Tashkent's Bazaar
Wander through Tashkent’s colourful bazaar for a wonderful insight into daily life.
This comprehensive holiday to Uzbekistan takes in the silk road cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.
For a thousand years, the Silk Route, the greatest land-based trading highway the world has seen, wound its way from China, through Central Asia to Europe. Today, it is the independent state of Uzbekistan that contains some of the most interesting sites and this trip is designed to visit the great cities that survive from this legendary era. We would highly recommend an extension into less visited regions such as the Fergana Valley or even onto one of its neighbouring ‘Stans’ – Kyrgyzstan is home to some magnificent scenery and is visa free.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Registan Square
Visit the awe-inspiring restored madrasas standing on three sides of Registan Square in Samarkand.
Sacred Bukhara
Visit craft workshops in Bukhara where skilled artisans make knives, carpets and gold silk embroidery.
UNESCO City of Khiva
Explore Khiva, a UNESCO protected site and perhaps the most perfectly preserved of all the Silk Road cities.
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Day 1
Tashkent
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Day 2
Tashkent
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Day 3
Tashkent to Samarkand
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Day 4
Samarkand
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Day 5
Samarkand to Bukhara
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Day 6 - 7
Bukhara
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Day 8
Bukhara to Khiva
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Day 9
Khiva to Urgench to Tashkent
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Day 10
Tashkent
Day 1
Tashkent
Arrive Tashkent and transfer to your accommodation.
Day 2
Tashkent
Wander through Tashkent’s colourful bazaar for a wonderful insight into daily life.
Day 3
Tashkent to Samarkand
Transfer to the station to board the train to Samarkand, a journey of around two hours. On arrival transfer to your hotel.
Day 4
Samarkand
Inextricably linked with the silk route, Samarkand it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to one of Uzbekistan’s most iconic sites, Registan Square. Visit the awe-inspiring restored madrasas standing on three sides of this iconic square.
Day 5
Samarkand to Bukhara
Travel overland to Bukhara, a journey of around four and a half hours.
Day 6 - 7
Bukhara
Spend two days exploring Bukhara, visiting craft workshops where skilled artisans make knives, carpets and gold silk embroidery.
Day 8
Bukhara to Khiva
Travel overland or by train to the city of Khiva, a journey of six to seven hours.
Day 9
Khiva to Urgench to Tashkent
Explore the city of Khiva, a UNESCO protected site and perhaps the most perfectly preserved of all the Silk Road cities. Evening drive to Urgench to fly to Tashkent.
Day 10
Tashkent
Depart Tashkent for onward travel.
More Details
Artisans and Architecture of Bukhara
The atmospheric old centre of Bukhara is full of madrasas and minarets. It was the beauty of the Kalyan minaret that saved it from being destroyed by Ghengis Khan in 1220, when the rest of the city was razed to the ground. The former capital is a centre of Islamic learning and has over 300 mosques. This, along with the city’s 80 madrasas, led to its reputation as the holiest city in Central Asia. Amidst the turquoise domes and minarets are many tea houses, carpet sellers and stalls where skilled artisans create and trade their wares from silk embroidery to carpets.
UNESCO City of Khiva
Destroyed and rebuilt numerous times, Khiva was the first place in Uzbekistan to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, and is one of the most complete and best-preserved on the ancient Silk Road. 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’. Khiva’s monuments are in outstanding condition; the most famous of these being the Ichan Qala, now preserved as an open-air museum.
Suggested Extension
Uzbekistan: Fergana Valley
A wonderful addition is to extend your trip and travel into the Fergana Valley. This inland basin is fed from streams and rivers from the surrounding mountains making it an extremely fertile region and home to some exceptional crafts. Far less visited than the rest of the country, it is famed for its silk production and was a pivotal area on the ancient silk route.
3 days from £715 pp
Suggested Extension
Kyrgyzstan: Discover Wild Landscapes
Cross the border into Kyrgyzstan – home to some magnificent scenery, best explored on foot or horseback. Snow-capped peaks lead to ancient walnut forests and glaciers, giving way to open plains dotted with wild flowers, nomadic encampments and gleaming blue mountain lakes. Wander Osh bazaar in Bishkek, visit the 11th Century Burana Tower, ancient petroglyphs in Cholpan Ata and camp on the shores of an alpine lake under the curved canvas of a traditional yurt.
5 days from £895 pp
Suggested Extension
Turkmenistan Highlights
Cross the border into Turkmenistan, a country where local hospitality is the stuff of legends. Take a journey through time, combining the glittering wealth of Ashgabat with the ancient oasis town of Merv – one of the oldest and best preserved oasis cities on the Silk Road, the remains at Nisa – ancient capital of the Parthian empire and 11th Century Kunya Urgench, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Beyond that, the vast, other worldly landscapes of the Kara Kum Desert.
5 days from £1,255 pp
Start planning your trip
A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From £2,675 Per person
When to travel
From dry, hot summers to freezing, bitter cold winters, Uzbekistan has two periods when is best to visit. July and August are the hottest months while April to early June and September to early November see pleasant day time temperatures. Winter can be extremely cold in Uzbekistan.
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