How much does an Uzbekistan trip cost?

Our small group Uzbekistan tours start from around £2,595 per person for a 10-day trip, with longer multi-country Silk Road journeys from around £3,575. Prices include accommodation, transport, guides and most meals. International flights and visas (if required) are separate.

Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?

At the time of writing, British, US, Canadian and Australian citizens do not require a visa for tourist visits. Other nationalities should check with their nearest Uzbek embassy. We'll confirm current requirements when you book.

Is Uzbekistan safe for solo travellers?

Yes. Uzbekistan is one of the safest countries in Central Asia and particularly welcoming to solo travellers. Around 60% of our group tour travellers are solo, and our small group size (max 12) means you'll quickly feel at home.

What currency should I take?

The Uzbekistani Som (UZS) is the local currency. US dollars and euros can be exchanged easily in cities, and ATMs are widely available in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. Cards are accepted in larger hotels and restaurants.

How physically demanding are the tours?

Most Uzbekistan tours require a moderate level of fitness. Expect walking tours of old cities (typically 2 to 4 hours), some stairs in historic buildings, and occasional longer travel days. No technical experience is required.

UzbekistanFrom £1,7502 tours

Uzbekistan Tours & Holiday

The spiritual and architectural heart of the Silk Road, where Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva welcome travellers back after centuries of history.

Best timeApr–Jun & Sep–Nov
Time zoneUTC+5
CurrencyUZS
LanguageUzbek & Russian; English (tourist areas)
Travel styleCultural, historical & small group
TransportPrivate transport & high-speed trains
VisaVisa-free (UK/US/CA/AU)

Overview

An introduction to Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan sits at the heart of the ancient Silk Road, home to three of the most evocative cities in the world: Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. For centuries these were crossroads of trade, faith and knowledge, and the Islamic architecture they left behind still stops travellers in their tracks. Our small group tours and tailor-made journeys take you beyond the headline monuments into the bazaars, workshops and family-run home-stays where the Silk Road's living culture continues today.

With its restored madrasahs, sweeping deserts, and famously warm hospitality, Uzbekistan rewards travellers who prefer depth over speed and authentic encounters over polished tourism.

Explore

Uzbekistan

Our journeys

Tours in Uzbekistan

Small-group departures led by local experts, plus private tailor-made itineraries shaped around your interests, pace and dates.

Uzbekistan Embraced

This journey through Uzbekistan offers an enriching exploration of some of Central Asia’s most evocative Silk Road cities, combined with moments of genuine cultural connection in rural mountain communities. Beginning in the atmospheric mud walled streets of Khiva, you follow the ancient caravan routes to the holy city of Bukhara and on to majestic Samarkand, where shimmering blue domes and monumental Islamic architecture create one of the most memorable cityscapes in the region. Along the way you visit traditional markets, historic fortresses and intricately tiled mausoleums, and you spend a night in a family owned guest house in the Nuratau Mountains where village life unfolds at a gentle pace. The adventure concludes in the modern capital of Tashkent where leafy boulevards, impressive museums and elegant metro stations provide a final contrast to the country’s ancient heritage. This itinerary offers a balanced blend of history, culture and everyday life, creating a vivid and rewarding introduction to Uzbekistan. This itinerary offers a balanced blend of history, culture, and everyday life, creating a vivid and rewarding introduction to Uzbekistan, as part of the Uzbekistan small group tour

From

£1,750

Heart of the Silk Road

This tour concentrates the essence of Central Asia, visiting three now distinct states connected across the centuries by the Silk Road’s east west trading legacy. Important historic cities such as Tashkent, Dushanbe, and Ashgabat, join the fabled khanates of Bukhara and Khiva, and incredible archaeological sites such as Merv and Konye-Urgenche. The itinerary doesn’t aim to provide an in-depth exploration of Central Asia, but it does pack an incredible amount into a relatively short time, identifying a culturally rich and varied vein through neighbouring states that survived the wholesale homogenising of the Soviet period to emerge once again. If this is your first experience of Central Asia it won’t be your last.

From

£3,475

London to Uzbekistan Rail Adventure

An epic overland rail adventure, operated by our partner Adventures by Train.

From

£18,900

Istanbul to Shanghai Rail Adventure

An epic overland rail adventure, operated by our partner Adventures by Train.

From

£18,900

All tours

Why visit

What makes Uzbekistan worth the journey

A place apart

Unrivalled Silk Road Heritage

No other country on earth concentrates so much Silk Road history in such a compact route.

Safe and Welcoming

Uzbekistan is one of the safest and most hospitable countries in Central Asia, perfect for first-time and solo travellers.

Uncrowded by Mass Tourism

Even the headline sites remain refreshingly free of the crowds you'd expect elsewhere.

Solo-Friendly Small Groups

Around 60% of UD travellers are solo — our small group tours are designed with solo travellers in mind.

See itineraries

Next departure to Uzbekistan

Heart of the Silk Road

6 Sept 2026Guaranteed departurefrom £3,475 pp

View tour

Highlights

The highlights of Uzbekistan

Samarkand's Registan Square

Stand before one of the most iconic ensembles of Islamic architecture, where three tiled madrasahs rise above a historic public square.

Bukhara's Old Town

Wander the narrow lanes of a city with over two thousand years of history, where caravanserais, madrasahs and mosques sit almost unchanged.

Khiva's Ichan Kala

Step inside a fully walled Silk Road city, where minarets, fortress walls and palaces bring the era vividly to life.

