8 Days Uzbekistan Silk Road: Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara & Samarkand
Route: Tashkent → Khiva → Bukhara → Samarkand → Tashkent | Duration: 8 Days | From $1,200/person
8Days
4UNESCO Cities
Mar-NovBest Season
Max 14Group Size
Tour Overview
The golden quadrilateral of Uzbekistan — four legendary Silk Road cities in eight unforgettable days. Stand in awe at the regal Registan Square in Samarkand, walk through the living museum of Khiva’s Itchan Kala, watch sunset over Bukhara’s Kalon Minaret, and sip green tea in Tashkent’s Chorsu Bazaar. Ride the high-speed Afrosiyob train, cross the Kyzylkum Desert, and taste Central Asia’s finest plov. Expert local guides, boutique hotels in restored madrassahs, and the warmest hospitality on the Silk Road.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
| Day 1 | Arrive Tashkent — Airport pickup, hotel check-in. Afternoon: Khast Imam Complex (home to world’s oldest Quran), explore Chorsu Bazaar’s spice and dried fruit alleys. Evening welcome dinner with authentic Uzbek plov and shashlik at Central Asian Plov Center. |
| Day 2 | Tashkent → Khiva — Morning flight to Urgench (1.5hrs), scenic transfer to Khiva (30min). Afternoon: enter Itchan Kala — the perfectly preserved walled city. Visit Kalta Minor Minaret (the unfinished giant), Muhammad Amin Khan Madrassah, and climb Kunya-Ark watchtower for panoramic sunset views over the mud-brick city. |
| Day 3 | Khiva — Full day exploring the open-air museum: Tash Khauli Palace (summer, winter & harem quarters), Juma Mosque with its 218 carved wooden columns, Islam Khoja Minaret (climb for best view). Afternoon: silk carpet weaving workshop, woodcarving artisan visit. Rooftop dinner overlooking illuminated minarets. |
| Day 4 | Khiva → Bukhara — Scenic 6-hour drive through the Kyzylkum Desert (Red Sands). Photo stops at Amu Darya River and desert landscapes. Arrive Bukhara late afternoon — first glimpse of the magnificent Kalon Minaret at golden hour. Check into boutique hotel in the old Jewish Quarter. |
| Day 5 | Bukhara — Morning: Kalon Minaret & Mosque (Genghis Khan spared only this), Mir-i-Arab Madrassah, Ark Fortress (5th century citadel). Afternoon: Lyab-i Hauz plaza (the heart of old Bukhara), Nadir Divan-Begi Madrassah, three ancient trading domes (Toki Zargaron, Telpak Furushon, Tim Abdulla Khan). Optional traditional hammam experience. Evening folklore dance show. |
| Day 6 | Bukhara → Samarkand — Morning: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa (the Emir’s Summer Palace — Russian-Oriental fusion), Chor Minor, Bolo Hauz Mosque. Midday: board Afrosiyob high-speed train (1.5hrs, Wi-Fi onboard). Arrive Samarkand — walk directly to Registan Square. The three madrassahs (Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor, Tilya-Kori) at sunset are the defining image of the Silk Road. |
| Day 7 | Samarkand → Tashkent — Morning: Shah-i-Zinda necropolis (the ‘Avenue of Mausoleums’ — the most stunning blue-tiled street in Central Asia), Gur-e-Amir (Tamerlane’s tomb), Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Afternoon: Siyob Bazaar (taste Samarkand’s famous non bread and dried apricots), Ulugh Beg Observatory (15th-century astronomical wonder). Evening fast train to Tashkent (2hrs). |
| Day 8 | Depart Tashkent — Morning: Independence Square, Applied Arts Museum, ride Tashkent Metro (each station a work of art — Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi, Pakhtakor). Airport transfer. Tour ends with unforgettable Silk Road memories. |
Why This Tour
4 UNESCO Cities
All four Silk Road gems in one trip — Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. No other 8-day itinerary covers all four.
All four Silk Road gems in one trip — Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. No other 8-day itinerary covers all four.
High-Speed Train
Ride the Afrosiyob bullet train between Samarkand and Bukhara — comfortable, fast, and a great way to see the countryside.
Ride the Afrosiyob bullet train between Samarkand and Bukhara — comfortable, fast, and a great way to see the countryside.
Boutique Hotels
Stay in restored madrassahs and traditional courtyard hotels in the heart of each old city. Walk to the Registan from your room.
Stay in restored madrassahs and traditional courtyard hotels in the heart of each old city. Walk to the Registan from your room.
Expert Local Guides
Our Uzbek guides are historians and storytellers who bring the Silk Road to life — many grew up in these very cities.
Our Uzbek guides are historians and storytellers who bring the Silk Road to life — many grew up in these very cities.
What’s Included
- All accommodation (boutique hotels & restored madrassahs, twin-sharing)
- English-speaking local guide throughout
- Air-conditioned private vehicle & Afrosiyob train tickets
- Domestic flight Tashkent → Urgench
- All entrance fees per itinerary
- Daily breakfast
- Welcome & farewell dinners
- Airport transfers
- Travel insurance
What’s Excluded
- International flights to/from Tashkent
- Uzbekistan visa (e-visa available online, $20)
- Single room supplement
- Lunch & dinner (except welcome/farewell)
- Tips for guide & driver (suggested $7/day)
- Personal expenses & camera fees at monuments
Important Travel Information
- Best time: March–May and September–November (pleasant weather, clear skies)
- Summer (Jun-Aug): Can exceed 40°C — early morning sightseeing recommended
- Visa: Uzbekistan e-visa available online ($20, 30 days, processed in 3 working days)
- Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered when entering mosques. Comfortable walking shoes essential for cobblestone streets
- Currency: Uzbek Som (UZS) — carry USD cash for exchange; ATMs available in Tashkent and Samarkand
- Internet: WiFi available in hotels; mobile data works but some apps may require VPN
Pricing
From $1,200 USD per person (twin-sharing basis). Includes domestic flight and Afrosiyob high-speed train. Single supplement available on request. Contact us for exact dates and availability — small group departures every Saturday, March through November.
