Tour overview

This 9-day small-group trip follows the Silk Road through Uzbekistan, linking its great cities with the desert and mountain villages in between. Groups have no more than 16 travellers aged 15 and over, with a local leader throughout. You travel by fast intercity train, private vehicle and metro. You stay mainly in twin-share hotels, plus a night in a desert yurt camp and a night in a village homestay. Breakfast is included daily, with one lunch and two dinners. The trip is land-only, starting and ending in Tashkent.

After meeting the group in Tashkent, you take the train to Bukhara, a UNESCO-listed city of more than a hundred monuments that has survived Genghis Khan and the Soviet era. A full-day tour takes in the Kalon Minaret and Mosque, the Ark Fortress, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum and the Magoki Attori mosque. You also see Lyabi-Hauz, the tree-shaded pool where locals gather in the evenings.

Read more

Leaving Bukhara, you visit a sixth-generation family of ceramicists in Gijduvan, then cross the Kyzylkum Desert to Nurata, a town said to have been founded by Alexander the Great. You spend the night in a yurt camp, with dinner around the fire under desert stars. Next day you drive into the Nuratau Mountains to stay with a family in a Tajik village of stone houses and shaded paths. There is time to hike to waterfalls and petroglyphs, and you join a cooking demonstration for a home-cooked plov dinner.

Samarkand, described by Marco Polo as a very large and splendid city, gets two days. You see the Registan, three great madrasas facing a single square, and Gur-e-Amir, the tomb of Tamerlane. You also visit the vast Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Shah-i-Zinda, an avenue of blue-tiled mausoleums. A train returns you to Tashkent for a city tour by metro, with its decorated Soviet-era stations, Amir Timur Square and the domed Chorsu Bazaar.

The physical rating is low, with some walking in the mountains, and two nights are simple with shared facilities. It suits travellers who want a short, varied introduction to Uzbekistan's Silk Road heritage and its rural life.

Trip highlights

  • Bukhara's Kalon Minaret, Ark Fortress and Lyabi-Hauz (Day 3)
  • A sixth-generation ceramics workshop in Gijduvan (Day 4)
  • A night in a desert yurt camp near Nurata (Day 4)
  • A homestay and plov dinner in the Nuratau Mountains (Day 5)
  • Samarkand's Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda (Days 6–7)
  • Tashkent's metro and Chorsu Bazaar (Day 8)

Your route

6 stops from Tashkent to Samarkand

9-day route: Tashkent – Bukhara – Gijduvan – Nurata – Nuratau Mountains – Samarkand – Tashkent
  1. Tashkent Days 1 & 8
  2. Bukhara Days 2–3
  3. Gijduvan Day 4
  4. Nurata (desert yurt camp) Day 4
  5. Nuratau Mountains Day 5
  6. Samarkand Days 6–7

Why choose this tour

A short trip that covers Uzbekistan's three great cities and adds a desert yurt and a mountain village homestay. Fast trains between the cities save long drives, and a local leader brings the history and culture to life.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to Central Asia
  • Travellers interested in Islamic architecture and Silk Road history
  • Anyone who enjoys a homestay and time in rural villages
  • Travellers looking for a good-value short trip
The Kalon Minaret and Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Day-by-day itinerary

9 days from Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Tashkent, Uzbekistan

  1. Day 1 · Tashkent Arrive in Tashkent

    Welcome to Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital and Central Asia's main hub. The trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm, where you meet your leader and fellow travellers.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Bukhara Train to Bukhara

    Take the train to Bukhara, about four hours. This Silk Road city has a long history, including invasions by Genghis Khan and the Red Army, and its old centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rest of the day is free to explore.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Kalon Minaret, Ark Fortress, Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Lyabi-Hauz Bukhara

    A full-day tour of Bukhara's monuments: the Kalon Mosque and Minaret, the Ark Fortress, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum and the Magoki Attori mosque. End at Lyabi-Hauz, the pool square at the heart of the old city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Gijduvan, Nurata, Kyzylkum Desert Gijduvan and a desert yurt

    Visit a family of sixth-generation ceramicists in Gijduvan, then drive about 2.5 hours to Nurata, said to have been founded by Alexander the Great. Spend the night at a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert, with dinner around the fire.

