New tour product
Uzbekistan Wildlife Adventures
The exotic nature of Uzbekistan with its vast deserts, spectacular mountain ranges, numerous rivers, lakes, reservoirs, Nature reserves and a great variety of rare species attracts nature enthusiasts from all over the world. This tour is a combination of diverse activities for those who are keen on ornithology, botany and zoology. It enables you to visit nature reserves, such as Zaamin reserve, Zeravshan reserve, ecology Center “Jeyran” and other ecologically preserved regions, where you can witness endemic representatives of flora and fauna, included into the Red Data Book of endangered species. In addition, you will have an opportunity to see the architectural highlights of Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent.
For a detailed itinerary click here. |
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Latest Events
A friend indeed
For assistance and service rendered to passengers of ICTAM TRAVEL company (Belgium) during flight disruption caused by volcano ash cloud, Sairam Tourism company was awarded the title of “Friend in need”, which is confirmed by “Certificate of Excellence”
Read more In April this year the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland was the world top news headline. Spreading of the volcano ash cloud caused not only transport chaos in majority of European countries, but also grounded flights in many countries located thousands of kilometres away from eruption epicentre. Tashkent international airport was no exception. The flights heading for Europe were delayed and thousands of passengers were stranded in the Tashkent airport. Sairam Tourism company was one of the first tourist companies to spring into action to assist the stranded passengers with accommodation in the city hotels.
In his letter of appreciation the ICTAM TRAVEL company representative wrote:
“The crisis was tough….
But one light in that dark period, was the help we got from you, our agent, at the drop of a hat, at week-end, even for groups you were not aware of...
You did prove the saying right, "A friend in need, is a friend indeed”” |
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Expeditions
Following in the footsteps of Avicenna
Abu Ali ibn Sino (Avicenna) (980-1037) is one of the greatest scientists, philosophers and physicians of medieval Central Asia. He authored some 450 books on a wide range of subjects. His best-known work which brought him world-wide fame, is 14-volume The Canon of Medicine which up to the 17th century was a medical manual both in the East and in the West.
For a detailed itinerary click here. |
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Events via pictures
Around Uzbekistan by bus
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Breaking news
Guidebook Tashkent – the new guidebook to Uzbek capital published in English
A new guidebook to Tashkent in English has been designed and published by TURKESTON ART company.
Read more The Guidebook contains full information on the Uzbek capital: description of historical, archeological and architectural monuments, statistical data, map of the city, information about Tashkent best hotels, restaurants, cafes, galleries, museums, photo studios and beauty salons, cinemas, air ticket offices, supermarkets, medical centres, stadiums, theatres, tourist agencies, railway stations, churches and mosques, embassies, banks, markets, business centres and souvenir shops, and other useful information. |
Flower festival took place in Samarkand
In Samarkand, with assistance of the City Department of Cultural and Sport Affairs, there was organized the Flower festival under the slogan “Let my Samarkand bloom!” The festival was devoted to the World Environment Day.
Read more The main purpose of the event was to raise citizens’ ecological awareness, to develop community’s sense of responsibility for protecting and creating green spaces in the streets, yards, gardens, to develop in youth the ecological culture, aesthetic world view, and caring attitude to nature.
The programme of the festival included flower fair, contest of flowers and decorative plants, experts’ consultations, meetings of nature-lovers. The visitors had a unique opportunity to marvel at abundance of gorgeous flowers presented by the leading floriculturists, to get experts’ recommendations on indoor and outdoor plants flowering and gardening.
Organizers and sponsors of the Flower festival in Samarkand plan to make the festival a tradition in order to involve more and more Samarkanders into the city landscaping and gardening activities. |
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Tourist Gems
Equestrian game Ulak – the traditional pastime of Uzbek horsemen
Taking into consideration the increased interest of numerous foreign guests to national sport game Ulak, as well as with the purpose of maintaining the national Uzbek traditions, National Company “Uzbektourism” put forward a proposal of arranging Ulak sport competition on a regular basis. The Ministry of Culture and Sport Affairs together with Ulak Federation of Uzbekistan supported the initiative and as provided by their joint decision starting from 2011 the annual Ulak sport tournaments are to be held in March and November. This spectacular competition is included into the list of sport events of the Ministry and will be financed from the Ministry’s funds.
Read more |
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Hotels News
A new high class hotel opened in Navoi
The management of the new Silk Road Palace Hotel in Navoi was handed over to “Xalqaro Hamkorlik Markazi” stock company.
This four-star hotel is conveniently located close to Navoi International airport, in 4.5 kilometres from “Navoi” Free Industrial-Economic Zone, and just 20-minute walk from the city centre.
Read more The hotel features 66 comfortable stylishly decorated guestrooms including 62 standard rooms and 4 deluxe suites.
