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Golden Road to Samarkand, the 10-day Uzbekistan tour itinerary, is an orientally picturesque trip full of bright discoveries. You will do sights of Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Gijduvan, Samarkand and Shakhrisabz learn much interesting about Uzbek traditions and customs, for centuries, handed down from generation to generation, taste genuine Uzbek pilau, visit an oriental bazaar and so on and so forth.
Tour itinerary:
Arrive in Tashkent. 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
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
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
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
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.
*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.
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
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
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
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
In the morning, depart Bukhara and drive to Samarkand via Gijduvan (48km, 1hr*). Stop in Gijduvan to visit the Gijduvan 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:
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.
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.
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.
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
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
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.
Duration of sightseeing: 2 hours
Duration of the tour: 6 hours
Several sedan type cars will be presented instead of Vans for this trip.
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
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
Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.
Price includes:
- All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan economy type car; 3-7 pax by van type car; 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 40-50 seat bus;
- 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;
- Supplement for sedan comfort type car – 630USD total;
- 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.
Prices, per person
Prices are for 2024 in US$ per person, with discounted prices for larger groups available on request.
Accommodation
Economy:
Ateca / Inspira-S / Milan / Ramada Encore / Aster / Europe / Praga / Navruz / Moderno
Comfort:
Hampton by Hilton / Wyndham Tashkent / Courtyard by Marriot / Mercure Tashkent / Panarams
Deluxe:
Hyatt Regency / Hilton
Ateca / Inspira-S / Milan / Ramada Encore / Aster / Europe / Praga / Navruz / Moderno
Comfort:
Hampton by Hilton / Wyndham Tashkent / Courtyard by Marriot / Mercure Tashkent / Panarams
Deluxe:
Hyatt Regency / Hilton
Economy:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Minor Boutique / Bankir / Muso Tura / Orient Star
Comfort:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Minor Boutique / Bankir / Muso Tura / Orient Star
Deluxe:
Farovon
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Minor Boutique / Bankir / Muso Tura / Orient Star
Comfort:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Minor Boutique / Bankir / Muso Tura / Orient Star
Deluxe:
Farovon
Economy:
Minzifa / Marhaba / Bibikhanum / K.Komil / Fatima / As-Salom / Volida / Devon Begi / Sasha & Son / Kavsar
Comfort:
Paradise Plaza / Omar Khayam / Minorai-Kalon / Latifa Begim / Asia Bukhara
Deluxe:
Shahriston / Mercure Old Town Bukhara / Wyndham Bukhara
Minzifa / Marhaba / Bibikhanum / K.Komil / Fatima / As-Salom / Volida / Devon Begi / Sasha & Son / Kavsar
Comfort:
Paradise Plaza / Omar Khayam / Minorai-Kalon / Latifa Begim / Asia Bukhara
Deluxe:
Shahriston / Mercure Old Town Bukhara / Wyndham Bukhara
Economy:
Wellfort / Shohjahon Palace / Samaria Hotel and Spa / East Star / Jakhongir Premium / Bibikhanum / Silk Road Empire
Comfort:
Platan / Royal / Dilimah / Grand Samarkand Superior / Arka Boutique / Emirhan
Deluxe:
Movenpick / Hilton Garden Inn / Zarafshon Parkside
Wellfort / Shohjahon Palace / Samaria Hotel and Spa / East Star / Jakhongir Premium / Bibikhanum / Silk Road Empire
Comfort:
Platan / Royal / Dilimah / Grand Samarkand Superior / Arka Boutique / Emirhan
Deluxe:
Movenpick / Hilton Garden Inn / Zarafshon Parkside
Tour Request
Golden Road to Samarkand (Uz-3) Reviews
Author: John Smith | Rating: 506 November 2017
Very well organised and good value for money. Exceeded our expectations. We had a great time, thank you. Much of this is due to the excellent guides arranged by Advantour.
