5-Day Silk Road Tour of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Visit Tashkent's Khast Imam Complex and traditional Chorsu Bazaar
• 02 Explore Registan Square and Gur Emir Mausoleum in Samarkand
• 03 Discover the sacred Shakhi Zinda and Ulughbek Observatory
• 04 See traditional paper-making at Konigil Paper Mill and Saint Daniyar's Tomb
• 05 Explore Bukhara's Ark Fortress and the Poi-Kalon complex

Explore the wonders of Uzbekistan on this 5-day cultural journey through Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. Discover Tashkent's vibrant Old City and bustling bazaars, then travel to legendary Samarkand to marvel at Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum, and the sacred Shakhi Zinda. Continue to timeless Bukhara to see its ancient mosques, madrasahs, trade domes, and historic fortress. Along the way, experience centuries-old traditions, remarkable architecture, and the spiritual heritage of Central Asia's most iconic Silk Road cities.

The prophet Daniyar (Daniel) is revered by three world religions - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - and the mausoleum remains a pilgrimage place for followers of all three Abrahamic religions.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Tashkent and Old City Discovery

• You will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Check in at the hotel and begin your guided tour around Tashkent, depending on your flight details.
• Visit the Old City: Khast Imam Complex - a religious center consisting of the Barakkhan Madrasah, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, and the library of Islamic literature, which contains the Holy Koran from the 7th century.
• Explore the traditional Chor-Su Bazaar, the oldest in Tashkent, where you can buy souvenirs, watch the Uzbek bread-baking process in a traditional oven, and taste some local food.
• Visit the Historical Museum, then continue to Independence Square, the symbol of the Uzbek capital and a popular place for locals.
• We will use the Tashkent metro to get to Amir Timur Square, the heart of the city, established at the intersection of two ancient trade routes and featuring many modern buildings.
• Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

2

Day 02

From Tashkent to the Monuments of Samarkand

• Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Samarkand at 8:00 AM (4-5 hours).
• Arrive in Samarkand and start the guided tour. We will begin sightseeing at Gur Emir Mausoleum, the tomb of Tamerlane, and continue to the iconic Registan Square, which means "desert" in Persian. Here, you will see the three madrassahs surrounding the square: Ulughbek Madrassah (15th century), Sher-Dor Madrassah (17th century), and Tillya-Kari Madrassah (17th century), all covered with gold.
• Visit Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, an ensemble including mausoleums and other ritual buildings from the 9th-14th and 19th centuries; Ulughbek Observatory, built in the 15th century by the Timurid ruler and astronomer; Bibi Khanym Mosque, built by Amir Timur (Tamerlane) in the 15th century; and Samarkand Oriental Bazaar.
• Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

3

Day 03

Samarkand Heritage and Journey to Bukhara

• Breakfast at the hotel. Continue sightseeing in Samarkand, starting at 10:00 AM, with the ancient settlement and museum of Afrosiab and the Tombstone of Saint Daniyar.
• The prophet Daniyar (Daniel) is revered by three world religions - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - and the mausoleum remains a pilgrimage place for followers of all three Abrahamic religions.
• Drive to Konigil village to visit Samarkand Paper Mill "Meros," where you can see the process of making famous Samarkand paper using ancient technology.
• Drive to Bukhara. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

4

Day 04

Bukhara's Fortresses, Madrasahs, and Trade Domes

• Breakfast at the hotel. The guided tour starts at 8:30 AM. Today, we will see the Ark Fortress, the residence of the Bukhara khans, Bolo Hauz Mosque (18th century), the Samanids Mausoleum (9th-10th centuries), the shrine of Ismail Samani and other members of the Samanid Dynasty, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum (12th-16th centuries), and Saint Job's Well.
• Continue to the Poi-Kalon complex with Kalyan Minaret (12th century) through the oriental bazaars with the three trade domes of Toki Zargaron (15th century), Toki Sarrafon (16th century), and Toki Telpak Furushon (16th century), as well as Ulugbek Madrassah (15th century), Abdulazizkhan Madrassah (17th century), and the Lyabi Hauz complex (16th-17th centuries), surrounded by ancient mulberry trees, restaurants, and cafes.
• Visit Kukeldash Madrassah, Nadir Divan-begi Madrassah, and Nadir Divan-begi Khanaka.
• Transfer to the airport for the flight from Bukhara to Tashkent (20:35-22:00).
• Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

5

Day 05

Departure from Tashkent

• Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. Transfer to the airport.
• End of the tour and service.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Transport services
• Flight tickets: Bukhara-Tashkent
• Accommodation in 3-star hotels with breakfast
• English-speaking local guides for city tours
• Sightseeing tours as per the program
• Entrance fees for the sights

What's Not Included

• Early check-ins / late check-outs
• Photo/video fees
• Fees for extra services not specified in the program
• Lunches and dinners
• Insurance
• Single supplement
• Gratuities (recommended)
• Visa

Know before you go

• Please note that during the high season, hotels, transport services, and guides may be in high demand and not always be available. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, we kindly recommend booking your arrangements in advance. We are always here to help if you need assistance.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport

Tour start

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.