8-Day Silk Road Tour in Uzbekistan: Tashkent to Samarkand

The Uthman Quran, the oldest in the world, sits in a courtyard you'll walk through on day two.

An 8-day guided tour through Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities, starting in Tashkent and moving through Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand, with visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient mausoleums, bazaars, and Islamic architecture. Hotel accommodation with breakfast, private transfers, and a local English-speaking guide are included throughout. Lunches, dinners, and air and train tickets are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Relaxation in Tashkent

• Arrive at Tashkent International Airport
• Meet local guide and transfer to hotel
• Check into Baden-Baden 3* Hotel
• Refresh and relax after flight

Day 2: Tashkent Sightseeing and Flight to Khiva

• Visit Khast Imam Complex and Uthman Quran
• Explore Barak Khan Madrasah and Tillya Sheikh Mosque
• Visit Mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi
• Shop and explore Chorsu Bazaar
• Tour Independence Square and Romanov Palace exterior
• Visit Opera and Ballet Square and Navoi Theater
• See Amir Timur Square and Orthodox Cathedral
• Fly to Urgench and transfer to Khiva
• Check into Twins Boutique Hotel
• Dinner at traditional Uzbek restaurant

Day 3: Khiva Exploration and Desert Drive to Bukhara

• Visit Ichan Kala UNESCO site
• See Kalta Minor Minaret and Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah
• Explore Kunya Ark Citadel and Tash Hauli Palace
• Drive across Kyzylkum Desert to Bukhara
• Check into Makon Boutique Hotel
• Free time at Lyabi Hauz pond area
• Dinner at local restaurant

Day 4: Bukhara Historical and Cultural Tour

• Visit Ismail Samani Mausoleum and Chashmai Ayub spring
• See Bolo Hauz Mosque
• Tour Ark Fortress
• Explore Lyabi Hauz, Kukeldash Madrasah, and Nadir Divan-Begi Khanaka
• Lunch at leisure
• Visit Bukhara bazaars: Toki Zargaron, Toki Telpak Furushon, Toki Sarrafon
• Visit Poi-Kalon Complex and Kalon Minaret
• See Kalon Mosque, Miri Arab Madrasah, and Chor Minor
• Attend plov masterclass and dinner

Day 5: Bukhara to Samarkand by Train

• Free morning in Bukhara
• Afternoon Afrosiyob high-speed train to Samarkand
• Check into Shahzoda Elit Boutique Hotel
• Evening twilight walk to Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum

Day 6: Samarkand Highlights and Return to Tashkent

• Visit Registan Square madrasahs
• Explore Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis
• Tour Bibi-Khanym Mosque
• Shop at Siab Bazaar
• Afternoon Afrosiyob train back to Tashkent
• Farewell dinner with live Uzbek music

Day 7: Tashkent City Tour

• Visit Khast Imam Complex and Uthman Quran
• Explore Barak Khan Madrasah and Tillya Sheikh Mosque
• Visit Mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi
• Shop and explore Chorsu Bazaar
• Tour Independence Square and Romanov Palace exterior
• Visit Opera and Ballet Square and Navoi Theater
• See Amir Timur Square and Orthodox Cathedral

Day 8: Departure from Uzbekistan

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to Tashkent International Airport
• Depart Uzbekistan

The experience

Eight days means you move slowly enough to sit in a teahouse by Lyabi Hauz pond in Bukhara, walk the labyrinth of Khiva's Ichan Kala walled city, and stand in front of Samarkand's three madrasahs at Registan Square without rushing between them. The route follows the ancient Silk Road itself: you'll cross the Kyzylkum Desert by road, then take the Afrosiyob high-speed train between Bukhara and Samarkand. A local guide in English leads you through each city's major sites: the Khast Imam Complex with its 7th-century Uthman Quran, the Ark Fortress in Bukhara, the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum where Amir Timur is buried, and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis with its turquoise-domed tombs.

The itinerary builds around what you actually do at each stop: you wander Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent hunting for spices and handwoven textiles, climb the watchtower of Kunya Ark Citadel in Khiva for views across the golden skyline, explore the covered markets of Bukhara (the Jewelry Bazaar, the Hat Makers' Dome, the Money Changers' Market), and browse Siab Bazaar next to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand. On day five in Bukhara, you join a plov masterclass in a local guesthouse and cook Uzbekistan's most beloved dish yourself before eating it fresh from the kazan. Breakfasts are included at your hotels. You choose where to eat lunch and dinner, which gives you freedom to find smaller neighborhood spots or return to places you liked.

Private transfers move you between airports, hotels, and sites throughout the eight days. The vehicle size depends on your group's size. You stay in boutique hotels in the old towns (Baden-Baden in Tashkent, Twins in Khiva, Makon in Bukhara, Shahzoda Elit in Samarkand), so you're walking distance from the main attractions each morning. The tour ends with a farewell dinner in Tashkent accompanied by live Uzbek music before your transfer to the airport.

What’s included

• Hotel accommodation with breakfast each morning.
• excursion program led by a local professional guide speaking English.
• private transfers between airports, hotels, and sites throughout the eight days (vehicle size depends on group size).
• entry to all major sites and attractions mentioned in the itinerary.
• the plov masterclass and meal in Bukhara.
• a farewell dinner with live Uzbek music in Tashkent on the final evening.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 175

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by AroundCA

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary and stories at your own pace without translation delays. This works well if you want cultural depth without language barriers, though it also means the group moves together at one rhythm through each site.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is the Uthman Quran and where do I see it on this tour?

The Uthman Quran is one of Islam's most treasured relics, said to be the oldest in the world and dating back to the 7th century. It sits in the Khast Imam Complex in Tashkent, which you visit on the morning of day two, before flying to Khiva in the afternoon.

Do I need to arrange my own flights and train tickets to get between the cities?

Yes, air and train tickets are not included in this tour. Your guide will tell you which flights and trains to book (a short flight from Tashkent to Urgench on day two, and the Afrosiyob high-speed train from Bukhara to Samarkand on day six), but you purchase them separately.

What happens during the plov masterclass in Bukhara?

On the evening of day five, you join a local guesthouse where you learn to cook plov, Uzbekistan's national rice dish, and then eat it hot and fragrant straight from the kazan. It's hands-on instruction in a welcoming home setting, not a restaurant demonstration.

Is the desert drive from Khiva to Bukhara part of the tour, or do I arrange my own transport?

The scenic drive across the Kyzylkum Desert from Khiva to Bukhara on day four is included in the tour. Your private transfer takes you across the landscape unchanged for centuries, a journey that brings the Silk Road spirit alive.

Which sites in Samarkand does the tour cover?

Samarkand's main stops are Registan Square (three majestic madrasahs), Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis (the avenue of turquoise-domed tombs), Bibi-Khanym Mosque (once the largest in the Islamic world), and Siab Bazaar. You explore these on day seven before boarding the evening train back to Tashkent.

What meals are included, and which ones do I pay for separately?

Breakfast is included every day at your hotel. Lunches and dinners are your choice and paid separately, giving you the freedom to eat where you want. The plov masterclass on day five includes the meal you cook and eat together.