Silk Road through Uzbekistan
2 Oct –
14 Oct 2026
- 13 Days
- Comfortable bespoke accommodation
- 19 Meals
- Group size: 15
Back by Popular Demand!
Discover living history in Uzbekistan’s cities, where artisan workshops, walled towns and blue domes line the path of the Silk Road.
Itinerary
We meet at O.R. Tambo International Airport for our flight to Tashkent. A journey awaits us, taking us to the heart of the Silk Road and into a landscape shrouded in myth, mystery and beauty.
Arrive at Tashkent International Airport, where our local representative will be waiting to welcome you. A private transfer takes you through the city to your hotel; time to settle in and unwind after your journey.
This evening, come together for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, offering a first taste of Uzbek hospitality and the days to come.
Highlights:
After breakfast, begin your exploration of Uzbekistan’s capital. Tashkent is a city shaped by centuries of change, from Silk Road roots to Soviet design and contemporary renewal. A panoramic drive introduces you to key landmarks, including Independence Square, the Amir Timur statue and Navoi Theatre Square.
We visit the State Museum of Applied Arts, housed in a former tsarist mansion, offering a rich overview of Uzbekistan’s craft traditions. Time permitting, there is also the opportunity to explore the Tashkent Metro, where each station is uniquely designed and reflects a different period of architectural style.
This evening, enjoy dinner at Caravan Restaurant, a fitting end to your time in the capital.
Highlights:
After a light breakfast, we make our way to the airport for our flight to Urgench. From there, it’s a short drive to Khiva. While check-in is only available at 14:00, you have the morning to yourself before lunch; stroll through the old town, browse local shops, or simply soak up the atmosphere of this remarkably preserved desert city. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure.
Khiva dates back over 2,500 years and is steeped in legend. Said to have been founded by Shem, son of Noah, it later became a vital Silk Road outpost. At its heart lies Itchan Kala, a UNESCO-listed old town enclosed by mudbrick walls; a maze of minarets, tiled mosques and narrow lanes. Though no longer residential, Itchan Kala remains alive with working artisans, teahouses and stalls offering colourful ceramics and textiles.
This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant (at your leisure) before settling in for the night.
Highlight:
After breakfast, we set out on a guided walk through Khiva’s old town, where centuries of craft and culture are preserved with quiet pride. Highlights include the Kalta Minor Tower, the Toshhovli Palace and the Juma Mosque, known for its forest of carved wooden columns. We will also visit the Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum, a site of local pilgrimage and intricate tilework.
The afternoon is free to explore at your pace. Khiva invites a slower rhythm; perhaps browsing a workshop, pausing in a shaded courtyard, or simply wandering its silent lanes.
This evening, we gather for dinner at Zarafshon Restaurant.
Highlights:
After breakfast at the yurt, we continue our journey down the old Silk Road and make our way to Bukhara. The journey takes us deep into the Kyzylkum Desert, a stark red-sand landscape that once formed part of the ancient Khorezm empire, known in its time as the “Land of a Thousand Cities”.
Centuries ago, this route took more than a month by camel caravan. Today, we travel by road, reaching Bukhara in around six hours. Along the way, we pause for a photo opportunity at the Amu Darya River, a ribbon of green through the arid plains.
Lunch is served at Zahratun Restaurant before continuing on to Bukhara. On arrival, check in and unwind.
Highlights:
After breakfast, we set out to explore Bukhara, once a thriving centre of scholarship and power on the Silk Road. Its historic heart is beautifully preserved, yet full of life, where tradition continues quietly alongside everyday activity.
Our guided tour includes some of the city’s most evocative sites: the early Islamic Ismail Samani Mausoleum and Chashma-Ayub (Spring of Job), the delicate Bolo Hauz Mosque and the Ark Citadel, where emirs once ruled behind thick fortress walls.
