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Itchan Kala, walled inner town of the city of Khiva, Uzbekistan

Carpet ride to Khiva

EXPERT-LED GROUP TOUR

Departure date	Duration	Prices Start from	Tour Expert	Max Group Size	Status
25/04/20	11 Days	£3,295 ex. flights	Chris Alexander	15	LIMITED	Reserve your place
05/09/20	11 Days	£3,295 ex. flights	Chris Alexander	15	LIMITED	Reserve your place
24/04/21	11 Days	£3,495 ex. flights	Chris Alexander	15	AVAILABLE	Reserve your place

SEE ALL TOUR DATES BELOW

With its dazzling array of mosques, madrasahs, tombs, and tales of Tamerlane reflecting the depth of its history; Uzbekistan is the perfect introduction to the Central Asian Plateau. This group tour is a wonderful cultural overview of the country, taking in the arts, crafts, architecture and historical sites, accompanied by experts who will help bring the region to life. Escorted by Uzbekistan expert Chris Aslan Alexander, author of ‘Carpet ride to Khiva’ for which the tour is named after.

Uzbekistan possesses the cream of Central Asian architecture, epitomised by the magnificent ensemble in Registan Square in Samarkand. Despite the modernisation, the traditional chapan or coat and the long afternoon battles of chess and backgammon are still very much a common sight. The markets are a delight and a photographic paradise while outside the cities the dusty, isolated villages with their flocks of woolly, fat-tailed sheep have changed little over the years.

Discover the art, architecture and culture of the fabled Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Explore the wealth of living textile and craft traditions that these cities play host to. Roam the winding medieval streets of Khiva’s old city, journey across the vast Kizilkum Desert, experience the thriving food markets of Bukhara, marvel at the intricate tile work of Samarkand’s Registan and explore the vibrant Soviet-influenced city of Tashkent.

Please note the April 2020 departure will travel from Tashkent to Nukus, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and back to Tashkent. The September 2020 and April 2021 itineraries will operate in reverse, travelling from Tashkent to Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Nukus and back to Tashkent.

Chris Alexander

01285 601 784

Chris was born in Turkey and grew up in Ankara and war-torn Beirut. In 1998 he moved to Uzbekistan to work on a guidebook. He was adopted by a local family, fell in love with the place and people, and stayed. His book ‘A Carpet Ride to Khiva – Seven years on the Silk Road’ tells this story.

After his time in Uzbekistan, Chris then went on to live in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. A total of fifteen years in the region means Chris has travelled extensively, speaks fluent Uzbek and passable Kyrgyz, Tajik and Pamiri, and has also immersed himself in the history, culture and traditions of the region.

View Chris Alexander's full profile

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Ata Darvoza, Itchan Kala, Khiva, Uzbekistan

Discover Khiva

Explore the perfectly preserved streets of Khiva’s citadel, an oasis town on the famous Silk Road.

Registan Square

Visit Samarkand’s Registan Square, the most spectacular architectural ensemble in Central Asia.

The traditional Uzbek cap, named tubeteika

Traditional markets

Visit the authentic rural market of Urgut just outside Samarkand.

Close up of womans hand embroidering with gold silk.

Art and craft works

Take in the exceptional art and craft works of Bukhara’s artisans.

Why we like it

We like this tour as it makes a little know destination accessible, and because Uzbekistan is a remarkable country made even more fascinating by the insight of author and expert Chris Aslan Alexander. Group tours can be a fun and fulfilling way to travel in the company of like-minded people, especially in a country like Uzbekistan.

Explore our suggested itinerary

Day 1
Tashkent
Day 2
Tashkent - Nukus - Khojayli - Khiva
Days 3-4
Khiva
Day 5
Khiva - Bukhara
Day 6
Bukhara
Day 7
Bukhara - Samarkand
Days 8-9
Samarkand
Day 10
Samarkland - Tashkent
Day 11
Tashkent

Tashkent

Although often referred to as a Silk Road city, little remains of Tashkent’s old town. A 1966 earthquake and earlier modernisation work did irreparable damage to the city’s architectural heritage. Despite this, some treasures remain and modern Tashkent is a pleasant, green and open place. Dotted with monuments, parks and retaining an impressive feel, the city has undergone a successful reinvention.

View of mosque dome against blue sky. — Islamic architecture in Khiva

Khiva

Founded when water was discovered in the desert, Khiva’s importance as a well-placed oasis meant that it outlived the era of the Silk Road and remained powerful until the time of ‘The Great Game’. It was here, in 1840, that Richmond Shakespear, a young British lieutenant, helped abolish the practice of capturing Russian slaves. In fact, due to much of the work done during Soviet times, Khiva’s monuments are in outstanding condition.

Inner courtyard of the Kalyan Mosque, part of the Po-i-Kalyan Complex in Bukhara — Kalyan Mosque, Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Bukhara

The former capital and a centre of Islamic learning, Bukhara has over 300 mosques. This, along with the city’s 80 madrasas, led to its reputation as the holiest city in Central Asia. Now renowned for its architecture, it was the beauty of Bukhara’s Kalon Minaret that stopped Genghis Khan in his tracks. Unfortunately, his sense of awe failed to stop him razing the rest of the city to the ground. In the 18th and 19th centuries Bukhara again returned to prominence, as it became one of the most important pawns in ‘The Great Game’ being waged between Russia and Britain.

View of Islamic buildings through blue mosaic archway. — Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Samarkand

Samarkand is one of the world’s most ancient and fabled cities. Inextricably linked with the great Silk Road, Samarkand was a famous trading city and has at various times been the capital of many a kingdom. Since 2001, it has been designated by UNESCO as one of their World Heritage Sites, and labelled ‘Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures’.

Includes / Excludes

Important Information

Activity Level

Moderate Activity

Single Supplement

Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.

Flexibility

To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf and the above is an indication of the cost, based on return flights departing from London. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.

What is included

Accompanied by an English speaking guide
Accompanied by Chris Aslan Alexander
Entrance fees to sites visited
Gratuities for local guides, drivers and porters
Meals on full board basis
Transportation throughout
Accommodation throughout

What is excluded

International flights
Visa
Travel insurance
Items of a personal nature
Drinks with meals

Why a Steppes expert-led group tour

1.Experience Matters

We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.

2.Size Matters

Our average group size is typically eight to ten people, smaller than other group tours typically offered – a factor which many of our clients appreciate. Travelling as part of a smaller group provides a more intimate, personalised and relaxed atmosphere.

4.It’s about who you know

We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.

3.Like-Minded People

Steppes Travellers are like-minded people – interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.

5.Value for money

Our tours are well-priced to ensure you get real value for money. We include gratuities on the majority of our tours and do not pass on currency surcharges. We strive to look after single travellers as well as we can, keeping single supplements to a minimum.

6.Peace of Mind

When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.

Our future tour dates

For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 601 784

Departure date	Duration	Prices Start from	Tour Expert	Max Group Size	Status
25/04/20	11 Days	£3,295 ex. flights	Chris Alexander	15	LIMITED	Reserve your place
05/09/20	11 Days	£3,295 ex. flights	Chris Alexander	15	LIMITED	Reserve your place
24/04/21	11 Days	£3,495 ex. flights	Chris Alexander	15	AVAILABLE	Reserve your place

Reserve your place on this group tour

Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.

01285 601 784

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Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise sets us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

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Carpet ride to Khiva