Uzbekistan group tour including Fergana Valley
Accommodation, guides, transport, 3 train journeys included.
Uzbekistan group tour including Fergana Valley Highlights
Meet Rishtan’s potters and Margilan’s silk weavers, then explore Samarkand and Bukhara on this 9-day Uzbekistan group tour. For centuries Rishtan, Margilan, Samarkand and Bukhara have been meeting points of cultures, caravans and craftsmanship along the Silk Road, and this journey shows Uzbekistan’s living traditions next to its most famous monuments.
From Tashkent a classic train crosses the mountains into the fertile Fergana Valley. In Margilan, the heart of Uzbekistan’s silk industry, you see how silk threads are spun, dyed and woven into ikat fabrics. In Rishtan you watch a ceramic master shape and paint pottery and share a traditional lunch in his home, and in Kokand, once the capital of the Kokand Khanate, you visit the Palace of Khudayar Khan before returning to Tashkent over the Kamchik Pass.
A high-speed train takes you on to Samarkand with the Registan, the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum of Tamerlane and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. In the Nuratau Mountains you spend a night with a local family in Hayat village, join a cooking masterclass and walk past old mills and stone ruins. The tour ends with two nights in Bukhara, a living museum with more than 900 historic sites, a visit to the Bahautdin Naqshbandi Complex, a center of Sufi spirituality, and the high-speed train back to Tashkent – Uzbekistan at its most authentic, with many encounters with local people.
Difficulty: Easy Mostly sightseeing on foot in the cities, a gentle village walk in the Nuratau Mountains, three train journeys (the classic train to Margilan takes about 5 hours) and drives of 240–300 km on days 3, 5 and 6.
Tour Itinerary
This morning we arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital. After settling in at the hotel (early check-in is included), we begin exploring the city: Khast-Imam Square with its historic madrasahs and mausoleums, the vibrant Chorsu Bazaar full of colors and aromas, and later the wide Independence Square and Amir Temur Square. We also ride the famous Tashkent Metro, often called an underground museum for its ornate stations. Overnight in Tashkent.
Hazrati Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent Independence Square, Amir Temur Square, Tashkent metro, Tashkent
Overnight: Tashkent (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
Today we travel by train (08:10–13:20) across the mountains into the fertile Fergana Valley. In Margilan, the heart of Uzbekistan’s silk industry, we visit the Margilan silk factory and see how delicate silk threads are spun, dyed and woven into vibrant ikat fabrics. A stroll through the local bazaar and the Said Ahmad Khoja Madrasah adds more color to our day. Overnight in Fergana.
Margilan, Fergana
- Tashkent → Margilan
- Margilan → Fergana
Overnight: Fergana (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we drive to Rishtan, world-famous for its ceramics. At the workshop of a local ceramic master, we watch the process of shaping and painting pottery and enjoy a traditional lunch in his home. Then we continue to Kokand, once the capital of the Kokand Khanate. Here we explore the grand Palace of Khudayar Khan, the Juma Mosque and the Mausoleum of Modari Khan. In the evening we return to Tashkent, crossing the scenic Kamchik mountain pass. Overnight in Tashkent.
Rishton, Kokand, Khudayar Khan Palace
- Fergana → Kokand (100 km)
- Kokand → Tashkent (240 km)
Overnight: Tashkent (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we board a train to Samarkand, the legendary jewel of the Silk Road. Our sightseeing begins with the turquoise-domed Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the resting place of Tamerlane. We then step into the majestic Registan Square, framed by three monumental madrasahs – the very heart of Samarkand. Later we visit the grand Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the sacred Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis and the fascinating Ulugbek Observatory. Overnight in Samarkand.
Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, Registan, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Mausoleum, Shah i Zinda, Ulugbek Observatory
- Tashkent → Samarkand
Overnight: Samarkand (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, we visit the Afrasiab Museum, displaying murals from ancient Samarkand, and the shrine of Saint Daniel. Then we drive to the Nuratau Mountains, stopping in Nurata to see its holy spring. By afternoon we reach Hayat village, where we stay in a guesthouse with a local family. In the evening we join a cooking masterclass and share dinner with our hosts. Overnight in Hayat village.
