Uzbekistan Group Tour – Tamerlane’s Empire
Accommodation, guides, transport, 2 train journeys included.
Uzbekistan Group Tour – Tamerlane’s Empire Highlights
Discover the heart of Tamerlane’s empire on this 6-day Uzbekistan group tour from Tashkent to Samarkand and Bukhara. You start in Tashkent, the capital, at the Khast-Imam complex, the colourful Chorsu Bazaar, Independence and Amir Temur squares and the ornate stations of the Tashkent Metro, before an evening train takes you to Samarkand. There you see the Registan with its three grand madrasahs, the Gur-e Amir mausoleum where Tamerlane and his dynasty rest, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the blue-tiled Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and the Ulugbek Observatory.
A drive across the Kyzylkum plains brings you to Bukhara, where two days lead from the Poi Kalyan complex and the Lyabi-Hauz square to the Samanid Mausoleum, the Ark fortress, Sitorai Mohi Khosa, the summer palace of the last emir, and the Bahauddin Naqshband shrine. In the evening a family welcomes you to a traditional Uzbek home for a plov master class and a homemade dinner of Uzbekistan’s best-loved dish, and a high-speed train takes you back to Tashkent the next day. The optional 7-day version adds Khiva and its walled inner town Ichan-Kala, with a flight back to Tashkent. 3* hotels with breakfast, English-speaking local guides, entrance fees and the train tickets are included.
Difficulty: Easy Guided city walks on mostly flat ground with long sightseeing days, a 280 km drive from Samarkand to Bukhara, two train journeys and no altitude. The Khiva extension adds a 460 km drive across the Kyzylkum Desert and a domestic flight. In summer it is often well above 30 °C and can reach 40 °C.
Tour Itinerary
This morning we arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital. After settling in at the hotel (early check-in is included) and breakfast, we meet our guide. Today we discover Uzbekistan’s bustling capital, where old and new meet in surprising harmony. We visit the spiritual heart of the city – the Khast-Imam complex, home to ancient madrasahs and mausoleums – and wander through the colourful Chorsu Bazaar, alive with the aromas of spices, fresh produce and handicrafts. After lunch we explore Independence Square and Amir Temur Square, wide spaces framed by impressive architecture. One highlight not to miss is the Tashkent Metro, famous for its ornate stations that feel like an underground art gallery. In the evening we take a comfortable train to Samarkand, the crown jewel of the Silk Road. On arrival we head straight to the hotel to rest and get ready for tomorrow’s discoveries. Overnight in Samarkand.
Tashkent, Hazrati Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent Independence Square, Amir Temur Square, Tashkent metro
- Tashkent → Samarkand (344 km)
Overnight: Samarkand (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast we set off to discover the treasures of Samarkand, one of the most dazzling cities of the Silk Road. Our tour begins at the iconic Registan Square, framed by three grand madrasahs – Ulugbek, Sher-Dor and Tilla-Qori – each a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. We continue to the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, the resting place of Tamerlane and his dynasty, with its turquoise dome and richly decorated interiors. After lunch we visit the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, once one of the largest in the Islamic world, and wander through the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, where vibrant blue-tiled mausoleums line a narrow medieval street. The day ends at the Ulugbek Observatory, where the great astronomer charted the stars centuries ago. Overnight in Samarkand.
Registan, Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Mausoleum, Shah i Zinda, Ulugbek Observatory
Overnight: Samarkand (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast we depart for Bukhara, one of the most atmospheric cities along the Silk Road. The journey of 280 km takes us across the Kyzylkum plains – once the route of ancient caravans linking oasis to oasis. On arrival we step into the old town, where centuries of history seem to linger in every brick and dome. We begin our exploration with the majestic Poi Kalyan complex, whose elegant minaret once guided weary travellers by torchlight. Nearby we visit the Miri-Arab Madrasah, the Magoki-Attori Mosque and the Ulugbek Madrasah, each telling its own story of faith and learning. The day concludes at the tranquil Lyabi-Hauz square, where mulberry trees shade the reflecting pool and local life unfolds around us. In the evening we check in to our hotel and rest. Overnight in Bukhara.
Poi Kalyan, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Ulugbeg Madrasah Bukhara, Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble
- Samarkand → Bukhara (280 km)
Overnight: Bukhara (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we continue our discovery of Bukhara, one of the most atmospheric cities on the Silk Road. We start with the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, a masterpiece of early Islamic architecture, and the Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, associated with the legend of the Prophet Job. Then we wander through the bustling local bazaar before visiting the elegant Bolo-Hauz Mosque and the mighty Ark citadel with its old Zindan prison – echoes of the city’s rich and sometimes dramatic past. In the afternoon we head beyond the city to explore the Sitorai Mohi Khosa Palace, once the lavish summer residence of the last emir, and the Mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshband, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Central Asia. As evening falls, we are welcomed into a traditional Uzbek home for a heartwarming culinary experience. Together with our hosts we take part in a plov master class, learning how to prepare Uzbekistan’s most beloved dish step by step, before sharing a delicious homemade dinner filled with laughter, aromas and stories of local life. Overnight in Bukhara.
Samanids Mausoleum, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo Hauz Complex, Ark of Bukhara, Sitori-i Mokhi Khosa palace, Bakhauddin Naqshband Mausoleum
- Bukhara → Sitori-i Mokhi Khosa palace (6 km)
- Sitori-i Mokhi Khosa palace → Bakhauddin Naqshband Mausoleum (11 km)
- Bakhauddin Naqshband Mausoleum → Bukhara (14 km)
Overnight: Bukhara (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a leisurely morning in Bukhara, soaking up the timeless atmosphere of this ancient Silk Road city. After check-out, take a relaxed walk with your guide through the old streets – a perfect chance to capture your last glimpses of Bukhara’s domes, bazaars and warm local spirit. In the afternoon we transfer to the railway station for a comfortable high-speed train journey to Tashkent, the vibrant capital of Uzbekistan. On arrival, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel for check-in and a rest after the trip. Overnight in Tashkent.
