10-day Golden Road to Samarkand from UK10 Days | Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Gijduvan, Samarkand, Shakhrisabz

Day 1: Tashkent – arrival

 

Arrive in Tashkent from United Kingdom. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at noon. Meet your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman has been preserved. Explore 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. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 2: Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva

 

Early morning transfer to local airport for flight to Urgench (1093 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrival in Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 35 min). Later proceed for guided walking sightseeing tour. Spend a day in Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-Khoja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours

Day 3: Khiva – Bukhara

 

In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h*). Today we will have an overland transfer from Khiva to Bukhara through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel.
*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).
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.

Day 4: Bukhara

 

Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Complex, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 5: Bukhara

 

Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 6: Bukhara – Gijduvan – Samarkand

 

In the morning, depart Bukhara and drive to Samarkand via Gijduvan (48km, 1hr*). Stop in Gijduvan to visit the Gidjduvan Ceramics Center and Workshop. The owner of the center is Alisher Narzullaev, one of the most well-known and respected ceramics masters of modern Uzbekistan.
Activities at the center include:

• Tour of the ceramic embroidery workshops, including displays of the accompanying technology;
• Master Classes on ceramic embroidery;
• Ceramics Museum, displaying works from five generations of potters;
• Gallery of ceramics;
• Master cooking class, where you’ll make a traditional Uzbek dish and bake Gijduvan bread.

Enjoy your cooking creation for lunch. In the afternoon, continue driving to Samarkand (233km,3.5 hrs*).
Arrive in Samarkand and check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
*If traveling by van or bus, the drive will be approximately one hour longer.

Day 7: Samarkand

 

Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 8: Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand

 

Our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Samarkand. Depart Samarkand and drive to Shakhrisabz (90 km, 2 h). Have a short city tour in Shakhrisabz. Visit Mausoleum of Jakhongir in Dor-us Saodat Memorial Complex, remains of Ak-Saray Palace, Dor-ut Tilavat Ensemble with Kok-Gumbaz Mosque and burial vault of Tamerlane’s father. In the afternoon return to Samarkand. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing: 2 hours
Duration of the tour: 6 hours
Several sedan type cars will be presented instead of Vans for this trip.

Day 9: Samarkand – Tashkent

 

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour.
Late in the afternoon transfer to railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 10: Tashkent – departure

 

Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure to United Kingdom. End of Golden Road to Samarkand Tour from UK.

Price includes:

• All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by minivan type car; 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 40-50 seat bus; Several sedan type cars for the trip to Shakhrisabz;
• Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
• Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
• Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
• Master classes with lunch in Gijduvan;
• Ticket for train Samarkand-Tashkent (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace it with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
• Economy class ticket for flight Tashkent-Urgench.

Price doesn't include:

• Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour;
• Full board (lunches and dinners);
• Hotel charges for additional services;
• Visa support for Uzbekistan tourist visa;
• Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa;
• International flight tickets before and after the tour;
• Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
• Travel insurance.