Afrasiyab, Tomb of Saint Daniel (Khoja Daniyar), Nurota, Nuratau Mountains, Hayot
- Samarkand → Hayot (300 km)
Overnight: Hayot (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we take a gentle walk around Upper Hayat village, passing old mills and stone ruins and meeting locals along the way. If possible, we visit the small nursery of Severtsov’s sheep, a rare and endangered species. Later we drive across the steppe to Bukhara, one of Central Asia’s most atmospheric cities. Overnight in Bukhara.
Hayot, Bukhara
- Hayot → Bukhara (300 km)
Overnight: Bukhara (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
Today we explore Bukhara, a living museum with more than 900 historic sites. We begin with the Samanid Mausoleum and the Bolo-Khauz Mosque, then walk through the mighty Ark Citadel, the fortress of Bukhara’s rulers. In the afternoon we visit the Po-i-Kalyan Complex, the elegant Ulugbek and Abdulaziz-Khan Madrasahs and the lively Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble with its shady pond. We also stroll through the ancient domed bazaars, once busy trading hubs of the Silk Road. Overnight in Bukhara.
Samanids Mausoleum, Bolo Hauz Complex, Ark of Bukhara, Poi Kalyan, Ulugbeg Madrasah Bukhara, Abdulazizkhan Madrasah, Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble, Trading Domes of Bukhara
Overnight: Bukhara (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the summer palace of the last emir, an eclectic mix of Russian, Eastern and European styles. We then stop at the Bahautdin Naqshbandi Complex, an important pilgrimage site and center of Sufi spirituality. In the afternoon we board the high-speed train back to Tashkent. Overnight in Tashkent.
Sitori-i Mokhi Khosa palace, Bakhauddin Naqshband Mausoleum
- Bukhara → Tashkent
Overnight: Tashkent (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Download the itinerary
Tour Price
Group Tour Price
Single room supplement: $195
What's included
Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights in the hotels listed (or similar hotels of the same category) in double/twin rooms with breakfast
- Early check-in on day 1 in Tashkent
- One night in a guesthouse in Hayat village (twin/triple sharing only; single rooms are not available)
- Meals: daily breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner as listed in the itinerary
- Culinary masterclass in an Uzbek village
- Entrance fees to all monuments and museums mentioned in the program
- Services of English-speaking local guides
- Comfortable air-conditioned transport throughout the tour, including airport–hotel–airport transfers
- Classic train from Tashkent to Margilan (economy class)
- High-speed trains from Tashkent to Samarkand and from Bukhara to Tashkent (economy class)
Not included
- International flights
- Meals not listed in the program
- Medical expenses and travel insurance
- Single room supplement (195 USD)
- Porter services at hotels, railway stations and airports
- Tips
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Where you'll stay
-
Night 1
Tashkent
King Plaza Hotel or similar
-
Night 2
Fergana
Asia Fergana Hotel or similar
-
Night 3
Tashkent
King Plaza Hotel or similar
-
Night 4
Samarkand
Arba Hotel or similar
-
Night 5
Hayot
Homestay in Hayot village or similar
-
Nights 6–7
Bukhara
Rangrez Hotel or similar
-
Night 8
Tashkent
King Plaza Hotel or similar
Good to know
- Hotels: Standard check-in is at 14:00 and check-out at 12:00; early check-in on day 1 in Tashkent is included. The guesthouse in Hayat village has twin/triple rooms only – single rooms are not available there.
- Trains: Tickets for the high-speed trains are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed in advance.
- Vehicles: Hyundai Starex minivan for groups of 4, King Long minivan with 10 seats (or similar) for 6–8 travelers and Eurise minivan with 18 seats (or similar) for 9–15 travelers.
Uzbekistan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Uzbekistan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Uzbekistan before booking.
The local currency is the Uzbek sum. Uzbekistan is still mostly a cash economy, but money is easy to exchange and ATMs are common in the larger cities.
