Bukhara Countryside Private Tour with Licensed Guide

Four monuments, one afternoon, a guide who knows the stories behind them

A 3–5 hour private countryside tour of Bukhara with a licensed guide and private transport includes entrance to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, the Bahá-ud-dín Naqshband shrine, Faizulla Khodjaev House Museum and Chor Minor. The guide speaks English or Russian and explains the architecture, history and religious significance of each site as you move between them.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bukhara countryside private tour

• Visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace
• Explore Naqshbandi Sufi order site
• Tour Faizulla Khodjaev House Museum
• See Chor Minor monument

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel and moves through Bukhara's countryside monuments at a pace set by your group. Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, named after a beloved wife and meaning "Palace of Moon-Like Stars," opens first. You walk the grounds and see the traditional architecture that made it a royal retreat. From there the route leads to the shrine of Bahá-ud-dín Naqshband, the founder of one of Islam's largest Sufi orders, where you'll encounter local pilgrims paying tribute to the saint and the scholars buried there.

The second half of the day takes in two smaller but significant sites. Faizulla Khodjaev House Museum preserves the home of an early 20th-century political figure, showing how a wealthy Bukharan family actually lived: the rooms, the furnishings, the everyday details that no guidebook captures. Chor Minor, built in the 19th century and named for its four distinctive minarets, sits nearby. Its blend of Islamic and Central Asian styles makes it one of the city's most photographed corners, and the guide explains why those architectural choices mattered.

Private transport means no shared stops or waiting for other groups, and your licensed guide adjusts the pace if a site holds your attention. All entrance fees are included, though photo or video permits at the museums run $1–$2 per site and are paid directly at each entrance. The tour suits all fitness levels and children from age 2 onward.

What’s included

• Private transport throughout the tour.
• fully licensed guide in English or Russian.
• entrance tickets to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, Bahá-ud-dín Naqshband shrine, Faizulla Khodjaev House Museum and Chor Minor.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 13:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Malika ST Tours

Is this one for you?Because this is a private tour with your own guide and transport, you control the pace and can spend extra time at any monument that interests you: ideal if you want depth on Bukhara's architecture and religious history rather than a quick circuit with a crowd.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace and why does it matter to Bukhara?

Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa is a royal palace whose name means "Palace of Moon-Like Stars". It was named by a ruler after his deceased wife, Sitora-bonu, because he compared her beauty to the moon. The palace represents the height of Bukharan architecture and is one of the city's most important heritage sites outside the old city center.

Who was Bahá-ud-dín Naqshband and what will I see at his shrine?

Bahá-ud-dín Naqshband was a 14th-century Islamic scholar who founded the Naqshbandi order, one of the largest Sufi movements in Sunni Islam. At his shrine you'll see local pilgrims paying their respects to him and to other scholars and past dynasties buried there, giving you a glimpse of how this holy site functions in the city's spiritual life today.

Is this tour private, or will I be grouped with other travelers?

This is a private tour. You have your own licensed guide and private transport for your group only. There are no shared stops or waits for other visitors, so the pace and timing stay entirely under your control.

What is Chor Minor and when was it built?

Chor Minor is a small 19th-century monument whose name means "Four Minarets," referring to the four towers that sit on its roof. It's admired for its unique blend of Islamic and Central Asian architectural styles and is one of the most distinctive buildings in Bukhara's countryside.