Things to do in Fergana

Total route: Tashkent - Kokand - Margilan - Kumtepa Bazaar - Rishtan - Tashkent Day 1. Departure at 08:00 from Tashkent (hotel/airport/railway station). It takes ±5 hours drive with sightseing stops to Margilan (300 km). Route: Tashkent - Kokand - Margilan (night in boutique hotel) Description: - Tashkent: In the morning we will head towards the Ferghana valley. One of the regions of Uzbekistan that "is not spoiled by total tourism". The road lasts about 5 hours which includes several stops along the way. - Kamchik Pass The first stop is at the Kamchik pass which is the only transition route between the Golden valley and the capital and by this reason is a strategic important route. It is 2268 meters above sea level and we will climb up to 2000 meters from where there is a beautiful view of all the mountains of the Western Tien Shan. If luck smiles in the spring you can get mountain tulips. Kokand “City of Winds” - after passing we get to the city of Kokand, where we will visit the residence of the last khans of Kokand, and then the mausoleum of all the last khans of this city. - Khudayarkhan Palace - Jami mosque - Dakhmai shahan necropolis - Margilan: The center of the silk industry in Central Asia. We will visit the factory “Yodgorlik” which is one of the main silk producers in Central Asia where you can get acquainted with the process of manual silk production of materials as IKAT and Batik. - Local Bazaar Night in Margilan (can be changed to Fergana) ----------------------------------------- Day 2. Route: Margilan - Kumtepa Bazaar - Rishtan - Tashkent Margilan: Visit to local Bazaar Kumtepa (only on Thursdays and Sundays) where you can see absolutaly Oriental Bazaar, where you can find everything this everything is in chaos. You can feel local commercial atmosphere. - Rishtan: Center of the Ceramic Industry - our way will pass through the city of Rishtan - the center of handicraft production of ceramic products in Uzbekistan. The ceramics of Fergana is one of the most authentic among the local schools of Uzbekistan and which still retains this tradition. Here, at the master's house, we can get acquainted with the process of production of ceramics and we can also participate in this process. - Kamchik Pass After a busy trip to the Golden valley we return to Tashkent (hotel/airport/railway station)

Route: Tashkent - Kamchik Pass - Kokand - Rishtan - Margilan - Tashkent (300 km, ±4.30 hours) Description: Departure from your hotel/airport/railway station in Tashkent. Time can be changed by request of traveller. - Tashkent: In the morning we will head towards the Ferghana valley. One of the regions of Uzbekistan that "is not spoiled by total tourism". The road lasts about 4.30 hours which includes several stops along the way. - Kamchik Pass: The first sightseeing stop which is the only transition route between the Golden Valley and the capital and by this reason is a strategic important route. It is 2268 meters above sea level and we will climb up to 2000 meters from where there is a beautiful view of all the mountains of the Western Tian Shan - Kokand “City of Winds”: - Khudayarkhan Palace (residence of last Khans) - Jami mosque - Dakhmai shahan necropolis (mausoleum of Khans) - Rishtan: Center of the Ceramic Industry - our way will pass through this city which is the center of handicraft production of ceramic products in Uzbekistan. The ceramics of Fergana is one of the most authentic among the local schools of Uzbekistan and which still retains this tradition. Here, at the master's house, we can get acquainted with the process of production of ceramics and we can also participate in this process. - Margilan: The center of the silk industry in Central Asia. We will visit the factory “Yodgorlik” which is one of the main silk producers in Central Asia where you can get acquainted with the process of manual silk production. - Then we can visit Local BAZAAR. - Arrival in Tashkent (hotel/airport/railway station)