The hotel also offers well-equipped fitness-centre with sauna and swimming pool, a spacious conference hall for 100 seats, meeting rooms, business-centre, cozy Sun Valley restaurant with chef’s specialties menu, Oasis lobby bar, parking lot.
The qualified multi-lingual staff of the hotel provides quality service and security. |
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Airlines News
A new air terminal building was put into operation in Ferghana
In Ferghana, there was completed the reconstruction of a new international air terminal building. The cost of the project is $5.3 million.
On completion of reconstruction works, the Ferghana airport started to meet the international standards and today it offers many additional services appropriate to its status of an international airport.
Read more Thus, there was opened special lounge for tourists and VIP lounge for servicing businessmen. In front of the airport, there appeared flowerbeds and fountains. There was also opened a café and a round-the-clock car park. |
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Land Transport News
“Registan” train frequency increased
In June this year the Uzbekistan Railway company launched additional fast train “Registan” No 3/4 between Samarkand and Tashkent.
Read more “Registan” express train of high comfort starts from Samarkand at 6:20:00 AM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and arrives to Tashkent at 9:50:00 AM. From Tashkent the train starts at 6:20:00 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. It arrives to Samarkand at 9:50:00 PM. Travel time is 3.5 hours.
The introduction of an additional train will make it more convenient for the passengers to travel both directions.
At present, “Registan’ train No 1/2 continues to operate the route between two megalopolises of the country- Tashkent and Samarkand. The train departs at 7:00:00 PM on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Departure from Samarkand is at 5:00:00 PM on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
In addition, in 2011 the Uzbekistan Railway company plans to use two high-speed “Talgo-250” electric trains on this route. |
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Tourist attractions
“A thousand and one lamps” – a magic exhibition of Uzbek ceramists
In May 2010, in a cozy courtyard of Usto-Shogyrd school of ceramics, there was opened an unusual exhibition titled “A thousand and one lamps”. This is a new project of the Rakhimovs dynasty of ceramists, organized with the support of Fund Forum and IJOD Association of Artists, Art Critics and People's Masters of Uzbekistan.
Read more The exposition presented 1001 ceramic lamps made in different styles. Among the exhibits there were candleholders, various ceiling, floor and wall lamps. While manufacturing the lamps the ceramists used ancient restored technologies as well as their own peculiar methods.
Rakhimovs dynasty of ceramists is well-known in Tashkent and numbers six generations. At present the traditions of the dynasty are kept up by Akbar Rakhimov and his son Alisher. In 2006 there was opened in Tashkent the first school of ceramics “Usto-Shogyrd”.
Ceramist Akbar Rakhimov, the Honoured Art Worker of Uzbekistan, carries on the working traditions of his father Usto Mukhidin Rakhimov and devoted his life to studying the ancient ceramic centres of Uzbekistan as well as to revivifying ancient artistic techniques.
His son Alisher Rakhimov, guided by his father’s and grandfather’s experiences, spent several years on making an original collection, a kind of ‘chronicle’ of Uzbek ceramic art. He created a series of glazed Kushan ceramics popular in the 1st-3rd centuries, ceramics made in traditions of 9th-10th century Samanids epoch, raven-black pots imitating the style of Temurids times, bowls replicating antique forms of earthenware found on Afrosiab site with clear graphic design and inscriptions in Arabic. He also revived the ceramic with “pin” patterns characteristic of the 2nd-century potters, carved ceramics which was widespread in the region in the 5th century, and green-and-yellow earthenware with transparent slip glaze which was in general use in the 13th century. He was also the one who revived the long-forgotten “kashgari” ceramic style rather popular in Tashkent four centuries ago.
The works by Alisher Rakhimov were successfully displayed at numerous art exhibitions in France, Germany and Japan. |
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Culture News
Khiva hosts the traditional Festival "Asrlar sadosi 2010"
Early in May this year, for two days the ancient city of Khiva hosted the Third Festival of traditional culture - “Asrlar sadosi”, which is annually organized by Fund Forum and UNESCO Representation in Uzbekistan.
Read more The event started on May 8th, when the melodies of karnai and surnai musical instruments resounded through the Ichan-Kala - the historical core of Khiva as groups of dancers and musicians paraded throughout the ancient town. The town’s narrow streets swelled with thousands of onlookers and tourists, including 100 foreign guests from Austria, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Korea, Norway, Russia, USA, Turkey, Czechia, Switzerland and Japan. They came here to take part in the celebrations of the Festival.
Ichan-Kala was turned into one big stage for grandiose show of rich Uzbek culture. At the foot of Kalta-Minor minaret the spectators could watch comic combats of wrestlers from the “Khiva” group, whereas at the walls of Mukhammad-Rakhim-khan madrassah the artists entertained the onlookers with national puppet-show.
The numerous gusts of the Festival were captivated by multicoloured stands of decorative and applied art fair offering wood carving and carpets from Khiva, ceramics from Ferghana region, fabrics from Samarkand, miniatures from Tashkent, and embroidery from Bukhara.
