Main Info
Uzbekistan Trip
Explore five ancient cities of Uzbekistan on this 10-day Uzbekistan Trip to Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Nurata, and Samarkand. Learn about the history of trade along the Silk Road and about the rise and fall of powerful empires; experience the rich and fascinating Uzbek culture and traditions; and taste the delicious local cuisine. In addition to visiting many famous historical monuments and admiring impressive architecture, the itinerary includes: riding a camel through the vast Kyzylkum Desert, enjoying supper by the fire while listening to a Kazakh akyn (folk singer), staying overnight in a yurt, participating in a pottery master-class, and other activities that showcase Uzbek culture and nature.
Uzbekistan Trip descriptions
| Price Discount | 1 person – no discount 2 persons – 10% discount 3 persons – 20% discount 4 persons and up – 30% discount |
| Price Currency | USD |
| Destinations | Tashkent, Nurata, Samarkand , Bukhara, Khiva |
| Departure | Every day |
| Deadline | Get confirmation 7 days before the departure date |
| Included | All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by minivan type car; 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 40-50 seat bus; Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included; Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides; Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary; Full board (lunches and dinners); Economy class ticket for flight Tashkent-Urgench; Business/Economy-class ticket for train Samarkand-Tashkent as per option (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace it with the most-comfortable class of regular train). |
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Excluded
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Tour leader to accompany the travelers for the whole period of the tour; Hotel charges for additional services; Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa; Tips are not included, but would be appreciated; Travel insurance. |
| Accommodation | |
| Tashkent – 2 nights | Bek, Grand Capital, Navruz, Praga or similar |
| Khiva – 1 night | Malika Kheivak , Malika Khiva , Muso To’ra , Orient Star , Polvon Qori , Qosha Darvoza or similar |
| Bukhara – 3 nights | Amulet , As-Salom , Basilic , Fatima , Minzifa Boutique or similar |
| Aydarkul – 1 night | Safari Yurt Camp, Aidar Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt) |
| Samarkand – 2 nights | City , Malika Prime , Meros, Orient Star , Platan or similar |
Must visit on your Uzbekistan Trip
Nurata is located on the ancient Silk Road, 230 kilometres northwest of Samarkand and 75 kilometres northeast of the city Navoiy in the middle of the Kysylkum desert. The town is situated nearby the Nuratau Mountains at a height of 490 metres above sea level. The main attractions of Nurata are the remains of the Alexander the Great Fortress and Chashma, a complex of religious constructions, which includes the Chashma spring, the Djuma Mosque and a bathhouse which is named Khamom. The town is also famous for its Suzanis, cotton fabrics which are decorated with wool or silk embroideries and are especially produced in Central Asia.
The yurt camp Aidar is located 10 km from the western bank of the Aidarkul lake. The desert area is beautiful and secluded, beach and lake seems like a paradise, water is very clean and warm even though quite far away (15-minute car ride). The Aidarkul lake is slightly salty, very clean and is nice to swim in, very refreshing. And the fact that there is usually no one around quite impress.
The camp has 11 yurts (optimal number, not too much not too small), decorated with hand made carpets and sherdaks (felt rugs) of local craftsmen. Coloured patterns and chandeliers create unusual and festive atmosphere in yurts. Yurt camp is also equipped with fixed toilets, shower cubicles and a ‘common area’ yurt, where tourists can taste various dishes. Amenities of the camp Aidar include electricity. The toilets and showers are more than reasonable considering that you are in the desert. Yurts are set up around a large fire and the owners house and eating area.
Itinerary
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Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Samarkand Tours driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at noon. Meet your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman has been preserved. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to city center to walk through Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Early morning transfer to local airport for flight to Urgench (1093 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrival in Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 35 min). Later proceed for guided walking sightseeing tour. Spend a day in Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Kunya-Ark, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-Khoja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h*). Today we will have an overland transfer from Khiva to Bukhara through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel.
*Since there is only one cafe on the way, you might want to consider preparing a packed lunch before this trip.
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.
Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Complex, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to yurt camp located in Kyzylkum desert (230 km, 4 h*). On the way we will have a few stops: Gijduvan pottery masters workshop, Nurata local mosque with a holy spring water, and Nurata pass to see petroglyphs. Arrive in Safari Yurt Camp, accommodation in yurt. Camel riding and free time. After dinner sit around the camp fire and enjoy Kazakh akin singing folk songs. Overnight in the yurt.
Meals: dinner**
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.
**Though meals are included, based on the experience and tips of our guests, we advise to take some food in advance, as there are no shops around yurts.
In the morning visit desert Aydarkul Lake. Free time on the lake.
Extras to do in the area:
Option 1. Camel ride to Aydarkul Lake through the desert (8.5 km, 3 h). Enjoy your time on the lake and have lunch. In the afternoon depart to Samarkand.
Cost: $30 per person for a camel and cameleer service.
Option 2. Take a short camel ride to a nearby village Dungalak (1.5 km, 30 min). Participate in baking traditional bread “non”. Take a short walk in the village to see life of locals and return to the camp.
Cost: $20 per person for a camel and cameleer service.
In the afternoon depart the yurt camp and drive to Samarkand (270 km, 5 h). Arrival in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: breakfast, lunch or picnic
Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry.Late in the afternoon transfer to railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.
