12-Day Uzbekistan Tour: Silk Road Cities & Aral Sea Heritage

• Welcome to Uzbekistan. Upon arrival at Tashkent International Airport, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
• The remainder of the day is free to rest after your flight or begin exploring the city independently. Your scheduled journey begins the following morning.
• Overnight in Tashkent.

• Transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Nukus, the starting point for exploring Karakalpakstan.
• From Nukus, travel by road to Muynak, a former fishing town closely associated with the history of the Aral Sea. Along the way, stop at the Mizdakhan archaeological complex before continuing towards Muynak.
• Visit the ship cemetery, where abandoned vessels stand on land once covered by water. Continue to the local museum to learn about the region’s fishing heritage and the changes that transformed life around the Aral Sea.
• Return to Nukus in the afternoon.
• Overnight in Nukus.

• Begin the day with a visit to the Savitsky Museum, known for its collections of Russian avant-garde art and Karakalpak cultural heritage. Explore the exhibitions before taking a short orientation tour of central Nukus, including the area around the Berdakh monument and the city’s civic buildings.
• Continue by road towards Khiva, with stops at the ancient sites of Chilpik and Toprak Kala. These visits introduce the historical landscapes of Khorezm, from a distinctive hilltop funerary monument to the remains of an ancient fortified settlement.
• Arrive in Khiva and check in to your hotel.
• Overnight in Khiva.

• Spend the day discovering Ichan Kala, Khiva’s historic inner city. Its compact streets bring together mosques, madrasahs, palaces and minarets within the old city walls.
• The sightseeing programme includes Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark, Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasah, Juma Mosque, Tash Khovli Palace, the Pakhlavan Mahmud complex and the Islam Khoja complex.
• As you walk between the monuments, enjoy the architectural details and atmosphere of Khiva’s old town. After the scheduled sightseeing, enjoy free time to revisit your favourite streets or relax.
• Overnight in Khiva.

• Leave Khiva in the morning for the overland journey to Bukhara. The route crosses the Kyzylkum Desert, connecting two of Uzbekistan’s most distinctive historic cities.
• This is primarily a transfer day, offering a change of scenery from Khiva’s enclosed old town to the open landscapes of western Uzbekistan. Rest stops will be made along the way.
• Arrive in Bukhara, check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
• Overnight in Bukhara.

• Discover Bukhara on a guided tour of its historic centre, where religious monuments, trading domes and traditional neighbourhoods form a closely connected urban landscape.
• Visit the Poi Kalyan ensemble, including the Kalyan Minaret and Mosque, and view the Miri Arab Madrasah. Continue to the Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan madrasahs, the historic trading domes, Magoki Attori Mosque and the Lyabi Hauz ensemble.
• The programme also includes the Ark Fortress, Bolo Hauz Mosque, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub and Chor Minor.
• Return to your hotel after sightseeing, with the evening free to enjoy Bukhara at your own pace.
• Overnight in Bukhara.

• Explore several important sites outside Bukhara’s historic centre.
• Begin at Sitorai Mokhi Khosa, the former summer residence of the Emir of Bukhara, where the palace interiors and grounds offer a different architectural setting from the old town. Continue to the Bahauddin Naqshbandi memorial complex and the Chor Bakr necropolis.
• Later, transfer to the railway station for your journey to Samarkand. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you and take you to your hotel.
• Overnight in Samarkand.

• Meet your local guide and driver for a day exploring Samarkand’s best-known sights.
• Visit Registan Square and admire the three monumental madrasahs surrounding it. Continue to Gur Emir, the mausoleum associated with Amir Temur, and explore the tiled passageways of the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis.
• The programme also includes the Ulugbek Observatory and Siab Bazaar, where you can experience the everyday atmosphere of one of the city’s traditional markets.
• Return to your hotel after the sightseeing programme.
• Overnight in Samarkand.

• Continue discovering Samarkand with visits to the Tomb of Saint Daniel and the Afrasiab Museum, which introduces the history of the city’s ancient settlement.
• Travel to Konigil village to learn about traditional Samarkand paper making. See how mulberry bark is used to produce handmade paper and discover the stages of this local craft.
• After the scheduled visits, enjoy free time. Your driver and vehicle will be available for the remaining agreed programme.
• Overnight in Samarkand.

• Depart Samarkand for a day trip to Shahrisabz, a city closely connected with the history of Amir Temur.
• Explore the surviving remains of Ak Saray Palace before visiting the Dorus Saodat complex, including the Jahangir Mausoleum. Continue to the Dorut Tilavat ensemble, where the Kok Gumbaz Mosque and associated mausoleums form another important part of the city’s historical heritage.
• Return to Samarkand in the afternoon.
• Overnight in Samarkand.

• Transfer to the railway station for your morning journey to Tashkent. Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel.
• Explore the capital with visits to the Khast Imam complex and Chorsu Bazaar. Experience the Tashkent Metro before continuing to central landmarks such as Independence Square and Amir Temur Square.
• Visit the Museum of Applied Arts to discover examples of Uzbekistan’s decorative craftsmanship. After the scheduled sightseeing, enjoy the remaining time at leisure.
• Overnight in Tashkent.

Check out of your hotel by 12:00. Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy free time before your airport transfer.

Your driver will take you to Tashkent International Airport for your departure, bringing your 12-day Uzbekistan journey to an end.