The Silk Road
The Silk Road
The Silk Road
11 Days Starting and ending in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Visiting: Tashkent, Urgench, Ayaz Kala, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand
Tour operator:
Tour code:
UZ
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 50
Age range:
9-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$3724 (USD) including Flights from the UKTourhub Members Discount - Sign In
Tour Overview
The fabled Silk Road from China to Europe was, in reality, always a number of differing and competing routes, but the most successful of them passed through present-day Uzbekistan. In particular, the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. The region was well known in ancient times as the land of the Scythians, conquered back in 329BC by Alexander the Great.Â
Genghis Khan and his Mongol hordes passed through in the 12th-century, followed by Tamerlane, known locally as Amir Timur, a century or so later. Timur initiated a vast building programme and 'invited' the greatest artisans in his empire to help create the extraordinary monuments you will explore on our tour. In the nineteenth century, the British in India vied with Imperial Russia to control the area in the so-called 'Great Game'. After some unsuccessful diplomatic manoeuvres and military defeats in neighbouring Afghanistan, the British lost out to the Russians who finally gained full control after the 1917 revolution. Uzbekistan remained part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in the 1990s. For modern, independent Uzbekistan, Timur has now become the national hero and his colossal statue has supplanted Karl Marx in the main square of the city. The many years within the USSR nevertheless created good infrastructure and a secular society, proud of its ancient past.Â
As well as its rich history and culture, Uzbekistan has much to offer to those who appreciate art and architecture too. Striking ceramic tiles can be found scattered around the cities, with many of the ornate mosaics decorating the incredible monuments. The region is also famed for its intricate wood carving, found not only on the buildings but also in the local handicrafts of the area. The bustling bazaars are a hive for impressive hand-made ornaments, an abundance of authentic street food and ingredients and a variety of carpets, particularly well-known for their colourful, hand embroidered textiles. Look out for the famous chugirmas too, distinctive, furry handmade hats, made historically from sheepskin.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Departure
Location: Tashkent
You should arrive at the airport for your overnight direct flight to Uzbekistan.
Day 2 : Arrival In Tashkent
Location: Tashkent
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* superior Lotte City Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast
After our morning arrival to Tashkent, we drop our luggage at our hotel, the excellent four-star superior Lotte City Palace, and have a spot of breakfast. We continue with our first taste of Uzbekistan with a stop at the Amir Temur Square, overlooked by one of the most iconic buildings of the Soviet era, the Uzbekistan Hotel. Tashkent was hit by a devastating earthquake in the 1960s, so most of the city was rebuilt with more ‘modern’ blocks of apartments and wide, tree-lined avenues, and there’s only a small area left of the old city, which we visit.
In the afternoon we’ll have a guided walk through the Chorsu bazaar, the largest in the country – a perfect introduction to the foods, smells and exotic produce of Uzbekistan.
Signature Expereince:
Scratch Tashkent’s surface and discover the hidden secrets below ground; the oldest underground system in Central Asia, you’ll be taken on a fascinating journey with a local expert to discover some of its most magnificent architectural treasures. You’ll be wowed by a creative blend of iconic 1960’s styles imaginatively blended with beautiful mosaics, stunning ceramic murals, vaulted Mosque-like high ceilings and shimmering panels as you travel between the most exceptional stations.
Day 3 : Fly To Urgench & Ayaz Qala Desert Fortress
Location: Urgench, Ayaz Kala
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Malika hotels
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we catch the short flight to the city of Urgench in the far west of the country. On arrival we drive out to the vast plains of the Khorezm desert. This will give us a glimpse into the seemingly never-ending distances and inhospitable country that Silk Road caravans had to cross. The Ayaz Qala is just one of a series of castles that were built to protect these trade routes until they were destroyed by the Mongol invasions of the 12th-century.
We stay two nights in the centrally-located three-star Asia or Malika hotels, with breakfast.
Signature Expereince:
Immerse yourself in two millennia of history as you stroll amongst the atmospheric ruins, palaces, mausoleums and madrasas of Khiva’s ancient walled town, Itchan Kala. An oasis where once caravans rested on their desert trail to Iran, soak up the ambience as you imagine what a vibrant and exciting place this once was; admire its incredible Djuma Mosque and mighty walls, some towering ten metres above!
Day 4 : Khiva & Free Afternoon
Location: Khiva
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Hotel Asia
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we explore the amazing living museum that is the UNESCO World Heritage city of Khiva. Fully enclosed by its spectacularly buttressed mud-brick walls, this is the best-preserved of the country’s Silk Road cities, and as soon as you pass through its fortified gates, you’ll really start to understand what it must have been like in its heyday. Surprisingly compact, all the incredible sights are conveniently close together and, since no cars are allowed, it’s the perfect place to walk around. Amongst many of the highlights visited, we’ll see the Khan’s palace, the Tosh-Hovli Palace, and harem, the great, beautifully tiled Kalta minaret, which would have been the highest in the country, had it been completed. Close by is the current holder of that title, the Islam Hodja minaret, which is an incredible 56m tall. Khiva was also infamous for its slave market – many slaves were from Persia but surprisingly from Russia as well. Astoundingly, the trade was only officially abolished after the Russian Revolution of 1917, when the Bolsheviks finally gained full control over the region.Â
This afternoon is free to explore at your leisure. Perhaps take a walk around the historic city walls of the old town, Ichon Qala, which date back to the 18th-century. Some of the impressively high mud stone walls, with over a mile of preserved wall nearby the North Gate, where you can take in some memorable views. For a small entry fee, you can access the viewing platform, best visited in the evening for unbelievable sunsets.
