Itinerary
- Day 1
Tashkent
Touch down in Tashkent and get settled. Airport pickup brings you straight to your hotel where you'll spend the night and rest up before things get going.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 2
Tashkent to Termez
Morning takes you through both old and new Tashkent with a local guide. You'll check out the Khazrati-Imam complex, walk through traditional neighborhoods, and browse the Chorsu bazaar. Then it's off to the train station for an overnight journey to Termez, with dinner included as a lunch box on board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Lunch box on the train)
Included Activities
- City tour of Tashkent (old and new parts)
- Visit Khazrati-Imam complex (Barak Khan Madrasah, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Juma Mosque)
- Explore traditional Mahallas neighborhoods
- Visit Chorsu bazaar
- View Independence Square, Art Museum, Amir Temur Square
- Train journey Tashkent to Termez (overnight)
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Tashkent (not included)
Landmarks Khazrati-Imam Complex Barak Khan Madrasah Juma Mosque Chorsu Bazaar Independence Square Art Museum of Uzbekistan Amir Temur Square - Day 3
Termez
Roll into Termez at 09:40 and head to your hotel for breakfast. A guide takes you around this ancient southern city, starting with the archaeological museum and its 27,000-plus exhibits. From there, you'll see the Kirk-Kyz fortress, Sultan Saodat complex, and Buddhist sites at Zurmala and Fayaztepa Stupa. Lunch is included; dinner's on you.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Additional breakfast at the hotel), Lunch
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Excursion to Termez with tour guide
- Visit archaeological museum (27,000+ exhibits including Greek-Bactrian and Buddhist artifacts)
- Visit Kirk-Kyz fortress
- Visit Sultan Saodat complex
- Visit Al-Khakim at-Termezi mausoleum
- Visit Zurmala Buddhist archaeological site
- Visit Fayaztepa Stupa Buddhist site
- Lunch
Optional Activities
- Dinner (not included)
Landmarks Termez Archaeological Museum Kirk-Kyz Fortress Sultan Saodat Complex Al-Khakim at-Termezi Mausoleum Zurmala Buddhist Site Fayaztepa Stupa - Day 4
Termez - Jarkurgon - Boysun - Darband
After breakfast, drive south toward Darband with scenic stops along the way. In Jarkurgan, check out the famous 12th-century minaret and a folk art workshop. Later, hit Boysun's UNESCO-supported craft center. Evening finds you in Darband village in a mountain gorge, staying with a local Tajik family for dinner and a chance to connect with your hosts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (With host family)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Stop in Jarkurgan to visit Jarkurgan Minaret (1108-1109/10)
- Visit Dmitry Inyushev's workshop in Yarkurgan
- Stop at Boysun Art craft center (UNESCO-supported)
- Photo stop at Iron Gates (Darband gorges)
- Accommodation with local family
- Walk through Darband village
- Dinner with host family
Optional Activities
- Lunch on the way (free)
Landmarks Jarkurgan Minaret Iron Gates (Darband) Ghissar Mountains - Day 5
Darband to Shakhrisabz
Start early for a mountain hike from Darband at 1100m up to Lung at 1700m. You'll trek through Darai Buzurg, Kushjilga, and Bindishkof with two picnic lunch stops. Stop by the holy site Khojai Maihona and its pure water spring. Then drive to Shakhrisabz through the historic Darband Gorge and Iron Gates.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch box at 1700 m altitude)
Included Activities
- Morning excursion from Darband to Darai Buzurg Gorge
- Hike to Kushjilga (1400 m)
- Hike to Bindishkof, Miyoni du Devor, and Lung (1700 m)
- Visit holy site Khojai Maihona (1450 m)
- Picnic lunch with scenic stops
- Drive to Shakhrisabz via Darband Gorge and Iron Gates
Landmarks Darai Buzurg Gorge Khojai Maihona Darband Gorge - Day 6
Shakhrisabz to Samarkand
Breakfast followed by exploring Shakhrisabz's historic sites like Timur's palace ruins and mausolea. Drive to Samarkand over the Takhtakarasha Pass, visiting a traditional tissue paper factory, Ulugbek Observatory, potters' workshops, and Shahi Zinda necropolis along the way. Dinner's on you, though a sound and light show at Registan Square is available as an option.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit Ak-Saray palace ruins (14th-15th century)
- Visit Dorus Saodat complex
- Visit Dorut Tilovat complex and Sheikh Shamseddin Kulol mausoleum
- Visit Gumbazi Sayidon mausoleum (15th century)
- Visit Kok Gumbaz Cathedral Mosque (15th century)
- Lunch
- Visit tissue paper factory
- Visit Ulugbek Observatory (15th century)
- Visit potters' workshop near Siob River
- Visit Afrosiob Archaeological Museum
- Visit Shahi Zinda necropolis (14th-15th century)
Optional Activities
- Sound and light show at Registan Square (not included, usually starts at 20:30)
Landmarks Ak-Saray Palace Dorus Saodat Complex Dorut Tilovat Complex Gumbazi Sayidon Mausoleum Kok Gumbaz Cathedral Mosque Ulugbek Observatory Afrosiob Archaeological Museum Shahi Zinda Necropolis Siob River - Day 7
Samarkand
Full day exploring Samarkand's major landmarks including the Guri Emir Mausoleum, Registan Square with its three detailed madrasahs, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, and Siob Bazaar. Lunch is on your own. Evening brings a special dinner at a traditional house before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Special dinner in a traditional house)
Included Activities
- Visit Guri Emir Mausoleum
- Visit Registan Square and three madrasahs (15th-17th centuries)
- Visit Bibi-Khanum Mosque
- Visit Siob Bazaar
- Dinner in traditional house
Optional Activities
- Lunch in local restaurant (not included)
Landmarks Guri Emir Mausoleum Registan Square Bibi-Khanum Mosque Siob Bazaar 
- Day 8
Samarkand to Sentob
After breakfast, transfer to the mountain village of Sentob with photo stops along the way. Once there, explore at your own pace with an English-speaking local guide. You'll see petroglyphs carved into rocks, check out the diverse plant life, and have chances for birdwatching. Lunch happens with your host family, then relax with dinner and stay overnight at the guesthouse.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (With host family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to Sentob mountain village
- Stroll through village
- Walk through village and surroundings with local guide
- See petroglyphs
- Lunch with host family
- Dinner at guesthouse
Landmarks Sentob Mountain Village - Day 9
Sentob to Aydarkul
Breakfast done, travel through scenic desert and mountains to Lake Aydarkul. You'll settle into a yurt camp 8km from the lake, then head out on a camel safari across the desert. Evening brings traditional Kazakh hospitality with an aperitif under the stars and dinner around a campfire with live traditional music.
