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Classic Silk Road Uzbekistan
Example Itinerary
Overview
The only one of the ‘Stans’ that borders the other four, Uzbekistan is the historical heart of the region brimming with well-kept architectural delights and epic Silk Road tales. Lying at a cultural and geographic crossroad, it was one of the famous trade route’s most important links.
Once traversing the vast distances between the East and West, this classic itinerary tracks a tiny section of the Great Silk Road, beginning in the capital of Tashkent. After exploring ...
The only one of the ‘Stans’ that borders the other four, Uzbekistan is the historical heart of the region brimming with well-kept architectural delights and epic Silk Road tales. Lying at a cultural and geographic crossroad, it was one of the famous trade route’s most important links.
Once traversing the vast distances between the East and West, this classic itinerary tracks a tiny section of the Great Silk Road, beginning in the capital of Tashkent. After exploring some of its main sights, head over to the beautifully preserved medieval city of Khiva via ancient desert castles. Staying in one of the most important madrassahs of the walled fortress city, you’ll enjoy walking around its other 18th and 19th-century palaces and mosques, and meeting with local traders still occupying its historic buildings. Then, travel through the Kyzyl Kum Desert in a Soviet-era train to Bukhara where a tour of this beautiful oasis, once filled with pools and canals, ends with a homecooked dinner of plov, the national dish. With a long history of trade, evident from Bukhara’s exquisite trading domes, there’ll be the opportunity to pop into a family-run ceramic workshop before taking the high-speed rail to the fabled city of Samarkand.
A father-of-the-nation figure, you’ll learn all about notorious Tamerlane touring the many impressive Islamic structures built during his time including his tomb, the giant Bibi-Khanyum Mosque built for his wife and the iconic Registan. Amongst the ancient history, you can also get a flavour of the country under Tsarist-Russia and Soviet rule during a wine tasting in a secret cellar. Lastly, balancing the grandeur of the Silk Road cities, enjoy tea with a family in a rural Uzbek village before returning to the capital.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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Example Itinerary
This is an example itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes and budget, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 Arrive Tashkent: The Capital’s Highlights
Upon your early arrival into the capital, your guide will be waiting at the airport to welcome you to Uzbekistan and take you straight to your hotel where an early check-in has been arranged. Using the rest of the morning to rest, refreshed this afternoon you’ll be picked back up for a tour of the city’s highlights including the central square (Amir Timur or Tamerlane's Square), the Soviet-era Alisher Navoi Opera Theatre, the busy Chorsu Bazaar and the mosques and madrassahs of the old town's Khast Imam Complex.
Day 2 Tashkent – Nukus – Khiva: Avant-garde Art & Desert Castles
Take the short flight to Nukus this morning for a look around the fascinating Savtisky Museum, housing a remarkable collection of avant-garde Soviet artwork. Leaving the city, you’ll then begin driving through the barren Kyzyl Kum Desert stopping at a few of the better-preserved desert castles that remain standing. The still visible plan of the imposing Toprak Kala helps to picture how the fort would have looked all those centuries ago. Arriving in the early evening, you’ll check into your historic madrassah hotel within the walled city of Old Khiva.
Day 3 Khiva: Wander Medieval Streets
Explore the 19th-century streets and Islamic buildings around your hotel on a walking tour of medieval Khiva with your guide this morning. Wandering through the maze of twisting alleyways, you’ll stop to enter the ancient city’s most notable palaces, madrassahs and mosques to hear about the lives of the imams, khanates and harems that occupied them. A living museum, many of the local residents still live and work inside the walled fortress city, so there’ll be chances to pop into the shops of local business owners and to swing by a branch of a local restaurateur to help bake some fresh Uzbek bread, perfect for a mid-morning snack during the tour.
Day 4 Khiva – Bukhara: Soviet Train Across the Kyzyl-Kum Desert
After a morning at leisure in the romantic city, this afternoon you’ll board an old Soviet train traversing the vast Kyzyl Kum, or Red Sand, desert once again to the magical city of Bukhara. A late arrival sees you whisked from the train station straight to your historic hotel set in a converted Jewish merchant’s home in Bukhara’s UNESCO-inscribed historic centre.
