The Golden Road to Samarkand: Uzbekistan’s Silk Road Cities
Journey through the legendary Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan — Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva — in this perfectly paced 8-day cultural tour. Ride the high-speed Afrosiyob train between turquoise-domed cities, walk through UNESCO-listed old towns, and experience Central Asian hospitality at its finest.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Tashkent Arrival
Welcome at Tashkent International Airport. Transfer to hotel. Evening stroll along Broadway Street and Amir Timur Square.
Day 2: Tashkent City Tour
Explore Tashkent’s highlights: Khast Imam Complex housing the world’s oldest Quran, Chorsu Bazaar with its iconic blue dome, and Tashkent’s beautiful metro stations — each a work of art. Visit the Museum of Applied Arts.
Day 3: High-Speed Train to Samarkand
Transfer to Samarkand via Afrosiyob train (2 hours). Afternoon at the magnificent Registan Square — three madrasahs forming one of the world’s most beautiful public spaces. Explore the Siob Bazaar.
Day 4: Samarkand Treasures
Visit the spectacular Gur-i-Amir Mausoleum (Tamerlane’s tomb), the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, and the Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis — a stunning avenue of blue-tiled mausoleums. Traditional paper-making workshop in Konigil village.
Day 5: Bukhara via Gijduvan
Train to Bukhara. En-route stop in Gijduvan to visit the Narzullayev family pottery workshop — sixth-generation master ceramists. Afternoon walking tour of Bukhara’s old town.
Day 6: Bukhara UNESCO Sites
Full day exploring Bukhara: the Kalyan Minaret (the “Tower of Death”), the Ark Fortress, Lyab-i Hauz plaza, and the trading domes. Evening folk show at Nadir Divan Begi Madrasah.
Day 7: Khiva – The Living Museum
Flight to Urgench, then transfer to Khiva. Explore the UNESCO-listed Ichan Kala — a perfectly preserved medieval walled city. Climb the Islam Khoja minaret for sunset views over the mud-brick city.
Day 8: Khiva & Departure
Morning exploration of Khiva’s palaces and mosques. Transfer to Urgench Airport for departure via Tashkent.
Included
- 7 nights in comfortable 3-star hotels and guesthouses
- Daily breakfast
- High-speed train Tashkent-Samarkand, Samarkand-Bukhara
- Domestic flight Bukhara-Urgench (for Khiva)
- All airport/train station transfers
- Professional English-speaking guide
- All entrance fees to monuments and museums