    Hotel
    Desert yurt camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Nuratau Mountains Nuratau Mountains homestay

    Drive two to three hours into the Nuratau Mountains to stay with a family in a Tajik village of stone houses and shaded paths. Hike to waterfalls or petroglyphs, then join a cooking demonstration and share a plov dinner with your hosts.

    Hotel
    Village homestay
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Samarkand, Registan Samarkand and the Registan

    Drive about four hours to Samarkand. Visit the Registan, three monumental madrasas facing one great square, perhaps the most famous sight in Central Asia.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Shah-i-Zinda, Gur-e-Amir, Bibi-Khanym Mosque Samarkand

    Explore Shah-i-Zinda, an avenue of blue-tiled mausoleums built around the shrine of a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. Visit Gur-e-Amir, Tamerlane's tomb, and the vast Bibi-Khanym Mosque, with time to explore the bazaar.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Tashkent, Amir Timur Square, Chorsu Bazaar Back to Tashkent

    Take an early train back to Tashkent, about four hours. Ride the metro, with its ornate Soviet-era stations, to Amir Timur Square and the domed Chorsu Bazaar. In the evening, you could see a performance at the Navoi Theatre.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Tashkent Trip ends in Tashkent

    The trip ends after breakfast, and you can leave at any time before check-out. Airport transfers can be arranged in advance.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The tiled domes of the Shah-i-Zinda mausoleums in Samarkand

Where you stay

  • Tashkent (1 night) Hotel
  • Bukhara (2 nights) Hotel
  • Nurata (1 night) Desert yurt camp
  • Nuratau Mountains (1 night) Village homestay
  • Samarkand (2 nights) Hotel
  • Tashkent (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation — 8 nights 6 in hotels, 1 in a desert yurt camp and 1 in a village homestay
  • Meals 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners, including a home-cooked plov dinner
  • Transport intercity trains, private vehicles and the Tashkent metro
  • Guided visits Bukhara's monuments, the Gijduvan ceramics workshop, the Nuratau village, Samarkand's Registan, Gur-e-Amir, Bibi-Khanym and Shah-i-Zinda, and a Tashkent city tour
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights to and from Tashkent
  • Airport transfers, available on request
  • Uzbekistan visa, if required
  • Meals not listed and optional activities
  • Single supplement (not available in the yurt or homestay), tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The Amir Timur Museum in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want flights included — they are not
  • You need a private bathroom every night — the yurt and homestay have shared facilities
  • You want most meals included — 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners
  • You want a slow pace in one place — you change base most days

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Uzbekistan
The Lyabi-Hauz pool in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Departures & prices

From £1,255 per person, twin share, tour only. 31 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Are flights included?

No. You fly to and from Tashkent. Airport transfers can be arranged if you send your flight details at least 14 days before departure.

How do we travel between cities?

By fast intercity train between Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand, and by private vehicle to the desert and the mountains. In Tashkent you ride the metro.

What are the yurt and homestay like?

Simple and shared by design, with basic shared facilities. They are a highlight for many travellers, and single rooms are not available on these two nights.

How active is the trip?

The physical rating is low. Most days involve city sightseeing on foot, and the Nuratau Mountains offer optional walks to waterfalls and petroglyphs.

What meals are included?

8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners, including dinner at the yurt camp and a home-cooked plov dinner at the homestay.

What should I wear?

Modest clothing is respectful, especially at mosques and shrines, and comfortable walking shoes for old towns and village paths.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

Similar routes

11 days · 6 departure dates

Tajikistan & Uzbekistan: Fann Mountains, Samarkand & Bukhara – 11 Days

From £3,049
13 days · 11 departure dates

Silk Road Highlights: Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan – 13 Days

From £2,330
23 days · 9 departure dates

Silk Road of Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan: Song Kul to Samarkand – 23 Days

From £4,075
17 days · 31 departure dates

Central Asia Explorer: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan & Tajikistan – 17 Days

From £3,040

More tours in Uzbekistan

11 days · 27 departure dates

Tashkent to Ashgabat: Khiva, Darvaza Crater & Merv – 11 Days

From £2,240
23 days · 8 departure dates

The Five Stans of the Silk Road: Ashgabat to Almaty – 23 Days

From £6,149

Explore more

From £1,255
See dates & prices