Dive into a 17-day mesmerizing journey across the gems of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Begin in the vibrant city of Tashkent, where ancient Islamic landmarks seamlessly merge with modernity. As you trace the steps of the ancient Silk Road, discover the timeless beauty of Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand, where bustling bazaars, shimmering minarets, and captivating madrasahs narrate tales of bygone empires. The journey continues to the Land of Fire, Azerbaijan, with Baku offering a harmonious blend of European flair and historic grandeur. Explore the prehistoric carvings of Gobustan, the mystic Ateshgah Temple, and the artisan charm of Sheki. From nights in traditional yurt camps to the surreal landscape of Mud Volcanoes, this Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan Small Group Tour 2025 promises a rich tapestry of culture, history, and unforgettable experiences.
Tour itinerary:
Arrive in Tashkent. Transfer from the airport to the hotel, checking in from noon. Free time.
After breakfast, take a guided sightseeing tour of Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, the largest city in Central Asia. Visit the Old City, which includes the Khast-Imam Complex and Chorsu Bazaar. Within the Khast-Imam Complex, see the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman and visit the Madrassah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi, and Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore the vibrant Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour. Free time. Transfer to the airport to take the evening flight to Nukus at 18:05 (1,255 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrive in Nukus at 19:45 and transfer to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Breakfast. Visit the Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky*. The museum hosts the world’s second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and an exhibition of applied art from Karakalpakstan. Take a short drive around the centre of Nukus and see the statue of Berdakh, the Karakalpak poet; the Nukus City Hall; and the Karakalpak Music and Drama Theatre. In the afternoon, drive to Khiva (200 km, 4-5 h.). On the way, visit the archaeological monuments of ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk-Kala (a Zoroastrian dakhma, or Tower of Silence) and Toprak-Kala (the capital of Khorezm in the 3rd century). Arrive in Khiva and check-in to the hotel.
*Due to renovations at Savitsky Museum, some of the archeological and applied arts exhibitions remain closed indefinitely.
After breakfast, take a guided sightseeing tour of the ancient city of Khiva on foot. Visit the Ichan-Kala Fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum and Islom Khodja minaret, the highest minaret in Uzbekistan. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening, join a master-class on cooking tukhumbarak (traditional Khiva-style egg dumplings) at the National House of Zaravshan-opa. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Meals: dinner
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Meals: dinner
Breakfast. Drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h.*) following the route of the Great Silk Road (which passed through the Kyzylkum Desert on the way between Khiva and Bukhara). Stop on the way to enjoy views of the Amudarya River and the desert. Arrive in Bukhara in the late-afternoon and check-in to the hotel. Free time to rest or take a walk among Bukhara’s ancient buildings. Overnight at the hotel.
*depending on road condition (some parts of the road are currently being renovated).
As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
*depending on road condition (some parts of the road are currently being renovated).
As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking sightseeing tour of Bukhara’s Old City. Visit the Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trading domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Breakfast. Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir and a unique combination of Oriental and Russian architecture. Enjoy free time in Bukhara in the afternoon. In the evening, see a traditional puppet show. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
After breakfast, depart Bukhara and drive to a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert (230 km, 4 h.*). On the way, stop in Gijduvan to visit a pottery master’s workshop and take a master-class on traditional pottery. After lunch, continue to Nurata town to visit the Chashma Complex of Religious Buildings and its famous holy spring. Stop at the Nurata Pass to see the Zukarnay Petroglyphs, which date from the Bronze Age. Arrive at the yurt camp and enjoy camel riding and free time. In the evening, enjoy dinner around the camp fire accompanied by a performance of Kazakh akin (folk singers). Overnight at the yurt camp.
Meals: dinner
Meals: dinner
After breakfast at the yurt camp visit Aidarkul Lake, which is surrounded by desert. Free time at the lake and picnic lunch. In the afternoon, leave the yurt camp and drive to Samarkand (270 km, 5 h). Arrive in Samarkand and check-in to the hotel. Time for rest.
Meals: picnic lunch
Meals: picnic lunch
Breakfast. At 9:00 start a sightseeing tour of the fascinating city of Samarkand. Visit the spectacular Registan Square, the Gur Emir (Tamerlane’s Mausoleum), the remains of the Bibi Khanum Mosque, and the Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis. Then drive to Konigil village to explore the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from the bark of the mulberry tree. Free evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Breakfast. Check-out of the hotel by noon. Free time to explore Samarkand or shop for traditional handicrafts. In the evening, transfer to the railway station to take the train to Tashkent (300 km, 2 h 10 min). Upon arrival, go to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: dinner
Meals: dinner
Check-out from the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Take the morning flight from Tashkent to Baku at 7:35. On arrival at Baku at 9:30, our Azerbaijani driver will meet you to transfer to the hotel. Check-in after 14:00. Free time in Baku. Overnight in the hotel.
