Flight to Tashkent (with HY, TK or SU)

Tashkent - Travel to Tashkent with a direct flight from Uzbekistan Airways or with a layover in Istanbul, Moscow, or St. Petersburg. Arrive in Tashkent late in the evening or early the next morning. A guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for an overnight stay in Tashkent.

Capital of the country

Tashkent - Discover the contrasting capital of Uzbekistan, where post-Soviet charm meets oriental flair. Tashkent beautifully blends modernity with tradition. In the old town, visit the Khasti Imam complex, home to the oldest Koran. Explore Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Barak Khan Madrasah, and Mausoleum Kaffal Shashi, and experience the vibrant Chorsu Bazaar, a historic hub on the Great Silk Road. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Applied Arts, Independence Square, Navoi Theatre Square, and the Monument to Earthquake Victims. Enjoy an underground journey, followed by dinner and an overnight stay in Tashkent.

The train journey to Kokand, famous pottery from Rishtan

Fergana - After breakfast, take a comfortable train at 08:07 A.M. through the scenic Kamchik pass (2,268 m) to Kokand, arriving at 12:13 P.M. In Kokand, explore the stunning Islamic architecture, including the palace of Khudoyar-Khan and the Juma mosque. Continue to Rishtan, where artisans have crafted azure ceramics for over 800 years. Ceramic master Rustam Usmanov will demonstrate the creation of blue and gold faience. Travel to Fergana for an overnight stay.

Silk from Margilan, drive over the mountain pass to Tashkent

Tashkent - Explore Fergana with a city tour, including a visit to the German cultural center. Travel through diverse landscapes to Margilan. At the “Yodgorlik” silk factory, learn about the production of “white gold,” renowned for its quality and design. Enjoy the aroma of fresh bread at a nearby bakery, where traditional Uzbek bread is baked in a “Tandir” oven. In the afternoon, drive back to Tashkent over the mountain pass for an overnight stay.

Morning flight to Nukus, then port city of Muynak, archaeological complex Mizdakhan

Nukus - After an early breakfast, fly to Nukus. Upon arrival, drive to Muynak (220 km, 3 hours), a former fishing village on the Aral Sea’s shores. View the “ship cemetery” and visit the local museum showcasing the Aral Sea’s history. Enjoy lunch with a local family. Return to Nukus, stopping at the Mizdakhan archaeological complex to explore significant sites. Overnight stay in Nukus.

In the desert, hike in the Badai-Tugai forest

Khiva - Discover a cultural gem in the desert: the Savitski Museum, housing a unique collection of Russian avant-garde art and Central Asian applied art. Around noon, travel to the Amudarya River for a picnic lunch by the lake, with an optional swim. Enjoy a hike in the Tugai forest, home to the distinctive Euphrates poplar. Arrive in the oasis city of Khiva in the late afternoon, enchanted by its atmosphere. Overnight stay in Khiva.

Khiva - the world of fairy tales from a thousand and one nights

Khiva - The enchanting city of Khiva reveals the allure of the legendary Silk Road. The old town, a UNESCO cultural heritage site, resembles a vibrant open-air museum. Explore Ichan Kala, the former residence of the Khan, including Kuhna Ark, Kalta Minor minaret, and Juma Mosque. Visit the 19th-century Tosh Hovli Palace and Islam Khoja minaret. Discover the Pakhlavon Makhmud mausoleum, a masterpiece of Khiva decor. Enjoy dinner near Khiva’s tallest minaret, soaking in the day’s magical impressions. Overnight stay in Khiva.

From oasis to oasis

Ark of Bukhara - Journey along the Silk Road to Bukhara, tracing the caravans’ path through the Kyzyl-Kum desert. Arrive in Bukhara in the late afternoon, with photo stops at picturesque locations. Explore the historic old town upon arrival. Overnight stay in Bukhara.

Bukhara enchants!

Bukhara - A highlight of the trip! Bukhara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an authentic museum. Mosques, madrasahs, and minarets line the narrow, winding streets. The Poikalon complex is a showcase of Islamic architecture, with the 12th-century Kalon minaret as Bukhara’s symbol. Visit the Ark Citadel and Samanid Mausoleum. The heart of Bukhara is the Lyabi-Hauz ensemble, featuring the Kukeldash Madrasah, Madrasah Nadir Devan Begi, and Khanaka. Dinner is in an old Jewish house with a Bukharian family, where Abdurrahman shares book embroidery stories.