Silk Road Bazaars

Hunt for ceramics, silk, suzani embroidery and spices in markets that have been trading for centuries.

Uzbek Plov & Home-Cooked Feasts

Share the national dish in a family home and discover why Uzbek cuisine is one of Central Asia's best kept secrets.

Yurt Stays in the Kyzylkum Desert

Sleep under a sky full of stars in a traditional yurt camp on the edge of Lake Aydarkul.

High-Speed Afrosiyob Trains

Travel between the great Silk Road cities on modern, comfortable trains that make the journey almost as enjoyable as the destination.

Local Artisan Workshops

Meet ceramicists, paper makers and silk weavers continuing craft traditions that defined the region's golden age.

Uzbekistan rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.

From the field

When to go

Picking the right season for your trip

April to June and September to November are the best times to visit, with warm days and cool evenings. Summer is hot, and winter brings crisp days and occasional snow in Samarkand and Bukhara.

Live weather

Uzbekistan

Looking to travel outside the typical windows? Our Uzbekistan tailor-made team can advise on the best time for you.

From the journal

Stories from the region

Dispatches, field notes and practical advice from our specialists.

All Uzbekistan stories

Asia & Pacific

Best Time to Visit Uzbekistan: A Season-by-Season Guide

From Navruz festivals in spring to snow-dusted Silk Road cities in winter, timing your Uzbekistan trip makes all the difference. This seasonal guide helps you choose the perfect time to visit — whether you're after perfect weather, fewer crowds, or unique cultural events.

Jim Louth·27 May 2025

Asia & Pacific

Uzbekistan Travel Guide: Transport, Visas, Safety, and Tips

Planning a trip to Uzbekistan? Most nationalities can enter on an e-visa, the Afrosiyob high-speed train connects Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva in comfort, and the Uzbek Som is the local currency, with cards widely accepted in cities. Uzbekistan is generally safe for tourists, and the classic route takes 9–10 days to see the Silk Road's best-preserved cities. This guide covers everything you need: transport, visas, safety, and practical tips for getting around.

Jim Louth·27 Mar 2025

Asia & Pacific

Chasing Waterfalls in Laos: A Guide to the Country's Most Spectacular Falls

From the famous turquoise pools of Kuang Si to the thundering rapids of Khone Phapheng, Laos hides a waterfall trail unlike anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Here's where to find the best of them, from busy favourites to the quiet spots most travellers never see.

Jim Louth·6 Aug 2026

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.

“Umid gave us a real insight into life and the history of Uzbekistan over and beyond what we might have expected. Took us to a couple of his favourite restaurants to experience local life and food.”

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Judith Hoyle, UK

“Umid Djuraev was very knowledgeable, patient, caring and wanted us to enjoy our experience in Uzbekistan. My group and I certainly did!”

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Olwen Kemp, UK

“I thought the whole trip was brilliantly organised and thoroughly enjoyable.”

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Richard Noble, UK

“An excellent trip from start to finish. We saw a great deal, had sufficient free time to explore on our own, had an excellent guide and very good accommodation. ”

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Helen Cava, UK

“it was a brilliant experience.”

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John Gregory, UK

“Guiding was very good as usual. Good, well located hotels Accommodation was excellent and well located.”

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Veronica Hinchliffe, UK

“Jason was very helpful and the booking process was quick and easy. UD offers itineraries that many competitors do not. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips I've taken with them. While they may not suit everyone, I have happily recommended the Senegal tour to fellow travellers.”

Read full review

Bernice Hird, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

“Excellent customer service, reliable itineraries and ability to solve local issues when they arise”

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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

“I like the small size of groups, the range of destinations and excellent itineraries. This is my third holiday with your company and I have found your itineraries really good.”

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Traveller from the UK

“Excellent company to book with. Complex tour mostly delivered as per itinerary with professional and pleasant local representatives. ”

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Adam Choonara, UK

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Uzbekistan journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip

Gallery

Scenes from Uzbekistan

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Tailor-made journeys

Didn’t find your
perfect Uzbekistan trip?

We’ll build one around you.

Prefer to travel at your own pace? Our tailor-made Uzbekistan holidays let you design a journey around your own interests and schedule. Spend longer in Bukhara's old town, add a yurt stay in the desert, or combine Uzbekistan with Tajikistan's Pamir Highway for a true Silk Road odyssey. Every tailor-made trip includes private transport, a dedicated local guide, and flexible accommodation options from comfortable heritage hotels to luxury desert camps.

Your dates

Travel when it suits you

Private group

Just you, family or friends

Your pace

Linger longer, skip the rest

Bespoke extras

Private guides, rare access

Start planning your trip Speak to a specialist

Typical reply within 3 working days · No obligation · Trusted by travellers since 2004

How it works

1Tell us what you have in mind
2We build an itinerary + quote
3Refine until it feels right

Est. 2004

20+ years of
bespoke travel

Questions, answered

Planning a trip to Uzbekistan?

Our small group Uzbekistan tours start from around £2,595 per person for a 10-day trip, with longer multi-country Silk Road journeys from around £3,575. Prices include accommodation, transport, guides and most meals. International flights and visas (if required) are separate.

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

Before booking, please familiarise yourself with the UK FCDO country advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. At present there are no warnings against travel to the parts of Uzbekistan we visit. Other nationalities should check with their respective government.