Visited September 2017
Visited September 2017
Author: Graham & Gillian Field | Rating: 526 May 2017
We have had a splendid 10 days. The country and the organization have exceeded all our expectations. We feel the decisions made with Shavkat`s advice to 1) doing sightseeing in Tashkent immediately on arrival; 2) flying to and from Urgench (for Khiva) on the same day and 3) to spend our `extra and free` day in Bukhara were absolutely right. Our only disappointment was the hotel in Samarkand and that our first choice of the Bibikhanum was not available in view of our earl request.
Visited May 2017
Visited May 2017
Author: Markus Schindlbeck | Rating: 509 August 2016
It was an astonishingly well organised tour, everything was on time, and we had all kind of entertainment and pleasure. People, we met were friendly, helpful and very interested in our visiting. We could meet through the tour a wide variety of different landscapes, monuments, craftsmen and artists. We regreted that we did not spend more time in Uzbekistan.
Visited May 2016
Visited May 2016
Author: Sayten Vora | Rating: 523 November 2015
We had a wonderful trip which was extremely well organised. The driver and guides were punctual and very warm. We travelled with our kids and the comfort was much needed. Our only hurdle was keen vegetarian food at all hotels except for Ramada. It would have been great if we would have gotten regular bread and jam at the least for breakfast.
Visited November 2015
Visited November 2015
Author: Shilpa and Srikanth | Rating: 522 June 2015
We had a wonderful tour of Uzbekistan for 11 days. We would like to express our gratitude to Advantour for making our trip a memorable one.
We are very thankful to the complete crew of Advantour who helped us throughout our trip.
Special thanks to Shavkat for overall help and mainly responsible for us to visit Uzbekistan.
Thanks to Maria, our guide in Tashkent for showing us around Tashkent. Thanks to Mervin for pick up from airport, dropping us at airport and driving us around Tashkent.
Thanks to Norbek our driver for most part of our tour, who drove us from Khiva to Bukhara to Shakhrisabz to Samarkand. We had a wonderful time with Norbek. He helped us in various ways at all times and we are very grateful for his services.
We would like to thank Timor - our guide in Khiva. Thanks to Maqsum, our guide in Bukhara. Thanks to jovial and funny 'Standing moon' for showing us around in Shakhrisabz.
Thanks to graceful Valentina, our guide in Samarkand to show us around.
We must say that, every guide we had are good historians and had deep sense of history and religion. They are keen to tell us about every aspect and we are very impressed by this.
We found every one working for Advantour are true professionals and have great commitment towards their work.
They are very helping, caring and honest.
We always felt that we are well treated and cared for.
In all sense, Advantour is mainly responsible for making our trip to Uzbekistan a successful and we are very happy about it. We couldn't have managed on our own.
Thank you and keep up the good work - Rahmat.
Visited June 2015
We are very thankful to the complete crew of Advantour who helped us throughout our trip.
Special thanks to Shavkat for overall help and mainly responsible for us to visit Uzbekistan.
Thanks to Maria, our guide in Tashkent for showing us around Tashkent. Thanks to Mervin for pick up from airport, dropping us at airport and driving us around Tashkent.
Thanks to Norbek our driver for most part of our tour, who drove us from Khiva to Bukhara to Shakhrisabz to Samarkand. We had a wonderful time with Norbek. He helped us in various ways at all times and we are very grateful for his services.
We would like to thank Timor - our guide in Khiva. Thanks to Maqsum, our guide in Bukhara. Thanks to jovial and funny 'Standing moon' for showing us around in Shakhrisabz.
Thanks to graceful Valentina, our guide in Samarkand to show us around.
We must say that, every guide we had are good historians and had deep sense of history and religion. They are keen to tell us about every aspect and we are very impressed by this.
We found every one working for Advantour are true professionals and have great commitment towards their work.
They are very helping, caring and honest.
We always felt that we are well treated and cared for.
In all sense, Advantour is mainly responsible for making our trip to Uzbekistan a successful and we are very happy about it. We couldn't have managed on our own.
Thank you and keep up the good work - Rahmat.
Visited June 2015