At the Poi Kalan Ensemble, towering minarets and domes rise above the city, forming one of Central Asia’s most recognisable skylines. We also visit the twin madrasahs of Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan, the Lyab-i Hauz Ensemble, Kosh-Madrasah, and the four-domed Chor Minor, tucked into a quiet backstreet.
There is time to pause for tea and local sweets at a traditional teahouse and to visit a marionette workshop where this age-old craft is still practised. If time allows, we may also stop by a carpet atelier to see handwoven pieces in progress.
This evening, we will dine at Sarrafon Al Rashid before returning to the hotel.
Highlights:
Today unfolds at a gentler pace, with the option to visit three significant sites just beyond the city.
We begin at the Bahouddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex, a place of calm reflection honouring one of Central Asia’s most respected Sufi scholars. From there, we visit Chor-Bakr, a quiet necropolis with roots in the 10th century.
Our final stop is Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the summer palace of Bukhara’s last emir. Blending Eastern architecture with European influences, its rooms are filled with fine embroidery, porcelain and cut glass; offering a glimpse into the tastes of a bygone court.
We return to Bukhara for a slow-paced afternoon, perfect for a final stroll through the old town, browsing the Dome Bazaars, or simply settling in with a pot of tea. Dinner is at your leisure.
Highlights:
This morning, we make our way to Samarkand via Gijduvon. This charming town in the Bukhara province is best known for its ceramics. During the Soviet era, the secrets of Gijduvon ceramics were kept alive and passed on to the next generation.
The ceramics feature intricate geometric patterns in a distinct colour palette of turquoise, brown, yellow, and green. We visit one of the city’s famous ceramic workshops to see the age-old processes surrounding the creation of Gijduvon’s fine pottery. A light kebab snack is served during the visit.
We continue on to Samarkand, arriving in the late afternoon. After a late lunch at a local restaurant, we get our first glimpse of Registan Square, with its three monumental madrasahs: Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor, and Tilya Kori; a dramatic introduction to the city.
We continue our journey to Samarkand. On arrival, we check into our hotel and take the evening to unwind.
Highlights:
After breakfast, we begin a full day of discovery in Samarkand, a city that once stood at the heart of the Timurid Empire and the Silk Road. It remains one of Central Asia’s most compelling destinations with its deep scholarly roots and soaring Islamic architecture.
We visit the Gur-i Amir Mausoleum, final resting place of Tamerlane, and stroll through the Siab Bazaar, where locals shop for fragrant spices, fresh produce, and sweets. From there, we head to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, once among the largest in the Islamic world.
This evening, we’re welcomed into a local guesthouse for a Plov cooking master class and dinner; a relaxed, personal way to end the day.
Highlights:
After breakfast at the hotel, spend your final morning exploring some of Samarkand’s most significant treasures. Visit the Shah-i-Zinda complex, a series of beautifully tiled mausoleums dating from the 11th to 15th centuries. Continue to the Ulugbek Observatory, the archaeological site and museum of ancient Afrasiyab, and the mausoleum of Saint Daniel, an important place of pilgrimage for several faiths.
Later, transfer to the station for your comfortable train journey back to Tashkent. On arrival, meet your driver and settle in at the hotel.
In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, a chance to share stories and reflect on your journey through Uzbekistan.
Highlights:
Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before making your way to Tashkent International Airport. As you leave the city behind, take a moment to absorb all you’ve seen and experienced along the way.
Back in Johannesburg, you return with more than souvenirs; memories linger of ancient cities, mountain paths and tiled courtyards. Uzbekistan may lie behind you, but its stories and colours continue to unfold within.
We meet at O.R. Tambo International Airport for our flight to Tashkent. A journey awaits us, taking us to the heart of the Silk Road and into a landscape shrouded in myth, mystery and beauty.
Arrive at Tashkent International Airport, where our local representative will be waiting to welcome you. A private transfer takes you through the city to your hotel; time to settle in and unwind after your journey.
This evening, come together for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, offering a first taste of Uzbek hospitality and the days to come.
