14-Day Tour of Uzbekistan Culture & History
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Negotiable
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Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Yurt camp, Nuratau Mountains, Samarkand 14-day Extended Uzbekistan Experience the rich history, architecture, and culture of Uzbekistan on this 14-day journey through its most iconic cities. From bustling bazaars to ancient madrasas, this tour brings the Silk Road to life.
Live tour guide
Highlights
- •Tashkent, Nukus & Savitsky Museum context
- •Khiva & ancient Khorezm sites en route
- •Bukhara’s monuments and folklore
- •Nuratau Mountains, Hayat village & yurt camp
- •Samarkand, Shakhrisabz & departure
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to your hotel. Relax or explore at your leisure.
Accommodation: Overnight in a centrally located 3★ 4
Meals: None
Day 2 – Tashkent – Nukus
After breakfast, take a guided sightseeing tour of Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, the largest city in Central Asia. Visit the Old City, which includes the Khast-Imam Complex and Chorsu Bazaar. Within the Khast-Imam Complex, see the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman and visit the Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi, and Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore the vibrant Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour. Free time. Transfer to the airport to take the evening flight to Nukus at 18:05 (1,255 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrive in Nukus at 19:45 and transfer to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Day 3 – Nukus – Khorezm – Khiva
Breakfast. Visit the Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky*. The museum hosts the world’s second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and an exhibition of applied art from Karakalpakstan. Take a short drive around the centre of Nukus and see the statue of Berdakh, the Karakalpak poet; the Nukus City Hall; and the Karakalpak Music and Drama Theatre. In the afternoon, drive to Khiva (200 km, 4-5 h.). On the way, visit the archaeological monuments of ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk-Kala (a Zoroastrian dakhma, or Tower of Silence) and Toprak-Kala (the capital of Khorezm in the 3rd century). Arrive in Khiva and check-in to the hotel.
*Due to renovations at Savitsky Museum, some of the archaeological and applied arts exhibitions remain closed indefinitely.
Day 4 – Khiva
After breakfast, take a guided sightseeing tour of the ancient city of Khiva on foot visit:
Mohammed Amin Khan Madrasa – A historic Islamic school, known for its ornate tilework and educational significance in Khiva.
Kalta Minor Minaret – Famous unfinished minaret, decorated with colorful glazed tiles, originally intended to reach 70 meters.
Kuhna-Ark Citadel – A fortified royal residence, central to Khiva’s governance and history, dating back to the 12th century.
Juma Mosque – The Friday Mosque, notable for its 200 wooden columns and spiritual significance in the city.
Tosh-Hovli Palace – A 19th-century palace showcasing the luxurious lifestyle of Khiva’s rulers with detailed ornamentation.
Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum – Mausoleum of Khiva’s revered poet and healer, famous for its large blue dome and historical importance.
Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrasa – A grand madrasa commissioned by the last ruler of Khiva, used for religious and educational purposes.
Minaret of Islom-Hoja – Tall minaret with intricate brick patterns, part of the Islom Khodja Complex, symbolizing Khiva’s architectural beauty.
Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Tea/coffee break
Accommodation: Overnight in a centrally located 3★ 4
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 – Khiva to Bukhara
Drive through the Kyzyl-Kum Desert and along the Amu Darya River to Bukhara. Free afternoon to explore the trading domes and Lyabi-Hauz pool.
Travel time: 6 hours / 480 km
Overnight: Overnight in a centrally located 3★ 4
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 – Bukhara Sightseeing
As ancient as Samarkand, Bukhara is a historic Uzbek city that flourished along the Great Silk Road. In the Middle Ages, it became a major center of Islamic theology, culture, and trade. Today, visitors can admire hundreds of well-preserved monuments—mosques, madrasahs, bazaars, and caravanserais—built between the 9th and the 17th centuries.
Full-day tour of Bukhara:
· Lyabi Hauz Ensemble – A historic square with a pool, surrounded by madrasa, khanaqa, and caravanserai, serving as a cultural hub.
· Maghoki-Attar Mosque & Nadir Divan Begi Madrasa – One of Central Asia’s oldest mosques paired with a 17th-century madrasa, showcasing Islamic architecture.
