Jewish Tour of Uzbekistan

(9 days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand

On this private Uzbekistan tour, discover the top cultural sites in fascinating and ancient Silk Road cities, including the legacy of Uzbekistan's Jewish community, one of the oldest in the world.

Begin in Tashkent, the modern capital of Uzbekistan. With your private guide, walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town, and visit the vast Hazrati Imam complex to see historic mosques and one of the oldest Korans in the world. Explore Chorsu Bazaar, a busy market under a huge Soviet-era dome that's stocked with spices, produce and other daily goods. See a local synagogue and Jewish community center. Visit the Museum of Applied Arts, a richly decorated historic mansion dedicated to Uzbek crafts such as silk, ceramics, carpets and wood carving. Other touring options include walking through Independence Square, seeing a local synagogue, learning about the country's diverse cultural influences at the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, seeing important historical artworks at the State Fine Arts Museum, and perusing interesting Soviet-era architecture in the metro stations and elsewhere.

Continue to spellbinding Khiva, a walled oasis town and former Silk Road caravan stop on the edge of the desert. With your private guide, explore the narrow lanes of the Ichan Kala, the historic heart of Khiva and an atmospheric collection of mudbrick mosques, madrassas and markets that once served itinerant traders. See highlights of this open-air museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site, such as the dazzling tile-covered rooms and courtyards of the 19th-century Tash Khauli (Stone Palace), the blue dome of the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, the more than 200 carved wooden pillars of the Juma Mosque, the Islam Khodja complex and the turquoise tile-swathed Kalta Minor Minaret. If desired, climb up a bastion of the Kunya Ark fortress or walk a section of the city walls for views over the rooftops of the town.

Next, visit Bukhara, an ancient Silk Road religious, cultural and trading center. During private touring, discover why this UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered the best-preserved medieval Central Asian town. Learn about the history of the Bukhara Jews while walking through the narrow lanes of the traditional Jewish quarter. See the synagogue and community center, as well as the vast Jewish cemetery, which covers nearly 80 acres. Venture inside ancient domed bazaars to browse stalls for local handicrafts such as rugs, silk, suzani (embroidered textiles), jewelry and woodwork. See additional cultural highlights such as the Ark, an impressive ancient palace-fortress behind mighty walls; the Poi Kalyan complex, including the 12th-century Kalyan (Kalon) Minaret, a masterpiece of patterned brick, and the 16th-century Miri Arab Madrassa, with its enormous portal and two blue-domed towers; the Lyabi-Khauz ensemble, which features two madrassas and a Sufi lodge around a pond and shady plaza favored by locals; the four-towered Char Minar gatehouse; and the 10th-century Ismail Samani Mausoleum. One evening, enjoy a performance of traditional Uzbek dances.

Continue by high-speed train to fabled Samarkand, one of Central Asia's oldest and most important Silk Road cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During private touring, stroll through the old Jewish quarter, see the 19th-century Gumbaz Synagogue and visit the Tomb of Daniel, a popular pilgrimage site that purportedly contains the prophet's remains. Tour the magnificent Registan, a former trading square bounded on three sides by towering madrassas covered in dazzling tile mosaics. Gaze at the blue-tiled portals, minarets and domes while learning about Samarkand's role as the capital of the influential Timurid dynasty in the 14th and 15th centuries. See other Timurid landmarks such as the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the ornate Gur-e-Amir mausoleum dedicated to legendary ruler Timur (Tamerlane) and his relatives, and the 15th-century Ulugh Beg Observatory, a monumental astronomical device. Walk among the beautiful tile-covered mausoleums of the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble, a hillside necropolis active for more than 800 years. You might like to visit local markets and handicrafts boutiques. Also tour the Afrosiab Museum, which houses archaeological artifacts and an important seventh-century fresco. One evening, enjoy a performance about Uzbek history and traditional costumes at the El Merosi theater. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange a tasting at a local winery, a lesson to learn to make traditional bread and other activities.

Return to Tashkent for a night.