| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/12/26 | 16/12/26 | 12 days | £3,695 pp | £495 | Chris Aslan | 15 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
Winter may not be the traditional season to visit Uzbekistan, but that is precisely part of its appeal. This 12-day journey explores the country’s great Silk Road cities at a quieter and more atmospheric time of year. With fewer visitors in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, there is more space to wander and absorb centuries of history at a gentler pace.
Accompanied throughout by regional expert Chris Aslan, who spent many years living in Khiva, this journey shines a light on Uzbekistan’s living traditions as well as its celebrated architecture. Drawing on his local knowledge and longstanding friendships, Chris provides a level of insight and access rarely found on a conventional tour. Along the way, meet paper makers, silk weavers, embroiderers and miniature painters, browse local bazaars and gain an understanding of the crafts that have flourished along the Silk Road for centuries.
With carefully chosen hotels, two full days in the atmospheric Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Khiva, and access to workshops, family homes and creative communities, this journey goes beyond the monuments to explore the traditions and everyday life of modern Uzbekistan. It is also a chance to bring home Christmas gifts with real provenance, from textiles and ceramics to mountain honey and silk scarves.
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. Welcomed by a local family, he fell in love with the place and its people — and stayed.
During this time he established a UNESCO-supported workshop reviving fifteenth-century carpet designs and embroideries. His first book A Carpet Ride to Khiva – Seven Years on the Silk Road, tells this story.
Visit workshops and meet paper makers, silk weavers, embroiderers, miniature painters and wood carvers.
Experience the Silk Road cities at their most peaceful, beyond the peak travel months.
Benefit from Chris’s local knowledge and longstanding connections, built during his years living in Khiva.
With two full days in both Bukhara and Khiva, take time to experience a traditional hammam and linger in markets and teahouses.
Day 1
Arrive Tashkent
Day 2
Tashkent
Day 3
Tashkent to Samarkand
Day 4
Samarkand
Day 5
Shahrisabz
Day 6
Samarkand to Bukhara
Day 7
Bukhara
Day 8
Bukhara
Day 9
Bukhara to Khiva
Day 10
Khiva
Day 11
Khiva
Day 12
Depart Urgench
Day 1
Arrive Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to your hotel. This afternoon, visit the Museum of Applied Arts, home to an impressive collection of textiles, embroidery, ceramics and traditional crafts, offering an introduction to Uzbekistan’s rich artistic heritage.
Day 2
Tashkent
Explore the highlights of Uzbekistan’s capital, including Chorsu Bazaar, the ornate Tashkent Metro and the Khast Imam Complex, home to one of the world’s oldest Qurans. Later, visit the Centre of Islamic Civilization.
Day 3
Tashkent to Samarkand
Travel by high-speed train to Samarkand. On arrival, visit the Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble, one of the city’s most beautiful architectural sites, and the Afrasiab Museum, renowned for its ancient Sogdian frescoes.
Day 4
Samarkand
Discover the historic heart of Samarkand, including the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Registan Square and Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Meet a traditional musical instrument maker, visit a paper-making workshop and enjoy a tasting of local wines.
Day 5
Shahrisabz
Enjoy a full-day excursion to Shahrisabz, Timur’s birthplace, travelling through mountain scenery to explore the remains of his White Palace and other important Timurid monuments. Dinner this evening is in a local family home.
Day 6
Samarkand to Bukhara
Take the morning train to Bukhara. Explore the historic Jewish Quarter, Chor Minor and Lyabi-Hauz, before visiting a crafts centre and a workshop specialising in traditional miniature painting.
Day 7
Bukhara
Spend the day exploring Bukhara’s remarkable architectural heritage, including the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Bolo Khauz Mosque, Ark Fortress and Friday Mosque. The afternoon is free to relax, explore the markets or visit a traditional hammam.
Day 8
Bukhara
Visit the former summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir and the important pilgrimage site of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi. This afternoon, there is the option to visit Shofirkhon, known for its beautifully embroidered suzani textiles.
Day 9
Bukhara to Khiva
Travel across the Kyzylkum Desert to Khiva by road or, if operational, by rail. Arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy time to begin exploring this atmospheric Silk Road city.
Day 10
Khiva
Explore Khiva with Chris Aslan, drawing on his years of experience living in the city. Visit his Silk Carpet workshop before discovering the UNESCO-listed Ichan Kala, with its palaces, mosques and historic madrasas.
Day 11
Khiva
Learn more about Khiva’s living craft traditions with visits to a silk factory and wood-carving workshops. Explore the Nurullaboy Palace Complex, Kunya Ark and the old city before enjoying an evening of music, hospitality and a home-cooked feast with Chris’s host family.
Day 12
Depart Urgench
Transfer to Urgench Airport for your onward flights.
December often brings crisp, clear days and beautiful light for sightseeing and photography, while the cooler temperatures can make exploring Uzbekistan’s historic cities particularly enjoyable. Weather can be variable, however, with daytime temperatures in Tashkent typically ranging between 6°C and 9°C, alongside the possibility of rain, snow or overcast skies. In our view, the rewards often outweigh the possibility of changeable weather: fewer visitors, a gentler pace and a more intimate experience of the Silk Road cities.
Explore two accounts from our Steppes Travel experts. In Beyond the 6 Ms of Uzbekistan, Jim shares his experiences travelling through the country in November, offering a personal perspective on Uzbekistan beyond the peak travel season. In Artisans of Uzbekistan, Paul explores the traditions, skills and craftsmanship that continue to shape daily life across the country, from embroidery and silk weaving to ceramics and wood carving.
Low Activity
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.
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/12/26 | 16/12/26 | 12 days | £3,695 pp | Chris Aslan | 15 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
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 880 980Send us an enquiry
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Expert-Led Group Tours
With an average group size of just eight to ten people our group tour itineraries enable you to travel to some of the most intriguing regions of the world in the company of expert guides in the field and, of course, with likeminded people.
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