8-Day Eastern Fairytale Uzbekistan Tour

What’s included

Itinerary

1. 01
   Day 1Arrival in Tashkent – Welcome to Uzbekistan

   Overnight: Tashkent

   Welcome to Uzbekistan! Upon arrival at Tashkent International Airport, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel.

   Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a relaxed introduction to the capital. Tashkent combines modern city life with historic neighbourhoods, religious monuments, and lively traditional markets.

   If time permits, take a walk around Amir Timur Square or explore the city’s distinctive metro stations, known for their decorative interiors.

   Enjoy the evening at leisure and prepare for your journey through Uzbekistan’s legendary Silk Road cities.

   Highlights:

   • Airport pickup and hotel transfer

   • Introduction to Tashkent

   • Amir Timur Square, depending on arrival time

   • Free time to explore the city

2. 02
   Day 2Tashkent – Cultural Heritage and Journey to Samarkand

   Overnight: Samarkand

   After breakfast, discover the historical and cultural highlights of Tashkent.

   Begin at the Khast Imam Complex, an important religious centre featuring mosques, madrasahs, and historic Islamic architecture. Continue to Chorsu Bazaar, where colourful stalls display spices, dried fruits, traditional bread, textiles, and local handicrafts.

   Explore the city centre and learn about Tashkent’s development as an important cultural crossroads in Central Asia.

   Later, transfer to the railway station for your journey to Samarkand. Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel.

   Enjoy the evening at leisure, with an opportunity to take a first walk through the city.

   Highlights:

   • Khast Imam Complex

   • Chorsu Bazaar

   • Traditional Uzbek market culture

   • Train journey to Samarkand

3. 03
   Day 3Samarkand – The Jewel of the Silk Road

   Overnight: Samarkand

   Today, discover the magnificent architectural heritage of Samarkand, one of the most celebrated cities of the ancient Silk Road.

   Begin at Registan Square, the city’s iconic landmark, surrounded by three monumental madrasahs decorated with intricate mosaics, colourful tiles, and impressive facades.

   Continue to Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the resting place of Amir Timur and members of his dynasty. Learn about the ruler who helped transform Samarkand into a powerful centre of culture, trade, and architecture.

   Visit Bibi-Khanym Mosque, one of the city’s most impressive historic religious buildings. Later, explore Siyob Bazaar, where local vendors sell traditional bread, spices, dried fruit, and regional delicacies.

   Spend the day admiring Samarkand’s distinctive architecture and discovering its place in the history of the Silk Road.

   Highlights:

   • Registan Square and its historic madrasahs

   • Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum

   • Bibi-Khanym Mosque

   • Siyob Bazaar

   • Samarkand’s architectural heritage

    

4. 04
   Day 4Samarkand – Shah-i-Zinda and the Journey to Bukhara

   Overnight: Bukhara

   After breakfast, continue exploring Samarkand’s extraordinary historical landmarks.

   Visit Shah-i-Zinda, a remarkable avenue of mausoleums renowned for its elaborate tilework and richly decorated facades. This sacred complex is one of the city’s most visually striking architectural sites.

   Depending on your interests and available time, you may also visit the Ulugh Beg Observatory, which reflects Samarkand’s historic achievements in astronomy and science.

   Later, travel to Bukhara by train or private transfer, depending on the confirmed arrangements and available schedules.

   Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. If time permits, enjoy an evening walk through Bukhara’s atmospheric old town, where historic buildings and traditional streets create a sense of travelling back in time.

   Highlights:

   • Shah-i-Zinda necropolis

   • Optional Ulugh Beg Observatory

   • Journey through Uzbekistan’s historic heartland

   • First impressions of Bukhara

5. 05
   Day 5Bukhara – Ancient Madrasahs and Caravanserai Heritage

   Overnight: Bukhara

   Discover the historic heart of Bukhara, one of Central Asia’s most atmospheric Silk Road cities.

   Begin at the Poi-Kalyan Complex, home to the impressive Kalon Minaret and surrounding religious buildings. The complex reflects Bukhara’s long-standing role as a centre of Islamic learning and architecture.

   Continue to the historic trading domes, where merchants once traded textiles, jewellery, spices, and other valuable goods. These covered marketplaces formed an important part of Bukhara’s commercial life along the Silk Road.

   Explore the old streets and visit the Lyabi-Hauz ensemble, a picturesque historic square surrounded by traditional buildings and cafés.