Day 5 : Drive To Bukhara
Location: Bukhara
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Superior Hotel Shahriston or 3* superior Omar Khayam
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we have a long drive to the city of Bukhara, a spiritual city with ancient architecture and a grand royal fortress. On the way we’ll cross the fabled River Oxus, which was also crossed by Alexander the Great and his army over 2,000 years ago. On arrival in Bukhara we’ll check into our hotel for three nights with breakfast, the three-star superior Shakristan or Omar Khayam in the old city. One of the first places we’ll see is the Lyab-i Khauz complex, with some of the finest 16th-century buildings in the city constructed around a water reservoir. It’s now surrounded by popular open-air tea houses.Â
Day 6 : Bukhara
Location: Bukhara
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Superior Hotel Shahriston or 3* superior Omar Khayam
Meals Included: Breakfast
Larger in scale than Khiva, Bukhara was a richer city and it still shows, with hundreds of fascinating monuments. We’ll have two full days to explore it in depth, with plenty of free time on your own as well. Bukhara was also one of the cities involved in the ‘Great Game’ and is the place where two unfortunate British officers, Stoddart and Connelly, were imprisoned and ultimately executed by the local Emir. We’ll visit the Arc fortress, the Emir’s palace, set high above the city walls, as well as the prison where the officers were held. The most prominent landmark in the city is the Kalyan minaret, with its intricate decorative brickwork, rising 47 metres into the sky, it would have been the tallest building in Central Asia when it was completed in the 12th-century.
Signature Expereince:
Before tonight’s dinner we will be treated to a vibrant performance honouring Uzbek tradition. Enjoy traditional songs and dancing, and a rainbow of colourful costumes showcasing Uzbekistan’s musical and artistic heritage.
Day 7 : Bukhara
Location: Bukhara
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* Superior Hotel Shahriston or 3* superior Omar Khayam
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we’ll visit the old summer palace of the last Emir, just outside town, which was built in the early 20th-century. It’s an intriguing mix of Russian imperial design and local craftsmanship, and now houses many fascinating artefacts from that time. The Emir’s harem was said to have contained 400 wives and concubines and he even had his own personal zoo, with a pet elephant! This afternoon, you’ll have time to browse in the many local dome-roofed bazaars. Look out for the market bakers making traditional bread from scratch, traditionally eaten warm and fresh with kaymak, more familiar to us as clotted cream.
Day 8 : Drive To Samarkand
Location: Samarkand
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* superior Dilimah Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We say goodbye to Bhukara and set off on the road to the greatest of all the central Asian cities, Samarkand. On the way there, we’ll stop by the little village of Gijduvan, famed for its master potters. We’ll visit a family who have perfected their craft over seven generations, still producing superb pieces on traditional foot-powered potters’ wheels and mud-brick kilns. We stay two nights in Samarkand, at the charming three-star superior Grand Samarkand or Dilimah hotels, with breakfast.
Day 9 : Samarkand
Location: Samarkand
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3* superior Dilimah Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Samarkand’s extraordinary Registan Square is the crowning jewel of Islamic architecture in Central Asia. Just the sheer scale of the place is staggering! As the capital of Tamerlane’s empire, it benefitted from a huge building programme, supported by the very best artisans from his numerous conquests. You won’t miss the 14th-century mausoleums of Samarkand either, which are said to have inspired the Taj Mahal. The Gur-e-Amir in particular is a sight to behold, with its striking turquoise dome and beautiful floral-patterned tiles. Fittingly, Tamerlane himself was interred here, and we will visit his mausoleum which is still impressive after all these years.
Day 10 : Tashkent
Location: Tashkent
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* superior Lotte City Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we head slightly out of town to visit the small community of Koni Ghil where the ancient craft of producing paper from mulberry tree bark has been revived. We’ll also stop at the Afrosiyob museum which contains a remarkable series ancient frescoes discovered nearby. In the afternoon we transfer to the railway station to catch the fast train back to Tashkent and our final night back at the Lotte City Palace Hotel, with breakfast.
Day 11 : Arrive Home
Location: Tashkent
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today after breakfast we depart for home, arriving later the same day.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Nine nights in three and four-star accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Fully Guided
The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout
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International Travel
Return direct flights
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Meals
Daily breakfast, Daily breakfast
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Overseas transfers
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Local accommodation taxes
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Touring and coach travel as mentioned in the itinerary
What's Not Included
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Insurance
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Tipping and Gratuity
Check out our Q&As
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
We are unable to accommodate children under 9 years old at the date of departure..
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Are flights included in this tour?
Return direct flights
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For almost 40 years
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I have reduced mobility; can I still travel?
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to contact us to discuss these concerns
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Do I require travel insurance?
It is a condition of booking that you carry suitable travel insurance.
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What is my luggage allowance?
You will receive details of your luggage allowance with your final travel documents, which are sent approximately 10 days prior to your date of departure.
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Dates & Availability
Tuesday - Friday
Sep 03, 2024 - Sep 13, 2024Tuesday - Friday
Oct 29, 2024 - Nov 08, 2024Tuesday - Friday
Feb 18, 2025 - Feb 28, 2025Tuesday - Friday
Apr 22, 2025 - May 02, 2025Tuesday - Friday
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Sep 16, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025Tuesday - Friday
Oct 14, 2025 - Oct 24, 2025Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Riviera Travel requires a minimum deposit of 500 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of riviera travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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