Highlights:
After breakfast, begin your exploration of Uzbekistan’s capital. Tashkent is a city shaped by centuries of change, from Silk Road roots to Soviet design and contemporary renewal. A panoramic drive introduces you to key landmarks, including Independence Square, the Amir Timur statue and Navoi Theatre Square.
We visit the State Museum of Applied Arts, housed in a former tsarist mansion, offering a rich overview of Uzbekistan’s craft traditions. Time permitting, there is also the opportunity to explore the Tashkent Metro, where each station is uniquely designed and reflects a different period of architectural style.
This evening, enjoy dinner at Caravan Restaurant, a fitting end to your time in the capital.
Highlights:
After a light breakfast, we make our way to the airport for our flight to Urgench. From there, it’s a short drive to Khiva. While check-in is only available at 14:00, you have the morning to yourself before lunch; stroll through the old town, browse local shops, or simply soak up the atmosphere of this remarkably preserved desert city. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure.
Khiva dates back over 2,500 years and is steeped in legend. Said to have been founded by Shem, son of Noah, it later became a vital Silk Road outpost. At its heart lies Itchan Kala, a UNESCO-listed old town enclosed by mudbrick walls; a maze of minarets, tiled mosques and narrow lanes. Though no longer residential, Itchan Kala remains alive with working artisans, teahouses and stalls offering colourful ceramics and textiles.
This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant (at your leisure) before settling in for the night.
Highlight:
After breakfast, we set out on a guided walk through Khiva’s old town, where centuries of craft and culture are preserved with quiet pride. Highlights include the Kalta Minor Tower, the Toshhovli Palace and the Juma Mosque, known for its forest of carved wooden columns. We will also visit the Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum, a site of local pilgrimage and intricate tilework.
The afternoon is free to explore at your pace. Khiva invites a slower rhythm; perhaps browsing a workshop, pausing in a shaded courtyard, or simply wandering its silent lanes.
This evening, we gather for dinner at Zarafshon Restaurant.
Highlights:
After breakfast at the yurt, we continue our journey down the old Silk Road and make our way to Bukhara. The journey takes us deep into the Kyzylkum Desert, a stark red-sand landscape that once formed part of the ancient Khorezm empire, known in its time as the “Land of a Thousand Cities”.
Centuries ago, this route took more than a month by camel caravan. Today, we travel by road, reaching Bukhara in around six hours. Along the way, we pause for a photo opportunity at the Amu Darya River, a ribbon of green through the arid plains.
Lunch is served at Zahratun Restaurant before continuing on to Bukhara. On arrival, check in and unwind.
Highlights:
After breakfast, we set out to explore Bukhara, once a thriving centre of scholarship and power on the Silk Road. Its historic heart is beautifully preserved, yet full of life, where tradition continues quietly alongside everyday activity.
Our guided tour includes some of the city’s most evocative sites: the early Islamic Ismail Samani Mausoleum and Chashma-Ayub (Spring of Job), the delicate Bolo Hauz Mosque and the Ark Citadel, where emirs once ruled behind thick fortress walls.
At the Poi Kalan Ensemble, towering minarets and domes rise above the city, forming one of Central Asia’s most recognisable skylines. We also visit the twin madrasahs of Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan, the Lyab-i Hauz Ensemble, Kosh-Madrasah, and the four-domed Chor Minor, tucked into a quiet backstreet.
There is time to pause for tea and local sweets at a traditional teahouse and to visit a marionette workshop where this age-old craft is still practised. If time allows, we may also stop by a carpet atelier to see handwoven pieces in progress.
This evening, we will dine at Sarrafon Al Rashid before returning to the hotel.
Highlights:
Today unfolds at a gentler pace, with the option to visit three significant sites just beyond the city.
We begin at the Bahouddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex, a place of calm reflection honouring one of Central Asia’s most respected Sufi scholars. From there, we visit Chor-Bakr, a quiet necropolis with roots in the 10th century.
