Uzbekistan Culinary Tour

Culinary Tour Through Uzbekistan

Tour Details

Tour Highlights

Start on a 7-day journey across Uzbekistan, where history and flavor come alive at every turn. From Tashkent’s iconic plov, cooked in massive cauldrons, to the tender lamb roasted over open flames, you’ll savor the best of Central Asian cuisine. Taste Samarkand’s famed shish kebabs and sweet local wines, dive into Gijduvan’s succulent tandoor kabob, and master the art of crafting Bukharian plov in a traditional copper cauldron.

Alongside, explore vibrant bazaars, ancient madrasahs, and UNESCO-listed cities like Bukhara and Khiva. From the verdant vineyards of Bagizagan to the exotic green pasta of Khorezm, this tour offers an unforgettable taste of Uzbekistan’s rich culinary heritage.

Itinerary: Tashkent – Samarkand – Gijduvan – Bukhara – Tashkent

Culinary Tour Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival in Tashkent: Welcome to the Oriental Table

Arrival in Tashkent, the welcoming capital of Uzbekistan — a city where ancient heritage meets modern rhythm. After meeting our representative at the airport, transfer to the hotel and check-in after 2:00 PM. Take some time to rest before your first delicious evening in the East.

As the sun sets, we gather for a welcome dinner at one of Tashkent’s best traditional restaurants. Tonight’s highlight is the legendary Tashkent shashlik — juicy skewers of marinated meat grilled over charcoal, served with warm, crusty bread and sharp pickled onions. The lively atmosphere, fragrant smoke, and cheerful hospitality set the tone for your culinary journey ahead.

dinner

Day 2 Tashkent: Plov, Lagman & Local Flavours

After breakfast, we begin exploring Tashkent’s timeless charm. Visit Khast-Imam Square, home to the world-famous 7th-century manuscript of the Quran of Caliph Osman, admire the elegant Barak-Khan Madrasah and Kukeldash Madrasah, and stroll through peaceful courtyards filled with history.

For lunch, we head to the legendary Central Asian Plov Center — “Besh Kozon”, where master chefs cook up to ten tons of plov every day in giant cauldrons. Watch as rice, meat, and spices are layered to perfection, then enjoy your serving of this beloved Uzbek dish — rich, fragrant, and unforgettable.

In the afternoon, we visit Independence Square and Amir Temur Square, the heart of the capital. Dinner tonight introduces another classic — Uyghur lagman, hand-pulled noodles tossed with tender meat and vegetables in a savory sauce.

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day3 From Tashkent to Samarkand, The Pearl of the East

After breakfast, we board the comfortable train to Samarkand, the legendary “Pearl of the East.” Few cities in the world can rival its history — once the capital of Sogdiana, later Tamerlane’s imperial heart, it still dazzles travelers with its blue domes, ancient madrasahs, and timeless Silk Road spirit.

On arrival, we check in to the hotel and enjoy lunch at the famous “Panjab” Plov Center, where you’ll taste Samarkand-style plov — rich, golden rice layered with tender meat, sweet carrots, and aromatic spices, slow-cooked to perfection.

In the afternoon, we explore Registan Square, the crowning jewel of Central Asia, surrounded by the splendid madrasahs of Ulugbek, Sher-Dor, and Tilya-Kori — a masterpiece of architecture and harmony.

This evening, we gather in a traditional family house for a warm, hands-on master class in making manti — delicate steamed dumplings filled with spiced meat. You’ll prepare them side by side with a local chef and then enjoy your creations for dinner.

Overnight at the hotel.
breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Samarkand: Flavours, Crafts & Wine of the Silk Road

After breakfast, we continue discovering Samarkand — where every corner tells a story. Visit the majestic Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the bustling Siab Bazaar, and the sacred Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, a breathtaking avenue of turquoise-tiled mausoleums. Then explore the Ulugbek Observatory and Afrasiab Museum, where the roots of Samarkand’s civilization stretch back over 2,500 years.

Lunch today brings a local specialty — nokhat-shurak, a comforting stew of chickpeas and lamb, full of earthy flavors and slow-cooked tenderness.

In the afternoon, we head to Konigil village, where artisans keep alive the ancient crafts of Samarkand — from handmade silk paper to fine ceramics. Then continue to the Bagizagan Winery, a family estate producing wines and brandies for five generations. Learn about local grape cultivation, tour the cellar, and enjoy a guided wine tasting in their charming degustation hall.

Dinner tonight features kazan-kabob, seared in a deep cast-iron pan until crisp on the outside and juicy within — a fitting finale to a day full of colour, taste, and tradition.

Overnight at the hotel.
breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 From Samarkand to Bukhara: Ceramics, Kebabs & Timeless Craftsmanship

After breakfast, we set out for Bukhara, stopping en route in Gijduvan, a town famous for its distinctive ceramics and ancient traditions of craftsmanship. For centuries, Gijduvan masters have passed down their skills from generation to generation, creating pottery known for its deep turquoise hues and intricate geometric patterns.

