Uzbekistan and the Silk Route - Private Tour

12 Day Private Tour

Uzbekistan, Central Asia
24 Meals Included
8 Excursions
Intermediate Pace

Central Asia's cradle of culture for millennia, Uzbekistan's place at the heart of the ancient Silk Road has attracted architects, scientists and mathematicians for centuries, as well as marauding conquerors intent on plundering the riches within. Explore the rich and fascinating history of this welcoming country with tours of its stunning mosques, immense citadels and breath-taking mausoleums and discover the huge influence it has had on the world in everything from mathematics to military tactics.

Highlights

  • Explore Uzbekistan's cosmopolitan capital Tashkent
  • Visit the colossal Kalta Minor Minaret
  • Discover Bukhara, Central Asia's holiest city
  • Delight in a Khoresmian Folk show with dinner
  • Visit the ruins of Ak Saray Palace in Shakrisabz
  • Enjoy a delicious wine tasting at the Khovrenko Winery
  • Follow an ancient trading route across the Kyzyl Kum desert
  • Gaze in awe at Registan square
  • Enjoy a cookery class with a local family in Samarkand

Map Key

Train
Coach
Boat
Airplane
Walking
1
Number of nights

Itinerary

Day 1
UK to Tashkent

Depart UK on your scheduled flight to Tashkent

Day 2
Tashkent

Dinner

On arrival into Tashkent, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel. You will have a few hours to refresh and then just before lunch you will head out to enjoy a cultural tour of Tashkent starting with Hast Imam Square. Built on the tomb of known scientist, scholar and craftsman Hazrati Imam, the square is the religious centre of Tashkent and home to a number of beautiful mosques, monuments and madrasas. A madrasa is a centre of Islamic learning and there are some excellent medieval examples here such as the elegant blue-domed Barak-Khan Madrasa with its imposing, but no less elegant gateway, as well as the Muyi Muborak Madrasa with its intricately carved ceilings and ancient manuscripts, including the Osman Koran, considered to be the oldest copy of the Koran in the world. As a contrast to these 16th Century sites, you'll then visit the Chorsu Bazaar and experience the hustle and bustle of everyday Central Asian life as everything from spices, grains and fruits are sold. This is followed by a visit to the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre Square built in neoclassical style by famous Russian architect Alexey Shchusey. Finally you'll pay a visit to Mustaqilik (Independence Square) home to the country's senate and government buildings.

Day 3
Tashkent to Khiva

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning at leisure before catching your flight to Urgench for your transfer to Khiva. You will have an afternoon at leisure.

Day 4
Khiva

Breakfast & Dinner

An important trading post on the Silk Road for centuries due to its position halfway between China and Rome, Khiva is a colourful treat for the eyes and a UNESCO-listed treasure that feels more like an open-air museum than a functioning city. Today, you'll get the chance to wander its ancient streets and discover a millennium of history on a fascinating guided tour. Gaze up at the imposing mud-brick walls of Ichan Kala, Khiva's inner city; explore the 12th century fortress of Kuhna Ark and wonder at the intricately tiled Pahlawan Mahmud Mausoleum, built in honour of the brave Uzbek hero Pahlavan Mahmoud.

Day 5
Khiva to Bukhara

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, board a coach or minibus and enjoy the vastness of the Uzbekistan Desert views from Khiva to Bukhara. Upon arrival, you will have time to explore the local area.

Day 6
Bukhara

Breakfast & Dinner

One of the most ancient cities in Uzbekistan, Bukhara is over 3000 years old and dates back to nearly a thousand years before Alexander the Great's conquest of Central Asia. Like most historic cities in Uzbekistan it was an important trading post along the Silk Road, but is probably better known throughout the Islamic world as a being a great centre of learning and has even been referred to as Central Asia's holiest city. Today, you will get the opportunity to explore some of its many architectural wonders on a guided tour of the city. The formidable Ark citadel was initially built in the 5th century and was the fortified residence of the rulers of Bukhara for centuries, containing palaces, temples barracks and even a prison. It has been destroyed and subsequently rebuilt many times, including by Genghis Khan who ransacked Bukhara in 1220 AD. Your tour guide will escort you around the various minarets, mosques, madrassas and mausoleums of the city before leaving you to explore this architectural wonder at your own pace.