   Discover the city’s madrasahs and caravanserai heritage, learning how these institutions supported education, trade, and travel across Central Asia. Depending on opening hours and the selected route, your sightseeing may also include historic caravanserai buildings or former merchant lodgings.

   Enjoy free time to browse local handicrafts, including ceramics, embroidery, and traditional textiles.

   Highlights:

   • Poi-Kalyan Complex and Kalon Minaret

   • Historic madrasahs

   • Traditional trading domes

   • Caravanserai heritage

   • Lyabi-Hauz ensemble

   • Local crafts and traditional bazaars

6. 06
   Day 6Bukhara – Ark Fortress and the Historic Old Town

   Overnight: Bukhara

   Spend another day discovering Bukhara’s fascinating architectural and cultural heritage.

   Begin at the Ark Fortress, the former residence and administrative centre of Bukhara’s rulers. Explore its historic grounds and learn about the city’s political history.

   Continue to Bolo Hauz Mosque, known for its elegant wooden columns and decorative ceiling. Visit the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, celebrated for its distinctive brickwork, and explore Chor Minor, a small but memorable historic building with four towers.

   Depending on your interests, you may also visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, the former summer residence of the emirs of Bukhara, located outside the old town.

   Spend the afternoon enjoying the city’s relaxed atmosphere, visiting artisan workshops, or sampling traditional Uzbek cuisine.

   Highlights:

   • Ark Fortress

   • Bolo Hauz Mosque

   • Ismail Samani Mausoleum

   • Chor Minor

   • Optional Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace

   • Traditional Uzbek food and crafts

7. 07
   Day 7Bukhara – Khiva, the Ancient Walled City

   Overnight: Khiva

   After breakfast, depart Bukhara for Khiva, one of Uzbekistan’s most enchanting historic destinations.

   Travel across the landscapes of western Uzbekistan toward the ancient city. Depending on the confirmed itinerary, the journey can be arranged by train or private road transfer. Travel time varies, so much of the day is dedicated to transportation.

   Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and begin exploring Itchan Kala, Khiva’s historic inner city surrounded by impressive defensive walls.

   Walk through narrow streets lined with madrasahs, mosques, traditional houses, and historic monuments. Admire the distinctive mud-brick architecture and turquoise decorative tiles that make Khiva one of Central Asia’s most memorable destinations.

   Enjoy the evening exploring the old town and photographing its historic monuments in the changing light.

   Highlights:

   • Journey from Bukhara to Khiva

   • Arrival in Itchan Kala

   • Ancient city walls and historic gates

   • Traditional architecture and evening photography

8. 08
   Day 8Khiva – Eastern Fairytale and Departure

   After breakfast, explore the remarkable architectural treasures of Khiva’s Itchan Kala.

   Visit Kalta Minor Minaret, famous for its striking blue and green glazed tiles, and continue to Kunya-Ark Citadel, the former residence of Khiva’s rulers.

   Discover Tash-Hauli Palace, known for its richly decorated courtyards, carved wooden details, and traditional architectural design. Continue to the Islam Khoja complex and explore more of the city’s historic streets, madrasahs, and mosques.

   Khiva’s compact old town offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a medieval Silk Road city, with traditional crafts, ceramics, wood carving, and local food.

   At the appropriate time, transfer to Urgench Airport for your onward flight, or arrange an alternative departure according to your travel plans.

   Highlights:

   • Itchan Kala

   • Kalta Minor Minaret

   • Kunya-Ark Citadel

   • Tash-Hauli Palace

   • Islam Khoja complex

   • Transfer to Urgench Airport, if required

   Important: This itinerary ends in Khiva/Urgench rather than returning to Tashkent. If you need to finish in Tashkent, a domestic flight or another suitable transport connection from Urgench must be arranged, depending on available schedules.

Tour highlights

• Explore Tashkent’s historic religious complex and traditional bazaars.

• Discover the spectacular Registan Square in Samarkand.

• Visit the richly decorated Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum.

• Wander through Bukhara’s historic old town and traditional trading domes.

• Admire ancient madrasahs, mosques, and historic caravanserai heritage.

• Explore the impressive Kalon Minaret and Ark Fortress in Bukhara.

• Step inside Khiva’s ancient walled city of Itchan Kala.

• Discover the colourful Kalta Minor Minaret and historic royal palaces.

• Experience Uzbek cuisine, traditional crafts, and local markets.

• Follow the historic Silk Road through four remarkable cities.

The tour map

About the tour