We Love —
- Travelling back in time through Uzbekistan's majestic mosques, palaces, and mausoleums.
- Discovering the secrets of each city with the help of a local English-speaking guide.
- Choosing to stay longer in Samarkand at the beginning of your trip to admire its majolica tiles.
Customer reviews —
Your itinerary in brief —
Be charmed by Uzbekistan in this 6 night tour, with its captivating blend of ancient history, architectural marvels, and the legendary Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara. Expect a vibrant tapestry of culture and a unique, heartfelt welcome.
For an even more immersive experience, you can extend your tour, allowing you to spend an additional 1 to 4 nights in Samarkand.
Choose the length of your stay:
6 night tour
Day 1: Arrival in Samarkand
Day 2: Samarkand
Day 3: Samarkand - Bukhara
Days 4-5: Bukhara
Day 6: Bukhara - Samarkand
Day 7: Departure from Samarkand
7 night tour
Day 1: Arrival in Samarkand
Days 2 & 3: Samarkand
Day 4: Samarkand - Bukhara
Days 5 & 6: Bukhara
Day 7: Bukhara - Samarkand
Day 8: Departure from Samarkand
8 night tour
Day 1: Arrival in Samarkand
Days 2-4: Samarkand
Day 5: Samarkand - Bukhara
Days 6-7: Bukhara
Day 8: Bukhara - Samarkand
Day 9: Departure from Samarkand
9 night tour
Day 1: Arrival in Samarkand
Days 2-5: Samarkand
Day 6: Samarkand - Bukhara
Days 7-8: Bukhara
Day 9: Bukhara - Samarkand
Day 10: Departure from Samarkand
10 night tour
Day 1: Arrival in Samarkand
Days 2-6: Samarkand
Day 7: Samarkand - Bukhara
Days 8-9: Bukhara
Day 10: Bukhara - Samarkand
Day 11: Departure from Samarkand
Please note: your itinerary may have minor adjustments, but your overall trip experience will remain the same.
Your itinerary in detail —
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN SAMARKAND
Upon arrival at Samarkand airport, enjoy a transfer to your hotel and check in. Enjoy the rest of the day at your own pace.
- Check-in from 2pm
- Night at Savitsky Plaza 4*
DAY 2: SAMARKAND
Enjoy a full-day guided tour of Samarkand in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. Highlights include the magnificent Registan Square, with its trio of madrasas – Ulugbek (15th century), Sher-Dor, and Tillya-Kari (17th century) – forming a stunning architectural ensemble. Visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, resting place of Tamerlane and his descendants, renowned for its elegant design and exquisite interiors.
Discover the impressive Bibi-Khanym Mosque, once the largest mosque in the Orient, fully restored in 2004. Stroll through the lively Siab Bazaar (closed on Mondays) for local specialities, including Samarkand bread, sweets, dried fruits, and handicrafts.
End the day at the Shakhi-Zinda necropolis, a remarkable complex of mausoleums, mosques, and madrasas spanning from the 12th to the 19th centuries, celebrated for its rich architectural and ceramic heritage.
- Breakfast included
- Night at Savitsky Plaza 4*
DAY 3: SAMARKAND - BUKHARA
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the station for your journey to Bukhara aboard the Sharq train. Once settled in your hotel, relax for the end of the day.
- Breakfast included
- Train departure 12:44pm / arrival 3:24pm
- Night at Sahid Zarafshan Hotel Bukhara 4*
DAY 4: BUKHARA
On day 4, enjoy a full-day guided tour of Bukhara with a local guide.
Highlights include Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble (16th-17th centuries) with Nodir Divan Begi Madrasa, Kukeldash Madrasa, Honako, and the statue of Khoja Nasreddin. Visit the ancient Magoki-Attari Mosque (9th century), followed by a stroll through the trading domes: Toki Sarrafon (Money Changers’ Dome) and Toki Tilpak Furushon (Hat Sellers’ Dome), offering local crafts, silk, and carpets.
Explore the Kosh Ensemble with Abdullaziz Khan Madrasa (17th century) and Ulugbek Madrasa (15th century). Continue to Poi-Kalon Complex: Kalon Minaret, Mosque, and Miri-Arab Madrasa (12th-16th centuries). End with the Toki Zargaron (Jewellers’ Dome), Sayfiddin Caravanserai (19th century, now a craft centre), and Tim Abdullakhan (16th century bazaar).
- Breakfast included
- Night at Sahid Zarafshan Hotel Bukhara 4*
DAY 5: BUKHARA
On day 5, enjoy a day at leisure to further explore the sacred city of Bukhara. Check out the optional activities and excursions that are available.
- Breakfast included
- Night at Sahid Zarafshan Hotel Bukhara 4*
DAY 6: BUKHARA - SAMARKAND
After breakfast, enjoy the morning at your own pace before checking out of your hotel. Transfer to the railway station for your return journey to Samarkand aboard the Sharq train.
- Breakfast included
- Train departure 4:23pm / arrival 6.49pm
- Night at Savitsky Plaza 4*
DAY 7: DEPARTURE FROM SAMARKAND
After breakfast, relax and check out before 12:00. Transfer to Samarkand International Airport for your return flight.
- Breakfast included
OTHER DURATIONS
7 night tour: Enjoy one extra night in Samarkand.
8 night tour: Enjoy two extra nights in Samarkand.
9 night tour: Enjoy three extra nights in Samarkand.
10 night tour: Enjoy four extra nights in Samarkand.
