Caravan routes once crossed mountains and deserts to meet here – where East and West exchanged goods, ideas and art. In cities like Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, the past lives on in tiled domes, quiet courtyards and colourful bazaars.
We show you Uzbekistan’s highlights – personally curated, with hand-picked accommodation and an experienced guide at your side.
Highlights at a Glance
Our Programme
Uzbekistan – Where Empires Met (9 days)
“9 days through three UNESCO World Heritage cities, across the Silk Road and a day trip to Tajikistan.”
The programme is displayed without fixed prices. Every journey is tailored individually. Get in touch – we will create a personal proposal for you.
Arrival Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent – a modern capital caught between Soviet heritage and Central Asian soul. Exploration of Chorsu Bazaar, historic madrasahs and Independence Square. Evening: a ride on the famous Soviet metro – each station a work of art.
Tashkent → Samarkand
High-speed train to Samarkand – the Timurid capital and one of the world’s oldest cities. Exploration of Registan Square with its three majestic madrasahs, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis – a breathtaking journey through history in blue and gold.
Samarkand
Visit to Afrasiab – the ancient ruined city beneath modern Samarkand. Ulugbek’s Observatory from the 15th century – where a Timurid prince calculated star positions with remarkable precision. Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum – the tomb of Timur. Free afternoon to explore the bazaars.
Day Trip to Tajikistan: Seven Lakes
Cross into Tajikistan’s Fann Mountains. The Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) lie like emeralds in wild mountain scenery – each lake a different shade, from deep blue to turquoise green. Picnic in the mountain air. Return to Samarkand in the evening.
Shahrisabz → Bukhara
Drive to Shahrisabz – Timur’s birthplace. The Ak-Saray Palace (“White Palace”) was once one of the largest palaces in the world – today its imposing entrance portal still stands. Gok-Gumbaz Mosque with its turquoise dome. Continue to Bukhara.
Bukhara
Bukhara – one of the best-preserved old cities in Central Asia (UNESCO). Lyab-i Hauz square with its ancient mulberry tree and traditional teahouses. Visit to a traditional puppet maker – a craft preserved for centuries. The mighty Ark Fortress, the Kalyan Minaret that once served as a lighthouse for caravans, and the four-towered Chor Minor Mosque.
Bukhara → Khiva (through the Kyzylkum Desert)
Drive through the Kyzylkum Desert – “Red Desert” in Uzbek. Wild camels by the roadside, occasional river oases, endless expanses. A journey that evokes the daily life of Silk Road caravan travellers.
Khiva: Itchan Kala
Exploration of Itchan Kala – the walled inner city of Khiva (UNESCO). With over 50 historic monuments in a small area, it feels like an open-air museum from the Middle Ages. Tosh-Khovli Palace with its intricate tilework, the massive Kunya-Ark Fortress, the Djuma Mosque with 218 wooden columns – each unique from different eras.
Transfer Urgench Airport – Departure
Transfer to Urgench Airport. Uzbekistan leaves a vivid picture: tiled domes, the scent of coriander from the bazaar, the silence of the desert.
Important Notes
- Day trip to Tajikistan: bring your passport, allow time for border formalities.
- Best season: April–June and September–October. July/August very hot (over 40°C).
- We recommend taking out travel cancellation and interruption insurance for all journeys.
Uzbekistan has captured your imagination?
Let’s plan your Silk Road journey together. Write to us – we’ll reply personally.
Enquire about this journeyHighlights at a Glance
Our Programme
The Wider Silk Road (15 days) – “Where Empires Met”
The programme is displayed without fixed prices. Every journey is tailored individually to your wishes and travel dates. Get in touch – we will create a personal proposal for you.
Arrival Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent – a modern capital caught between Soviet heritage and Central Asian soul. Exploration of Chorsu Bazaar, historic madrasahs and Independence Square. Evening: a ride on the famous Soviet metro – each station a work of art.
