Uzbekistan
The Grand Uzbekistan Journey
Discover Uzbekistan through its magnificent Silk Road cities, desert landscapes, living traditions and welcoming hospitality.
The experience
Overview
Discover Uzbekistan through its magnificent Silk Road cities, desert landscapes, living traditions and welcoming hospitality. Wander through the walled streets of Khiva, explore Bukhara’s historic courtyards and stand beneath the turquoise domes of Samarkand. Travel further into Karakalpakstan, where remarkable art collections, ancient fortresses and the former fishing port of Muynak reveal another chapter of the country’s story.
Route: Tashkent Nukus Muynak Khorezm Fortresses Khiva Bukhara Gijduvan Samarkand Shakhrisabz Tashkent
- Duration
- 14 days / 13 nights · Private journey
- Overnight stays
- 3 nights in Tashkent · 2 nights in Nukus · 2 nights in Khiva · 3 nights in Bukhara · 3 nights in Samarkand
- Arrival
- Tashkent International Airport
- Departure
- Tashkent International Airport
Along the way
Schedule
- Day 1
Upon arrival at Tashkent International Airport, meet your representative and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel.
After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to relax and settle in. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy an independent evening walk or let us arrange an optional welcome dinner featuring Uzbek cuisine.
- Day 2
After breakfast, begin your guided introduction to Uzbekistan’s capital.
Explore the Khast Imam Complex, an important centre of the city’s religious and architectural heritage. Continue to Chorsu Bazaar, where stalls filled with spices, dried fruits, fresh bread and seasonal produce offer a colourful introduction to everyday life.
Take a short ride on the Tashkent Metro, stopping to admire selected stations and their distinctive decoration.
Complete your city tour with Independence Square and Amir Temur Square, discovering the broad avenues and public spaces of modern Tashkent.
- Day 3
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan.
Upon arrival, meet your local team and visit the Savitsky Museum. Explore its collections of avant-garde art and Karakalpak cultural heritage, gaining an introduction to the region through paintings, textiles and traditional objects.
After your visit, transfer to your hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening.
The order of visits will be arranged around the confirmed flight time and museum opening hours.
- Day 4
Depart early for a full-day journey to Muynak, once a fishing port on the shores of the Aral Sea.
Visit the Ship Cemetery, where former fishing vessels now stand on dry land. Your guide will explain the changes that transformed the region and their lasting effects on local communities.
Continue to the local museum dedicated to the history of the Aral Sea, providing context for the photographs, landscapes and stories encountered throughout the day.
Return to Nukus in the evening.
This is a long driving day. The excursion visits the former shoreline at Muynak; reaching the present-day Aral Sea requires a separate expedition.
- Day 5
After breakfast and check-out, travel towards Khiva through the landscapes of ancient Khorezm.
Explore Toprak-Kala, the remains of an ancient fortified settlement whose earthen walls preserve traces of the region’s early history.
Continue to Ayaz-Kala, where fortress ruins rise above the surrounding desert. Enjoy the open views and discover how these defensive settlements formed part of a wider network of communities and trade routes.
Arrive in Khiva, check in to your hotel and enjoy your first evening near the old city.
The fortress visits involve uneven ground and exposed paths; walking can be adjusted to your comfort.
- Day 6
Spend the day discovering Ichan-Kala, Khiva’s atmospheric walled old town.
Admire the turquoise tiles of Kalta Minor and the neighbouring Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasa before exploring Kunya-Ark, the former rulers’ residence.
Visit Juma Mosque, known for its carved wooden columns, and discover the decorated courtyards of Tash-Khauli Palace.
Continue to the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum and the Islam Khoja Complex, whose slender minaret is one of Khiva’s defining landmarks.
Between visits, enjoy the narrow lanes, artisan stalls and architectural details that make the city rewarding to explore on foot.
- Day 7
After breakfast, leave Khiva and begin your overland journey to Bukhara.
Travel through the wide desert landscapes connecting two of Uzbekistan’s great historic cities, with comfort breaks and a lunch stop along the way.
This day is dedicated primarily to travel, allowing you to arrive in Bukhara without a demanding sightseeing programme.
Check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. An independent stroll around Lyabi-Hauz offers a lovely first introduction to the old city.
- Day 8
After breakfast, explore Bukhara’s historic heart with your guide.
Begin at the Samanid Mausoleum and Chashma-Ayub, then admire the elegant wooden columns of Bolo Hauz Mosque.
Visit the Ark Fortress, the former seat of Bukhara’s rulers, before continuing to the Poi-Kalyan ensemble. Admire the Kalyan Minaret, visit Kalyan Mosque and view the exterior of Mir-i-Arab Madrasa.