Day 5 Bukhara: History Tour & Homecooked Plov
A private walking tour begins this morning by navigating the narrow streets of the Jewish quarter around your hotel, stopping at one of the country’s oldest synagogues and the former home of a wealthy 19th-century merchant. Moving on to the Islamic heart of the city is the central Lyabi Hauz, a serene complex of madrassahs built around a 17th-century pool. Within walking distance are also the massive Ark Citadel and Zindan Prison and the Kalon minaret and ensemble. The day will be broken up with a stop at a typical tea house before continuing on to the historic trading domes for a lesson in Silk Road trade, and perhaps the chance for some shopping at one of the stalls. Enjoy some downtime at the hotel before heading over to a resourceful little restaurant set up in the nearby home of Bukharan family for a hearty plate of homecooked plov, the country’s national dish.
Day 6 Bukhara: Last Emir’s Summer Palace & Quality Ceramics
A morning tour of the last emir of Bukhara’s summer palace, showcasing an eclectic mix of architectural designs and a good collection of suzanes (traditional Uzbek embroidery), is followed by a trip out to the town of Gijduvan. Once known across the land for its ceramics, the special make-up of the earth here is said to produce the area’s high-quality clay, which you’ll see in action at a generations-old, family-run pottery studio. A quick stop at the soaring Vabkent minaret on the way back leaves you with the rest of the afternoon at leisure back in Bukhara.
Day 7 Bukhara – Samarkand
After a leisurely morning, you’ll be taken to the train station where it’s sometimes possible to have a quick look around the Kagan White Palace opposite, before boarding Uzbekistan’s swish high-speed train to Samarkand. Arriving to the fabled Silk Road city, your driver will be waiting to take you to settle in to your boutique hotel set in the Tsarist Russian neighbourhood of central Samarkand. Enjoy some downtime in the historic city for the rest of the afternoon.
Day 8 Samarkand: Islamic Architectural Gems & a Secret Tsarist-era Wine Cellar
One of the key trading cities of the ancient Silk Road, Samarkand became famous as the capital of the vast state created by Tamerlane. Spend the morning exploring the city’s historic sites with your guide by walking around Tamerlane's tomb, the giant Bibi Khanum Mosque, and the iconic Registan Square. After a stop for lunch, there’ll be the chance to delve into Uzbek culture with local craftsmen at a beautiful craft centre, speaking with them as they ply their trade before walking over to the huge Siyob Bazaar for a chance to browse the stalls of locally made products. Head to the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis for those timeless photos and get lost in the mini cyan city of blue mausoleums. If up to it, your driver will be on hand to take you up to Ulugbek's incredible 15th-century observatory, before ending the day with a one-of-a-kind wine tasting in a secret, Tsarist-era wine cellar.
Day 9 Samarkand: Shakhrisabz & Village Life
After admiring so much of Tamerlane’s legacy yesterday, today you’ll learn more about the man’s beginnings with a morning outing to his birthplace of Shakhrisabz. Gaze up in amazement at the sheer size of the enormous portal that remains to what was Tamerlane’s Ak-Sarai Palace, before a chance to climb it for views over the city he built atop his humble birth town, surrounded by the Zerafshan Mountains. Also on the site is his intended mausoleum and the Kuk Gumbaz Mosque. On the way back to the city, you’ll stop to pay a family a visit in their small, rural village where you’re sure to be invited in for a tour of the house and a chat over some tea, as is Uzbek tradition.
Day 10 Depart Samarkand
A private transfer will take you to the international airport in time for your return flight home today after a magical 10 days through Uzbekistan’s legendary Silk Road cities.
EXAMPLE ACCOMMODATION
Orient Star Hotel (Khiva Madrasah), Khiva
Contained inside the 19th century Mukhamed Aminkhan Madrassah, the Orient Star enjoys a faultless location within the walls of Ichan Qala, the medieval citadel in the heart of Khiva. Only a short walk from the city's mosques, madrassas, palaces and hammams, the building used to be the biggest operational madrassah of the city and held up to 250 students. The traditional building now features 60 simply decorated but comfortable and clean en suite rooms. Once cells of the students who studied here, each room is a historical and architectural adventure. The restaurant and bar, situated in another madrasah next to the hotel, offers Uzbek meals and local wine.
