The 10-day Silk Road in Uzbekistan Tour from South Africa is a journey in the footsteps of the Silk Road, where you will explore ancient monuments of the Eastern Middle Ages and visit the workshops of talented Uzbek artisans.
The tour begins in Tashkent, where you will experience the modern face of the country. From the capital, you'll travel to the Fergana Valley to learn about silk and pottery production and visit several historical sites. After returning to Tashkent, the journey continues westwards, following the path of ancient caravans. You will pass through the majestic buildings of Samarkand, explore the labyrinthine streets of Bukhara with its unique architectural monuments, and finally reach Khiva, a fortified city that serves as an open-air museum.
Below you can read the full details of the 10-day tour to Uzbekistan from South Africa and submit an enquiry for your most unique trip of the year.

Tour itinerary:

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Day 1: Tashkent – Arrival

Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at 14:00. Your tour will start with meeting your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. You begin with a visit to the Courage Monument, one of the key symbols of Tashkent’s 20th-century history. Next, you will explore the Old City part of Tashkent, with the Khast-Imam Complex, where the world-famous Quran of Caliph Uthman is preserved. You will then continue with a drive to the Rishtan Ceramics Center, located in the restored Kallakhona madrasah near Chorsu Bazaar. Next, immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Chorsu Bazaar, a true eastern marketplace. Continue your journey with a ride on Tashkent's Metro, renowned as one of the most beautiful metro systems in the world, to the city center. Visit the Applied Arts Museum and stroll through Navoi Theater to reach Amir Timur Square, where your captivating Tashkent City Tour comes to an end.
Lunch break 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 2: Tashkent – Kokand – Rishtan – Fergana

Early morning transfer to Tashkent railway station. Departure of the train to Kokand at 08:05 (alternative private transport is also available). Arrival in Kokand at 12:16, meeting with the guide and driver to start the active part of the tour in the Fergana Valley. You will visit the main historical and cultural sights of Kokand: the palace of Khudoyar Khan and the Jami Mosque. You will also visit the museum of Hamza, a famous poet and playwright, whose full name is Hamza Hakimzade Niyazi. Next, you will take a short drive to the town of Rishtan (40 km, 1 hour), famous for its magnificent ceramics. You will visit the home and workshop of Rustam Usmanov, a master potter whose works have been exhibited at international exhibitions. You will observe the process of pottery making and admire a beautiful collection of traditional Rishtan ceramics with intricate patterns and blue-green glaze. In the evening, transfer to Fergana (50 km, 1 hour). Upon arrival in Fergana, you will have dinner with a local family, where you will try homemade traditional Uzbek dishes, learn about the culture and way of life of the Uzbek people, and learn about family traditions. During dinner, you will be able to taste dishes such as pilaf, kazan kabob, as well as try authentic tandoor flatbread, local fruits, and sweets. After dinner, transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch break 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 3: Fergana – Margilan – Fergana – Tashkent

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and driver and depart for Margilan (15 km, 30 minutes) to visit the Silk Factory. Here, you will observe the entire process of producing silk fabrics with traditional ikat patterns – from collecting silkworm cocoons to hand dyeing and weaving the fabric on a loom.
After the silk factory, take a stroll through a vibrant oriental bazaar. If your visit falls on a Thursday or Sunday, you will explore the Kumtepa Bazaar; on other days, you will visit the Margilan Central Bazaar. The market is full of lively trade, fragrant spices, dried fruits, handicrafts, and more. During your visit, be sure to sample the local delicacy, halva.
Following the bazaar visit, enjoy lunch at a local café or restaurant*, where you can taste some of the finest dishes of the Fergana Valley. Return to Fergana for a walk in Ahmad Al-Fergani Park. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight to Tashkent. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. This marks the end of your Fergana Valley 2-day tour.
Lunch break 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
*Optional: Trip to the Wine Garden winery (20 km, 30 minutes) for lunch at the restaurant located on the winery grounds.

Day 4: Tashkent – Samarkand

Morning transfer to the railway station for the high-speed Afrosiyob

train ride to Samarkand (journey time 2 h 10 min). Your guide and driver will meet you at train station to begin the city tour in Samarkand. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 5: Samarkand

Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 6: Samarkand – Bukhara

In the morning depart Samarkand and drive to Bukhara (280 km, 4 h*). On the way stop at Rabat-i-Malik Caravanserai. Continue driving. Arrive in Bukhara, check in to the hotel. Spend your afternoon in fascinating Old Bukhara which is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Explore Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Magoki-Attori Mosque, madrasahs of Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, trade domes, Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Chor-Minor Madrasah. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.

Day 7: Bukhara

Start the second day in Bukhara discovering Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Samani dynasty and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Then visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 8: Bukhara – Khiva

In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to Khiva (480 km, 7-8 h*). Today we will have an overland transfer from Bukhara to Khiva through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Khiva late in the afternoon. Check-in to the hotel. Free evening in Khiva.
*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).
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.

Day 9: Khiva – Urgench – Tashkent

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Today you will visit Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour features visits to Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum and Islam-Khoja Minaret, the highest minaret in Uzbekistan. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening you will be transferred to Urgench airport (30 km, 45 min) for flight to Tashkent (1093 km, 1 h 40 min). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours

Day 10: Tashkent – Departure

Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of the Silk Road in Uzbekistan Tour from South Africa.

Price includes:

All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan economy type car; 3-7 pax by van type car; 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 40-50 seat bus;
to Fergana Valley: 1-3 pax by sedan type car;
Accommodation with breakfast: standard double/twin room for Standard and Comfort options, and upgraded rooms for the Premium option;
Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
Dinner in a local family in Fergana;
Tickets for trains Tashkent-Kokand and Tashkent-Samarkand (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
Economy class tickets for flights Fergana-Tashkent, Urgench-Tashkent.