Day 7
Bukhara

Breakfast & Dinner

Today is at leisure to wander this fabulous city, exploring its bazaars, stone pools and ancient streets without a guide.

Day 8
Bukhara to Samarkand

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, depart for Samarkand stopping en route at the 'green city' of Shakhrisabz. With a well-groomed, green and modern appearance it's hard to believe the city is over 2700 years old. The centre of the city has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site and contains an exceptional collection of monuments, including the gleaming white Ak Saray Palace built for Amir Timur or Tamerlane, famous warrior Khan, military tactician and founder of the Timurid Empire. Born in a neighbouring village, Tamerlane turned Shakrisabz into his residence after assuming power and ordered his architects to build a series of intricate mausoleums and stunning mosques, the ruins of which can still be explored today. Leaving the Timurids 1st city behind you'll continue onwards to the 14th century capital of their empire, Samarkand.

Day 9
Samarkand

Breakfast & Dinner

Samarkand is the epitome of a journey along the Silk Road. The name alone conjures up romantic, almost mythical images of vast tiled squares; huge blue domes sparkling in the sun and patterned minarets reaching into the sky. A trip to Registan, the city's Timurid heart and Central Square proves this to be a reality and showcases the fine work of Tamerlane's master craftsmen and builders, acquired from throughout his sprawling empire. A wide mosaicked square is backed by three immense madrasas, beautifully adorned in intricate blues green and violet patterns, each one a monument to the city's place as the intellectual capital of the region. During the middle ages the city attracted the greatest scholars, architects and scientists around, which can be seen first hand on your visit to Ulugbek's Observatory. Grandson of Tamerlane, Ulugbek was a famous astronomer, scientist and architect whose observatory helped him to produce the most comprehensive catalogue of stars since the 2nd century and greatly advance the world's understanding of the solar system. You can pay your respects to both him and his famous conquering grandfather at the sumptuous Gur- Emir, the ornately decorated mausoleum of the royal family. Once a marvel of the east, its influence can be seen in the style of the great architectural tombs of the Mughal dynasty of North India such the Taj Mahal in Agra. Before dinner, visit the Khovrenko Winery and sample a range of Samarkand wines.

Day 10
Samarkand

Breakfast & Dinner

This morning, you'll visit the Koni Ghil Paper Mill renowned for making paper of such exquisite quality that only sultans, emirs and viziers could afford it. This 'royal' paper has been exported along the Silk Road for centuries and many 9th and 10th century Arabic and Persian manuscripts were written on it. After this you'll explore one of the treasures of Samarkand, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque built in the late 14th century as a tribute to Tamerlane's wife as well as his victory in Delhi. It is one of the best-known architectural wonders of Central Asia. You'll have a chance to do some shopping at the local Siyab bazaar, before having the rest of the day at leisure to explore this UNESCO listed city at your own pace. This evening you will have the chance to experience a little modern Uzbek culture by enjoying dinner with a local family who will provide a master class in cooking Pilav, a famous rice based dish in Uzbekistan

Day 11
Samarkand to Tashkent

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Take the morning at leisure, you can spend more time shopping in Siab Bazaar or relax with a coffee in the boulevards around Registan Square. Take a train to Tashkent where you can enjoy a festive farewell dinner to round off this unforgettable trip.

Day 12
Tashkent to UK

Breakfast

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, before transferring to the airport for your return flight to the UK or onto your chosen extension.

View Full Itinerary

Accommodation

The hotels listed below are provided for guidance only and final confirmation of your accommodation will be sent to you approximately 10 days before you travel
Milan Hotel Tashkent
1 nights
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
More details
Asia Khiva Hotel
2 nights
Khiva, Uzbekistan
More details
View More

Tour Testimonials

Paul Mnich

10 Oct 24

Fakhriddin Baratov our Mercury guide shared his knowledge of the history and culture of the country and all the incredible places we visited. He made it a much richer experience for us and his personal insights, good humour and patience made it a truly wonderful and memorable experience.

