Explore five ancient cities of Uzbekistan on this 10-day tour of Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Nurata, and Samarkand. Learn about the history of trade along the Silk Road and about the rise and fall of powerful empires; experience the rich and fascinating Uzbek culture and traditions; and taste the delicious local cuisine. In addition to visiting many famous historical monuments and admiring impressive architecture, the itinerary includes: riding a camel through the vast Kyzylkum Desert, enjoying supper by the fire while listening to a Kazakh akyn (folk singer), staying overnight in a yurt, participating in a pottery master-class, and other activities that showcase Uzbek culture and nature.
Tour itinerary:
Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at noon. Meet your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman has been preserved. Explore 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. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Early morning transfer to local airport for flight to Urgench (1093 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrive in Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 35 min). Later proceed for guided walking sightseeing tour. Spend a day in Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-Khoja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h*). Today we will have an overland transfer from Khiva to Bukhara through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel.
*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.
*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.
Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Start the day with a visit to 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 and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to yurt camp located in Kyzylkum desert (230 km, 4 h*). On the way we will have a few stops: Gijduvan pottery masters workshop, Nurata local mosque with a holy spring water. Arrive in Safari Yurt Camp, accommodation in yurt. Camel riding and free time. After dinner sit around the camp fire and enjoy Kazakh akin singing folk songs. Overnight in the yurt.
Meals: dinner**
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.
**Though meals are included, based on the experience and tips of our guests, we advise to take some food in advance, as there are no shops around yurts.
Meals: dinner**
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.
**Though meals are included, based on the experience and tips of our guests, we advise to take some food in advance, as there are no shops around yurts.
In the morning visit desert Aydarkul Lake. Free time on the lake.
Extras to do in the area:
Option 1. Camel ride to Aydarkul Lake through the desert (8.5 km, 3 h). Enjoy your time on the lake and have lunch. In the afternoon depart to Samarkand.
Cost: $30 per person for a camel and cameleer service.
Option 2. Take a short camel ride to a nearby village Dungalak (1.5 km, 30 min). Participate in baking traditional bread “non”. Take a short walk in the village to see life of locals and return to the camp.
Cost: $20 per person for a camel and cameleer service.
In the afternoon depart the yurt camp and drive to Samarkand (270 km, 5 h). Arrival in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: breakfast, lunch or picnic
Meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby to start city tour. 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
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Check-out from the hotel till noon. 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. Late in the afternoon transfer to railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob
train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.
- All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by minivan type car; 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 40-50 seat bus;
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class ticket for flight Tashkent-Urgench;
- Ticket for train Samarkand-Tashkent (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace it with the most-comfortable class of regular train).
- Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour;
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa;
- Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
- Travel insurance.
Prices per person
Prices are for 2023 in US$ per person, with discounted prices for larger groups available on request.
