Complete Uzbekistan

Suggested Itinerary

Overview

An in-depth journey through one of Central Asia’s most fascinating destinations, this comprehensive two-week trip provides unforgettable insight into the history, culture and natural majesty of Uzbekistan. Beginning with a tour in Tashkent provides a good overview of the country’s history and culture before a deep dive in....

Read More

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Suggested Itinerary

This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.

EXPAND ALL ITINERARY DAYS
COLLAPSE ALL ITINERARY DAYS

Day 1 Arrive Tashkent: The Capital’s Highlights

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.

Mirzo Boutique Hotel
Breakfast

Day 2 Tashkent – Nukus: The Aral Sea

Day 2 Tashkent – Nukus: The Aral Sea

Take the short flight to Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan (technically Central Asia’s 6th 'Stan’), and depart straight toward the town of Moynaq, once on the edge of the receding Aral Sea. A brief stop at the Mizdakhan necropolis offers the chance to walk around thousands of ancient tombs, mausoleums and shrines, some of which pre-date the arrival of Islam to the country. Once at solemn Moynaq, you’ll learn of the unhappy fate of the Aral Sea, no more poignantly demonstrated than the showcase of fishing ships that now sit on the former lakebed, known as the ship graveyard, which you’ll visit. Head back to Nukus for the night.

Jipek Joli Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 Nukus – Kyzyl Kum Desert: Savitsky Art Gallery & Desert Castles

Day 3 Nukus – Kyzyl Kum Desert: Savitsky Art Gallery & Desert Castles

Take the morning to visit the fascinating Savtisky Museum, an art gallery housing Karakalpak folk art as well as one of the largest collections of Soviet avant-garde artwork that was hidden from the authorities (and the world) for so long. Then, travel through the Kyzl Kum Desert stopping to inspect a few of the better-preserved desert castles that remain standing, solitary and abandoned in the middle of the desert. The still visible plan of the imposing Toprak Kala helps to picture how the fort would have looked all those centuries ago. Spend this evening in a yurt camp beside Ayaz Kala, the largest of the desert citadels.

Ayaz kala Yurt Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Kyzyl Kum Desert – Khiva: Wander Medieval Streets

Day 4 Kyzyl Kum Desert – Khiva: Wander Medieval Streets

A mid-morning arrival at your historic madrassah hotel, located within the walled city of Old Khiva, offers the rest of the day to enjoy a walking tour of medieval Khiva’s 19th-century streets and Islamic buildings. 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 local restauranteur’s establishment to help bake some fresh Uzbek bread, perfect for a pre-dinner snack during the tour.

Hotel Polvon Qori Boutique
Breakfast

Day 5 Khiva – Bukhara: Soviet Sleeper Train

Day 5 Khiva – Bukhara: Soviet Sleeper Train

A free morning in this romantic city, you’ll have time to enjoy lunch in its old quarters before being taken to the train station in the afternoon to board an old Soviet-era train. Upon your late arrival into Bukhara, you’ll be taken straight to your boutique hotel set in a historic, Jewish merchant’s home.

Bibi-Khanym Hotel
Breakfast

Day 6 Bukhara: History Tour & Homecooked Plov

Day 6 Bukhara: History Tour & Homecooked Plov

The 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 old house 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. After a break at a typical tea house, you’ll then continue 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 to a local Bukharan’s home this evening for a cooking demonstration and homecooked plate of the national dish, plov.

Bibi-Khanym Hotel
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 Bukhara – Nurata Mountains: Summer Palace & Local Pottery

Day 7 Bukhara – Nurata Mountains: Summer Palace & Local Pottery

This morning you depart from the bustling Silk Road city towards the Nurata Nature Reserve. The first stop on today’s drive will be the last emir’s summer palace, displaying an eclectic mix of European and Oriental design and housing a good collection of suzanes (traditional Uzbek embroidery) and Chinese porcelain. Then, head further out of the city along the Golden Road to pay a visit to the shrines and tombs of Vabkent and the potters of Gijduvan. From the main road up into the mountains, the route passes through many small towns before reaching your first village. This afternoon could be spent at the guesthouse getting to know the owners or taking a walk to visit the local mosque and meeting some of the villagers before having dinner back at home with the family.

