A land of history and culture, architecture and tradition, Uzbekistan sits at the heart of the famed Silk Road. This is a country of breathtaking beauty home to spectacular Islamic architecture and impressive natural scenery.
Starting in Tashkent, visit the UNESCO protected city of Khiva, the religious centre of Bukhara and the opulent city of Samarkand which, for many, is the highlight of the country. This journey explores the many wonders of this land-locked nation and is the perfect introduction to the rest of this fascinating region.
Tashkent – Khiva – Bukhara – Samarkand – Tashkent
Trip Highlights
- Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent houses many museums of Uzbek and pre-Uzbek culture
- The UNESCO city of Khiva is home to more than 60 cultural sites, mosques and palaces
- Visit the well-preserved Kunya-Ark citadel and Tosh-Khovli Palace with its ornate gates
- In Bukhara visit historic landmarks such as Poi-Kalon, Kos Madras and Kalian Minaret
- Mosaic-covered madrasahs and vibrant azure domes make up Samarkand's Registan Square
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Fly with Uzbekistan Airways to Tashkent.
Day 2
Arrive Tashkent
Arrive into Tashkent early in the morning where you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. Morning at leisure. In the afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Tashkent. Places of interest include the 16th century Kukeldash Madrassah which is being restored as a museum and the Kaffali-Shash Mausoleum. Tashkent also houses many museums of Uzbek and pre-Uzbek culture. These include the State Art Museum, which houses a collection of paintings and ceramics as well as the Bukharian royal robes. The Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts exhibits embroidered wall hangings and reproduction antique jewellery.
- Breakfast
InterContinental Tashkent
Day 3
Tashkent to Urgench – by air / Urgench to Khiva – 34kms
Early this morning return to Tashkent Airport and catch your onward flight to Urgench. On your arrival you will be met and driven to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Khiva.
- Breakfast
Shaherezada Boutique Hotel
Asia Khiva
Day 4
Khiva
Today you will take a guided tour of Ichon-Qala in Khiva where highlights include the Kunya-Ark citadel and the Tosh-Khovli Palace, residence of the Khan, which had been preserved intact along with its ornate gates. Ichon-Qala successfully displays the simplicity and monumentality of medieval architectural forms, the elegance of woodcarvings, and skilled ornamentation. The fortress's powerful clay walls and towering minarets give a clear indication that it is a typical Central Asian feudal city.
- Breakfast
Shaherezada Boutique Hotel
Asia Khiva
Day 5
Khiva to Bukhara – 444kms
Today leave Khiva and continue by car to Bukhara where you will stay for two nights. The settlement of Bukhara in Uzbekistan dates back to the 8th Century when it was, for 200 years, the centre of an expanding Islamic kingdom prospering as the trade and intellectual centre for Central Asia.
- Breakfast
Asia Bukhara
Day 6
Bukhara
Today enjoy a day of sightseeing of Bukhara with your guide. Visit one of Uzbekistan’s most ancient cities, Bukhara, which is believed to have been founded in the 13th century during the reign of Siyavushids who came to power 980 years before Alexander the Great. Explore the hundreds of beautiful mosques and discover sights such as the Poi-Kalon, Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Kos Madras and Kalian Minaret.
- Breakfast
Asia Bukhara
Day 7
Bukhara to Samarkand via Shakrisabz – 366kms
This morning leave Bukhara and drive to Samarkand stopping en-route at Shakrisabz. Remains of Ak Saray Palace and old city walls can be found in just north of the city centre, however, the most beautiful historical part of Shakrisabz is the Kok Gumbaz mosque and Dorut Tilovat. Afterwards continue onto Samarkand.
- Breakfast
Wellfort Hotel, Samarkand
Movenpick Hotel Samarkand
Day 8
Samarkand
Today spend the day sightseeing the beautiful city of Samarkand. Located in the valley of the River Zarafshan, the second largest city of Uzbekistan is approximately the same age as the city of Babylon or Rome. The intriguing history of Samarkand is about 2,500 years old and has witnessed the times of Alexander the Great, the Arabic Conquest, Genghis-Khan and Tamerlane. The majestic city of Samarkand has also attracted poets and historians and to this day is known as the ‘Rome of the East’.
- Breakfast
Wellfort Hotel, Samarkand
Movenpick Hotel Samarkand
Day 9
Samarkand to Tashkent – 304kms
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon return to Tashkent airport for your onward flight.
- Breakfast
Day 10
Tashkent to the UK
In the early hours depart Tashkent on your Uzbekistan Airways flight to the UK.
Extending your stay...
Include a stay in Istanbul. If flying Turkish Airlines, you could break your journey either at the beginning or end of your holiday. Istanbul, with its spectacular setting, Ottoman heritage, incredible ancient sites and cavernous covered souks is a fabulous city to explore.
Incorporate an overnight stay in Nurata which can be inserted between Samarkand and Bukhara. Once known as Nur, this ancient town has links to Alexander the Great with the now eroded mud-walled fortress built by the great conqueror to defend his trade routes.
