Uzbekistan and the Silk Route with Fergana Valley Extension

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

If you’re visiting Uzbekistan, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least six months from the day you arrive and at least two blank pages.

A visa is not required for entry into Uzbekistan. However, all foreign visitors must present a valid passport upon check-in at their accommodation. Hotel staff will use your passport details to complete mandatory registration with the local authorities. You may also be asked to present proof of registration upon departure, so please keep your registration slip safe.

Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations’ Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.

IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves moderate days of walking on uneven paths and small hills, and getting on and off coaches. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

The currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS). You will need to exchange your money upon arrival in Uzbekistan, as it cannot be obtained or exchanged outside the country. You can convert your cash at banks, bureaux de change, hotels, and post offices, all of which offer the same government-fixed exchange rate. Visa and Mastercard, debit and credit card are accepted in main tourist areas but are not always reliable and smaller areas and establishments only accept local currency in cash. ATM’s are also available in large cities and tourist areas. All foreign currencies can be exchanged in major banks, but the preferred currencies are US Dollars and Euros (new dated notes in best condition).

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.

You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals where these are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, drinks and snacks. Approximately (£400-500) per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour.

It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. we would recommend approximately $5 per day for guide and $3 per day for each driver. Tipping of hotel staff and porters is estimated at $1-$2 per service and restaurants is 5-10% of the bill. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable

There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.

For Private Tours or groups 4 and lower, you will be accompanied by a Driver and Local Guides on excursions. These Local Guides will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.

This add-on is escorted by a tour guide, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times. This may be the same or a different guide to the main tour.

Please note that road conditions in certain regions may differ from those typically encountered in the UK. Some routes may feature uneven or bumpy surfaces or may not be maintained to the same standard.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.

Vegetarian and Vegan options are not always available, please request prior to departure and our suppliers will do our best to arrange this. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels.

Uzbekistan is a predominantly Muslim and conservative country where modest dress is expected. Women should cover their shoulders, midriff, and legs below the knees, and may want to carry a scarf to cover their heads when visiting religious sites. Men can wear shorts, but going shirtless is not appropriate. When visiting mosques, mausoleums, and similar places, avoid tight or revealing clothing and ensure shoulders and knees are covered. Wearing comfortable slip-on shoes is recommended, as they are easy to remove when entering these sites.

On arrival in Uzbekistan, you will be met by a Tour Guide from our local agent, Dolores Travel Group, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Dolores Travel Group representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Please note the representative will be waiting near the main exit on the right hand side of the airport. Please make your way left towards the car rental booths on the left-hand side of the airport. On the right-hand side of the booths will be an area to meet your representative. Any issues at all finding your representative please call the emergency contact number or go to the SIXT car rental desk for assistance.

Please note that business class passengers will arrive at a dedicated business class arrivals hall. A driver or representative will be waiting outside the business lounge holding Mercury Holidays sign.

If you need to contact your representative during your stay, the details are: Dolores Travel Group 104A, Kichik Beshagach str. Tashkent, 100025, Uzbekistan Telephone Number: 00998 78 1208883 (office working hours 09:00-18:00)

Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Dolores Travel Group Ms. Anna: 00998 55 515 883 E-mail: avishnevskaya@dolorestravel.com

• Waterproof, lightweight jacket, lightweight clothing and sweater. For late spring, summer and early Autumn, cotton clothes preferably in light colours and swimwear
• Warm clothing during the winter months
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Camera and charger
• Small day pack for excursions
• Personal toiletries and first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc
• Travel plug adapter – the electricity supply is 220V and plug type C/F
• Sunscreen, insect repellent, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses in the summer months