The Silk Road to Samarkand

Your itinerary

Day 1: UK/Tashkent

Meet your traveling companions at the airport and depart on your scheduled overnight flight to Tashkent.

Day 2: Tashkent

Arrival in Tashkent, where we check in to our hotel for breakfast, before enjoying an included sightseeing tour of the city. Some of the highlights of Tashkent that we see on our tour include Khast Imam Square also known as ‘The Holy Heart of Tashkent’, Independence Square, Opera House Square and a local market. Enjoy lunch at one of the many city restaurants. Overnight accommodation has been arranged in Tashkent. Enjoy a welcome drink this evening.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 3: Khiva

This morning, we take a flight to Urgench, then drive to the ancient city of Khiva, which is believed to date back to the 6th century. The rest of the day is spent enjoying an included sightseeing tour of the city. The walled heart of Khiva, Ichan-Kala, has been fully restored and is now a fascinating openair museum, dedicated to the history of this fascinating city. The wonderful architectural monuments include palaces, mosques, madrassahs, minarets and mausoleums. We include lunch during the tour. We stay in Khiva overnight.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 4: Kyzylkum Desert & Bukhara

Today, you will take the drive from Khiva to the former Silk Road city of Bukhara, one of the most ancient cities in the country. Your drive takes you through the Kyzylkum desert, which translates as ‘Red Sands’. A lunch stop will be made en route. Two nights’ accommodation has been arranged in Bukhara.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 5: Bukhara

One of the holiest cities in Central Asia, Bukhara has a long history of Judaism and there’s a strong Islamic influence to the culture and architecture found in the city today. In fact, the history of the city goes back more than two millennia – Bukhara celebrated its 2,500 year jubilee in 1997, and there are still people living in its historic heart, making it a living museum. Our full day included sightseeing tour of Bukhara starts with a trip to the former country residence of Bukhara’s Emir – Mokhi-Khosa Palace. We then return to the city, where we will visit the Citadel Ark, now home to a museum. The tour takes us to many of the monuments, mosques and Madrassahs (schools) of the city, including the Poi-Kalyan complex, where you’ll see the impressive 16th century Kalayan Minaret. We include lunch at a local restaurant, then this evening we will be treated to a folklore performance at one of the ancient madrassahs (weather permitted) before dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 6: Gijduvan & Samarkand

Leave Bukhara behind today for the drive to Samarkand, where two nights’ accommodation has been arranged. En route, you will stop at Gijduvan, a town famous for its ceramics. You’ll visit a local family-run ceramic workshop, where you will be able to see the manufacturing process and possibly even take the opportunity to purchase a pot or two, before continuing on your journey. When you arrive in Samarkand, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. This afternoon visit the impressive Bibi-Khanum Mosque, and the bazaar. You will also have time to explore at your own leisure.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 7: Samarkand

Today we include further sightseeing in Samarkand. This ancient city is situated at the heart of the Silk Road between China and the west. You will visit Registan Square, the official centre of Samarkand in the 14th and 15th centuries, lined on three sides by turquoisetiled buildings. We then move on to the Ulugbek Observatory, built by the renowned astronomer in the 15th century. It’s then on to before visiting the Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, a series of mausoleums from the 11th to 15th centuries. We include lunch today, as well as a theatrical performance at the Samarkand Theatre, then enjoy a farewell dinner tonight.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 8: Tashkent/UK

Drive to Tashkent this morning, where you will have lunch before transferring to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Meals: Breakfast