Our final stop is Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the summer palace of Bukhara’s last emir. Blending Eastern architecture with European influences, its rooms are filled with fine embroidery, porcelain and cut glass; offering a glimpse into the tastes of a bygone court.
We return to Bukhara for a slow-paced afternoon, perfect for a final stroll through the old town, browsing the Dome Bazaars, or simply settling in with a pot of tea. Dinner is at your leisure.
Highlights:
This morning, we make our way to Samarkand via Gijduvon. This charming town in the Bukhara province is best known for its ceramics. During the Soviet era, the secrets of Gijduvon ceramics were kept alive and passed on to the next generation.
The ceramics feature intricate geometric patterns in a distinct colour palette of turquoise, brown, yellow, and green. We visit one of the city’s famous ceramic workshops to see the age-old processes surrounding the creation of Gijduvon’s fine pottery. A light kebab snack is served during the visit.
We continue on to Samarkand, arriving in the late afternoon. After a late lunch at a local restaurant, we get our first glimpse of Registan Square, with its three monumental madrasahs: Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor, and Tilya Kori; a dramatic introduction to the city.
We continue our journey to Samarkand. On arrival, we check into our hotel and take the evening to unwind.
Highlights:
After breakfast, we begin a full day of discovery in Samarkand, a city that once stood at the heart of the Timurid Empire and the Silk Road. It remains one of Central Asia’s most compelling destinations with its deep scholarly roots and soaring Islamic architecture.
We visit the Gur-i Amir Mausoleum, final resting place of Tamerlane, and stroll through the Siab Bazaar, where locals shop for fragrant spices, fresh produce, and sweets. From there, we head to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, once among the largest in the Islamic world.
This evening, we’re welcomed into a local guesthouse for a Plov cooking master class and dinner; a relaxed, personal way to end the day.
Highlights:
After breakfast at the hotel, spend your final morning exploring some of Samarkand’s most significant treasures. Visit the Shah-i-Zinda complex, a series of beautifully tiled mausoleums dating from the 11th to 15th centuries. Continue to the Ulugbek Observatory, the archaeological site and museum of ancient Afrasiyab, and the mausoleum of Saint Daniel, an important place of pilgrimage for several faiths.
Later, transfer to the station for your comfortable train journey back to Tashkent. On arrival, meet your driver and settle in at the hotel.
In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, a chance to share stories and reflect on your journey through Uzbekistan.
Highlights:
Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before making your way to Tashkent International Airport. As you leave the city behind, take a moment to absorb all you’ve seen and experienced along the way.
Back in Johannesburg, you return with more than souvenirs; memories linger of ancient cities, mountain paths and tiled courtyards. Uzbekistan may lie behind you, but its stories and colours continue to unfold within.
Across Desert, Domes and Living Tradition
This curated journey follows the old Silk Road through Uzbekistan’s cultural heartland, Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, connecting quiet moments of craft, architecture and everyday life. With time to linger, the itinerary blends immersive discovery with space to pause. Whether walking through Khiva’s sun-warmed streets, sipping tea beneath tiled archways in Bukhara, or gathering in a Samarkand kitchen for a home-cooked meal, this is a journey shaped by rhythm and reflection.
You’ll travel in a small group, stay in comfortable, well-situated hotels, and experience each city with the insight of local guides and artisans who continue centuries-old traditions.
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The tour leader collects a set amount from each member of a tour. This kitty is then used to tip the local tour guide and city guides, bus drivers, any other assistants, and restaurant staff. We believe in tipping for good service as a token of appreciation, especially as many workers in tourism rely on tips to supplement their income.
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Remember that we limit the number of guests on our tours. This means more time at stops and sites. We definitely do not do groups of 30 pax, where guests are rushed from one site to the other. There is enough time to explore on your own.
We always suggest USD/Euro 50 to USD/Euro 100 per person per day. As we mostly include two meals per day on our tours, this will be enough for lunch/dinner, some snacks, and memento shopping. Should you want to buy larger items, we suggest taking along your credit card. Remember to advise the bank that you will be travelling.
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