Explore Uzbekistani Culture along the Ancient Silk Road
Engage on a deeper level with the authentic art and culture of Uzbekistan, and walk in its magnificent old towns.
In the early 4th century, an ethnic group known as the Sogdians were doing business along the Silk Road. Many letters that were discovered in Dunhuang were found to come from other cities on the Silk Road and a city far outside of China called Samarkand.
Samarkand was one of the biggest cities along the Silk Road. It was an important trade hubnot only for commercial goods, but also for religious and cultural ideas.
Alongside Samarkand, the 2,000-year-old city of Tashkent, and the unusual towns of Khiva and Bukhara were all important hubs on the Silk Road. Timur, the undefeated conqueror, developed both Samarkand and Bukhara, leaving behind many magnificent buildings for us to enjoy.
During this tour, we’ll be exploring the mysterious history of Uzbekistan. We’ll visit lots of historic mosques and mausoleums. More importantly, we will have the opportunity to be involved with creating Uzbekistani art and get to interact with local people.
Participants Max: 8
Duration: 14 days and 14 nights
Tours in 2024: 30th of Mar-12th of Apr / 12th of Oct-25th of Oct
Tours in 2025: 29th of Mar-11th of Apr / 11th of Oct-24th of Oct
Itinerary
Day 01 (Sat) ARRIVAL IN TASHKENT
There is only one direct flight (Friday) from London to Tashkent, which will arrive in Tashkent at 05:50 AM (HY-202). We will arrange a pick-up service and send everyone directly to the hotel.
The tour will start at noon, so you can have a good rest in the morning after a long flight.
Notes: If you decide to take another flight coming one day earlier, you can check-in on the previous day. If you need any help making travel arrangements, please don’t hesitate to ask us. The pick-up service fee will depend on the arrival time.
There are several historic buildings waiting for us this afternoon, as the appetiser for our tour:
The Hasti Imam complex, which is made up of the Muyi Muborak Library, the Barakhan Medresah, and the Kaffal Ash-Shashiy Mausoleum (OUTSIDE). Within the Muyi Muborak Library, we’ll find the real Holy Osman Koran!
Then we will go to Chorsu bazaar to try typical Uzbekistani street food. After taking our taste-buds on an adventure, let’s take a short walk from Chorsu bazaar to Kukeldash Medresah, a beautiful madrasa built around the 1570s.
The next stop will be the Applied Art Museum, where we can admire the traditional art of Uzbekistan. Then we will visit a family who makes cradles in the traditional way watch their time-honoured process.
Note: Guests are free to explore the area and sample the local food themselves, or our guide can help arrange for you to have lunch and dinner together.
Accommodation: Qushbegi Plaza/Krokus Plaza or similar boutique hotels
Itinerary
Day 02 (Sun) TASHKENT – MARGILAN (by train) – RISHTAN
We need to get up early today. After having breakfast in the hotel, we’ll take the train to Margilan (08:05-12:59), a city nestled in the Fergana Valley. You may have heard of it from the story of Alexander the Great, who founded it according to legend. Nowadays Margilan is still famous for producing silk.
In the afternoon, we will visit the famous silk factory of “Yodgorlik” and watch the production process of the popular silk fabrics known as “Atlas silk” and “Adras silk,” which will include seeing how yarn is taken from the cocoon, dyed, and woven.
We will meet the premier ikat weaving master Mr. Sobir. He will show us how he ties, dyes, and weaves the jewel-toned ikat fabrics. Then you can try to create your own silk scarf using the traditional patterns you like the most!
We will also visit a jewellery workshop, where we can participate in drawing patterns.
Then we will drive to visit a Kyrgyz family in Rishtan, where we can watch and participate in making yarn from animals’ wool, and also making carpets, headdresses, and shoes.
After that, we will visit the ceramist Mr. Said’s house, where we can get a sneak peek at the pottery making process. If we’re lucky, we may have chance to see the whole process, which involves making up the mud, shaping it, drawing, glazing, and baking. Once we’ve seen Mr Said do it, let’s try to make ourselves some pottery, such as a cup, jug, or plate.
Dinner: Traditional Uzbekistani food at Mr Said’s guesthouse
Accommodation: Mr Said’s guesthouse
Itinerary
Day 03 (Mon) RISHTAN–KOKAN–TASHKENT (300 km)-SAMARKAND (by train)
Let’s start our day by admiring the historic buildings of the Hoja Ilgor complex. After that, we will drive to Tashkent. There will be a stop at Kokand to visit Khudayar Khan’s Palace and “Dahmai Shahon” (the Royal Cemetery).
After arriving in Tashkent, we will take the high-speed train to Samarkand.