· Abdul Aziz Khan & Ulugbek Madrasas – Iconic educational institutions with rich tilework, central to Bukhara’s religious and academic life.
· Kalon Minaret & Mosque (Kalon Ensemble) – A towering 47-meter minaret and grand mosque, central to Bukhara’s skyline and spiritual life.
· Mir-i-Arab Madrasa – A historic 16th-century madrasa still in use, exemplifying Islamic education and architecture.
· Ark Fortress (Juma Mosque, Coronation Court, Zindon, Bolo-Hauz Mosque) – Ancient royal citadel containing mosques, palace halls, and a historic prison, symbolizing Bukhara’s power.
· Samani Park Mausoleums – Tombs of the influential Samanid dynasty, showcasing early Islamic brick architecture and historic significance.
Accommodation: Overnight in a centrally located 3★ 4
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 – Bukhara
Breakfast. Start the second day with a visit to Chor-Minor Madrasah and Sitorai-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir and a unique combination of Oriental and Russian architecture. Enjoy free time in Bukhara in the afternoon. In the evening visit to the National folklore show at Nodir Devan Begi Madrasah. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Day 8 – Bukhara – Nurata – Yurt Camp
After breakfast, depart Bukhara and drive to a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert (230 km, 4 h.*). On the way, stop in Gijduvan to visit a pottery master’s workshop and take a master-class on traditional pottery. After lunch, continue to Nurata town to visit the Chashma Complex of Religious Buildings and its famous holy spring. Overnight in yurt camp.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 9 – Hayat villages
After breakfast take a short walk through Hayat Village and visit a nearby breeding enclosure for the endangered Severtsov’s wild sheep. Hike up the hill opposite the enclosure to see abandoned houses from the 1950s Soviet resettlements, then continue into Hayat Valley to observe its rich flora and fauna and enjoy the lush landscapes, especially beautiful in spring.
Meals: lunch dinner
Day 10 – Hayat villages to Samarkand
After BREAKFAST transfer to Samarkand.
Afternoon visit to Afrosiyab museum.
Day 11 – Samarkand
Breakfast. At 9:00 start a sightseeing tour of the fascinating city of Samarkand. Visit the spectacular Registan Square, the Gur Emir (Tamerlane’s Mausoleum), the remains of the Bibi Khanum Mosque, and the Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis. Then drive to Konigil village to explore the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from the bark of the mulberry tree. Free evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Tea/coffee break
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Day 12 – Day trip to Shakhrisabz
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Timur and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin your tour at the impressive remnants of the Ak-Saray Palace, Timur’s grand summer residence, with its intricate tilework and towering arches hinting at its former glory. Continue to the Dorut Tilavat Memorial Complex, featuring the striking Kok Gumbaz Mosque, known as the “Blue Dome Mosque,” and the Mausoleum of Sheikh Shamsuddin Kulal, a spiritual mentor of Timur. Next, visit the Dorus Saodat burial complex, the final resting place of Timur’s family, renowned for its historical and architectural significance.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, sampling traditional dishes, and spend some free time strolling through the historic streets of Shakhrisabz. Take in the blend of ancient and modern life before returning to Samarkand in the late afternoon, with vivid memories of this fascinating journey.
Travel time & distance: approx. 180km/4 hours (round trip excludes breaks)
Day 13 – Samarkand to Tashkent
Breakfast and transfer to train station. Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to your hotel. Relax or explore at your leisure.
Day 14 – Departure
Free time until your transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure.
What's Included
- ✓Accommodation as described (3–4★ hotels, yurt camp, homestays where stated)
- ✓Meals where noted in the daily program
- ✓Transportation and transfers as per itinerary
- ✓Guided sightseeing and entry fees where included in the program
- ✓Domestic flight Tashkent–Nukus where applicable
What's Not Included
- ✗International flights
- ✗Meals not listed
- ✗Travel insurance
- ✗Personal expenses
- ✗Tips
What do I need to bring?
Bring your passport, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, a reusable water bottle and layers for changing temperatures. Mountain routes need warm clothing and weather protection even in summer. Confirm the packing list, entry documents and any permits for your itinerary before departure.