A Classic Silk Road Trip to Uzbekistan - Visit Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva (SR-04)

Uzbekistan boasts the highest number of tourist-worthy sights in the region. A major hub on the Silk Road here you can see how different cultures, ideologies and faiths shaped the cities here as merchants and traders travelled along its route. Our classic Silk Road trip to Uzbekistan – to the heart of the Central Asia - will take you through the complex passages of history, exploring the very essence of the Silk Road’s cultural and spiritual legacy, unearthing its hidden treasures from beneath the layers of centuries.
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from $1,145 per person, 7 days



Day 1. Tashkent
Khush Kelibsiz – welcome to Uzbekistan! Transfer to your hotel. City tour. (D)
Day 2. Tashkent - Samarkand
Today we leave the Uzbek capital and drive to Samarkand. Conquered and destroyed many times Samarkand is an open-air museum. (B,L,D)
Day 3. Samarkand - Bukhara
Today, we delve deeper into the marvels of Samarkand. We will visit the striking Bibi Khanum Mosque, Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda tomb. In the afternoon leave for Bukhara. (B,L,D)
Day 4. Bukhara
Explore Bukhara - one of the main trading centres of the Silk Road. (B,L,D)
Day 5. Bukhara - Khiva
We drive to Khiva via the Kyzylkum (‘Red Sand’) desert. (B,L,D)
Day 6. Khiva - Tashkent
Explore Khiva - an ‘open air museum’. The old town boasts more than 50 historic monuments and 250 old houses, mostly dating from the 18th or the 19th centuries. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Tashkent. (B,L,D)
Day 7. Tashkent
Our Silk Road adventure is complete. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. (B)
Click here to view detailed day-by-day itinerary of this tour

Quick Facts
  • Season: Four Seasons
  • Days: 7
  • Group Size: 2-12
  • Tour Grade:   Moderate

Day 1. Tashkent
Khush Kelibsiz – welcome to Uzbekistan! Transfer to your hotel in Tashkent. Today we will have an introduction to the fascinating capital, Tashkent, taking in the History Museum, the main city square Mustakillik - Independence Square - the largest city square in the former Soviet Union, the ancient Khazret Imam Square, the Barak Khan Madrasah the Namazgokh Mosque, and the Tillya Sheikh Mosque. We also visit Chorsu square - the centre of ancient Tashkent. We will also explore Chorsu bazaar – the oldest city market. (D)
Day 2. Tashkent - Samarkand
Today we leave the Uzbek capital and drive to Samarkand. A city as old as Rome, Samarkand is evokes romance just with its name. It reached the height of its fame under the rule of Timur who made it the capital of his empire. During his reign Timur built a new city and populated it with artisans and craftsmen from the places he had conquered. They created incredible mausoleums, madrassahs, mosques and city squares. Conquered and destroyed many times Samarkand is an open-air museum. Driving distance – 215 km (134 miles). (B,L,D)
Day 3. Samarkand - Bukhara
Today, we delve deeper into the marvels of Samarkand. We will visit the striking Bibi Khanum Mosque (15th century), the largest of its time in the world, Registan Square (‘Sandy Place’) – once the heart of ancient Samarkand, the centre of trade and cultural life, and today a breathtaking oriental masterpiece. Also, Shah-i-Zinda – ‘tomb of the living king’ - is a burial complex, often referred to as ‘the street of the dead.’ Next, we will leave for Bukhara, a city no less enchanting. Driving distance – 265 km (165 miles). (B,L,D)
Day 4. Bukhara
Once a state of the Persian Empire, Bukhara is one of holiest cities in Central Asia. Bukhara was one of the main trading centres of the Silk Road and during its heyday it had 365 mosques – one for each day of the year. We will have full day city tour to discover all the hidden treasures of this magnificent city, including the Kalyan minaret – once the tallest minaret in the Islamic world - the Kalyan mosque, the famous Mir-i Arab Madrassah, and Samanid's Mausoleum. (B,L,D)
Day 5. Bukhara - Khiva
This afternoon we drive to Khiva via the Kyzylkum (‘Red Sand’) desert. Travelling through this hypnotising desert landscape it’s easy to reflect on the Silk Road traders who passed before you, and the importance of the Silk Road. Driving distance – 435 km (270 miles). (B,L,D)
Day 6. Khiva - Tashkent
Truly an ‘open air museum’, Khiva is a well preserved – and reconstructed - town thanks to a conservation programme during the 1970’s and 80’s. Today’s traveller is met by towering minarets and domed roofs, narrow streets, mosques, madrasahs (Islamic religious schools) and caravanserai (inns for caravans). The old town boasts more than 50 historic monuments and 250 old houses, mostly dating from the 18th or the 19th centuries. Not surprisingly, the town is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Tashkent. (B,L,D)
Day 7. Tashkent
Our Silk Road adventure is complete. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. (B)


