Uzbekistan 3-Day Tour: Bullet Train Tashkent, Bukhara & Samarkand

Three cities, three bullet trains, two nights in the heart of each one

A 3-day private tour of Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand with licensed city guides, entrance tickets to all monuments, and bullet train travel between cities. You stay in centrally located 3-4 star or boutique hotels and move through the itinerary with a dedicated guide and driver. The pace is set by the fixed schedule, which keeps all three cities reachable inside a single trip. Morning free time on day two lets you add a countryside excursion if you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Train to Bukhara and Bukhara sightseeing

• Take high speed train Tashkent-Bukhara
• Pick up at Bukhara station and check-in
• Visit Kalyan Minaret at Po-i-Kalyan square
• Explore the Ark Fortress
• See Bolo Hauz Mosque and pond
• Visit oldest mosque with brickwork
• Walk colorful old bazar with artisans
• Relax at Lyab-i Hauz Ensemble square

Day 2: Bukhara countryside and train to Samarkand

• Morning free time or optional countryside tour
• Transfer to Bukhara train station in Kagan
• Take bullet train Bukhara-Samarkand
• Arrive Samarkand and transfer to hotel

Day 3: Samarkand sightseeing and return train

• Visit Registan Square and medreses
• Tour Gur Emir Mausoleum
• Explore Shakhi-Zinda Ensemble
• See Bibi-Khanym Mosque
• Visit Siab Bazaar
• Explore Ulugbek's Observatory foundations
• Transfer to Samarkand station
• Take bullet train Samarkand-Tashkent

The experience

The route runs on Uzbekistan's high-speed trains, which move you between cities while keeping the pace manageable. Day one takes you by bullet train from Tashkent to Bukhara, where your guide meets you at the railway station and leads you through the Kalyan Minaret (a 45.6-meter survivor from 1127), the Ark fortress, the Bolo Hauz Mosque, and the Lyab-i Hauz Ensemble: a major square that still serves as the heart of the old city. You'll walk through the bazaar and see artisans' workshops, then overnight in a central hotel. Day two gives you morning free time or the option to join a countryside tour to the Emir Summer Palace and two mausoleums. The afternoon train carries you to Samarkand. On day three, your guide takes you to Registan Square (three medreses surrounding a reconstructed city center), the Gur-Emir Mausoleum where Tamerlane's tomb holds the world's largest piece of jade, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis with its 44 tombs, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Siab Bazaar, and Ulugbek's Observatory. You board the final bullet train back to Tashkent that evening.

All entrance tickets to monuments are included, as are the three bullet train tickets and two nights' accommodation in high-rated central hotels. Your guide speaks English, French, German, Russian or one of two additional languages. The same guide stays with you in each city. The air-conditioned vehicle is yours for the duration, and 24-hour customer service is available if you need to adjust anything. Single room supplements and tips to guides and drivers are paid on the spot. Museum photo and video fees ($1–2 per site) are also cash at entry. Transfers to and from the railway station on the first morning and last evening are included.

What’s included

• Entrance tickets to all monuments.
• licensed guides in English, French, German, Russian or two additional languages for each city.
• all fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
• two nights in centrally located 3-4 star or boutique hotels with twin or double rooms.
• all three bullet train tickets (Tashkent–Bukhara–Samarkand–Tashkent).
• 24-hour customer service.

Options for this experience

2 options

Three-day private tour of Bukhara and Samarkand by trainGuide in 6 languages · 07:30Pickup is included

Extend by 1 day in any cityGuide in 6 languages · 07:30Hotel of 3+ stars in the city center. Duration: 1 day. Add one night in Samarkand, Bukhara or Tashkent. Breakfast included. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Turkish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Silk Tour Ltd

Is this one for you?The fixed schedule keeps three major cities reachable in a single trip, but you move every two days, so this suits travelers who want to see the highlights of each place without staying long enough to explore on their own. If you prefer to linger in one city or travel at your own pace, the option to add a day in any city lets you adjust the itinerary at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German, Russian, Japanese and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What is the Kalyan Minaret and why does it matter in Bukhara's history?

The Kalyan Minaret, built in 1127, is the last surviving fragment of a mosque from the Kara-khanid era and stands 45.6 meters tall at the center of Po-i-Kalyan square. It astonished Genghis Khan so much that he refused to order its destruction during the Mongol conquests, making it one of Bukhara's oldest and most significant structures.

Can I spend more time in one of the cities instead of moving through all three?

Yes, the tour offers an option to add one extra day in any city you choose, extending the itinerary beyond the standard 3 days.

What happens on the morning of day two in Bukhara?

Day two morning is free time at leisure, or you can join an optional countryside tour to the Emir Summer Palace, Naqshbandi Mausoleum and Samani Mausoleum. The afternoon train departs for Samarkand.

Are the bullet train tickets included in the price?

Yes, all three bullet train tickets (Tashkent to Bukhara, Bukhara to Samarkand, and Samarkand back to Tashkent) are included, subject to availability.

What is Shah-i-Zinda and what will I see there?

Shah-i-Zinda is a necropolis on the southeastern mound of Afrosiab, consisting of 44 tombs across more than 20 mausoleums. It is significant because Shah-i-Zinda was the first cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and is said to resemble the Prophet most closely.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the railway station on the first and last days?

No, transfers to the railway station on the first morning and from the station on the last evening are included in the tour.