Legends of the Great Silk Road: Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara – Khiva
Imagine a city where every stone remembers the caravans that once travelled from China to Europe, where minarets touch the sky and turquoise domes shine as brightly as they did seven centuries ago. Welcome to Uzbekistan — the heart of the Great Silk Road.
Your journey begins in dynamic Tashkent, continues through majestic Samarkand — the city of Tamerlane and Registan — immerses you in the atmosphere of medieval Bukhara with its madrasahs and minarets, and ends in Khiva, an open-air museum city fully preserved to this day.
You'll travel on comfortable high-speed Afrosiyob trains, cross the mysterious Kyzylkum desert, taste authentic Uzbek plov, and experience the hospitality the East is famous for. Experienced guides speaking English, Russian, Uzbek, and French will reveal secrets you won't find in any guidebook.
This isn't just a tour — it's an encounter with history that comes alive before your eyes.
Highlights
Sunrise over Registan Square — the symbol of Samarkand
The mystical atmosphere of the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis
Sunset over the ancient walls of Itchan Kala in Khiva
Journey across the sands of the Kyzylkum desert
Comfortable travel on the Afrosiyob high-speed train
Tasting authentic Uzbek plov
Oriental bazaars with fragrant spices and handmade silk
Day-by-day itinerary
Your journey to the heart of the Silk Road begins here. After a warm airport welcome and hotel check-in, you'll get your first taste of Uzbekistan: the majestic Hazrati Imam complex, the bustling and fragrant Chorsu Bazaar, the monumental Amir Temur Square, and the famous Tashkent Metro — a true underground palace. The evening is yours to rest and prepare for nine days of adventure.
A comfortable Afrosiyob train will take you to Samarkand — the city Tamerlane made the capital of his empire. Here you'll see the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the resting place of the great conqueror, and in the evening, your first encounter with the legendary Registan Square — especially beautiful in the light of sunset, when its turquoise domes seem to glow from within.
A full day dedicated to Samarkand's greatest treasures. You'll walk through the mystical Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, where every mausoleum is a work of art, visit the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built on the order of Tamerlane's beloved wife, and the Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex. Immerse yourself in the true spirit of the East at the Siab Bazaar, and the Ulugbek Observatory will show just how precise medieval astronomers really were.
A train will carry you to Bukhara — a city often called an open-air museum. After checking into your hotel, you'll take an evening stroll around the Lyab-i Hauz ensemble, where travelers from all over the world once gathered, and wander through the old town, where time seems to have stood still.
A day full of discoveries: the impregnable Ark Fortress, keeper of the emirs' secrets, the elegant Poi-Kalyan ensemble with one of Central Asia's most beautiful minarets, the Kosh Madrasah complex, and the unique four-domed Chor-Minor. End the day with a walk beneath the trading domes, where the life of the Great Silk Road once thrived for centuries.
The morning begins with a visit to the Sitorai Mokhi Khosa summer residence — the Eastern equivalent of Versailles — followed by the Bahauddin Naqshband Memorial Complex, one of the region's most revered pilgrimage sites. The rest of the day is free — perfect for leisurely walks, shopping, and photographs to remember.
One of the most atmospheric journeys of the tour: the road through the Kyzylkum desert offers unforgettable scenery and a true sense of adventure. By evening you'll arrive in Khiva — considered the most complete and best-preserved historical monument in Central Asia.
A full day exploring Itchan Kala — the inner walled city, perfectly preserved to this day. You'll visit Kunya-Ark, the Tash-Khauli Palace with its lavishly carved columns, the Juma Mosque with its forest of ancient wooden pillars, and the Islam Khoja complex. At sunset, climb the fortress wall to watch golden light wash over the ancient minarets — one of the most beautiful moments of the entire journey.
After breakfast, transfer to the train station and journey by train back to Tashkent. Your journey is coming to an end, but the memories of turquoise domes, ancient bazaars, and Eastern hospitality will stay with you forever. Arrival in Tashkent — until we meet again, Uzbekistan!
