5 Day Uzbekistan City Tour: Samarkand, Bukhara & Tashkent

Five days on the Silk Road, from Tashkent's markets to Samarkand's tilework and Bukhara's bazaars.

A 5-day guided tour of Uzbekistan's three major cities—Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara—with private transport, a live guide and hotel accommodation included. The itinerary moves through Tashkent's Hast Imam Square and Chorsu market, then by train to Samarkand for the Registan Square madrassahs, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and working craft factories, before returning to Tashkent. A guide speaks your language; children from age 1 travel with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Tashkent city highlights

• Visit Hast Imam Square
• Walk through Chorsu market
• Visit Museum of Applied Art and metro stations

Day 2 — Tashkent religious sites and travel

• Visit Catholic and Orthodox churches
• Panoramic tour of Tashkent
• Visit Japanese garden
• Visit Tashkent City amusement park
• Train from Tashkent to Samarkand

Day 3 — Discover Samarkand's historic sites

• Visit Registan Square madrassahs
• Visit Gur-Emir and Saint Daniel mausoleums
• Visit Konigil Meros paper and Khujum carpet factories

Day 4 — Explore Samarkand monuments and complex

• Visit Kusam ibn Abbas shrine complex
• Visit Ulugbek observatory
• Visit Bibi Khanym Mosque
• Explore Silk Road Samarkand complex

Day 5 — Return to Tashkent and departure

• Transfer from Samarkand to Tashkent
• Free day in Tashkent
• Transfer to airport for departure

The Experience

The tour opens in Tashkent with the old city: Hast Imam Square holds the Barakkhan Madrasah, Tillya Sheikh Mosque and the 16th-century Kaffal Ash-Shashi Mausoleum. You walk through Chorsu, the largest market in Uzbekistan, with your guide, then visit the Museum of Applied Art and ride the metro to see its stations. The second day stays in Tashkent but shifts outward—Catholic and Orthodox churches, then the Independence Square and Opera and Ballet Theater Square on a panoramic loop. The Japanese Garden sits in the city center, and Tashkent City amusement park rounds out the afternoon before you board the evening train to Samarkand, arriving after 10pm.

Samarkand takes three full days. The Registan Square opens the sequence: three madrassahs—Ulugbek, Tilla Kori and Sherdor—face each other across the plaza, their tilework and carved marble still intact from the 14th century. From there you move to the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, where Tamerlan was buried, and the Saint Daniel mausoleum. The itinerary then turns to living craft: the Konigil Meros paper factory and Khujum carpet factory, where you see how these goods are still made. On the fourth day, the Kusam ibn Abbas shrine complex—a UNESCO site from the 14th and 15th centuries—is followed by Ulugbek's Observatory, built in 1428 on a hilltop and originally a three-story round building 46 meters across. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque closes the day, its carved marble portal and high minarets built by Tamerlan in honor of his favorite wife. The Silk Road Samarkand complex, a 280-hectare modern resort area with hotels and dining, is also on the route.

The final day is a transfer back to Tashkent and free time before your airport departure. Private transport moves you between all stops; your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of three other languages. Hotels are 3-star properties—VELARA in Tashkent, Marokand Spa Hotel in Samarkand—and the train journey between cities is included in the price.

What’s included

• Private transportation between all cities and sites.
• a live guide in your chosen language.
• accommodation at 3-star hotels in Tashkent and Samarkand.
• the train ticket from Tashkent to Samarkand.
• entry to the Registan Square madrassahs, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Kusam ibn Abbas shrine, Ulugbek's Observatory, the Museum of Applied Art and the craft factories.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Uktamxon tour

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you prefer a private guide and vehicle for the full journey—you'll move through Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand at a pace that lets you explore each city's historical sites rather than hit highlights in a rush.

Top questions

What is the Registan Square and why does it matter?

The Registan is a plaza in Samarkand where three madrassahs—Ulugbek, Tilla Kori and Sherdor—stand facing each other, their facades covered in tilework and carved marble from the 14th century. It is one of the most photographed sites on the Silk Road and a centerpiece of the tour.

Do I need to arrange my own transport between cities?

No. Private transport is included for all movement between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, including the train ticket from Tashkent to Samarkand on the evening of day two.

Can children travel on this tour?

Yes. Children are welcome from age 1, though infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour involves walking through markets, mosques and historical sites, so a moderate level of physical fitness is recommended for all travelers.

What are the craft factories included in the Samarkand portion?

The Konigil Meros paper factory and Khujum carpet factory are both on the itinerary in Samarkand. You visit them to see how traditional paper and carpets are made by hand, a working continuation of Silk Road crafts.

What language will my guide speak?

Your guide is a live speaker in English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of three additional languages. The language is set when you book.

Are meals included in the tour price?

Meals are not included. The tour covers private transport, accommodation at 3-star hotels, a guide and entry to sites, but you arrange and pay for your own food.