On the territory of Tash-Hauli palace complex there was organized national costume festival, which united 15 designers from Tashkent, Khorezm, Kashkadarya region and Bukhara. At the fashion parade, which started with a staged improvisation of an oriental fairy tale, there were demonstrated 13 ethnographic and stylized fashion collections.
A number of scientific and educational events took place within the framework of the Festival, including lectures and master-classes by Uzbekistan archeologists.
The culmination of the Festival was the gala-concert held in Kokhna-Ark palace. The concert programme included performances by folklore groups, bakhshi singers, dance ensembles and popular artists. The concert was also showed on a big monitor screen set up in front of the palace. |
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Archeological findings
The archeological monuments of Uzbekistan are under the parliamentary control
The issues of implementation in Surkhandarya Province of Uzbekistan’s Law “On protection and utilization of archeological heritage sites” have been discussed at the joint meeting of Senate Committee of Uzbek Parliament and Council of people’s deputies of Surkhandarya Province.
Read more At present, the State Inspection for protection of cultural heritage and Board of land resources and state cadastre of Surkhandarya Province have worked out the measures aimed at inclusion of 53 archeological sites of the region into state cadastre of material cultural heritage. Meanwhile, there has been created a web-site “Archeology and ethnography of Syrkhandarya”, which is designed for public at large. The Termez archeological museum has developed the tours to archeological monuments located on the territory of Surkhandarya province.
Today the province possesses 700 archeological monuments discovered by the scientists from Institute of Archeology during the excavation works of 1994-2009. In 2009 alone archeologists explored 8 archeological sites on the territory of the province. The Termez archeological museum, set up in 2002, has become one of the most important museums of Central Asia. It has more than 60,000 exhibits found during the excavation works on Fayaztepa, Dalvarzintepa, Koratepa and other ancient sites. |
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Food and Drink
A new Chinese restaurant offers culinary delights and quality service
Chinese cuisine rapidly wins its fans all over the world. The Uzbek capital is no exception. Today there are dozens of big and small Chinese restaurants in Tashkent. Of special popularity among the Tashkent citizens and its numerous guests are such restaurants as: Tianjin, Shanghai-Continent, Druzhba, New Shanghai, China, China-town, Zhang Zin Tsoi. Besides, Chinese dishes are on menu in many restaurants of the Uzbek capital.
Recently, there has appeared one more Chinese family restaurant in Tashkent - YongNuo
Read more The first floor of the restaurant features 80 seats, whereas the second floor offers several private rooms convenient for small parties of friends or co-workers.
The YongNuo restaurant was opened by Liong couple from China. Just as in many family restaurants, YongNuo restaurant attracts with its friendly atmosphere, authenticity of national Chinese cuisine and quality of food. The restaurant menu offers more than 160 dishes including rather exotic ones. YongNuo is a real Chinese restaurant where culinary experience of its owner and reverent attitude towards the guests ensure every visitor enjoys the time spent here. |
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Entertainment news
World Cup viewing parties in Tashkent bars and restaurants
For millions of football fans all over the world the period from June 11 to July 11 2010 is time for the biggest sporting event in the world, soccer’s World Cup, when football fanatics stick to their TV sets trying not to miss out a kick of their favourite team. But what if you are away from home, or if you want to invite your mates over for a couple of brews and some great World Cup bonding? You don’t have to worry. For football fans many Tashkent bars and restaurants arranged necessary facilities purposely for hosting World Cup viewing parties.
Read more New Wave sport and health complex, for example, arranged big sheet screen to show World Cup games live. The visitors could also delight in exclusive hookahs, exquisite chef’s buffet menu. As usual the visitors could also enjoy a big swimming pool and saunas, not to mention the bar service.
On the threshold of the World Cup Platinum club opened a summer Terrace where the visitors could watch all the action with happy hours, exclusively delicious dishes and ample bar menu, extensive beer list and special beer snacks.
For the viewing pleasure of the visitors Lounge bar & restaurant Del'mar erected three big screens. To support the passionate sporting spirit and enthusiasm the bar offers a selection of cocktails and beer, the chef’s exquisite snacks. Besides, the venue organized body-art with images of flags and symbols of the favourite football team to be made on any part of the visitor’s body.
Like most other establishments, Red Stone Pub restaurant has also installed three big screens for showing the matches live for the duration of the tournament. It also features a selection of music, food and excellent beer brewed from barley malt according to the traditional German technology.
This list of metropolitan bars and restaurants is far from being complete. There are many other venues around the Uzbek capital where the visitors have had the opportunity to take in all World Cup matches on a large screen or on a plazma panel, and in the company of like-minded friends support the favourite team. |
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Tel.: (+998 71) 233-74-11; 233-74-21