Uzbekistan Silk Road Tour

Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital. Transfer to the hotel, where check-in begins at noon. Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to begin your Tashkent city tour. Your private tour will include:

• Excursion to the Old City, including the Khazret-Imam Architectural Complex. The complex includes the Madrasah of Barak-Khan (16th century), Tillya-Sheykh Mosque, Juma Mosque and Mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi (15th century). Walking through the Islamic Civilization Center and Zarqaynar street;
• Visit to Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent’s most well-established bazaar that includes a large selection of traditional Uzbek ceramics, jewelry, handbags, garments and more;
• Ride on the Tashkent Metro, an immaculate subway system with each station decorated in colored mosaics and ceramics to depict a specific theme;
• Walk through Amir Timur Square and Independence Square;
• Drive to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, a 20th-century Roman Catholic Church with beautiful stained-glass windows and Gothic-style architecture;
• Tour of the Applied Arts Museum, an informative collection of Uzbekistan’s finest handicrafts housed in an ornately decorated villa.

Overnight in Tashkent.
Tour duration: 5 hours

After breakfast, transfer to the train station to take Tashkent - Samarkand train (320 km). Pick-up from Samarkand train station and transfer to hotel, check-in at noon. Begin your tour of Samarkand, a city at the crossroads of the world cultures. The private city tour, led by an experienced, local guide, will include the following:

• Gur Emir, the imposing burial site of Tamerlane and Mirzo Ulugbek;
• Shakhi-Zinda, a burial complex built between the 9th-14th centuries. Climb the blue-domed path and explore more than 20 small mausoleums that line the broad alleyway;
• Siab Bazaar, a multi-level complex where you can shop for souvenirs and sample sweets, fruits and Samarkand’s famous bread;
• Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane for his favorite wife;
• Registan Square, the commercial center of Samarkand for centuries and Samarkand’s most famous site today. The square includes three madrasahs: Ulugbek Madrasah (15th century), Sher-Dor Madrasah (17th century) and Tilla-Kori Madrasah (17th century);

Overnight in Samarkand.
Tour duration: 6 hours

After breakfast, enjoy a free day in Samarkand, the jewel of the Silk Road. This is your opportunity to explore the city independently, revisit your favorite sites, or uncover lesser-known gems beyond the standard tours.

Overnight in Samarkand.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then catch the morning train to Bukhara (280 km). Arrive in Bukhara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and transfer to your hotel in the Old City. Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating wonders of Bukhara, a city that seamlessly blends the past and the present. With your private local guide, enjoy a walking tour of the most impressive sights of Bukhara:

• Explore the Ark Fortress, a historical gem dating back to the 4th century, which served as the ancient center of Bukharan statehood and now houses a fascinating small museum.
• Be captivated by the Poi Kalyan Ensemble, a treasure trove spanning the 12th to 16th centuries. It includes the impressive Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Amir-Alimkhan Madrasah, and Miri-Arab Madrasah.
• Discover the relatively untouched yet awe-inspiring religious schools, Ulugbek Madrasah from the 15th century and Abdulazizkhan Madrasah from the 17th century.
• Explore the 16th century Four Trade Domes, which still serve as vibrant hubs for local handicrafts and unique souvenirs.
• Visit the venerable Magoki-Attori Mosque, the oldest mosque in Bukhara, with origins dating back to the 12th century.
• Admire Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble, the largest artificial reservoir of medieval Bukhara, dating from the 14th to 17th centuries. Within this ensemble, discover some of the city's grandest madrasahs, including the Khanaka Madrasah, Kukeldash Madrasah, and Nadir Divan Beghi Madrasah, which constructed in the 16th-17th century.

Overnight in Bukhara.
Tour duration: 6 hours

After breakfast, enjoy a free day in Bukhara – a city where history comes alive. Wander through the narrow streets of the old city, admire centuries-old architecture, and soak in the unique atmosphere of this Silk Road gem.

Overnight in Bukhara.

After breakfast, transfer to the train station to take Bukhara – Khiva train (6 h). Travel across the desert along the ancient caravan route. Enjoy views of the Amu Darya River and the endless dunes of Kyzylkum. Arrive in Khiva - an open-air museum city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, pick-up from train station and transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Khiva.

After breakfast, begin your walking tour in Khiva with local guide. Check-out from hotel till noon.

• Excursion at Kunya-Ark Fortress, the inner citadel of Ichan Kala (Ichan-Qala):
• Kalta Minor Tower, once destined to be one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia;
• Muhammad Amin-Khan, the biggest medieval madrasah and educational institution in Khiva;
• Muhammad Rahim-Khan Madrasah, a sprawling complex that once stood as one of the largest in all Central Asia;
• Juma Mosque, built with 212 wooden columns and a minaret 32.5 m high;
• Tash-Hauli Palace (Stone Courtyard Palace), which resembles a fortress with high battlements, towers and garrisoned gates;
• Necropolis of Pahlavan Mahmud, the ancient religious center of Ichan Kala;
• Minaret and madrasah of Islam Khodja, the vizier of the last khan. The complex consists of a madrasah and a minaret.

Overnight in Khiva.
Tour duration: 6 hours

In the morning transfer to Urgench International Airport (35 km, 45 min). Take flight back to home or next destination. End of Uzbekistan Silk Road Tour.