Uzbekistan & the Silk Road
4 Apr –
14 Apr 2025
- 11 Days
- 4* Hotels unless otherwise specified
- 18 Meals
- Group size: 15
Itinerary
Meet the group at O.R. Tambo International and check in for your flight to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Arrive in Tashkent and head to your hotel to rest and refresh after the flight. In the afternoon set out on a city tour which explores the State Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan, Chorsu Market, Independence Square, Amir Temur Square and Alisher Navoi Theatre Square. End your tour with a visit to Tashkent Metro, an underground network of magnificent stations built in the Soviet era. Tonight, the group enjoys dinner at a local restaurant.
After an early breakfast, fly to Urgench and then travel by road to Khiva. Set out on a city tour which explores Itchan Kala, an ancient architectural complex at the heart of the modern city. Itchan Kala is a maze of teal-tiled palaces, ornately decorated mosques, madrassahs and towering minarets. Artisans selling traditional goods like handwoven carpets, colourful ceramics and Uzbek tea can be found in its narrow alleys. Take in the sunset from the rooftop of the Ak Sheikh Bobo bastion and then head to a restaurant for dinner.
Today, venture into the desert to see the sights surrounding Khiva. The first stop is Shylpyk Kala, a Zoroastrian Tower of Silence over 2,200 years old. The Zoroastrians used the round, roofless tower for the burial of their dead, but it was later repurposed by the Khorezmians as a signal and defence tower. Next, travel to Toprak Kala, the ruins of a once-prosperous city. In the afternoon, return to Khiva and enjoy some free time. Tonight, join the group for dinner at a restaurant.
Continue along the Silk Road as you travel to Bukhara. In ancient times, this journey would have taken more than a month, but today, it’s a 6-hour trip by private coach. Soak up the surreal landscape of the Kyzylkum Desert. Its name means “red sand,” and it’s bordered by the Amu Darya River, a flash of green in the otherwise barren landscape. Arrive in Bukhara in the late afternoon and enjoy a hearty dinner at a local restaurant.
Awake in Bukhara, Central Asia’s holiest city. Its history spans thousands of years and it houses some of the most jaw-dropping examples of Islamic architecture on earth. Take a tour of the city to discover its highlights such as the Ark of Bukhara, the stunning Kalon Mosque, Lyabi-Hauz, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum and several beautiful madrassahs, minarets, mosques and mausoleums. In the evening, visit a local guesthouse for a plov cooking class. Uzbekistan’s national dish is a fragrant medley of rice, vegetables, meat and spices.
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by excursions to the architectural wonders that surround Bukhara. Start with a visit to the Bahaouddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex. It houses the tomb of Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari, a notable Muslim theologian who died in 1389. Continue to Chor-Bakr Memorial Complex which is thought to be one of the largest necropolises in the world. Lastly, go to Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa, the country residence of the last Emir of Bukhara. Also known as the “Palace of the Moon and the Stars,” it effortlessly blends Eastern and European design. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Bukhara and then meet the rest of the group for dinner.
This morning, make your way to Samarkand via Gijduvon. This charming town in the Bukhara province is best known for its ceramics, which feature intricate geometric patterns in a trademark palette of turquoise, brown, yellow and green. Visit one of the city’s famous ceramic workshops and learn more about the age-old processes surrounding the creation of this fine pottery. On arrival in Samarkand, check into your hotel. This evening, gather for dinner at a restaurant.
Awake in Samarkand and, after breakfast at the hotel, set out on a city tour. The final stop on our Silk Road pilgrimage, Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back to around 1,500 BCE. It prospered as a key stop on the Silk Road and was at times one of the largest cities in Central Asia. On our exploration of the city, we see the key sights including the Gur-i Amir Complex, the Siab Bazaar, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Registan Square and the Shah-i-Zinda Mausoleum. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Spend the morning exploring some of Samarkand’s lesser-known treasures. Dive into the region’s culture with visits to a carpet factory and silk paper mill, where you’ll learn about the centuries-old techniques used to create these unique goods. Explore the Ulugh Beg Observatory, the Afrasiyab Museum and the Mausoleum of Saint Daniel, three fascinating historic sites. Later, travel to Tashkent by train. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Tonight, the group gathers for a farewell dinner.
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your departing flight to Johannesburg.
Meet the group at O.R. Tambo International and check in for your flight to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Arrive in Tashkent and head to your hotel to rest and refresh after the flight. In the afternoon set out on a city tour which explores the State Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan, Chorsu Market, Independence Square, Amir Temur Square and Alisher Navoi Theatre Square. End your tour with a visit to Tashkent Metro, an underground network of magnificent stations built in the Soviet era. Tonight, the group enjoys dinner at a local restaurant.
