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What you can expect

Marvel at the awe-inspiring architecture and tile work

Visit Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara, once some of the most powerful cities in the world

Journey along part of the ancient Silk Road

About the trip

Join solos as we journey through Uzbekistan; a land of the ancient Silk Road, the ancient trade route that connected China with Europe, where the cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara thrived. On this tour we will witness turquoise domes, mesmerising tile designs, red deserts, busy bazaars and towering minarets. From the bustling capital of Tashkent to the immense fortresses of Samarkand and Bukhara, we travel a path which has been trodden by traders and merchants for thousands of years.

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What's this?

What's included

  • Return flights & transfers
  • Airport taxes & charges
  • Rooms for sole use
  • Half board
  • Welcome drink
  • City tour of Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand
  • Visit to the ancient ruins of Shylpyk-Kala, Zoroastrian dakhma and Toprak-Kala in the desert
  • See the summer residence of the last emir of Bukhara
  • Learn about the manufacturing of carpets and silks
  • Visit to Ulugbek Observatory
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
  • Fully financially protected

Itinerary

  • Overnight flight to Uzbekistan
  • Arrive into Tashkent and city tour
  • Fly to Urgench and transfer to Khiva with city tour
  • Visit to ancient ruins in the desert
  • Drive to Bukhara
  • City tour of Bukhara
  • Visit to Bahouddin Nakshbandi mausoleum and Sitorai-Mokhi-Hossa
  • Drive to Samarkand
  • City tour of Samarkand
  • Train to Tashkent
  • Return flight home

What you'll be doing

DAY 1

Overnight flight from the UK

Today we will head to the airport to depart the UK and head to Uzbekistan.
DAY 2

Arrival into Tashkent

This morning we will arrive into Tashkent and head to the hotel first where we will have breakfast, some time to relax and then head out for a city tour of Tashkent. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and was one of the main travel and trade hubs on the Silk Road that connected China and Europe. The old city of Tashkent still boasts its traditional ways, the architecture is a contrast to the modern design, a fine example of this is the metro system in Uzbekistan, which was the first in Central Asia, where each 29 stations has a different design. We will also experience the Chorsu market where we will witness the varying colours and bustling atmosphere within the blue domed building. This evening we will head back to the hotel for our first dinner together.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 3

Fly to Urgench and transfer to Khiva with city tour

This morning we will have an early breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to Tashkent Airport where we fly and transfer to Khiva. Khiva is one of the most intact Silk Road cities and is basically an open air museum with its narrow streets, colourful minarets, mausoleums, carved ayvans verandas and doors, all that have been perfectly preserved and looked after. With giant fortress walls and clay coloured houses, the city looks like a giant sandcastle and really is a unique city, and it is no surprise that it was central Asia’s first UNESCO World Heritage City. We will have a tour where we will head inside the fortress walls and into the Ichan-Kala, which is the inner city, where we will marvel at the architecture of where the Khans resided. We will also visit the unique Juma Mosque, made out of entirely wood that dates back to the 10th century. Inside here we will experience the bazaars which sell many handmade crafts. We will head back to the hotel for dinner and reflect upon the beauty of Khiva.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 4

Visit to ancient ruins in the desert

After breakfast this morning we head into the vast desert to visit Shylpyk-Kala, an ancient Zoroastrian Tower of Silence, thought to be one of the earliest examples of traditional funeral rituals. It is believed that it was constructed somewhere between the 1st century BCE and 1st Century CE. We will also visit the ancient settlement of Toprak-Kala, dating back to the 1st and 5th century AD. The large fortified palace was discovered in 1938, many mysteries still remain of this place such as by who and when it was built. It is known the palace was built on an elevated base, with monumental towers, a temple area with a holy fire. The town itself was divided into streets with several districts. After learning about this fascinating place, we will head back to the Khiva and have the rest of the day at leisure.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 5

Drive to Bukhara

This morning we will have breakfast before we drive to Bukhara. Back in the day, the route from Khiva to Bukhara would last more than a month, today it will take us between 6 and 7 hours travelling through the red desert of Uzbekistan, called the Kyzyl-Kum. During this drive, we will stop of at the Amu Darya River that supports the lives of millions of people in this land locked country.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 6

City tour of Bukhara

Today we will have a tour of the medieval city of Bukhara, located on the Silk Road and is more than 2000 years old, making it amongst one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, the city is a fine example of pre-Russian Uzbekistan. On the tour we will witness the Ark, which is a spectacular town within a town, where for centuries it was the residence of the emirs of Bukhara. Another prominent landmark is the Kalon Minaret, which has stood for almost nine centuries, and the Kalan Mosque, this is the heart of Bukhara. The minaret when built in 1127 and at the time was probably the tallest building in Central Asia.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 7

Visit to Bahouddin Nakshband mausoleum and Sitori-i-Mokhi Khosa

Today we will venture out of Bukhara to the village of Kasri Orifon to one of the most important shrines, the birth place and tomb of Khazreti Mohammed Bakhauddin Nakhshbandi the founder of the most influential of many ancient Sufi orders in Central Asia, and Bukhara’s unofficial ‘patron saint’. The shrine is full of superstitions, pilgrims will circle, kiss and pray in front of the tombstone. We will also head to Sitori-i-Mokhi Khosa palace where the last emirs of Bukhar would reside in the summer. Here we will see European influences in the design and decor in the luxurious interiors, colourful tile work and courtyards.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 8

Drive to Samarkand

This morning we will have breakfast and the transfer by coach to Samarkand (approximately 4 hours 3o minutes). On this journey we will stop off at Gijduvan, which since ancient times, has been known as a craft and trade centre. The city has a distinct style where the craftsman apply a unique turquoise blue to the pottery they make. After stopping here and visiting the ceramics museum, we will continue on our way.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 9

City tour of Samarkand

Samarkand is one of the the most important cities that lay on the Silk Road, acting as a cross road of world cultures and trade. It is also one of the oldest cities in the world, being founded around the 7th century BC. A main reason for a visit to Samarkand is to witness the stunning Islamic architecture of its mosques and mausloeums. We will have a tour of Samarkand, visiting places such as Registan Square, the awe inspiring square was the commercial square of medieval Samarkand and back then, was more than likely wall to wall with bazaars. The three tall medressas have stood the test of time, surviving frequent earthquakes. We will also visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the beautiful resting place of Timur along with other family members. The attention to detail of the tile work is something to admire. One of the highlights of the tour will be the Shah-i-Zinda, this site has stunning avenues of mausoleums, with some of the best tile work in the Muslim world.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 10

Train to Tashkent

This morning we will have breakfast at the hotel before visiting a carpet factory and Ulugbek Observatory, which was built in the 1420s, destroyed in 1449 but then rebuilt in 1908. We will then make our way the the train station of Samarkand and board the train to Tashkent (approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes train journey) where we will spend a final dinner with our fellow travellers and share stories and photographs of our experiences of the Silk Road.
  • Breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 11

Flight back to the UK

Today we will have our final breakfast and then make our way to the airport for our flight back to the UK.
  • Breakfast included.

Accommodation

Hotels on this tour:

On this multi-centre tour we will stay at the following:
  • Tashkent – Wyndham Tashkent
  • Khiva – Asia Khiva or similar
  • Bukhara – Asia Bukhara or similar
  • Samarkand – Arba / Wellfort Hotel or similar
  • Tashkent – Wyndham Tashkent

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Reviews

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