At 09:30, start sightseeing tour in Baku. Visit Martyrs Lane, known as ‘Shehidler Khiyabany’ among locals. When you walk through the Alley of the Martyrs, you will find a beautiful view overlooking Baku’s coastline. Move to Icheri Sheher, the old part of the city. Visit Shirvan Shahs’ Palace, Caravanserai, Maiden Tower, and the main market square, which has numerous art studios and souvenir stalls. Continue touring new Baku by exploring Nizami Street and Fountain Square.
After lunch break, we will drive to Gobustan National Park. Pay a visit to the Petroglyphs Museum and explore rock carvings dating back to 10,000 BC. Weather permitting, drive to mud volcanoes in Gobustan Reserve (change of vehicle). Gobustan is home to almost half of the world’s mud volcanoes. Return to Baku. Enjoy welcome dinner at a national restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 10-11 hours
Driving distance: 150 km
Meals: dinner
After lunch break, we will drive to Gobustan National Park. Pay a visit to the Petroglyphs Museum and explore rock carvings dating back to 10,000 BC. Weather permitting, drive to mud volcanoes in Gobustan Reserve (change of vehicle). Gobustan is home to almost half of the world’s mud volcanoes. Return to Baku. Enjoy welcome dinner at a national restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 10-11 hours
Driving distance: 150 km
Meals: dinner
After breakfast we will drive to Absheron peninsula to visit Ateshgah, a temple for fire worshippers located in the village of Surakhany. Zoroastrians from India use to travel thousands of kilometers to Ateshgah to worship the fire coming out of the earth. We will then visit Heydar Aliev Center located in a quirky building designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.
Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 50 km
Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Driving distance: 50 km
Breakfast. Depart towards Sheki. On the way, stop at Diri Baba Mausoleum in the village of Maraza. Continue to Shamakhi and visit the historical Juma Mosque. Weather permitting, a scenic drive through Girdimanchay River Canyon to visit Lahich will follow. Lahich, an ancient village with charming, cobbled sidewalks, is famous for its medieval water supply and sewage systems, as well as its traditional jewelry, copperware, carpets, pottery, daggers, and iron tools workshops. Continue driving to Sheki, the pleasant and easily walkable medieval town set in a lush mountainous area. Sheki is especially known for local style sweet baklava. Arrival in Sheki at about 19:00 for overnight at the hotel.
Driving distance: 340 km
Meals: lunch
*Lahich will not be reachable during 2025 due to the road construction.
Driving distance: 340 km
Meals: lunch
*Lahich will not be reachable during 2025 due to the road construction.
Breakfast. At 08:30, visit the colorful Sheki Bazaar. Here, you can find virtually everything you may want to eat: local fruits and berries, spices, freshly-baked bread, honey, cheeses, and Sheki sweets. Continue to the Palace of Sheki Khans, which is surrounded by medieval fortress walls, and then visit handicrafts workshops and caravanserai.
You will say goodbye to your guide and group which continues to Georgia here.
In the afternoon, transfer back to Baku (possibly without guide, 300 km, ~5 hours). Arrive in Baku, check-in to hotel for overnight.
Driving distance: 300 km
You will say goodbye to your guide and group which continues to Georgia here.
In the afternoon, transfer back to Baku (possibly without guide, 300 km, ~5 hours). Arrive in Baku, check-in to hotel for overnight.
Driving distance: 300 km
Price includes:
- Transportation throughout the tour, including airport/train station pick ups and drop offs;
- Accommodation in 3-4* hotels, breakfasts included;
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
- Meals: 16 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners; masterclass in Khiva;
- Puppet show in Bukhara;
- Economy class tickets for Tashkent-Nukus, Tashkent-Baku flights;
- Economy class ticket for Samarkand-Tashkent trains;
- Azerbaijan E-visa;
- Bottled drinking water;
- English-speaking tour guides in each country.
Price doesn't include:
- Surcharge for staying in a single room;
- Other meals;
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Personal travel insurance;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour.
Dates & Prices, per person
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To:
Deadline:
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Price:
Single supplement: US$ 580
100% guaranteed departures – even if there is only 1 traveler.
Group size: 1-16 persons
Please note that itinerary and prices are subject to change due to airline and train schedule changes, currency fluctuations and other unforeseeable events.
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