Bukhara & Samarkand Private Tour by Train from Tashkent

Summary

2-Day Uzbekistan Rail Journey with Local Guide

This is your chance to ride Uzbekistan’s high-speed trains from Tashkent to Samarkand and Bukhara with local guides who know every story behind each mosaic and market stall. Explore Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Lyabi Hauz, and more — plus hotel stay and all tickets included. It’s two days packed with real moments you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed stepping off the Afrosiyob train in Samarkand was the air — kind of dry and cool, even though it was barely past 10am. Our guide, Dilshod, waved at us near the station exit, holding a sign with my name (spelled right, which always surprises me). He led us straight into the city’s heart — Gur-e-Emir Mausoleum. The blue tiles looked almost unreal in the morning light. I remember running my hand along the rough stone wall outside while Dilshod told us about Timur’s tomb. There was this faint smell of bread drifting over from somewhere nearby — maybe someone’s breakfast? I felt like I’d landed in a storybook but also very much in someone else’s everyday life.

Registan Square is one of those places you’ve seen in photos, but standing there is different. The three madrasas are massive — honestly, I kept craning my neck just to see the tops. School kids were giggling on a field trip; one little girl waved at me and then hid behind her friend. We wandered through Bibi-Khanym Mosque and then up to Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, where everything felt quieter and older somehow. The walk between tombs is lined with turquoise mosaics that catch the sun in weird ways — I tried taking pictures but none of them really did it justice. At Siyab Bazaar later, Dilshod bought us some dried apricots to try. They were sweet and chewy, nothing like what you get back home.

By evening we were back on the train heading for Bukhara. I was tired but couldn’t sleep — too much buzzing in my head from everything we’d seen. Our hotel was small and friendly; the woman at reception poured us tea without asking if we wanted any (which was perfect). Next morning after breakfast (flatbread still warm), our new guide Farida met us for a walking tour around Lyabi Hauz. She pointed out details on old wooden doors and told stories about Khodja Nasreddin that made her laugh more than us — apparently he’s something like Uzbekistan’s trickster hero.

Bukhara felt slower than Samarkand — maybe because we walked everywhere or maybe because people seemed to take their time here. We ducked into handicraft shops inside Abdullakhan’s Tim; I bought a tiny ceramic bowl after haggling badly (the seller smiled anyway). Poi Kalon Square was busy but not loud; pigeons flapped around the minaret while Farida explained its history. We only saw Ark Fortress from outside since it was getting late, but honestly by then my feet were done anyway.

I keep thinking about that moment at Shah-i-Zinda when everything went quiet except for some distant call to prayer echoing off the tiles. If you’re looking for a private tour from Tashkent that actually lets you feel these cities instead of just ticking boxes, this one does it — even if your photos end up blurry like mine.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tashkent to Samarkand and Bukhara

• Visit Gur Emir Mausoleum
• Explore Registan Square
• Visit Bibi Khanim Mosque
• Tour Shahi Zinda Necropolis
• See Ulugbek’s Observatory and Samarkand bazaar
• Evening transfer to Bukhara

Day 2 — Bukhara sightseeing and return

• Visit Ensemble Lyabi Hauz
• Visit Magoki Attari Mosque
• Explore Abdullakhan’s Tim and Caravanserai Sayfuddin
• See Poi Kalon Square and Mir Arab Madrassa
• View Ark Fortress exterior
• Transfer to railway station and depart to Tashkent

Top questions

Is this Bukhara & Samarkand tour suitable for travelers with limited mobility?

Yes, all areas are wheelchair accessible and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

How long is the train ride from Tashkent to Samarkand?

The high-speed Afrosiyob train takes about two hours each way between Tashkent and Samarkand.

Are meals included during the tour?

Breakfast at your hotel is included; other meals can be found easily at local markets or cafes during sightseeing stops.

Will there be free time to explore on my own?

You’ll have some downtime in the evenings after guided tours before catching your next train or resting at your hotel.

What’s included

Your trip includes pickup from your hotel in Tashkent, all high-speed train tickets between Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, private transportation within each city with friendly local guides leading both excursions, entrance fees to every monument on the itinerary, overnight boutique hotel accommodation (twin or double room), plus breakfast each morning before heading out again.