Exchanging money
Banks exchange US dollars, euros, British pounds and Japanese yen. There are exchange offices in major cities such as Bukhara and Khiva and at Tashkent airport; elsewhere you need a bank, which often gives a better rate anyway. Your notes must be in pristine condition. Sum is hard to exchange outside Uzbekistan, but you can change it back to US dollars at a local bank.
Cards and ATMs
Cards are accepted in upscale hotels and restaurants in Tashkent and the main tourist cities, with Visa more widely recognised than Mastercard and a standard 3% commission. ATMs dispense sum and are easy to find in the larger cities; many also offer US dollars.
Uzbekistan is generally a safe destination, with little religious extremism and few crimes against foreigners.
Documents
Always carry your passport: it is a legal requirement, and police carry out routine checks.
Getting around
- Use licensed taxis. Local taxi apps are the easiest way to get a ride at local prices, and Yandex works very well in Tashkent and Samarkand. If you take a taxi on the street or at the airport, agree the price first.
- Many roads outside Tashkent, especially in the Tian Shan and Fan mountains, are in poor condition. Driving standards are generally low, and rural roads are often unlit, so night driving is riskier.
- On night trains, keep valuables safe, do not leave belongings unattended and lock the compartment door from the inside.
- Watch your belongings as you would anywhere, and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.
Laws and customs
- Possessing narcotics is strictly illegal.
- Same-sex relationships are illegal and still socially condemned. Avoid public displays of affection.
- Drones are in practice banned. Permits can be applied for but are very rarely granted.
Photography
Be discreet near government buildings such as the Palace of Forums in Tashkent, and sometimes at local markets that see few tourists. Restrictions have eased, but check before photographing near airports, border checkpoints, military sites, bridges and police stations.
Earthquakes
Uzbekistan is prone to earthquakes, mostly tremors, though stronger ones occasionally occur.
Entering Uzbekistan is straightforward when your documents are in order. Citizens of many countries can visit visa-free, and for many others a visa is easy to get without an invitation.
Registration
Registration rules are stricter than elsewhere in Central Asia: by law you must be registered within 3 days of arrival. Hotels usually do this for you, but register yourself if you stay longer than 3 days in, for example, a rented apartment. Border officers check the registrations when you leave and may ask for the paper slips, so keep them until you exit the country.
Customs
Exporting handcrafted items older than 50 years is prohibited. At land borders, customs officers may check your phone and photos for explicit or confidential material, though this has become very rare.
The best times to visit Uzbekistan are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), between the summer heat and the winter cold.
Summer
At the height of summer the land dries out, especially in the countryside, and temperatures rise well above 30°C, often up to 40°C.
Winter
From November to March it can get cold, sometimes below zero, but the skies are mostly clear and bright. Snow is occasional and usually melts within a day or two.
Medical services in Uzbekistan have improved in recent years but are still limited, so good travel insurance that includes evacuation is essential.
Food and water
To avoid traveller's diarrhoea, drink only bottled, filtered or boiled water, and do not use tap water for brushing your teeth or for ice. Choose meat and fish that are thoroughly cooked and served hot.
Medical care
Uzbekistan has a state healthcare system and a small private sector. Larger clinics serve the cities and regional hospitals the countryside. Hospitals usually ask for payment in cash up front, even if you are insured, and serious cases may need evacuation home. Contact your insurer straight away if you need urgent care, and check before you leave what your insurance covers in Uzbekistan.
Medicines
Pharmacies are private, and the range of medicines can be limited. Prescriptions generally require a doctor's consultation. If you travel with medication, check the rules with the embassy, a consulate or Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health.
Similar tours
More tours in Uzbekistan.
The Best of the Five Stan Tour
Embark on a 22-day journey through all five countries of Central Asia, beginning in Bishkek and ending in Ashgabat. In…
Four Stan Tour through Central Asia
Discover the legendary Silk Road on this 18-day small-group tour through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and…
Five Stans of Central Asia Tour
Start on an extraordinary adventure across the heart of Central Asia with our Five Stan Tour, exploring the unique…
Tour updated