Accommodation
Economy:
Inspira / Ateca / Navruz / Moderno / Praga / Milan
Comfort:
Hampton by Hilton / Wyndham Tashkent / Courtyard by Marriot / Panarams
Deluxe:
Hyatt Regency / Hilton
Inspira / Ateca / Navruz / Moderno / Praga / Milan
Comfort:
Hampton by Hilton / Wyndham Tashkent / Courtyard by Marriot / Panarams
Deluxe:
Hyatt Regency / Hilton
Economy:
Zarafshan Boutique / Erkin Palace / Orient Star / Muso Tura
Comfort:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Orient Star / Erkin Palace
Deluxe:
Farovon
Zarafshan Boutique / Erkin Palace / Orient Star / Muso Tura
Comfort:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Orient Star / Erkin Palace
Deluxe:
Farovon
Economy:
Minzifa / As-Salom / Bibikhanum / K.Komil / Fatima / Amulet / Lyabi House / Sasha & Son / Kavsar
Comfort:
Paradise Plaza / Omar Khayam / Asia Bukhara / Minorai-Kalon
Deluxe:
Mercure Old Town Bukhara / Shahriston / Wyndham
Minzifa / As-Salom / Bibikhanum / K.Komil / Fatima / Amulet / Lyabi House / Sasha & Son / Kavsar
Comfort:
Paradise Plaza / Omar Khayam / Asia Bukhara / Minorai-Kalon
Deluxe:
Mercure Old Town Bukhara / Shahriston / Wyndham
Economy:
Safari Yurt Camp / Aidar Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt)
Comfort:
Safari Yurt Camp / Aidar Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt)
Deluxe:
Safari Yurt Camp / Aidar Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt)
Safari Yurt Camp / Aidar Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt)
Comfort:
Safari Yurt Camp / Aidar Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt)
Deluxe:
Safari Yurt Camp / Aidar Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt)
Economy:
Gur Emir Palace / Jakhongir Premium / Silk Road Empire / Bibikhanum / City / Asia Samarkand / Usman / Wellfort
Comfort:
East Star / Zarafshon Parkside / Dilimah / Royal / Medina / Platan / Grand Samarkand Superior
Deluxe:
Movenpick / Hilton Garden Inn
Gur Emir Palace / Jakhongir Premium / Silk Road Empire / Bibikhanum / City / Asia Samarkand / Usman / Wellfort
Comfort:
East Star / Zarafshon Parkside / Dilimah / Royal / Medina / Platan / Grand Samarkand Superior
Deluxe:
Movenpick / Hilton Garden Inn
Tour Request
Amazing Ancient Cities of Uzbekistan Reviews
Author: Anique M. | Rating: 513 December 2017
Arrival in Tashkent was organized excellently. Drivers were always on time. Very interesting and beautiful cities. Drivers were all very friendly and very good and safe drivers. We would definitely use Advantour again for trips to Central Asia.
Visited September 2017
Visited September 2017
Author: Shane and Rhiannon Kay | Rating: 506 November 2017
Fantastic tour, well organised from start to finish. The guides were all top quality. Farid (driver) was simply outstanding and made the trip brilliant. He was an extra guide in effect, always willing to answer and offer insight into Uzbek life and always professional.
Visited August 2017
Visited August 2017
Author: Alessandra Guersi | Rating: 522 August 2017
Very good organization of a tour in a beautiful and surprising country with lovely people.
Visited August 2017
Visited August 2017
Author: Alice Sozzi | Rating: 530 June 2017
I am an experienced traveler. I have been travelling a lot, but this time I felt special feeling about Uzbekistan. I am in love with the culture, history, people, everything. I will be back soon.
The guide in Tashkent Vadim was a bit too quick, but good explanation. Bekhruz in Bukhara is super, knowledgeable. He really took care. Very good to talk to him. Laura in Samarkand is very friendly; it was lovely to spend time with her and she is good at explaining. Saida is nice, super and friendly.
Visited June 2017
The guide in Tashkent Vadim was a bit too quick, but good explanation. Bekhruz in Bukhara is super, knowledgeable. He really took care. Very good to talk to him. Laura in Samarkand is very friendly; it was lovely to spend time with her and she is good at explaining. Saida is nice, super and friendly.
Visited June 2017
Author: Yusof Hanlon | Rating: 526 May 2017
The tour was extremely well organised and we encountered few issues during our travels which was well appreciated. The connections between cities and guides was well arranged. We asked to see all the sites we wanted and had a large variety of plans into our schedule. There were one or two sites that were closed upon us waiting to visit, it could have been helpful to have checked this earlier to avoid disappointment upon arriving at the site.
Vadim, guide, very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. I learned a lot. Mukhammad Yunusov from Ayaz Kala to Khiva very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Sergey in Termez extremely knowledgeable and friendly.
Visited April 2017
Vadim, guide, very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. I learned a lot. Mukhammad Yunusov from Ayaz Kala to Khiva very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Sergey in Termez extremely knowledgeable and friendly.
Visited April 2017