Want to travel on different dates?
Please see below for our group tour dates, if you would like to travel on a different day, please let us know and we will come back to you with an offer. There might be additional surcharges for a private tour but all depends on the number of people in your party and your travel preferences.

 

Peninsula Palace *****

Category: De Luxe 5* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Wangfujing, Goldfish Lane, 8

Peninsula Palace The Peninsula Palace Hotel Beijing is located within main shopping areas of Wangfujing and Dongdan in the heart of Beijing. It only takes a few minutes to walk to the popular scenic spots such as Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and The Museum of Chinese History.

Opened in 1989, the hotel has an imposing, traditional Chinese architectural-style exterior, integrated with the ultimate in luxurious, modern hotel amenities and facilities.

There are 525 guest rooms, which have been refurbished to the most luxurious standard based on the Peninsula's tradition of comfort, interwoven with subtle Chinese influences. The newly designed guest rooms and suites feature hardwood floors covered with carpet, a 42” plasma television, high-speed broadband Internet access, silent fax machine and The Peninsula signature technology - a bedside electronic panel that controls all lighting and audio-visual equipment in the room, as well as a special control panel by the door displaying outside temperature and humidity levels.

The hotel has a lounge, restaurants, fitness centre, sauna, spa, indoor pool, prestigious shopping Arcade with 50 exclusive designer boutiques.

Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace Peninsula Palace



Howard Johnson Paragon ****

Category: Business 4* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Jianguomen Avenue, 18

Howard Johnson Paragon The hotel is located in the city centre, next to the famous shopping mall - Henderson Centre, a 10-minute walk to the famous Tian Namen Square, Summer Palace and just across the street to the Beijing Railway Station.

There are 280 rooms equipped with a private bathroom, hairdryer, cable/satellite TV, coffee/tea maker, Internet access, iron and ironing board.

The hotel has a restaurant, bar/lounge, room service, baby sitting on request, beauty salon, fitness centre, free parking, game room, ironing/laundry services, business centre, meeting /conference rooms, non-smoking rooms and rooms for the disabled.

Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon Howard Johnson Paragon



Red Wall ***

Category: Tourist 3* hotel
Address: China, Beijing, Sha Tan North Street, 31

Red Wall The hotel is located in the centre of Beijing and within 5 minutes walk to its major attractions: Forbidden City, traditional Chinese folk house (Hutong and Siheyuan), Wangfujing shopping street, Red Building of Beijing University, including relics of the city wall of Beijing.

The hotel has a total of 200 rooms including standard rooms, deluxe standard rooms, executive suite rooms equipped with a private bathroom, hairdryer, air conditioning, cable/satellite TV, high-speed Internet access, telephone, safety box, iron and ironing board and mini-bar.

There is a gym, sauna, massage, beauty salon, restaurant, coffee bar and meeting room. The restaurant offers Chinese and Western cuisines including Chinese imperial cuisine, Sichuan cuisine and Guangdong cuisine.

Red Wall Red Wall Red Wall Red Wall



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