Nomadic desert life and camel riding

Bukhara - Continue exploring Bukhara, visiting the merchant Khodjaev’s house, now a museum, to see how wealthy merchants lived a century ago. Visit the summer residence of the last Bukhara Emir, Sitorai Mokhi Khosa, meaning “The place where the moon and the stars meet.” Bukhara is one of the seven holy towns of the Islamic world.

Nurota - In the afternoon, depart Bukhara for the yurt settlement in the Kyzylkum Desert, stopping at the ruins of an old Caravansaray and “Sardoba” (water reservoir), dating from the 11th to 14th centuries.

Yangikazgan - Briefly stop in Nurata to visit a local mosque and holy spring. Continue to the Nurata Pass to see petroglyphs. Arrive at the yurt settlement in the evening. After dinner, enjoy Uzbek songs around the campfire sung by an Akyn (folksinger).

Enjoy in Aydarkul, continue to Samarkand

Aydar Lake - In the morning, drive to Aydarkul Desert Lake for lunch by the lake.

Samarkand - In the afternoon, travel to Samarkand, the “pearl of the Orient,” over 2750 years old, renowned for its beauty and allure.

Samarkand - the pearl of the east

Samarkand - In Samarkand, the tales of One Thousand and One Nights come alive. As one of the world’s oldest towns and a Silk Road hub, visit the Afrosiyob Museum to learn about ancient Samarkand. Explore the Grave Complex of Saint Daniel and the Shahi Zinda Necropolis, adorned in Timur style with majolica and mosaic tiles.

Samarkand - After a break, visit a Silk Paper Manufacturer revived by the Mukhtarov brothers, where traditional Samarkand paper production is demonstrated. Visit Ulugbek Observatory, once Central Asia’s leading research center, and learn about the observatory’s sextant, discovered in 1908.

Samarkand

Samarkand - Be captivated by the Gur Emir Mausoleum, the resting place of ruler Amir Timur. Experience the highlight of the trip at Registan Square, with its grand, intricately decorated madrasas. Stroll along Tashkent Street, lined with souvenir shops, to the Bibi Khanum Mosque, once Central Asia’s largest. Sample raisins, apricots, and nuts at the Bazaar, and enjoy the vibrant local life.

Samarkand - In the evening, attend a theatrical presentation of historical Oriental costumes at the “El Merosi” Theatre, showcasing Central Asian attire from ancient times to the 19th century.

Samarkand, train ride to Tashkent

Shahrisabz - Excursion to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Timur. Travel by private car over a scenic mountain pass, stopping for photos. See the remains of Timur’s summer palace Ak Saray, the Jakhongir Mausoleum, and the Kok Gumbaz Mosque with its blue dome and remarkable acoustics.

Tashkent - Return to Samarkand in the afternoon. Transfer to the station at 17:00h for the “Afrosiyob” fast train to Tashkent, departing at 18:00h and arriving at 20:10h. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Flight to home

Tashkent - Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport, marking the end of the trip.

• Local English-speaking tour guide
• Domestic flight Tashkent-Nukus in economy class
• Sightseeing program including entrance fees according to the itinerary
• 13x hotel accommodation in a double room, 1x yurt accommodation with 4 people
• Round trip/excursions and transfers in air-conditioned modern vehicles
• Tashkent-Kokand and Samarkand-Tashkent train journeys with fast train in economy class
• Cooking together with the national Uzbek dish - Plov with a local family in Uzbekistan
• Visit the paper factory - in a family business in Samarkand
• Savitski Museum (avant-garde art) in Nukus
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Folklore show in the Summer Palace in Khiva on day 3: ¬¬ 15 USD per person

Are you interested in a vibrant mosaic in Uzbekistan? Embark on an exciting cultural journey through Uzbekistan with us, in a small group with frequent availability. Explore the ship cemetery in Muynak, once a bustling fishing village on the Aral Sea. Trek through the Tugai forest and savor a meal by Lake Amudarya! Enjoy an overnight stay in a traditional yurt in the Kyzyl-Kum desert, where you can gaze at the “1001 Nights” starry sky by a crackling campfire, accompanied by music from an Akin, a folklore singer! Dive into the enchanting world of the Silk Road: mosques and mausoleums, stunning architecture side by side - such a striking contrast! Bring your curiosity and engage with the most fascinating mosaic of the Silk Road!

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.