Detailed Uzbekistan Tour
About this tour
17 Days | Tashkent, Kokand, Rishtan, Fergana, Margilan, Nukus, Muynak, Khiva, Bukhara, Nurata, Shakhrisabz, Samarkand, Termez
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Arrive in Tashkent. Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Fergana, Uzbekistan
At 07:00 transfer to the Tashkent train station. Take the train departing to Kokand at 08:05 (Alternative transport is available, see below). Arrive in Kokand at 12:00. Meet your guide and driver and start sightseeing tour in Ferghana Valley. Visit the Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Jami Mosque and Norbut-biy Madrasah. Drive to Ok Yer village to the house of craftsman Bakhrom-aka to visit a traditional Kyrgyz family manufacturing wool carpets. Afterwards, we will continue driving to Fergana city (80 km). Upon arrival, check in to the hotel for overnight. Alternative transportation is a car with a driver; the road takes 4 hours and lies through Kamchik Mountain Pass.
Day 3: Fergana, Uzbekistan to Rishtan, Uzbekistan
In the morning, drive from Fergana to Margilan and visit Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrasah. Today, madrasah is home to a number of craftsmen producing handmade carpets and silk. Have a walk on traditional market and continue to Yodgorlik Silk factory to see the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns. If it is Thursday or Sunday, visit Kumtepa Bazaar, the largest market in Fergana Valley. Drive to Rishtan to the house of a well-known ceramic master Rustam Usmanov whose works are exhibited on world exhibitions. Enjoy a pottery workshop and have a look at ceramic collection in a small museum. After Rishtan return to Tashkent*. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 4: Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Nukus, Uzbekistan
Morning flight to Nukus (1255 km, 2 h 45 min). Arrive in Nukus and drive to former fishermen’s town Muynak (220 km, 3 h), which used to be situated on the shores of Aral Sea. On the way stop at archaeological complex Mizdakhan. In Muynak have a look at a former port with abandoned ships in the sand – “Cemetery of ships”. Then visit Local History Museum with art exhibits of the Aral Sea history. In the afternoon return to Nukus. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Nukus, Uzbekistan to Khiva, Uzbekistan
Visit the Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum*. The museum hosts the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and exposition of Karakalpak applied arts items. Have a short drive around center of Nukus: see statue of Karakalpak poet Berdakh, Nukus City Hall, and Drama Theatre. In the afternoon depart to Khiva (200 km, 4-5 h). On the way visit archaeological monuments of Ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk, a Zoroastrian dakhma (funerary tower), and Toprak-Kala,the capital of Khorezm dating back to the 3rd century A.D. Arrive in Khiva, check in to the hotel. *Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum is closed on Mondays.
Day 6: Khiva, Uzbekistan
Spend a day in Ichan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, living museum under the open sky. Take a walking sightseeing tour in Khiva: visit Kunya Ark Citadel, Tash-Khovli Palace, Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-Khoja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Khiva, Uzbekistan to Bukhara, Uzbekistan
In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h)*. Today we will have an overland transfer from Khiva to Bukhara through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel. *As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before). **Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.
Day 8: Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Bukhara, Uzbekistan to Nurota, Uzbekistan
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to yurt camp located in Kyzylkum desert (230 km, 4 h*). On the way we will have a few stops: Gijduvan pottery masters workshop, Nurata local mosque with a holy spring water, and Nurata pass to see petroglyphs. Arrive in Safari Yurt Camp, accommodation in yurt. Camel riding and free time. After dinner sit around the camp fire and enjoy Kazakh akin singing folk songs. Overnight in the yurt. Meals: dinner** *The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer. **Though meals are included, based on the experience and tips of our guests, we advise to take some food in advance, as there are no shops around yurts.
Day 11: Nurota, Uzbekistan to Samarkand, Uzbekistan
In the morning visit desert Aidarkul Lake. Free time on the lake. Extras to do in the area: Option 1. Camel ride to Aidarkul Lake through the desert (8.5 km, 3 h). Enjoy your time on the lake and have lunch. In the afternoon depart to Samarkand. Cost: $30 per person for a camel and cameleer service. Option 2. Take a short camel ride to a nearby village Dungalak (1.5 km, 30 min). Participate in baking traditional bread “non”. Take a short walk in the village to see life of locals and return to the camp. Cost: $20 per person for a camel and cameleer service. In the afternoon depart the yurt camp and drive to Samarkand (270 km, 5 h). Arrival in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Time for rest. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: breakfast, lunch or picnic
Day 12: Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Samarkand, Uzbekistan
ontinue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: Samarkand, Uzbekistan to Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan
In the morning depart Samarkand and drive to Shakhrisabz (90 km, 2 h). Have a short city tour in Shakhrisabz. Visit Mausoleum of Jakhongir in Dor-us Siodat Memorial Complex, remains of Ak-Saray Palace, Dor-ut Tilavat Ensemble with Kok-Gumbaz Mosque and burial vault of Tamerlane’s father. In the afternoon continue driving to Termez (290 km, 5 h). Arrive in Termez, check in to the hotel.
Day 15: Termez, Uzbekistan
Start sightseeing tour in Termez, ancient Buddhist center and one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. Drive out of the city to explore Zurmala Tower – Buddha's stupa, Mausoleum of Al-Hakim at-Termezi, Buddhist archaeological site of Fayaz-Tepe, Kampyr-Tepe – Greco-Bactrian Kingdom fortress. Return to Termez for a city tour in Old Termez: visit Kyrk-Kyz Fortress, Kokildor-Ota Khanaka, and Sultan Saodat Ensemble – a summer residence of Samani rulers. Visit Archaeology Museum to explore exhibits discovered on the territory of Termez and its surroundings. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 16: Termez, Uzbekistan to Tashkent, Uzbekistan
In the morning transfer to the airport for flight to Tashkent. Upon arrival start city sightseeing. Visit the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with the Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Qoran of Caliph Uthman has been preserved. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to walk through Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and visit Applied Arts Museum. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 17: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Free time until Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.
What's included
All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by minivan type car; Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included; Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides (except for city tour in Nukus and trip to fortresses of Ancient Khorezm); Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary; Economy class tickets for flights Tashkent-Nukus and Termez-Tashkent; Ticket for train Tashkent-Kokand.
Tour leader to accompany the travelers for the whole period of the tour; Full board (lunches and dinners); Hotel charges for additional services; Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa; Tips are not included, but would be appreciated; Travel insurance.
What to know
Tashkent - 3 nights Navruz, Praga, Sharq, Grand Capital, or similar Fergana - 1 night Asia Fergana or similar Nukus - 1 night Jipek Joli or similar Khiva - 2 nights Malika Kheivak, Orient Star, Muso Tura, Malika Khiva, or similar Bukhara - 3 nights Amulet, Minzifa, As-Salom, Shohrud, Fatima, Bibikhanum, Volida, Kukeldash, K.Komil, Basilic or similar Aydarkul - 1 night Yurt Camp (in a shared yurt) Samarkand - 3 nights Platan, Meros, Orient Star, Malika Prime, Rabat, City Dilimah, or similar Termez - 2 nights Meridian Single supplement: $420 extra
Route & locations
Tashkent, Uzbekistan