A Cultural Odyssey from Samarkand to Khiva
Ultimate Uzbekistan
Overview
Join us on this extraordinary adventure and discover Uzbekistan’s legendary Silk Road settings, including the majestic architectural ensemble of Samarkand’s 15th century Registan Square, the atmospheric bazaars of Bukhara, and the lost-in-time city of Khiva, a sand-colored mirage in the desert. Along the way, we’ll sip tea in chaikhanas (teahouses), meet traditional artisans, and roam the fascinating markets. Mid-trip, we’ll take a two-day break from city life at a village guesthouse in the Nurata Mountains, with time to stretch our legs on hill walks and enjoy a cooking class. The mixture of Silk Road heritage, Soviet legacy, and distinctive Uzbek culture in this fabled land is fascinating, and the welcome is truly heartfelt.
Arrive: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Depart: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Highlights
- Explore Samarkand's Registan Square, a masterpiece of medieval Islamic architecture
- Visit the markets and hammams of Bukhara, walk the lanes of the walled city of Khiva
- Enjoy the peaceful Nurata Mountains for country walks and a taste of village life
- Sip tea in historic chaikhanas (teahouses), meet artisans, hear traditional Uzbek music
- Stay in well-located boutique hotels in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva
Itinerary
We visit Tashkent, the country’s modern metropolis, then fly to off-the-beaten-path Termez to discover its unique Buddhist archaeological treasures, including UNESCO-listed Fayaz-Tepe, an ancient rock-cut monastery.
The celebrated city of Samarkand has been conquered, destroyed, and rebuilt by the likes of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. One of the treasures we see here is the Registan, a dazzling medieval square lined on three sides by grand 17th century madrasas with turquoise-tiled facades.
In the mountains, we’ll be welcomed at a village guesthouse. Hill walks bring us into a peaceful setting of farms and orchards, and we’ll have a cooking class one evening. At night under the clear sky, the stargazing is delightful.
Ancient Bukhara, a unique example of a medieval town, stands as one of Central Asia’s most romantic cities, dating back 25 centuries. Azure domes dot the skyline, and we’ll visit the Samanid Mausoleum, the best surviving example of 10th century architecture in the Muslim world. We’ll also stop in at teahouses and have an option for a soak in a traditional hammam (bathhouse).
We head to remote Khiva, a stunning walled town and Central Asia’s very first UNESCO site. Our explorations include the peaceful haven of the Juma Mosque, with its maze of 200 carved wooden columns, and the massive Kalta Minor tower, a symbol of the city. The mud-walled alleyways and blue-tiled domes of Khiva are a spectacular finale for our Silk Road odyssey. After a return to Tashkent, depart on Day 13.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system, with walking tours and cultural explorations. While this is not a hiking trip and is not expected to be physically strenuous, the rustic accommodations, long travel and touring days, and transportation conditions may feel demanding. You will need to be comfortable being on your feet for 6-7 hours a day and sitting in a car for up to 6-7 hours in a day.
Review Trip Level Details
On our walking tours, there are areas with uneven footing, especially in Khiva, where there are steep and uneven stairs to climb. Good mobility and sturdy footing are necessary for our daily activities. A collapsible hiking pole can be helpful. On occasion, you may have to haul your own luggage for a short distance when we are checking in and out of a hotel, as porters may not always be available.
The best times to visit Uzbekistan are April-May and September-November. In these months, the daytime temperatures are milder and the nights are nice and cool. Daytime temperatures are in the 70-80s, dropping to the 60s at night. The hottest period is from late June to mid-August. The winter months can be very cold.
We'll be staying in the best-available city hotels, and while they are comfortable, they may not always be up to the high international standards you are used to. For two nights in the mountains, we stay in a village guesthouse that is simple and has shared bathroom facilities. Single rooms can be requested, but are not guaranteed, and your two nights in the guesthouse may require you to share a room with a fellow single traveler of the same gender (talk to your Trip Specialist for details). Many of these hotels are chosen for their proximity to the centers of the historic districts. However, that means our vehicle cannot always drop your bags off at the front door. When this is the case, you will need to carry your own bags 200-400 yards to the hotel as porters are typically not available.
Uzbekistan shares its culinary tradition with Turkey as well as China and other Eastern Asian countries. Meals are relatively meat-centered, with “palov” as the national dish. Palov (similar to pilaf) is a hearty portion of rice topped with lamb or beef, onions, garlic, raisins, carrots, and apricots. Another common dish is shashlik, a type of shish kebab, traditionally lamb or mutton, served on skewers. For vegetarians, there are usually salad options available, including achichuk, a staple around the country made with fresh tomatoes, a Manchego-like cheese, and onion. Uzbekistan's bread, or non, comes in all shapes and sizes and is somewhat similar to nan, the bread of India. Green tea is the national hot beverage, taken throughout the day at teahouses (chaikhanas). Ayran, a chilled yogurt drink, is also popular. Availability of wine at restaurants is very limited. At the guesthouse we stay in the Nurata Mountains, there is no alcohol available but our hosts do not mind if we bring our own.
Our private van(s) transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (water bottle, camera, sweater, etc.). Roads in Uzbekistan are generally well paved; however, there will be times, especially in the Nurata Mountains, where they will become quite bumpy. There are multiple long drives throughout the trip and two short internal flights. The advantage of moving around the country as much as we do in this journey is that it allows us to experience the best of the wide diversity of regions, history, and culture that Uzbekistan has to offer. Note: Smaller groups will be in a van; for larger groups we use a comfortable bus.
Client Testimonials
"I went in knowing little about the country other than reading and YouTube videos. It was an eye opening experience. I expected to be dazzled by the architecture and tile work but to do a deep dive into the history was so fascinating."
Anne J.
Long Beach, CA
"This was a great trip! The guides were warm and engaged. The new people I met were also wonderful. We saw the most beautiful places, the pace was good, and I learned a lot."
Jennifer T.
Ithaca, NY
"Uzbekistan was fascinating...the history of Central Asia is so complicated but this trip elucidated it well. The architecture was truly majestic."
Lucy H.
Sunset Valley, TX
"I was very pleased to be welcomed so warmly by all the Uzbekistanis that we encountered, many wanting to take pictures of us with their friends. The food was really good and extremely generous."
Nancy G.
Orlando, FL
"I really loved this trip. It reminded me of how much I don't know. I loved learning some of the history of this area. It was just amazing to have a glimpse of what this area was like over the centuries."
Shirley L.
Oakland, CA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.