We’ll visit the workshop of the Narzullaev family, one of Uzbekistan’s most celebrated pottery dynasties. Under the guidance of a master, you’ll try your hand at shaping clay on the potter’s wheel — a meditative and rewarding experience.

After the workshop, we sit down for a hearty lunch in the family’s courtyard, savoring Gijduvan-style kebabs and tandoor kabob — meat slow-roasted in a clay oven until perfectly smoky and tender.

In the afternoon, we continue to Bukhara, one of the most ancient and sacred cities of the Islamic world. With its winding streets, turquoise domes, and more than 2,500 years of history, Bukhara feels like a living open-air museum. Upon arrival, we begin exploring the Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble, the heart of the old city, surrounded by madrasahs, ancient trading domes, and a tranquil reflecting pool.

Dinner tonight is at a local family home, where you’ll taste damlama — a fragrant stew of lamb and vegetables, slow-cooked to tender perfection. Served straight from the kazan, it’s the essence of Uzbek home cooking.

Overnight at the hotel.

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Bukhara: The Soul of the Silk Road & Farewell to Uzbekistan

After breakfast, we continue our discovery of Bukhara, a city where every brick and minaret seems to whisper the stories of travelers, scholars, and poets who once walked its streets.
We begin at the elegant Samanid Mausoleum, a masterpiece of early Islamic architecture, then visit Chashma Ayub — “Job’s Well” — with its unusual domed design and ancient legend. The Bolo-Hauz Mosque, reflected in its tranquil pond, enchants with twenty carved wooden columns that shimmer in the morning light.

Next, we explore the mighty Ark Fortress, the royal stronghold that once housed emirs and their courts, before heading to the spiritual heart of the city — the Poi Kalyan Complex, crowned by the graceful 12th-century minaret. We’ll also visit the Abdulaziz Khan and Ulugbek Madrasahs, each adorned with exquisite tilework and geometric harmony.

Our farewell lunch takes place at Old Bukhara Restaurant, where the table is filled with aromas of saffron, sweet carrots, and freshly baked samsa. Here, you’ll taste Sofi plov (Osh-i-sofi) — Bukhara’s signature pilaf known for its lightness and subtle sweetness — along with Alat samsa, delicate pastries baked in a clay tandoor oven.

As evening falls, we transfer to the train station for our comfortable journey back to Tashkent, carrying the warmth of Uzbek hospitality and the unforgettable taste of the Silk Road (packed dinner on the train). On arrival in Tashkent, overnight at the hotel.

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Tashkent: Departure with Flavours to Remember

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before your transfer to Tashkent International Airport for your flight home. As you leave, take with you the colors, scents, and memories of your journey — the taste of plov, the laughter of new friends, and the quiet charm of an ancient land that welcomes every guest as family.

breakfast

Tour Information

Tour price includes:

Accommodation at the hotels mentioned below, or in equivalent properties of the same category, based on double/twin occupancy with daily breakfasts. Early check-in on Day 1 in Tashkent is included; standard hotel check-in time – 14:00, check-out – 12:00.
Meals on a full-board basis as per the program, including all scheduled culinary master classes.
Wine tasting at Bagizagan Winery.
Ceramic master class with a local craftsman in Gijduvan.
Traditional tea tasting experience in Bukhara.
Entrance fees to all monuments and museums mentioned in the itinerary.
Services of English-speaking local guides in each city for sightseeing.
Comfortable air-conditioned transportation throughout the tour, including all airport–hotel–airport transfers.

* Tickets for high-speed trains are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed in advance.

Tour price does not include:

International airfares.
Alcoholic and soft beverages not included in set menus (available for purchase on site).
Medical expenses and travel insurance.
Porter services at airports and railway stations.
Tips and personal gratuities.

Cost of the tour in USD per person, season 2026

Group	3★ Hotel	4★ Hotel
1 pax	2,349	2,825
2–3 pax	1,554	1,814
4–5 pax	1,240	1,501
6–7 pax	1,174	1,435
8–9 pax	1,142	1,403
10–11 pax	1,129	1,389

Supplement for single accommodation +130 USD +250 USD

Accommodation

City	Hotels 3★	Hotels 4★
Tashkent	Human Hotel 3★ or similar	Panarams Hotel 4★ or similar
Samarkand	Arba Hotel 3★ or similar	Continental Hotel 4★ or similar
Bukhara	Rangrez Hotel 3★ or similar	Paradise Plaza Hotel 4★ or similar

Transportation (by Group Size)

Group Size	Vehicle
1–2 travelers	Chevrolet Lacetti or similar
4 travelers	Hyundai Starex minivan (6 seats)
6–8 travelers	King Long minivan (10 seats) or similar
9–14 travelers	Eurise minivan (18 seats) or similar