Important information about your tour and visits: The hotels, which comply with local standards, are indicative and may be changed locally for hotels of a similar category. The itinerary is subject to changes due to compelling reasons such as delayed flights, weather conditions or other cases of force majeure. The order of visits is also subject to change without affecting the overall experience of the itinerary. Important note:
Your hotels —
Hand-picked just for you
At each of your stops, you will be staying in comfortable rooms in thoughtfully selected hotels.
Your accommodation:
Samarkand: Savitsky Plaza 4* or similar
Boukhara: Sahid Zarafshan Hotel Bukhara 4* or similar
If the hotels listed above are unavailable, you will be provided with comfortable accommodation in similar hotels. Local standards apply.
Your dining choices
This is a bed and breakfast stay.
Choose to upgrade to half board at the next step of the booking process. Breakfast and your evening meal will be served in the main restaurant (drinks excluded, conditions apply.)
Included extras —
English-speaking guide
Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in English of Samarkand and Bukhara.
3GB included mobile internet data, to make your journey easier
Stay connected on the move with this exclusive mobile internet offer, perfect for modern travellers. Activate your included eSIM and enjoy connection wherever you go. Easily share your internet connection with friends and family without limits.
Please note: 3GB of internet data represents around 30 hours of web browsing/audio streaming or 3 to 4 hours of video streaming/social networking/video calls.
Optional extras —
Hardback photo album - 21x27 cm (24 pages)
Create a beautiful hardback photo album, personalised and printed on premium paper, to bring your holiday memories to life.
Pack of 50 classic photo prints - 10x15 cm
Preserve your favourite memories with this pack of 50 classic photo prints, easy to print in just a few clicks to display, share and relive every moment.
Your journey to Samarkand —
Flights:
You will be able to choose your airline and flight times when you make your booking, in either Economy, Premium, or Business class, depending on the destination and carrier. This flight may include one or more stopovers. Please review your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ, in order to offer the best price.
Luggage information
Luggage, meals and other services on board may be subject to an additional fee on certain airlines. It is possible to view details of luggage allowances when you choose your flights at the next stage of the booking process. If luggage is not included with your flight, please go to the airline's website before your departure to purchase your luggage for an additional fee.
For domestic flights, airlines do not always offer the option of reserving luggage. In this case, you will need to pay for it at the airport counter.
You will receive all the information you need to check in for your flights after you have made your reservation.
Your destinations —
Samarkand
No name is as evocative of the Silk Road as Samarkand (Samarqand). On the ground the sublime, larger-than-life monuments of Timur (Tamerlane) and the city’s long, rich history are enchanting. You can visit most of Samarkand’s high-profile attractions in two or three days. The Registan, Gur-e-Amir, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Shah-i-Zinda are undoubtedly some of the finest attractions.
Samarkand is a modern city, that still retains its old town and plenty of grandeur to ensure it’s a breathtaking place to visit.
Bukhara
A living museum wrapped in desert light, Bukhara is Central Asia’s spiritual heart and one of the region’s most enchanting destinations. With more than two millennia of history beneath its feet, this city of domes and minarets offers a glimpse into a time when caravans crossed great empires and scholars debated beneath mosaic-clad arches. Revered for its Islamic architecture and timeless atmosphere, Bukhara is where Uzbekistan’s soul quietly whispers through its sandstone streets.
Must-sees:
- Ark Fortress – Once the royal residence of Bukhara’s emirs, this colossal citadel stands as a symbol of the city’s might and grandeur.
- Po-i-Kalyan Ensemble – A majestic complex featuring the iconic Kalyan Minaret, so beautiful it was spared by Genghis Khan.
- Lyab-i Hauz – A leafy square built around a tranquil pool, framed by elegant madrasas and buzzing with cafés and craft stalls.
- Samanid Mausoleum – One of Central Asia’s oldest Islamic monuments, this 10th-century marvel is built entirely of baked brick.
- Trading Domes (Toki Sarrafon, Toki Telpak Furushon, Toki Zargaron) – Atmospheric remnants of a once-thriving Silk Road bazaar.
Culinary culture:
Bukhara’s cuisine is deeply rooted in tradition. Start with shurpa, a rich lamb soup with root vegetables, before sampling bukhara plov, a local variation of the famed rice dish made with raisins and chickpeas. Sip chay under mulberry trees at a teahouse, accompanied by samsa — flaky pastries stuffed with spiced meat or pumpkin. Many old caravanserais now house elegant restaurants where ancient recipes meet refined presentation.
Dive deeper:
The magic of Bukhara lies in its stillness. Wake early to wander its quiet lanes, where turquoise domes catch the rising sun and the call to prayer echoes softly through the air. Stay in a restored caravanserai or a family-run guesthouse with carved wooden ceilings and leafy courtyards, and you’ll find the hospitality here as memorable as the history. Don’t miss the chance to meet local artisans — from silk weavers and metalworkers to miniature painters — whose crafts have been passed down through generations. In the evening, head to Lyab-i Hauz to watch the city wind down, with locals gathered over tea, laughter, and stories that stretch across centuries.
Good to know:
Bukhara is best explored on foot — the old city is compact and full of hidden gems. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant weather for sightseeing. Local currency is the Uzbek som (UZS), and while English is less common than in Tashkent, a warm smile and a few words in Russian or Uzbek will go far. Be sure to dress modestly when visiting religious sites, and prepare to be transported — Bukhara isn’t just a destination, it’s an experience.
