Itinerary
- Day 1
Tashkent
You'll be met at Tashkent airport and taken to your hotel. The rest of your day is free to settle in and recover from travel.
- Day 2
Tashkent to Nukus
After breakfast, start with the Khast Imam complex in the old city, then check out the Kukeldash Madrasah. Walk through the vibrant Chorsu bazaar with its distinctive domed architecture and take part in a cultural workshop. Later that afternoon, you'll fly to Nukus and transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Khast Imam complex
- Visit Kukeldash Madrasah
- Explore Chorsu bazaar
- Visit A. Rakhimov's workshop
- Domestic flight Tashkent to Nukus
Landmarks/POIs Khast Imam complex Kukeldash Madrasah Chorsu bazaar - Day 3
Muynak - Mizdakhan
Drive to Muynak to see the 'Cemetery of Ships' where abandoned vessels rest in sand from what used to be a working port. You'll have lunch with a local family and hear about their everyday life. On the way back, stop at the Mizdakhan historical complex to explore ruins across three hills, including the 4th century BC Gyaur-Kala Fortress.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with local family)
Included Activities
- Visit Muynak and Cemetery of Ships
- Lunch with local family
- Visit Mizdakhan complex
- Visit Gyaur-Kala Fortress
Landmarks/POIs Muynak Cemetery of Ships Mizdakhan complex Gyaur-Kala Fortress - Day 4
Nukus to Khiva
Head out early toward Khiva, stopping along the way to walk through the archaeological sites at Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala with their ancient fortresses. Once you reach Khiva, check out the Ichan Qala complex, a UNESCO site with over 50 historic monuments and distinctive brick walls. Then visit Pakhlavan Mahmud, the holiest shrine in Khiva and burial site of the Khiva Khans.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ayaz Kala archaeological site
- Visit Toprak Kala archaeological site
- Explore Ichan Qala complex
- Visit Pakhlavan Mahmud shrine
Landmarks/POIs Ayaz Kala Toprak Kala Ichan Qala Pakhlavan Mahmud - Day 5
Khiva to Bukhara
Travel from Khiva to Bukhara and see the city's main sites. You'll visit the Chashmai-Ayub Mausoleum, the tall Kalon Minaret and Miri-Arab Madrasah at Poyi-Kalon, stroll through Lyabi-Hauz, check out the Samanids Mausoleum with its early Islamic design, explore the Nadir Devonbegi Madrasah, and finish at the Ark Citadel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chashmai-Ayub Mausoleum
- Visit Poyi-Kalon Complex with Kalon Minaret and Miri-Arab Madrasah
- Walk through Lyabi-Hauz Complex
- Visit Samanids Mausoleum
- Visit Nadir Devonbegi Madrasah
- Visit Chor-Minor
- Visit Ark Citadel
Landmarks/POIs Chashmai-Ayub Mausoleum Kalon Minaret Miri-Arab Madrasah Lyabi-Hauz Complex Samanids Mausoleum Nadir Devonbegi Madrasah Chor-Minor Ark Citadel - Day 6
Gijduvan - Nurata - Kyzyl Kum Desert
Morning starts in Bukhara visiting the Chashmai-Ayub Mausoleum, Samanids Mausoleum, Chor-Minor Minarets, and Ark Citadel. Then transfer to Gijduvan to see a ceramic school and museum. After, head to Nurata to visit the local mosque and Chashma spring with an optional climb to Alexander's Castle ruins. By evening you'll reach a yurt camp in the Kyzyl Kum desert for a camel ride and campfire dinner with traditional music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Chashmai-Ayub Mausoleum
- Explore Samanids Mausoleum
- Explore Chor-Minor Minarets
- Explore Ark Citadel
- Visit Museum of Ceramics in Gijduvan
- Visit Nurata mosque and Chashma spring
- Camel ride in Kyzyl Kum desert
- Dinner around campfire with folk music
Optional Activities
- Climb to ruins of Castle of Alexander (Fortress of Nur) - uphill, easy-mid difficulty
Landmarks/POIs Chashmai-Ayub Mausoleum Samanids Mausoleum Chor-Minor Ark Citadel Museum of Ceramics Nurata Mosque Chashma spring Castle of Alexander (Fortress of Nur) - Day 7
Aydarkul Lake - Asraf Village
Take a trip to Aydarkul desert lake with its turquoise water and have the option to swim if weather cooperates. Picnic by the shore and then head to Asraf village. You'll stay with a host family and learn traditional cooking, building methods, crop cultivation, livestock raising, and bake traditional Uzbek bread together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Aydarkul desert lake
- Picnic on lake shore
- Stay with local family in Asraf
- Masterclass on baking Uzbek bread
Optional Activities
- Swim in Aydarkul lake (weather dependent)