Nurata Guesthouse (Asraf Village)
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 Nurata Mountains: Rural Life Activities

Day 8 Nurata Mountains: Rural Life Activities

Today there are a variety options to keep you busy including learning how handicrafts are made and having a go yourself, helping bake the bread in traditional ovens, driving out to Lake Aydur for a relaxing swim or heading into the mountains with your guide. There are some wonderful trekking routes around the area of varying lengths and gradients taking you up mountains, between villages or to ruined fortresses.

Nurata Guesthouse (Asraf Village)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Nurata Mountains: Hiking Between Villages

Day 9 Nurata Mountains: Hiking Between Villages

Set off from your guesthouse by foot through the Nurata Mountains on a fantastic hike with your guide to the next village, enjoying a picnic lunch en route as you make your way to your second rural guesthouse where you will settle in for the night after dinner. 

Nurata Guesthouse (Hayat Village)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Nurata Mountains – Samarkand: The Registan

Day 10 Nurata Mountains – Samarkand: The Registan

Saying goodbye to your host family after breakfast, this morning you’ll drive to the famed Silk Road city of Samarkand. Arriving in time for some lunch in the historic city, you’ll later enjoy a tour of Samarkand’s most important historical site (and perhaps the country’s most photographed sight) the Registan. Exploring the buildings of this architectural masterpiece, surrounded by blue tiled madrassahs on three sides, the tour finishes in time to catch the evening light show where Uzbek families and tourists alike gather on the viewing platforms to see the iconic monument in a completely different light, quite literally.

Arka Boutique Hotel
Breakfast

Day 11 Samarkand: Islamic Architectural Gems, Silk Carpets & an Evening Performance

Day 11 Samarkand: Islamic Architectural Gems, Silk Carpets & an Evening Performance

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 some of the city’s other historic sites with your guide, begin by walking around Tamerlane's Tomb, the giant Bibi Khanum Mosque and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis to get lost in its mini cyan city of blue mausoleums. After a stop for lunch, delve deeper into the commodity that started it all, silk. Touring a silk carpet factory, you’ll learn all about the fabric that interwove ancient routes and geopolitics for centuries. Take advantage of a free afternoon to relax, before enjoying a beautiful dance and theatre performance this evening, chronologically showcasing the exquisite dress of Uzbekistan through the years.

Arka Boutique Hotel
Breakfast

Day 12 Samarkand: Crafts at a Paper Mill

Day 12 Samarkand: Crafts at a Paper Mill

Taking a break from ancient architecture, this morning you’ll be taken to a serene oasis located at a paper mill on the outskirts of the city. Here, you’ll be transported back in time browsing the old wooden machinery that still makes paper, amongst other products, using running water from the peaceful canals that flow through the grounds. The humble factory also produces oils, knives and freshly baked bread, which you can enjoy with some tea. The afternoon is left at leisure.

Arka Boutique Hotel
Breakfast

Day 13 Samarkand – Tashkent: High Speed Train

Day 13 Samarkand – Tashkent: High Speed Train

After a leisurely morning, you’ll head to the train station to board the swish, high-speed train back to the capital. With a final free evening you may want to relax before your return flight home tomorrow and perhaps sample some of the capital’s international restaurant options, taking a break from hearty plov.

Mirzo Boutique Hotel
Breakfast

Day 14 Depart Tashkent

Day 14 Depart Tashkent

Check out after breakfast for a private transfer back to the airport in time for your flight, where your Silk Road journey concludes.  

Breakfast

SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

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.

GUIDELINE PRICE & WHAT'S INCLUDED

14 days from $4,650

MEALS

As specified in the itinerary, sampling some of the country's finest cuisine.

TRANSPORT

Private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced, dedicated drivers.

ENTRANCE FEES

Tours and admission fees, including tickets specified in the itinerary.

EXPERT TEAM

Licensed English-speaking guides and a support team available 24/7.

ACCOMMODATION

As specified in the itinerary, using some of our favourite local properties.

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 6518 Wild Miles

ACCOMMODATION

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

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

Tree
Ten trees are planted per passenger on this trip
Community
Supports Wild Frontiers Foundation community projects
Wind Turbine
A contribution to renewable energy projects

WHEN TO GO

START PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Our team of experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you plan your adventure of a lifetime.

WHY WILD FRONTIERS?

Meet the expert, Clem

Clem is our Uzbekistan expert, who has travelled extensively in the country.

Speak to Clementine by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258

In Samarkand, go for a stroll in the Afrosiyob Hills for a great view of Registan Square with none of the crowds.

OTHER ITINERARIES IN UZBEKISTAN