Uzbekistan: Heart of the Silk Route

After taking your included VIP door-to-door travel service to the airport, fly overnight to Tashkent.

Arrive in Tashkent early this morning, and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Stay overnight at the 4-star Wyndham Hotel Tashkent (3Q) or similar. The hotel combines Soviet Union-era and Central Asian design, and facilities include a restaurant, cafe, bar, health club with outdoor and indoor pools, fitness area, tennis court and free Wi-Fi. All the spacious rooms have a satellite television, telephone, hairdryer, safety deposit box, minibar, and tea and coffee-making facilities. B, D

Take an early breakfast before your flight to Urgench, followed by a short drive to Khiva (18 miles, 50 minutes). Today's included morning walking tour will reveal Khiva's inner fortress, Itchan Kala, an architectural treasure trove of carefully restored mud-walled monuments. Highlights include the Ismail Khodja Mausoleum, the 16th-century Kunya-Ark Castle and 19th-century Muhammed Amin Khan Madrassah.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and dinner with a folk show at the 19th-century Kibla Tozabog, the summer residence of the Khiva Khans, or at an alternative venue between November and March.

Stay overnight at the 4-star Asia Khiva (3Q) or similar. The 127-room, modern hotel is located just outside the city walls. It has a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and a pool bar. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby. All the simply furnished rooms have air conditioning, cable television, a telephone, hairdryer and mini fridge. B, L, D

A long day's journey will take you across the Kyzyl-Kum or Red Desert, a route that once took camel caravans laden down with silk, spices and other exotic goods a month to make (285 miles, seven hours).

You'll pause en route for lunch at a cafe continuing to Bukhara, where you stay three nights at the 4-star Asia Bukhara (3Q) or similar. The hotel is a centrally located and traditionally-styled with a restaurant and lobby bar, outdoor swimming pool, and beauty salon. All 95 rooms have air conditioning, cable television, a telephone, hairdryer and mini fridge. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby. B, L, D

A centre of trade and education for more than 2,000 years, Bukhara is the best example of a medieval city in Central Asia. Seek out its key sights on an included three-quarter day walking tour of its old town, including the 10th-century Samanids Mausoleum, followed by a visit to an embroidery workshop and master class.

Later this afternoon, perhaps visit the 15th to 16th-century domed bazaars where merchants still ply their trade. Look forward to an included dinner at a local guest house, with a class on Bukharian cuisine. B, D

Journey beyond the heart of the city today to the magnificent 16th to 19th-century Naqshbandi Mausoleum, built for the founder of the Naqshbandi Sufi order, on an included morning tour. Beautiful blue-glazed tiles adorn the facade of this domed, multi-arched masterpiece.

Also visit the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, Sitorai-Mokhi-Hossa, a reminder of Uzbekistan's era of Russian rule.

This evening, stroll through the atmospheric streets of Bukhara to a local restaurant for an included dinner and a folk and fashion show. B, D

After breakfast, relax on a morning coach journey to Samarkand (161 miles, four hours), where you stay two nights at the 4-star Grand Samarkand (4Q) or similar. Located in the modern city centre, facilities at this hotel include a restaurant and traditional-style tea room – known as a chay-hona. Wi-Fi is available in the lobby. All 39 air-conditioned rooms have a satellite television, telephone, hairdryer and mini fridge.

This afternoon, join an included visit to the Afrosiyab Museum before dinner at a local restaurant. B, D

Admire the colourful mosaics, blue domes and lofty arches of Registan Square on today's included tour. This grand plaza is bordered on three sides by a group of splendid structures spanning the 14th to 16th centuries, built by the Timurid dynasty. Afterwards enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. B, D

This morning, travel through the Tahta-karacha Pass to Shakhrisabz to discover 14th to 15th-century Timurid mosques, mausoleums and the ruined gateway of Ak-Saray Palace. Enjoy a taste of local cuisine during an included lunch at a guest house before returning to Samarkand for the two-hour Afrosiab high-speed train journey to Tashkent (two hours).

Stay two nights at the 4-star Wyndham Hotel Tashkent (3Q) or similar. The hotel combines Soviet Union-era and Central Asian design, and facilities include a restaurant, cafe, bar, health club with outdoor and indoor pools, fitness area, tennis court and free Wi-Fi. All the spacious rooms have a satellite television, telephone, hairdryer, safety deposit box, minibar, and tea and coffee-making facilities. B, L, D

Explore modern Tashkent on an included sightseeing tour, and visit the Museum of History, the Museum of Applied Art and the Khast-Imam complex. This evening, perhaps enjoy an optional tour of the opera and ballet theatre before your farewell dinner at a local restaurant. B, D

Enjoy the morning at leisure before your return flight to the UK and your included UK door-to-door travel service home. B