From Sogd to Khorezm — Tajikistan & Uzbekistan — 14 Days
PLACEHOLDER CONTENT — replace with the confirmed itinerary, hotel list and exact pricing tiers.
An extended version of “Secrets of Ancient Sogdiana”: the same mountainous part of Tajikistan, but continuing further to the ancient cities of Istaravshan and Khujand, pottery in Rishtan, and the full classic Uzbekistan route to Bukhara.
Route
Dushanbe → Margeb → Lake Iskanderkul → Penjikent → Sarazm → Margozor lakes → Istaravshan → Khujand → Kokand → Rishtan → Tashkent → Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara.
Day by day
- Arrival in Dushanbe, check-in, free evening.
- Dushanbe: National Museum of Antiquities, Hissar fortress, Mehrgon bazaar.
- Drive to Margeb, then on to Lake Iskanderkul (2,195 m) in the Fann Mountains.
- Hike to the “Fann Niagara” waterfall, drive to Penjikent.
- Sarazm settlement, the Margozor lakes cascade, a picnic.
- Drive to Istaravshan over the Shahristan pass — the Mug-Teppe fortress, a craft workshop. Drive to Khujand.
- Cross the border, drive to Kokand.
- Rishtan — the blue pottery workshop. Kokand: Khudoyar Khan’s palace, the Madari-Khan mausoleum.
- Drive to Tashkent over the Kamchik pass.
- Tashkent: Khast-Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar. Drive to Samarkand.
- Samarkand: Registan Square, Gur-Emir mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym mosque, Shah-i-Zinda ensemble.
- Drive to Gijduvan — masterclass with the ceramicists. On to Bukhara in the evening.
- Bukhara: Samanid mausoleum, Ark fortress, Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
- Transfer to Bukhara airport, departure.
Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)
- Comfortable transport in both countries
- Guide in each country
- Breakfasts, a picnic at the Margozor lakes, several lunches as per the itinerary
- Entrance tickets within Tajikistan
Replace with confirmed hotel categories, guaranteed departure dates and the final price (single supplement to be added).