Tashkent → Samarkand
High-speed train to Samarkand – the Timurid capital and one of the world’s oldest cities. Exploration of Registan Square with its three majestic madrasahs, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis – a breathtaking journey through history in blue and gold.
Samarkand
Visit to Afrasiab – the ancient ruined city beneath modern Samarkand. Ulugbek’s Observatory from the 15th century. Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum – the tomb of Timur. Free afternoon to explore the bazaars.
Day Trip to Tajikistan: Seven Lakes
Cross into Tajikistan’s Fann Mountains. The Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) lie like emeralds in wild mountain scenery – each lake a different shade, from deep blue to turquoise green. Picnic in the mountain air. Return to Samarkand in the evening.
Shahrisabz → Bukhara
Drive to Shahrisabz – Timur’s birthplace. The Ak-Saray Palace (“White Palace”) was once one of the largest palaces in the world. Gok-Gumbaz Mosque with its turquoise dome. Continue to Bukhara.
Bukhara
Bukhara – one of the best-preserved old cities in Central Asia (UNESCO). Lyab-i Hauz square with its ancient mulberry tree and traditional teahouses. Visit to a traditional puppet maker. The mighty Ark Fortress, the Kalyan Minaret and the four-towered Chor Minor Mosque.
Bukhara → Khiva (through the Kyzylkum Desert)
Drive through the Kyzylkum Desert – “Red Desert” in Uzbek. Wild camels by the roadside, occasional river oases, endless expanses.
Khiva: Itchan Kala
Exploration of Itchan Kala – the walled inner city of Khiva (UNESCO). With over 50 historic monuments in a small area. Tosh-Khovli Palace, the massive Kunya-Ark Fortress, the Djuma Mosque with 218 wooden columns.
Khiva → Kunya-Urgench → Darvaza Crater
Cross the border into Turkmenistan. Visit Kunya-Urgench – once a major Silk Road city and former capital of the Khwarezm Empire, with the Mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh and the Kutlug Timur Minaret. Continue deep into the Karakum Desert to Darvaza, where the burning gas crater (“Gates of Hell”) creates an unforgettable sight after dark.
Darvaza → Ashgabat
One last look at the glowing crater, then drive through the Karakum Desert past water and mud craters. Arrival in Ashgabat, the white-marble “City of Love” – city tour to Palace Square, Independence Park and Neutrality Arch, an evening drive to see the spectacularly lit city.
Ashgabat → Kov-Ata → Nohur → Balkanabat
A warm swim in the underground Kov-Ata Lake inside a limestone cave. On into the Kopet Dag Mountains to the secluded village of Nohur with its sacred cemetery and legendary old tree. Drive through rugged landscapes to Balkanabat.
Balkanabat → Yangykala Canyon → Turkmenbashi
The Yangykala Canyon – Turkmenistan’s Grand Canyon with layered hues of red, pink and ochre. Continue to the Caspian Sea and the coastal town of Turkmenbashi.
Flight back to Ashgabat
Domestic flight back to Ashgabat. Visit the National Museum with artefacts from the ancient city of Nisa, and the Grand Mosque, one of the largest in Central Asia.
Day Trip to Mary / Merv
Morning flight to Mary. Just 25 km away: ancient Merv, once rival to Baghdad and today a UNESCO World Heritage site – the “Pearl of the East” with the ruins of the Great and Small Kyz Kala. Return flight to Ashgabat in the evening.
Departure
Transfer to Ashgabat Airport. The Silk Road leaves a vivid picture: turquoise domes, the fiery glow of Darvaza, white marble in the desert.
Important Notes
- Crossing into Turkmenistan requires a Letter-of-Invitation-based visa – we support you with this.
- Should an accommodation be fully booked, we will reserve an equivalent alternative.
- The order of activities may vary depending on the best travel day.
- We recommend taking out travel cancellation and interruption insurance for all journeys.
Has this journey captured your imagination?
Let’s plan your Silk Road journey through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan together. Write to us – we’ll reply personally.
Enquire about this journey