Total Route: Tashkent - Khujand - Kokand - Rishtan - Margilan - Tashkent Day 1: Tashkent - Khujand - Kokand Start your tour with a pickup from your hotel in Tashkent. Transfer to the border with Tajikistan, Checkpoint Oybek (100 km, 2 hrs). Customs procedures, meeting by our gudie, transfer to Khujand (70 km, 1.5 hrs) Upon arrival in Khujand, start your tour. Khujand was conquered by Alexander the Great, who rebuilt and strengthened the city, and gave the name ”Alexandria Eskhata". Later it was conquered by the Arabs (VIII century), and later opposed the resistance of the Chingizkhan army, but it was destroyed (XIII century). However, a short time later the city regenerated and became one of the largest commercial, cultural, and scientific centers of the central Asian region Arbob - visit to one of the great architectural curiosities of Khudjant is Palace "Arbob" which was built on the initiative of Saidhodzha Urunhodzhaev, in 1959. The building is just a replica of the building in St. Petersburg's Petergof which Saidhodzhi Urunhodzhaev had seen and decided to build similar in his homeland. In this palace was organized the 16th historical session of the General Assembly of TRSS. Continue to visit: - Khodjand Fortress (VII-VIII century) and its Archeology Museum - Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene (1884) - Mosque and Mausoleum of Sheykh Muslihiddin - Panjshanbe, the famous Oriental Bazaar Transfer to the border with Uzbekistan, Checkpoint Andarkhan. Customs procedures, meeting by our driver and transfer to Kokand Night in Kokand -------------------------------------------------- Day 2: Kokand - Rishtan - Margilan - Tashkent Start the day with a visit to Kokand. Kokand “City of Winds” - where we will visit the residence of the last khans of Kokand, and then the mausoleum of all the last khans of this city - Khudayarkhan Palace: Residence of last Khans of Kokand before russians invasion - Jami mosque: main Mosque of city - Dakhmai shahan necropolis: mausoleum of last Khans and their family relationships - Rishtan: the center of the ceramic industry. Pass through this city which is the center of handicraft production of ceramic products in Uzbekistan. The ceramics of Fergana is one of the most authentic among the local schools of Uzbekistan and which still retains this tradition - Margilan: The center of the silk industry in Central Asia. We will visit the factory “Yodgorlik” which is one of the main silk producers in Central Asia where you can get acquainted with the process of manual silk production of materials as IKAT and Batik - Visit the local bazaar Depart from Margilan - Stop at the Kamchik Pass: is the only transition route between the Golden valley and the capital and by this reason is a strategic important route. It is 2268 meters above sea level and we will climb up to 2000 meters from where there is a beautiful view of all the mountains of the Western Tien Shan Arrive in Tashkent and be dropped off at your prefered location.

DAY 1 Tashkent-Margilan-Fergana 07:00 Transfer to Tashkent Railway Station. 07:55 Train Moves to Margilan 13:00 Arrival to Margilan and visit Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrasah. Today, madrasah is home to a number of craftsmen producing handmade carpets and silk. Have a walk on traditional market and continue to Yodgorlik Silk factory to see the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns. If it is Thursday or Sunday, visit Kumtepa Bazaar, the largest market in Fergana Valley only if its open. (Bazaar is open during Sundays). Drive to Fergana city (18 km ) and visit Ahmad al Fargoniy Park Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Fergana at 3 star hotel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DAY 2 Fergana-Rishtan-Kokand-Tashkent 07:00 - 09:00 Breakfast at your hotel. 09:00 Check out from hotel and Transfer to Rishtan city (60 km. 1 h) After arrival to Rishtan visit the house of a well-known ceramic master Rustam Usmanov whose works are exhibited on world exhibitions. Enjoy a pottery workshop and have a look at ceramic collection in a small museum. Continue to the house of craftsman Bakhrom-aka to visit a traditional Kyrgyz family manufacturing wool carpets. After Ok Yer village. Transfer to Kokand city (45 km. 1 h.) Visit the Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Jami Mosque and Norbut-biy Madrasah. 16:00 Drive to Kokand railway station 17:00 Train departures from Kokand 21:45 Arrival in Tashkent city and transfer to hotel/airport. End of the Tour !!