Accommodation: Malika Prime/Meros/Shakhzoda Elite or similar boutique hotels
Day 04 (Tue) SAMARKAND
There are lots of museums waiting for us today! Let’s start from Afrasiyab Museum. Afrasiyab is one of the largest archaeological sites showing the ancient city that was destroyed by the Mongolians. We will learn the history of Samarkand in the museum.
Then we will go to visit Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, Bibi Hanum Mosque, Siyob Bazaar, Registan Square, and the Guri Emir Mausoleum.
We will participate in an ancient silk paper making process and a mosaic tile making process.
Accommodation: Malika Prime/Meros/Shakhzoda Elite or similar boutique hotels
Itinerary
Day 05 (Wed) SAMARKAND-URGUT (45 km)-SAMARKAND
This morning, we will go to visit the famous Urgut bazaar, a huge local market which is well known for handmade products. We will also visit the Chor Chinor complex in Urgut.
After lunch, we will go back to Samarkand. Now it is finally time to see how a carpet is made by visiting the Khudjum factory!.
Accommodation: Malika Prime/Meros/Shakhzoda Elite or similar boutique hotels
Day 06 (Thu) SAMARKAND - UHUM (235 km)
After breakfast, we will drive to a small village called Uhum. On the way, there will be a stop at Khanbandi Water Dam, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
A warm welcome from the local villagers is waiting for us, and a delicious lunch. The family house we will visit has a large orchard with fruit trees where tourists can spend some leisure time on tapchan sofas (traditional outdoor seating).
After lunch, we will have a short excursion around the village to see what daily life is like there. We will also have a chance to explore some local sights, such as ruins of an ancient fortress and ancient irrigation channels. When we return to the family guesthouse, the host will show us how to make a traditional Uzbek dish, so you can have a try for yourself if you are interested in cooking.
Lunch and Dinner: Uzbek food in the guesthouse
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Itinerary
Day 07 (Fri) UHUM- YANGIKAZGAN - (150 km)
Prepare to marvel at the beauty of nature! We will have the chance to see the endangered wild sheep en route to Yangikazgan. We will have a picnic lunch by the Aydarkul Lake, then go to a Kazakh village named Dungalak, where shepherds live. We will visit a camel farm, talk with a herdsman, and get to see how they milk camels! If you like, you can try camel riding (20 minutes per person). We may have also get to visit a local school if it is open.
Tonight we will stay in Yurts like real herdsmen and have dinner next to a fire accompanied by the nomadic song “Akyn.”
Accommodation: Yurt camps
Day 08 (Sat) YANGIKAZGAN-NURATA-GIJDUVAN-BUKHARA (260 km)
It is time to go back to the city. On the way to Bukhara, we will have a stop in Nurata, another ancient town that was founded by Alexander the Great, where we will see his ruined fortress walls.
We will also visit “Rabat Malik” Caravanserai and “Sardoba” water reservoir in Karmana.
The third stop on our journey will be Gijduvan, where we will visit the workshop of the famous ceramist Mr. Nazrullaev.
After admiring the beautiful Minaret of Vobkent, which was built in the 11th century, we will finally arrive in Bukhara.
Accommodation: Ayub Boutique/ Bibihanum/Ayub/Minzifa or similar boutique hotels
Itinerary
Day 09 (Sun) BUKHARA
Be prepared for even more magnificent historical buildings! On this day, we will visit: Samanids’ Mausoleum, the Chashmai Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo-Khovuz mosque, Ark Fortress, the Poi-Kalyon complex (including Kalyan mosque and minaret), Miri Arab madrassa, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrassas, Magoki Attori mosque, Trade Domes (Toki-Zargaron, Toki-Telpakifurushon and Toki-Sarrofon), and the Labi Khovuz complex.
During our excursion, we will visit a blacksmith workshop, where they made the traditional Damascus steel knife.
Once we are done visiting so many historic places, we will visit a Suzane making family to participate and/or watch the whole process of making the famous fabric “suzane.”
Accommodation: Ayub Boutique/ Bibihanum/Ayub/Minzifa or similar boutique hotels
Day 10 (Mon) BUKHARA
Bukhara is just too big and too wonderful for just one day!
In the morning, we will go to visit Sitorai Mokhi Khossa-Summer Residence of the last Emir in Bukhara, the Naqshbandiy complex, and the Chor Bakr complex.
In the afternoon, we will drive back to the city centre to visit a miniature art work shop and a copper carving workshop. The copper carving art has been in high demand from the time of the Silk Road until now!
Accommodation: Ayub Boutique/ Bibihanum/Ayub/Minzifa or similar boutique hotels
Itinerary
Day 11 (Tue) BUKHARA – KHIVA (460 km)
Today we will have our desert adventure, so we can consider how difficult it must have been to travel these routes in a caravan during ancient times. Luckily we will stop by the Amudarya River and have a rest along the way.