Landmarks/POIs Aydarkul desert lake - Day 8
Asraf to Samarkand
Spend your morning in the village experiencing local life, then transfer to Samarkand. After lunch and checking in, explore the Registan plaza with its three ornate majolica-covered madrassas, the Gur Emir tomb of Timur, Shakhizinda necropolis, and the impressive Bibikhanum Mosque.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Registan
- Visit Gur Emir
- Visit Shakhizinda
- Visit Bibikhanum Mosque
Landmarks/POIs Registan Gur Emir Shakhizinda Bibikhanum Mosque - Day 9
Tersak - Takhta Karacha - Tashkent
Drive to Tersak village to meet a local family for tea and dried fruits while exploring the quaint surroundings and mountain views. Continue to the Takhta Karacha mountain pass for panoramic views of snow-covered Pamir Altay peaks. Explore the 'Devil Valley' with its unusual rock formations and local stories, then return to Samarkand to catch the high-speed train back to Tashkent with dinner upon arrival.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Tersak village
- Meet local family for tea and dried fruits
- Visit Takhta Karacha mountain pass
- Explore Devil Valley
- High-speed train Samarkand to Tashkent
Landmarks/POIs Tersak village Takhta Karacha mountain pass Devil Valley - Day 10
Tashkent to Khudjand, Tajikistan
Cross into Tajikistan at the Oybek border point and continue to Khudjand, the second largest city in the country. Walk through the Panjshanbe bazaar, visit the Mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin, explore the Complex of Kamoli Khujandi, and see the Tajik Sea. Grab lunch at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in local restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Panjshanbe bazaar
- Visit Mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin
- Visit Complex of Kamoli Khujandi
- Visit Tajik Sea
Landmarks/POIs Panjshanbe bazaar Mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin Complex of Kamoli Khujandi Tajik Sea - Day 11
Sarytag
Travel to Iskanderkul, a mountain lake of glacial origin in the Fann Mountains at 2,195 metres altitude. See the Niagara Fanns waterfall dropping 35 metres and visit the beautiful Zmeinoe Lake. Later, settle into a homestay in Sarytag village and take an evening walk to explore the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Iskanderkul lake
- View Niagara Fanns waterfall
- Visit Zmeinoe Lake
- Evening walking tour in Sarytag village
Landmarks/POIs Iskanderkul lake Niagara Fanns waterfall Zmeinoe Lake - Day 12
Fann Mountains
Spend the day hiking through the Fann Mountains, part of the western Pamir-Alay system. You'll climb Alexander the Great Mountain to experience dramatic mountain landscapes and get panoramic views across the range.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore and hike Fann Mountains
- Hike Alexander the Great Mountain
Landmarks/POIs Fann Mountains Alexander the Great Mountain - Day 13
Iskanderkul Lake to Dushanbe
Travel from Iskanderkul Lake to Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital on the Varzob River. Check into your hotel and the rest of your day is free to explore or relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 14
Dushanbe
See Dushanbe's main attractions including Hissar Fortress with its 18th-19th-century walls and the 8th-century mosque. Check out the Museum of National Antiquities with its 1,500-year-old reclining Buddha statue. Walk around the Ismoili Somoni Monument and Rudaki Park, try tea and hot bread at traditional Choikhona teahouses, browse the ancient bazaar and craft workshops, then have dinner at Kishmish restaurant with ethnic music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in traditional Indian restaurant), Dinner (Dinner at Kishmish restaurant with ethnic music and performances)
Included Activities
- Visit Hissar Fortress
- Visit Old Medressa (Madrasai Kuhna)
- Visit New Medressa (Madrasai Nav)
- Visit Caravan Saray
- Visit Museum of National Antiquities
- Visit Ismoili Somoni Monument
- Visit Rudaki Park
- Visit traditional Choikhona teahouses
- Explore ancient oriental bazaar
- Explore craft workshops
Landmarks/POIs Hissar Fortress Old Medressa (Madrasai Kuhna) New Medressa (Madrasai Nav) Caravan Saray Museum of National Antiquities Ismoili Somoni Monument Rudaki Park - Day 15
Dushanbe Departure
After breakfast, you have the day free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