- Meals
- Breakfast (With local family), Lunch, Dinner (Around campfire with traditional Kazakh music and songs)
Included Activities
- Breakfast with local family
- Travel to Lake Aydarkul through desert and mountains
- Accommodation in yurt camp
- Camel safari in desert
- Observe local flora and fauna
- Possible swimming in lake (depending on season)
- Dinner around campfire with traditional Kazakh music and songs
Landmarks Lake Aydarkul - Day 10
Aydarkul - Nurata - Gijduvan - Bukhara
After breakfast at the yurt camp, drive to Nurata to see Alexander the Great's fortress ruins and the holy spring Chashma. Continue to Gijduvan for a ceramics museum and workshop. Lunch happens along the way. Arrive in Bukhara by evening for dinner at a restaurant and check in to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (At restaurant)
Included Activities
- Breakfast in yurt camp
- Visit Alexander the Great's fortress ruins in Nurata
- Visit holy spring Chashma in Nurata
- Stop at Gijduvan ceramics museum
- Visit Gijduvan ceramics workshop
- Lunch on the way
- Dinner at restaurant
Landmarks Alexander the Great Fortress (Nurata) Chashma Holy Spring 
- Day 11
Bukhara
After breakfast, spend the day on Bukhara's ancient monuments starting with the Samanid mausoleum, Chashma Ayub mausoleum, and Bolo-Khouz ensemble. Tour the massive ARK fortress, Poikalon ensemble, three historic madrasas, and the elegant Tim Abdullakhan. End at the tiny Chor Minor Madrasa with its four distinctive minarets. Lunch is on you; dinner included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (At restaurant)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit Samanid Mausoleum (9th century)
- Visit Chashma Ayub Mausoleum
- Visit Bolo-Khouz Ensemble
- Visit ARK Fortress (6th-19th centuries)
- Visit Poikalon Architectural Ensemble (12th-16th centuries)
- Visit Masjidi Kalon
- Visit Miri Arab Madrasa
- Visit minaret (46 m)
- Visit Ulugbek Madrasa (1417)
- Visit Abdul Aziz Khan Madrasa (17th century)
- Visit trade cathedrals (Togi Zargaron, Togi Telpak Furushon, Togi Saraffon)
- Visit Tim Abdullakhan (1577)
- Visit Magoki Attori Mosque
- Visit Labi-Hauz Complex (16th-17th century)
- Visit Nodir-Devon Begi Madrasa
- Visit Chor Minor Madrasa (19th century)
- Dinner at restaurant
Optional Activities
- Lunch in local restaurant (not included)
Landmarks Samanid Mausoleum Chashma Ayub Mausoleum Bolo-Khouz Ensemble ARK Fortress Poikalon Complex Masjidi Kalon Miri Arab Madrasa Kalon Minaret Ulugbek Madrasa Abdul Aziz Khan Madrasa Togi Zargaron Togi Telpak Furushon Togi Saraffon Tim Abdullakhan Magoki Attori Mosque Labi-Hauz Complex Nodir-Devon Begi Madrasa Chor Minor Madrasa - Day 12
Bukhara to Tashkent
After breakfast, take excursions outside the city to Bahouddin Narqbandi, Sitorai-Mokhi-Hossa (a summer residence), the historic Fayzullah Khodjaev merchant house, and Shavkat Boltaev's photo gallery. Return to check out Chor Minor Madrasa again. Lunch is on your own. Afternoon high-speed train to Tashkent takes 3 hours 40 minutes. Arrive for a farewell dinner before settling in at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner at restaurant)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Excursion to Bahouddin Narqbandi
- Visit Sitorai-Mokhi-Hossa summer residence (19th century)
- Visit Fayzullah Khodjaev merchant house (19th century)
- Visit Shavkat Boltaev photo gallery in caravanserai
- Visit Chor Minor Madrasa (19th century)
- Train journey to Tashkent (high-speed, 3 hours 40 minutes)
- Farewell dinner at restaurant
Optional Activities
- Lunch (not included)
Landmarks Bahouddin Narqbandi Sitorai-Mokhi-Hossa Fayzullah Khodjaev House Chor Minor Madrasa 
- Day 13
Tashkent
On your final morning, have breakfast and check out before noon. Transfer to the airport for your international departure flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