After conquering the Kizil-Kum desert, let’s have a good rest in our comfortable hotel.
Accommodation: Erkin Palace/Orient Star Medresah or similar boutique hotels
Day 12 (Wed) KHIVA
You may already anticipate that we will have a busy day today because there are so many beautiful places to see in this mysterious ancient town.
The main place we will visit is known as the Ichan-Kala architectural ensemble, but is also called the “Museum under the open sky.” It is made up of: the Mausoleum of Pahlavan Makhmud, the Tosh-Hovli Palace (Harem), Kunya-Ark Fortress, Kalta-Minor Minaret, Medrese of Shergazi-Khan, Complex of Alla-Kuli Khan, Juma Mosque and Minaret, Karavan-Saray (outside), the Minaret and Mosque of Khodja-Islam, Tim of Alakulikhan, Medrese of Abdulla-Khan, the Mausoleum of Said Alautdin (OUTSIDE), Medrese of Mukhamad Amin-Khan, the Walls of Ichan-Kala, and the Palvan-Darvaza Gate.
During the excursion, we will visit a carpet weaving workshop and a workshop for wood carving.
Accommodation: Erkin Palace/Orient Star Medresah or similar boutique hotels
Itinerary
Day 13 (Thu) KHIVA – URGENCH (35 km) – TASHKENT (by air)
We will drive to Urgench airport to catch the flight back to Tashkent. We will probably arrive at the hotel at around 14:00, then everyone can take a rest or start packing their bags.
Accommodation: Qushbegi Plaza/Krokus Plaza or similar boutique hotels
Day 14 (Fri) DEPARTURE
The direct flight ( HY-201) from Tashkent to London will be at 1:45PM. We will transfer everyone to the Tashkent International airport after a leisure morning.
Note: If you book for other flights, please let us know to arrange another transfer service (charged)
Prices and What’s Included
Unlike other tours in Asia, we do not ask you to tip your tour guides and drivers each day. Instead, we pay our tour guides and drivers a fair wage, so they do not need to ask for tips.
Cost pp: £2,350/7-8 people in one group; £2,650/5-6 people in one group; £3,050/4 people in one group;£3,450/3 people in one group.
Single supp: £300 (Please be advised that, if you are the last person joining the tour or if there is no one in the group who you can share with, you may need to pay for the single supplement. We will advise you if this is the case when you enquire about the tour).
Vehicle:
Sedan car (Chevrolet Lacetti/Cobalt) for 1-2 pax
Minivan (Hyundai H-1/Grand Starex) for 3-4 pax
Van (Toyota Hiace) for 5-7 pax
Minibus (Toyota Coaster, Mitsubishi Rosa Fuso) for 8-9 pax
What’s Included: 14 nights of shared accommodation (based on 2 people per room at hotels); all transportation costs during the designated tour time; breakfast every day; all entrances fees to the designated attractions within the tour; 2 lunches; 3 dinners; mineral water (0.5L per day); map of Uzbekistan and services of one of our tour guides and one English-speaking Uzbekistani guide for the entirety of the tour.
What’s Not Included: Flights; visa; travel insurance; some lunches and dinners; video and camera fees in museums and sights, and the cost of any taxis for personal use.
If you like the look of this tour but would prefer to take it privately, we can tailor it to your specifications and design a bespoke tour for you or your group. Simply contact us at info@asiaculturaltravel.co.uk for a free email consultation with one of our travel experts.
How can I sign up to this tour?
Step 1 ⇒ Contact us directly to talk about the tour in more detail.
Step 2 ⇒ Book online and pay the £100 deposit. If you have an exclusive discount code, please enter it into the Enquiry box.
Step 3 ⇒ We will send you the invoice confirming you have been booked on the tour. Once you receive the invoice, you have 30 days to pay an additional £500, which will secure your place on the tour.
Step 4 ⇒ Please note that the final cost of the tour will be based on the number of participants and will be split into two payments. The first payment must be made within 3 months of the tour’s start date and is based on the minimum price of the tour minus your £600 deposit. After that, you will need to pay the remaining balance one month before the tour is due to leave based on the tour subscription. In the meantime, we will advise you on how to apply for your visa and keep you updated on the subscription of the tour.
Step 5 ⇒ Once you have made the final payment, we will send you our exclusive tour e-book, which contains a detailed itinerary of the tour and in-depth information on the areas we’ll be visiting.
Step 6 ⇒ Prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure!
We are happy to answer any questions you may have and we will always keep you up to date on the progress of the tour subscription.