This extended Uzbekistan group tour showcases the history, architecture, and culture of Uzbekistan’s evocative Silk Road cities, including three UNESCO World Heritage sites. Follow in the footsteps of caravans as you journey to the fabled trading hub of Samarkand; explore Itchan-Kala, a maze of Islamic architecture within the walls of the old Khiva oasis; visit mosques and madrassahs in the 2,000-year-old city of Bukhara; and experience the blend of old and new in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent. Go further to explore some of Uzbekistan’s more remote destinations including Nukus, home of the renowned Savitsky art collection, the archaeological monuments of ancient Khorezm, the pilgrimage site of Nurata, and a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert.
Tour itinerary:
Arrive in Tashkent. Transfer from the airport to the hotel, checking in from noon. Free time.
After breakfast, take a guided sightseeing tour of Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, the largest city in Central Asia. Visit the Old City, which includes the Khast-Imam Complex and Chorsu Bazaar. Within the Khast-Imam Complex, see the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman and visit the Madrassah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi, and Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore the vibrant Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour. Free time. Transfer to the airport to take the evening flight to Nukus at 18:05 (1,255 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrive in Nukus at 19:45 and transfer to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Breakfast. Visit the Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky*. The museum hosts the world’s second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and an exhibition of applied art from Karakalpakstan. Take a short drive around the centre of Nukus and see the statue of Berdakh, the Karakalpak poet; the Nukus City Hall; and the Karakalpak Music and Drama Theatre. In the afternoon, drive to Khiva (200 km, 4-5 h.). On the way, visit the archaeological monuments of ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk-Kala (a Zoroastrian dakhma, or Tower of Silence) and Toprak-Kala (the capital of Khorezm in the 3rd century). Arrive in Khiva and check-in to the hotel.
*Due to renovations at Savitsky Museum, the archeological and applied arts exhibitions remain closed indefinitely.
*Due to renovations at Savitsky Museum, the archeological and applied arts exhibitions remain closed indefinitely.
After breakfast, take a guided sightseeing tour of the ancient city of Khiva on foot. Visit the Ichan-Kala Fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum and Islom Khodja minaret, the highest minaret in Uzbekistan. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening, join a master-class on cooking tukhumbarak (traditional Khiva-style egg dumplings) at the National House of Zaravshan-opa. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Meals: dinner
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Meals: dinner
Breakfast. Drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h.*) following the route of the Great Silk Road (which passed through the Kyzylkum Desert on the way between Khiva and Bukhara). Stop on the way to enjoy views of the Amudarya River and the desert. Arrive in Bukhara in the late-afternoon and check-in to the hotel. Free time to rest or take a walk among Bukhara’s ancient buildings. Overnight at the hotel.
*depending on road condition (some parts of the road are currently being renovated)
As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
*depending on road condition (some parts of the road are currently being renovated)
As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking sightseeing tour of Bukhara’s Old City. Visit the Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trading domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Breakfast. Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir and a unique combination of Oriental and Russian architecture. Enjoy free time in Bukhara in the afternoon. In the evening, see a traditional puppet show. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
After breakfast, depart Bukhara and drive to a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert (230 km, 4 h.*). On the way, stop in Gijduvan to visit a pottery master’s workshop and take a master-class on traditional pottery. After lunch, continue to Nurata town to visit the Chashma Complex of Religious Buildings and its famous holy spring. Stop at the Nurata Pass to see the Zukarnay Petroglyphs, which date from the Bronze Age. Arrive at the yurt camp and enjoy camel riding and free time. In the evening, enjoy dinner around the camp fire accompanied by a performance of Kazakh akin (folk singers). Overnight at the yurt camp.
Meals: dinner
Meals: dinner
After breakfast at the yurt camp visit Aidarkul Lake, which is surrounded by desert. Free time at the lake and picnic lunch. In the afternoon, leave the yurt camp and drive to Samarkand (270 km, 5 h). Arrive in Samarkand and check-in to the hotel. Time for rest.
Meals: picnic lunch
Meals: picnic lunch
Breakfast. At 9:00 start a sightseeing tour of the fascinating city of Samarkand. Visit the spectacular Registan Square, the Gur Emir (Tamerlane’s Mausoleum), the remains of the Bibi Khanum Mosque, and the Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis. Then drive to Konigil village to explore the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from the bark of the mulberry tree. Free evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Breakfast. Check-out of the hotel by noon. Free time to explore Samarkand or shop for traditional handicrafts. In the evening, transfer to the railway station to take the train to Tashkent (300 km, 2 h 10 min). Upon arrival, go to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: dinner
Meals: dinner
Breakfast. Check-out of the hotel by noon. Free time until your transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.
- Transportation throughout the tour, including airport/train station pick ups and drop offs;
- Accommodation based on sharing of double/twin room; breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class ticket for Tashkent-Nukus flight;
- Economy class ticket for Samarkand-Tashkent trains;
- If more than 8 persons on the tour, a tour leader to accompany the travellers;
- Masterclass and dinner in Khiva, puppet show in Bukhara and farewell dinner in Tashkent.
- Tour leader for the whole duration of the tour (unless there are 8 or more travellers);
- Full board (lunches and dinners, unless otherwise stated);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour.
Accommodation:
| Tashkent - 2 nights |
| Grand Capital or similar |
| Nukus - 1 night |
| Jipek Joli or similar |
| Khiva - 2 nights |
| New Star, Qosha Darvoza or similar |
| Bukhara - 3 nights |
| As-Salom, Fatima, Volida or similar |
| Aydarkul - 1 night |
| Safari Yurt Camp, Aidar Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt) |
| Samarkand - 2 nights |
| City, Meros or similar |