Adding a visit to Kyrgyzstan is an excellent way to see more of Central Asia with no visas for British Citizens for stays of up to 60 days. Highlights include the capital city Bishkek with its evident Soviet heritage, the 11th century Burana Tower and beautiful Issyk-Kul Lake.
Fergana in eastern Uzbekistan is little visited by foreign travellers. The fertile valley in which it sits is one of the most populous and ethnically diverse regions of Uzbekistan, is located closer to Kyrgyzstan than Tashkent and was once an important staging post on the Silk Road.
Guide to Price
10 days from £3550 - £3935 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Private car and driver
- Sightseeing with accompanying English speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Meals unless specified
from £3550 - £3935
Travel Information
Getting There
You can fly from London Heathrow direct to the capital Tashkent with Uzbekistan Airways. Turkish Airlines flies via Istanbul from both Heathrow and Gatwick, and they also operate a one-stop flight from Manchester to Tashkent. From London Heathrow it is also possible to take a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt and connect onto the onward Uzbekistan Airways flight to Tashkent.
Flying Times From UK
The direct Uzbekistan Airways flights will get you to Tashkent in 7 hours, whilst one-stop options from London will take at least 10 hours, and usually a bit more.
Time Zone
Uzbekistan is +5 hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
If you have a British citizen passport you can enter Uzbekistan as a visitor for stays of up to 30 days without a visa. For those staying longer than 30 days a standard visa will still be required. Further details on visa requirements will be provided at the time of booking.
Do’s & Don’ts
Dress conservatively if you're visiting the Fergana Valley. Western clothes are perfectly acceptable in larger towns and cities such as Tashkent and Samarkand.
Do not eat, or pass things, with the left hand which is considered unclean.
Keep in mind that photography can make the authorities nervous, particularly around government buildings, so it is best to check with your guide before taking pictures.
Money
The local currency is the Uzbek Som. US Dollars and Euros are easy to exchange, and this can be done in banks, hotels or exchange outlets. Working ATM machines can be found in Tashkent and Samarkand but outside of these two cities they should not be relied upon. Similarly, credit cards are accepted in Tashkent, Samarkand, larger hotels and some shops but are not commonly used and will not be accepted in rural areas or smaller towns. Please note that Uzbekistan, and Central Asia in general, is still a cash society.
Tipping
Tipping is not always expected but you should leave about 5 to 10% for good service. If the tip is left in US Dollars it will be even more appreciated. A guideline for tipping your drivers and guides will be advised prior to travel.
Food & Drink
Uzbek food has many influences due in part to the country's location, but it is fair to say that mutton, rice and noodles dominate. The most popular dish is plov – at its simplest, this is rice, mutton, carrots and onions, cooked in a kazan pot over an open fire. There are many recipes for plov which vary all over the country and can include spices, currants, quince or pumpkin. Plov is most commonly eaten with glazed bread. Other popular dishes include manti which are doughy dumplings stuffed with lamb, onions and peppers, and shurpa which is a simple mutton and vegetable soup. Beer, wine and vodka are all popular alcoholic drinks.
Accommodation
Uzbekistan has a well-developed tourist infrastructure but outside of Tashkent luxury hotel options are limited. In the capital there are a few international hotels all with good facilities including swimming pools and fitness centres. In Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva the accommodation is simpler, mostly of a 3-star standard, and hotels will be locally owned and with an Uzbek or Russian flavour. Nearly all hotels in Uzbekistan are modern in style and outside of Tashkent, despite being clean and comfortable, properties tend to have few extra guest facilities.
Shopping
Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are the best places to shop and you can find carpets, textiles and embroidered wall hangings. Chorsu Bazaar is the largest market place in Tashkent and sells almost everything imaginable whilst in Samarkand the main market is a fantastic place to buy spices, dried fruits and sweets. You will be expected to barter.
Suggested Reading
Books such as Lonely Planet’s ‘Central Asia’ and the Bradt Guide contain a wealth of useful information about the country. ‘Uzbekistan: The Golden Road to Samarkand’, by Calum MacLeod and Bradley Mayhew is also meticulously researched and highly enjoyable to read. Historical books on Uzbekistan include ‘Tamerlane: Sword of Islam, Conqueror of the World’, by Justin Marozzi, ‘Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia’s Golden Age’, by S Frederick Starr and ‘A Ride to Khiva’, by Frederick Burnaby. For a broader view of the Silk Road, read Shadow of the Silk Road, by Colin Thubron, ‘Central Asia in World History’, by Peter B Golden or ‘The History of Central Asia’, by Christoph Baumer.
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on Uzbekistan the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
As always thank you for your guidance
KJ & DJ - Uzbekistan - October 2024
We would just like to thank you for your good judgement in choosing suitable hotels, a sensible variety of transport options and, most of all, in the balance of the itinerary.
Our holiday was both exhilarating and exhausting but our guide, Sherzod, hit the tone required for our trip pleasing both myself with history, culture , language and knowledge of his country and my husband with his humour, understanding and camaraderie. He comes highly recommended, worked well with all the drivers, allowed me to switch off from the mundane and enjoy in depth the beauty of Uzbekistan.
So, once again, we have travelled with Pettitts with confidence, enjoyed the adventure and as always thank you for your guidance.
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