Walk through the historic trading domes, where local crafts continue the city’s commercial traditions.
Finish around Lyabi-Hauz, a welcoming square framed by historic buildings and shaded by mature trees.
- Day 9
After breakfast, discover the heritage beyond Bukhara’s central streets.
Visit the Bahauddin Naqshband Memorial Complex, an important place of pilgrimage, before continuing to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the former summer residence of Bukhara’s last emirs.
Return to the city for a stop at Chor Minor, recognisable by its four distinctive towers.
Later, enjoy a prearranged plov cooking experience, learning about the ingredients and preparation of Uzbekistan’s celebrated rice dish before sitting down to enjoy the meal.
- Day 10
After breakfast and check-out, depart for Samarkand.
Stop in Gijduvan to visit a traditional ceramics workshop. Meet local artisans and discover the techniques, colours and patterns associated with this pottery tradition.
Continue through the countryside to Samarkand and check in to your hotel.
The remainder of the day is free to relax. In the evening, you may choose an independent walk to admire the illuminated exterior of Registan Square.
- Day 11
After breakfast, begin your guided discovery of Samarkand.
Visit Gur-e-Amir, the mausoleum of Amir Temur, before continuing to Registan Square, framed by the Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori madrasas.
Explore Bibi-Khanym Mosque and browse nearby Siab Bazaar, where stalls display local bread, nuts, dried fruits and sweets.
Complete the day at Shah-i-Zinda, a remarkable ensemble of mausoleums celebrated for its intricate tilework and richly coloured façades.
- Day 12
After breakfast, depart for a full-day excursion to Shakhrisabz, closely associated with the early life of Amir Temur.
Discover the surviving monumental gateway of Ak-Saray Palace, then explore the Dorut Tilovat Complex, including Kok Gumbaz Mosque.
Continue to Dorus Saodat, learning more about the city’s place in Timurid history.
Enjoy time for lunch before returning to Samarkand.
The driving route will be selected according to the vehicle, weather and road conditions.
- Day 13
After breakfast and check-out, explore another side of Samarkand’s heritage.
Visit the Ulugh Beg Observatory, associated with the city’s remarkable astronomical tradition, and the Afrasiab Museum, where exhibits introduce the history of ancient Samarkand.
Continue to Konigil for a paper-making demonstration, discovering the traditional craft of producing paper from mulberry bark.
Later, transfer to the railway station for your train to Tashkent. Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel for the final night.
Sightseeing will be timed around the confirmed train departure.
- Day 14
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, subject to your flight time.
At the scheduled time, meet your driver for a private transfer to Tashkent International Airport.
This day is reserved for departure, bringing your Grand Uzbekistan journey to a comfortable close.
Before you set out
Tour information
Hotels, domestic flights, train services and workshop visits are subject to availability for your travel dates. The final programme may be reordered to accommodate transport schedules, museum closures and local conditions. Afrosiyob high-speed rail is preferred for the return to Tashkent where available; the confirmed quotation will specify the service and class.
Destination Highlights
- Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand
- Nukus and the Savitsky Museum
- Muynak and the former Aral Sea port
- Ancient Khorezm fortresses
- Shakhrisabz and the Ak-Saray ruins
Signature Experiences
- Exploring the walled streets of Ichan-Kala
- Crossing the landscapes of the Kyzylkum Desert
- Discovering ceramics in Gijduvan and paper-making in Konigil
- Learning to prepare traditional Uzbek plov
Inclusions and Exclusions
What’s included
- 13 nights in selected hotels with breakfast.
- Private transfers to and from airports and railway stations.
- Private air-conditioned transport for road journeys and excursions.
- Samarkand–Tashkent train ticket.
- Professional local guides speaking your preferred language.
- Bottled water during guided excursions and road transfers.
Not included
- International flights.
- Visa fees, if applicable.
- Domestic flight from Tashkent to Nukus.
- Travel insurance.
- Lunches and dinners.
- Early check-in and late check-out.
- Tips for guides and drivers.
- Any services not listed in the confirmed inclusions.
- Entrance tickets to the sights listed in the confirmed programme.
- Visit to the ceramics workshop in Gijduvan.
- Traditional paper-making demonstration in Konigil.
- Plov cooking masterclass followed by a meal.
Your journey with Arivio
Let’s plan your journey.
Tell us your preferred dates and a little about your plans. We’ll help you explore the options for this journey.
The Grand Uzbekistan Journey
info@ariviotravel.com