Uzbekistan - Jewel of the Silk Road

Day 1 - UK - In flight

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your overnight flight to Tashkent.

Day 2 - Tashkent

Tashkent is the country’s modern capital, where Soviet-era architecture hides richly decorated metro stations that rival Moscow’s famously intricate underground. Transfer to the locally rated 4-star Wyndham Tashkent Hotel, then head out for an afternoon guided tour of the city. Visit Independence Square and the Khast-Imam Complex, and wander through the exhibits at the Museum of Applied Art.

Day 3 - Urgench - Khiva

Fly to Urgench and continue by road to the walled city of Khiva. Explore Ayaz-Kala Fortress, dating back to the 2nd century AD and the height of the Kushan Empire, then visit Toprak-Kala Fortress, the 3rd-century capital of Khorezm. Continue to the Akchakul Tourist Complex on the shores of Akchakul Lake, where you stop for lunch and enjoy free time before travelling on to Khiva for a two night stay.

Day 4 - Khiva

Enjoy a guided tour of Khiva, a Silk Road city famed for its elegant architecture and once the last staging post before merchants faced the desert sands en route to Persia. Explore Itchan Kala, the inner fortress and key stop on the Silk Route. Within its walls, visit the 18th-century Djuma Mosque, the Tosh-Hovli Palace, the vast Kuhna Ark fortress and the beautiful Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum. Tonight, dinner comes with a live folk show.

Day 5 - Bukhara

Leave Khiva and cross the dramatic landscapes of the Kyzyl Kum – known in Turkic as the ‘Red Sand’ – the world’s 15th-largest desert. It was once a key route for Silk Road caravan traders, which used to take over a month to travel through – now takes around six hours. Arrive in Bukhara in the afternoon for a three-night stay.

Day 6 - Bukhara

Take a guided city tour of Bukhara, an ancient Silk Road trading hub and important cultural centre, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the 16th-century Kalyan Mosque, the multi-coloured Abdul Aziz Khan Madrasah and the turquoise-domed Mir-i-Arab Madrasah. Spend the afternoon browsing souvenirs in the bazaars or relaxing in one of the city’s tea houses. This evening, join a traditional Bukharian cooking class and learn about regional cuisine, a blend of Jewish and Central Asian flavours.

Day 7 - Bukhara

Head out of the city this morning to tour the Bahouddin Nakshbandi Mausoleum, a memorial to a 14th-century Sufi scholar. Continue to the Sitorai-Mokhi-Hossa Palace, once the summer residence of local emirs. Early this evening, stroll to the Nadir Divan Begi Madrasah for a folklore show.

Day 8 - Gijduvan - Samarkand

Leave Bukhara this morning for the long drive (approximately five hours) to Samarkand. Break the journey with a visit to Gijduvan, located in the Bukhara region and renowned as one of Central Asia’s most important centres of ceramics. Enjoy an included visit to the workshop of a local ceramist to learn about traditional pottery techniques and the distinctive colours and patterns that make Gijduvan ceramics so unique. Enjoy lunch at a local home before continuing to Samarkand. Founded in the 7th-century BC, it was once the capital of a great empire ruled by the legendary warlord Tamerlane, and one of the most important cities along the Silk Road. Today, this ‘Crossroad of Cultures’ is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 9 - Samarkand

Spend a full day exploring Samarkand. Visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the mosaic-clad Ulugh Beg Madrasah, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the impressive Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, a complex of 11 medieval mausolea.

Day 10 - Samarkand - Tashkent

Join another guided tour this morning to the 15th-century Ulugh Beg Observatory, the Afrosiyab Museum and the Mausoleum of Daniel, believed to be the tomb of the Old Testament prophet. Later, take the train back to Tashkent.

Day 11 - Tashkent - UK

Transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.