Bukhara
- Bukhara → Tashkent (600 km)
Overnight: Tashkent (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out before 12:00. Transfer to the international airport for your onward flight, carrying with you warm memories and vivid impressions of your unforgettable journey through Uzbekistan.
Meals: Breakfast
With the Khiva extension the tour lasts 7 days: 1045 USD per person sharing a twin room, single supplement 175 USD, including the economy-class flight Urgench – Tashkent. Days 1–4 are the same as above; the following three days replace days 5 and 6. Day 5 | Bukhara – Khiva by road, 460 km After breakfast we set off on a long but scenic journey across the Kyzylkum Desert and along the mighty Amu Darya river. This vast landscape of golden sands and rippling dunes gives a real sense of the Silk Road’s endurance. We stop for lunch on the way and continue to Khiva, a perfectly preserved medieval city that feels like an open-air museum. On arrival there is time to wander its narrow streets, visit traditional workshops and browse local souvenir shops. Overnight in Khiva. Day 6 | Khiva – Urgench by road (30 km), evening flight to Tashkent After breakfast we explore Ichan-Kala, the walled inner city of Khiva and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its mudbrick walls, minarets and madrasahs make it one of the most atmospheric cities in Central Asia. Highlights include the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, the Kunya-Ark fortress and the tall Islam Khodja Minaret. After lunch we visit the ornate Tash Khauli Palace, the Juma Mosque with its 200 carved wooden columns, the Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah and the Avesta Museum. In the evening we transfer to Urgench for the flight to Tashkent. On arrival, transfer to the hotel, check-in and rest. Overnight in Tashkent. Day 7 | Departure from Tashkent Early morning transfer to the airport for your international flight. Depending on the flight time, breakfast or a lunch box is provided.
Khiva, Pakhlavan Makhmoud Mausoleum, Kunya-ark fortress, Islam Khoja Minaret, Tach Khaouli Palace, Juma mosque, Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah
- Bukhara → Khiva (460 km)
- Khiva → Urgench (30 km)
- Urgench → Tashkent (720 km)
Overnight: Khiva (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast
Download the itinerary
Tour Price
Group Tour Price
Single room supplement: $150
Private Tour Price
| Price per person Group Size | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveler | $1,867 | $2,217 |
| 2–3 travelers | $1,099 | $1,349 |
| 4–5 travelers | $854 | $1,106 |
| 6–7 travelers | $803 | $1,060 |
| 8–9 travelers | $789 | $1,043 |
| 10–11 travelers | $779 | $1,033 |
Single room supplement — ★★★ $135, ★★★★ $225
Group Tour Price
Single room supplement: $175
Private Tour Price
| Price per person Group Size | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveler | $2,270 | $2,677 |
| 2–3 travelers | $1,367 | $1,655 |
| 4–5 travelers | $1,074 | $1,369 |
| 6–7 travelers | $1,015 | $1,310 |
| 8–9 travelers | $1,019 | $1,300 |
| 10–11 travelers | $1,001 | $1,285 |
Single room supplement — ★★★ $160, ★★★★ $260
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What's included
Included
- Accommodation in 3* hotels (Reikartz Xon Tashkent Hotel in Tashkent, Arba Hotel in Samarkand, Devon Hotel in Bukhara and, on the Khiva extension, Arkanchi Hotel in Khiva) or similar hotels of the same category, in double/twin rooms with breakfast
- Early check-in at the hotel in Tashkent on day 1 (check-in at the other hotels from 14:00, check-out by 12:00)
- Meals: daily breakfast and the homemade dinner with a plov master class in a traditional Uzbek home in Bukhara (day 4)
- Entrance fees to the monuments and museums in the itinerary
- English-speaking local guides for sightseeing
- Comfortable air-conditioned transportation throughout the tour, including airport – hotel – airport transfers
- Train tickets in economy class: Tashkent – Samarkand, and Bukhara – Tashkent on the 6-day tour (high-speed train tickets are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed in advance)
- Khiva extension: economy-class flight Urgench – Tashkent
- Bottled mineral water every day
Not included
- International flights
- Meals not mentioned above
- Single supplement: 150 USD (6 days) / 175 USD (7 days with Khiva extension)
- Medical expenses and travel insurance
- Porterage at hotels, railway stations and airports
- Tips for guides and drivers
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Good to know
- Arrival: The tour starts in the morning of day 1 in Tashkent; early check-in at the hotel is included, so you can rest and have breakfast before the city tour.
- Hotel times: At the other hotels check-in is from 14:00 and check-out by 12:00.
- Trains: Tashkent – Samarkand and Bukhara – Tashkent in economy class. High-speed train tickets are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed in advance.
- Khiva extension: On the 7-day version day 5 is a 460 km drive from Bukhara to Khiva across the Kyzylkum Desert, and day 6 ends with an evening flight from Urgench to Tashkent.
- Vehicles: Hyundai Starex minivan for 4 travelers, King Long minivan or similar for 6–8 travelers and a Eurise minivan or similar for 9–15 travelers.
- Private tour: The same itinerary is available as a private tour on your own dates, priced by group size with 3★ or 4★ hotels.
- Changes: The order of visits may occasionally change because of the weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
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.
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