Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Uzbekistan
You'll arrive in Uzbekistan and connect with your group this evening for a welcome meal. It's a chance to meet everyone and get oriented before the journey really starts tomorrow.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome meal)
- Day 2
Khiva to Bukhara
The road trip from Khiva to Bukhara takes you through open countryside and into the Kyzylkum desert. You'll have time to relax during the drive and watch the landscape change as you travel toward this historic Silk Road city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Landmarks Kyzylkum Desert - Day 3
Bukhara
A guided tour covers Bukhara's major sites including the Poi-Kalyan Mosque and Lyab-i Hauz complex. After traditional plov for lunch at a local home, you'll try your hand at puppet-making, visit a miniature school, and wind down at the Silk Road Spice teahouse before dinner with regional dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Plov hosted by a local in their home), Dinner (Regional delicacies at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Full day guided tour of Bukhara
- Visit Poi-Kalyan Mosque
- Visit Lyab-i Hauz complex of madrassahs
- Traditional Plov lunch hosted by a local family
- Puppet workshop - learn to craft colourful puppet from papier mache
- Bukhara miniature school visit
- Silk Road Spice teahouse visit with local artist performance
Landmarks Poi-Kalyan Mosque Lyab-i Hauz Silk Road Spice Teahouse Bukhara Miniature School - Day 4
Bukhara
You have the freedom to walk Bukhara on your own terms today. The old city's winding streets and smaller alleyways reward wandering, and you can move at your own pace to take in what interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Bukhara's ancient thoroughfares and alleyways
- Day 5
Bukhara to Samarkand
This morning you can either continue exploring Bukhara solo or join an optional trip to the Bahautdin Nakshbandi Necropolis and Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace. After lunch, you'll head to Kagan station and take the train to Samarkand.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Bahautdin Nakshbandi Necropolis (burial tomb of Nakshbandi, the leader of Sufism)
- Optional excursion to Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace (summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara)
Landmarks Bahautdin Nakshbandi Necropolis Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace - Day 6
Samarkand
Samarkand's main bazaar and intricately tiled mausoleums are the focus of your day. You'll also visit the Hovrenko Wine Factory for a tasting that showcases the city's centuries-old wine heritage, then catch a theatrical performance with traditional music at the Samarkand Theatre of Historical Costumes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Siab bazaar
- View intricately tiled mausoleums
- Wine-tasting tour at Hovrenko Wine Factory (19th century winery)
- Historical theatrical performance with traditional music at Samarkand Theatre of Historical Costumes
Landmarks Siab Bazaar Hovrenko Wine Factory Samarkand Theatre of Historical Costumes - Day 7
Samarkand
Spend your day either exploring Samarkand's monuments at your own pace or join an optional tour to Shakhrisbz to see Timur's birthplace. The Ak-Saray Palace with its gold mosaics and the striking blue dome of Kok Gumbaz Mosque are the highlights if you go. Evening brings dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Exceptional Uzbek food at a friendly local restaurant)
Optional Activities
- Optional tour to Shakhrisbz (birthplace of Timur in the 14th century)
- Visit ruins of Ak-Saray Palace (covered in gold mosaics)
- Visit Kok Gumbaz Mosque (impressive blue dome)
Landmarks Shakhrisbz Ak-Saray Palace Kok Gumbaz Mosque - Day 8
Samarkand to Tashkent
Check out the Afrasiab Museum and its collection of ancient artifacts, then visit the Meros Paper Mill to see how paper is made using traditional techniques. In the afternoon, catch the high-speed train back to Tashkent and finish with dinner at a restaurant near your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious dinner at a local restaurant near the hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand (ancient archaeological artefacts)
- Stop at Meros Paper Mill to learn about historic papermaking
Landmarks Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand Meros Paper Mill - Day 9
Tashkent
A panoramic tour of Tashkent shows you the mix of bustling bazaars, Soviet-era buildings, and modern architecture that make up the city. You'll get to know your fellow travelers better over a traditional meal as the tour wraps up.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional meal with fellow travellers)
Included Activities
- Full panoramic tour of Tashkent
- Visit bazaars and Soviet-era structures
- Day 10
Departure from Uzbekistan
It's time to say goodbye to the group and conclude your Uzbekistan exploration. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few final hours in the city before heading to the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