Sasha & Son, Bukhara
Sasha & Sons was a 16th-century Jewish merchant’s house that has been renovated and converted into a beautiful, boutique hotel. Located in the heart of city, and within walking distance from ancient Labi-Hauz complex, the family-run hotel is decorated with art pieces and wall paintings handmade by well known Uzbek craftsmen and painters, reminiscent of 18th-century Bukhara. Guests can walk through the peaceful, inner courtyard and up the ornate stairs to the guestrooms. With 20 rooms in total, each offers an individual interior design brimming with local character and comes with standard amenities including air-conditioning and a mini bar. Meals and refreshments can be enjoyed in the dining room or served in the property’s central courtyard.
Wellfort Hotel, Samarkand
Opened in 2023, the Wellfort is found in the ‘Russian’ area of the city and draws inspiration from the classical buildings used during Tsarist Russian occupation of the city. The location is set away from the crowds around Registan Square and is instead near some of higher-end restaurants and cultural offerings of the city. Interior design is reminiscent of European hotels, using light and airy neutral colours, contemporary furniture and four-star amenities. Some room categories also come with a small balcony over the residential street below. A buffet breakfast is served in the mornings at the indoor restaurant, whilst lunch and dinner can also be enjoyed there or on the outdoor terrace. The basement houses a designer-style pool, jacuzzi, sauna and massage room available for an additional fee, though hotel guests get a free hour of use.
Praga Hotel, Tashkent
The comfortable, medium sized Praga Hotel is located in a lovely residential area of the capital, half-way between the airport and the central Amir Temur square and just a 15-minute drive from both. Rooms are cosy and clean with warm, neutral décor and standard international amenities including hair dryers, fridges and toiletries. All rooms are also fitted with air conditioning, soundproofing and have Wi-Fi. A draw of the Praga Hotel is its wonderful rooftop, Alfresco restaurant and terrace bar. Service is fantastic from the English-speaking staff and complimentary snacks and water in the lobby add a nice touch on arrival.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
MEALS
TRANSPORT
ENTRANCE FEES
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
Positive Impact of this Trip
Making a Difference
Community Tourism
People and local communities have always been at the heart of Wild Frontiers and the travel experiences we offer. Through community tourism we have the opportunity to generate real positive impact, supporting people we visit through sustainable local development, and in turn help to alleviate poverty and protect culture and environments in often more vulnerable destinations. While doing so, our clients gain richer travel experiences and more meaningful connections with the people they meet.
Conservation and Climate Action
As a travel company, we hold a responsibility to minimise our environmental footprint and contribute to sustainability, and work closely with local communities to support their efforts. By implementing initiatives such as carbon measuring, tree-planting, reducing single-use plastic and promoting eco-friendly practices, we can help mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on fragile ecosystems and local communities. Additionally, prioritising conservation efforts helps preserve natural habitats and wildlife, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the wonders of our planet.
Wild Frontiers Foundation
The Wild Frontiers Foundation aims to provide a platform to create awareness, raise money and deliver funding to projects in countries where we operate as a travel company. Through the foundation, we are able to channel money into grass roots projects, which we have either established ourselves or support through charity partners. These include initiatives focused around education, the empowerment of local people and community conservation.
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EXPERIENCED LOCAL GUIDES
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HAND-PICKED ACCOMMODATION
Whether you are looking for a boutique hotel, homestay, local guesthouse, luxury spa, tented camp or heritage hotel, our experts can select the perfect property for you.
24-HOUR SUPPORT
Our local agents are there to help you on the ground should you need any assistance, and in addition you will be given a 24-hour UK emergency phone number.Meet the expert, Clem
Clem is our Uzbekistan expert, who has travelled extensively in the country.
Speak to Clementine by calling
+44 (0) 20 8741 7390
OTHER ITINERARIES IN UZBEKISTAN
Check out our group tours in Uzbekistan
As well as private tailor-made trips, we also offer small group tours (max size 12) to Uzbekistan. Led by an experienced tour leader, travel with a group of like-minded people on one of our award-winning group tours.
View Group Tours in Uzbekistan