – Yurt Camp (280 km)
Day 7: 18/03/2025 | Bukhara – Yurt Camp (280 km)
- Breakfast.
- The Journey: Drive toward the north-central part of the country for a unique night in a yurt, in the heart of the "Red Sand" desert (Kyzyl Kum).
- Morning: Arrive at Nurata, an ancient desert stop for caravans. Visit the historical center, including local mosques and the Sacred Spring, famous for its curative waters rich in minerals.
- Lunch in Nurata.
- Afternoon: Visit Lake Aydarkul, the largest artificial lake in the country. Depending on the weather, you can swim or stroll along its shores.
- Evening: Arrive at the yurt camp. Enjoy a walk through the dunes covered in saxaul trees. Optional: Camel ride at sunset. After dinner, enjoy a desert concert by a Kazakh singer around a traditional campfire.
- Dinner and overnight at the Yurt Camp.
- Breakfast.
- The Celebration: Drive to Samarkand and dive straight into the modern city to celebrate with the local people.
- Navruz Context: March 21st is the Spring Equinox, marking the start of a new solar cycle and the astronomical New Year for Turkic and Iranian peoples. Listed as UNESCO Intangible Heritage, Navruz is the most popular festival in Uzbekistan.
- Afternoon: Explore celebration sites across both the old and new city. Enjoy festive concerts, book fairs, traditional games, and special cultural programs.
- Lunch in Samarkand during the visit.
- Dinner in the city. Night at the hotel.
- City Tour: Discover Samarkand, the "Pearl of the World" and "Rome of the East," a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.
- Morning: Visit the 14th-century Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum and the legendary Registan Square, home to three majestic madrasahs: Ulugbek, Sher-Dor, and Tillya-Kori.
- Lunch in the city.
- Afternoon: Continue to the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, and the vibrant Siyob Bazaar.
- Dinner in the city. Night at the hotel.
- Breakfast.
- Morning: Visit the Afrosiyab Museum, the Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory, and a traditional Silk Paper Factory.
- Lunch in Samarkand.
- Cultural Immersion: Head toward the mountain foothills to a typical village. Weather permitting: Stop to watch a Buzkashi tournament (traditional equestrian sport).
- Evening: Welcomed by your host family with tea. Walk through the village to see families preparing Sumalak, the symbolic Navruz dish. Participate in a "Palov" cooking masterclass for dinner.
- Dinner and overnight with the host family.
- Breakfast.
- Nature Walk: After breakfast, enjoy a walk through stunning landscapes toward the "Zumrad" cave. Your guide can organize a proper hike or a gentle stroll through the village based on your preference.
- Lunch with the host family.
- Transfer: Head to Samarkand station for the High-Speed Train (AFROSIYOB) at 18:10, arriving in Tashkent at 20:20.
- Dinner in the city. Night at the hotel.
- Breakfast.
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