Kim Brabant

26 Sep 24

Our guide was excellent and had an exceptional knowledge of the itinerary locations. Uzbekistan is a wonderful country, we didn’t know what to expect but it outshone our expectations. It has been a revelation. All the Mosques, Madrasas & Mausoleums were beautiful, many exquisitely decorated. All restaurants and hotels were also of a high standard.

Paul Cudd

26 Jun 24

Davron, the tour guide, was exceptional. Helpful, fun, relaxed, and delightful company. The preparation of metro tickets, entry to sites, and restaurant choices were impeccable. It was first class.

Bukhara was stunning and all the Timur and Ulug Beg sites. Khiva was fabulous, as was Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent. The light show at Registan is a must-see. Not forgetting the wine tasting, and every restaurant, each one individual and selected with care and attention to style and atmosphere.

Carol Skilling

22 May 24

The whole trip was incredible, I cannot pick out a highlight. I have to say our guide was the best I have ever come across, you need to hang on to him as his knowledge, care for us, and going over and above were exceptional. He is an exceptional ambassador for his country and I would recommend this tour with Mercury.

Joan Davies

22 May 24

The main highlights include Khiva and Samarqand. Both are stunning cities with amazing histories. The entire tour was excellent. The guide deserves a special mention here. He explained the long and complex history very well. Also, I really liked the evening arrangements to dine in a different restaurant each evening - it helped to give us a better feel for each city.

Extend Your Tour

Uzbekistan and the Silk Route with Fergana Valley Extension

4 Day Extension
from

£3,209

pp

Important Information

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

If you’re visiting Uzbekistan, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least three months from the day you arrive and at least two blank pages.

A visa is not required for your trip to Uzbekistan. You must register with the local district OVIR (Department of Foreign Travel and Exit) within three days of your arrival. Saturdays and Sundays count as part of the three-day period. If you’re staying in a hotel, you’ll be asked for your passport at check-in. Hotel staff will complete the registration paperwork and return your passport. If you do not register within 3 days of arrival in the country, you get fined for each day you are late so it is important to ensure that it is done to avoid any issues when leaving the country. Upon departure, you may be required to show proof of registration, so it's essential to keep your registration slip/s safe. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations’ Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.

Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.

IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves moderate days of walking on uneven paths and small hills, and getting on and off coaches. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

The currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS), and that is the only currency we recommend you use on the tour. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. Visa and Mastercard, debit and credit card are accepted in main tourist areas but are not always reliable and smaller areas and establishments only accept local currency in cash. ATM’s are also available in large cities and tourist areas. All foreign currencies can be exchanged in major banks, but the preferred currencies are US Dollars and Euros (new dated notes in best condition).

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals where these are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, drinks and snacks. Approximately (£400-500) per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour.

Tipping It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. we would recommend approximately $5 per day for guide and $3 per day for each driver. Tipping of hotel staff and porters is estimated at $1-$2 per service and restaurants is 5-10% of the bill. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.

This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.

For Private Tours or groups 4 and lower, you will be accompanied by a Driver and Local Guides on excursions. These Local Guides will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours. Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-free options available, please request prior to departure. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels.

Uzbekistan is a predominantly Muslim country and very conservative. It is expected for everyone to dress modestly. Woman – cover shoulders, midriff and legs to below the knees. Men – shorts are acceptable but working around shirtless is not. When visiting mosques, mausoleums, and other religious sites avoid revealing or tight fitting clothes, covering shoulders and knees and women may consider brining a scarf to cover your heads. Comfortable slip-on shoes are ideal for easy removal when entering religious buildings.

On arrival in Uzbekistan, you should clear customs and immigration and go out of the airport through the Arrivals Hall. Directly outside you will be met by the representative from our local agent, Dolores Travel Group (please note the rep. cannot enter the airport). This representative will be holding a sign displaying “Mercury Holidays” and will then escort you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries you may have.

If you need to contact your representative during your stay, the details are: Dolores Travel Group 104A, Kichik Beshagach str. Tashkent, 100025, Uzbekistan Telephone Number: 00998 78 1208883 (office working hours 09:00-18:00)

Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Dolores Travel Group Ms. Anna: 0099899 858 88 94 E-mail: avishnevskaya@dolorestravel.com