After an early breakfast, fly to Urgench and then travel by road to Khiva. Set out on a city tour which explores Itchan Kala, an ancient architectural complex at the heart of the modern city. Itchan Kala is a maze of teal-tiled palaces, ornately decorated mosques, madrassahs and towering minarets. Artisans selling traditional goods like handwoven carpets, colourful ceramics and Uzbek tea can be found in its narrow alleys. Take in the sunset from the rooftop of the Ak Sheikh Bobo bastion and then head to a restaurant for dinner.
Today, venture into the desert to see the sights surrounding Khiva. The first stop is Shylpyk Kala, a Zoroastrian Tower of Silence over 2,200 years old. The Zoroastrians used the round, roofless tower for the burial of their dead, but it was later repurposed by the Khorezmians as a signal and defence tower. Next, travel to Toprak Kala, the ruins of a once-prosperous city. In the afternoon, return to Khiva and enjoy some free time. Tonight, join the group for dinner at a restaurant.
Continue along the Silk Road as you travel to Bukhara. In ancient times, this journey would have taken more than a month, but today, it’s a 6-hour trip by private coach. Soak up the surreal landscape of the Kyzylkum Desert. Its name means “red sand,” and it’s bordered by the Amu Darya River, a flash of green in the otherwise barren landscape. Arrive in Bukhara in the late afternoon and enjoy a hearty dinner at a local restaurant.
Awake in Bukhara, Central Asia’s holiest city. Its history spans thousands of years and it houses some of the most jaw-dropping examples of Islamic architecture on earth. Take a tour of the city to discover its highlights such as the Ark of Bukhara, the stunning Kalon Mosque, Lyabi-Hauz, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum and several beautiful madrassahs, minarets, mosques and mausoleums. In the evening, visit a local guesthouse for a plov cooking class. Uzbekistan’s national dish is a fragrant medley of rice, vegetables, meat and spices.
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by excursions to the architectural wonders that surround Bukhara. Start with a visit to the Bahaouddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex. It houses the tomb of Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari, a notable Muslim theologian who died in 1389. Continue to Chor-Bakr Memorial Complex which is thought to be one of the largest necropolises in the world. Lastly, go to Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa, the country residence of the last Emir of Bukhara. Also known as the “Palace of the Moon and the Stars,” it effortlessly blends Eastern and European design. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Bukhara and then meet the rest of the group for dinner.
This morning, make your way to Samarkand via Gijduvon. This charming town in the Bukhara province is best known for its ceramics, which feature intricate geometric patterns in a trademark palette of turquoise, brown, yellow and green. Visit one of the city’s famous ceramic workshops and learn more about the age-old processes surrounding the creation of this fine pottery. On arrival in Samarkand, check into your hotel. This evening, gather for dinner at a restaurant.
Awake in Samarkand and, after breakfast at the hotel, set out on a city tour. The final stop on our Silk Road pilgrimage, Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back to around 1,500 BCE. It prospered as a key stop on the Silk Road and was at times one of the largest cities in Central Asia. On our exploration of the city, we see the key sights including the Gur-i Amir Complex, the Siab Bazaar, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Registan Square and the Shah-i-Zinda Mausoleum. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Spend the morning exploring some of Samarkand’s lesser-known treasures. Dive into the region’s culture with visits to a carpet factory and silk paper mill, where you’ll learn about the centuries-old techniques used to create these unique goods. Explore the Ulugh Beg Observatory, the Afrasiyab Museum and the Mausoleum of Saint Daniel, three fascinating historic sites. Later, travel to Tashkent by train. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Tonight, the group gathers for a farewell dinner.
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your departing flight to Johannesburg.
Uzbekistan has been at the crossroads of cultures for millennia. Its grasslands, deserts and valleys have seen mighty empires come and go and borders shift and collapse. Located along the Silk Road, its glorious cities and monuments pay testament to the wealth and commerce that once flowed through the region. It holds a treasure chest of breathtaking sights, from magnificent mausoleums covered in jewel-like mosaics to minarets that spiral towards the sky.
Our adventure starts in Tashkent, where we explore the city’s highlights before moving on to Khiva. There, we explore the beautiful, ancient buildings in the city’s historic heart. Then, we trace the Silk Road through the desert to Bukhara. Uzbekistan’s holiest city contains glittering mosques and magnificent mausoleums. Our last stop is Samarkand, where the towering madrassahs of Registan Square bring the legacy of the Silk Road to life.
This small group journey reveals the highlights of Uzbekistan while immersing you in the country’s wonderful culture and cuisine with authentic experiences. Local, English-speaking guides bring each location to life and help us to unravel the threads of history. An expertly organised itinerary, carefully chosen accommodations, and pre-arranged, private transfers allow you to surrender yourself to the wonders of the Silk Road.
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We are here to help
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.
Although we cannot apply on your behalf, we are more than willing to give guidance and assistance with completing forms. We do this for many clients on a near-daily basis. It does, however, remain the responsibility of the client to ensure that they get the correct visa on time.
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.
