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Set on the Silk Road, Uzbekistan has played host to waves of conquerors and nomads, from Alexander the Great to Timur. See the legacy they left behind in the towering fortresses of Khiva and Bukhara, and the blue-domed mosques of Samarkand. The remnants of more recent Soviet history are evident in the capital city, Tashkent, where highlights include the bustling Chorsu bazaar as well as the city’s elaborately decorated metro stations.
Signature Experiences
Sample local wines in the cellars of a Tsarist-era producer in Samarkand
Taste traditional plov at a historic merchant’s house in Bukhara
Travel on Uzbekistan’s renowned Afrosiyob train from Samarkand to Tashkent
Tour a restored silk paper mill in Samarkand
Inclusions
Small group size - average 18 people (max 20)
4- & 5-star accommodation
Internal flights as specified
Experienced local tour manager
10 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 8 dinners
Guided sightseeing & entrance fees
Porterage at all hotels
High-speed rail between Samarkand and Tashkent
Pricing is based on all 2026 departures and correct as of 1 July 2026.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Arrive Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent and check in to the Mercure Tashkent (or similar) for 1 night. Afternoon tour of Uzbekistan’s capital, stopping at the Kukeldash mosque and madrasa. A visit to the city’s resplendent metro is also included. Our travel specialists will be delighted to assist with flight arrangements if required.
Day 2 | Fly to Urgench - Khiva
Transfer to the airport and take a one-hour morning flight to Urgench. Visit the ancient fortresses of Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala before an afternoon drive to Khiva via Ulli Khovli. Stay 2 nights at the Bankir Hotel (or similar).
Day 3 | Khiva
Full-day tour of Khiva, including Kunya Ark, Islam Khoja minaret, Tash Hauli palace and a local bakery.
Day 4 | Khiva
Full-day tour of Khiva, including Kunya Ark, Islam Khoja minaret, Tash Hauli palace and a local bakery.
Day 5 | Bukhara
City tour of Bukhara, including visits to Chor Minor mosque, the Poi-Kalyan complex, the surviving trading domes, and Lyab-i-Hauz – once the city’s principal source of water. This evening, enjoy dinner and a cooking demonstration.
Day 6 | Bukhara
After breakfast, continue your tour of Bukhara, including visits to The Ark, a vast fortress whose foundations date back 2,000 years; the summer palace of the city’s final emir; and the Samanid mausoleum, built in the early 10th century with a facade incorporating Zoroastrian symbols.
Day 7 | Shahrisabz - Samarkand
Drive to Shahrisabz, birthplace of Timur, and visit the summer palace, mosques and mausoleums. Continue to Samarkand for 3 nights at the Movenpick Samarkand (or similar).
Day 8 | Samarkand
Full-day tour of Samarkand, including visits to Registan Square, the Ulugbek observatory, Afrosiab Museum, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, and the Bibi Khanum mosque.
Day 9 | Samarkand
Continue your tour of Samarkand. Visit GurEmir mausoleum, which marks the final resting place of several members of the Timurid dynasty, including Timur himself. Other visits include Nodir Divan Begi madrasa, Hazrat Khizr mosque and the Khodja Doniyor mausoleum. After lunch, stop at a silk carpet factory before returning to your hotel.
Day 10 | Tashkent
Morning at leisure in Samarkand. This afternoon visit one of Samarkand’s renowned silk paper workshops before travelling by rail to Tashkent. Transfer to the Mercure Tashkent (or similar) for 1 night.
Day 11 | Depart
Tour ends in Tashkent.
Booking terms and conditions apply.
*
Term and conditions apply: All pricing subject to change and availability. Advertised prices are per person twin share unless stated otherwise. Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Itineraries are subject to change. Booking Conditions and Phil Hoffmann Travel Schedule of Professionalism* applies. Please speak to your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant for more information.
