An 11-day Silk Road journey from Khiva's mud-brick inner city through Bukhara, a Nuratau mountain village, and Samarkand's tilework to Tashkent.
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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
Uzbekistan Embraced
Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.
The highlights
Khiva's UNESCO-listed Ichan Kala inner town is explored over a full day, taking in the Friday Mosque with its 218 wooden pillars and the Islam Khoja Minaret whose stripes rise to 60 metres. Kunya Ark, the fortress residence of Khiva's rulers from the 12th century, and the Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum with its courtyard and tilework are also visited. The day rounds off with a bazaar and a caravanserai.
Kunya Ark, or Old Fortress, was the residence of the rulers of Khiva from the 12th century and forms part of the Ichan Kala visit. The Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum nearby is described as one of the most beautiful spots on the tour, with a lovely courtyard and stately tilework.
Two full days are spent in Bukhara's superbly preserved old quarter, visiting Ark Castle, Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Kalon Mosque, Labihauz and Bola Houz Complexes, and Toki-Zargaron, the city's largest trading dome. A second day adds Sitorai Mokhi Hosa — the summer residence of the last emir — Chor Bakr Necropolis, and the Nakshbandi Memorial Complex. The afternoons allow free exploration of the narrow streets of the old town.
Leaving Bukhara, the route passes through Nurata — known for its embroidered Suzuni textiles and the Holy Chasma — before arriving at the small village of Yangikishlak for an overnight stay in a family-owned guest house. Activities include village walks, a hike to the Nuratau eco reservoir, a dinner cooking class with the host family, and a shared meal, offering direct insight into rural mountain life.
Samarkand's Registan Square is described as containing perhaps the most stunning and well-preserved architecture in the entire region, with mosques and medressas elaborately decorated in blue tiles and traditional Islamic art. The Tomb of the Emir — the burial place of Timur and members of his family — and the large Bibi Khanym congregational mosque are also visited on the same day.
Shakhi Zinda is a collection of richly tiled mausoleums housing the tombs of Samarkand's rulers and nobles, lining either side of a gently rising pathway. The name means "the tomb of the Living King" and refers to the original shrine thought to be the grave of Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad said to have brought Islam to the area.
Trip highlights for Uzbekistan Embraced
Full itinerary · 11 days
Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.
Our departures are guaranteed to run. We never cancel a confirmed tour.
| Departs | Returns | Status | Price pp | Single supp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Oct 2026 | 3 Nov 2026 | Sold out | £1,750 | +£180 | Closed |
| 8 May 2027 | 18 May 2027 | Guaranteed | £1,750 | +£180 | Book now |
| 23 Oct 2027 | 2 Nov 2027 | Guaranteed | £1,750 | +£180 | Book now |
| 6 May 2028 | 16 May 2028 | Guaranteed | £1,750 | +£180 | Book now |
| 21 Oct 2028 | 31 Oct 2028 | Guaranteed | £1,750 | +£180 | Book now |
Every one of our Uzbekistan journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
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.
Reviews from ninety-plus small-group adventures worldwide, written by the people who took them.
Make Uzbekistan Embraced your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.
Join a small-group departure, or let our Uzbekistan specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
Common questions
Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.
Yes, solo travellers are welcome on every small-group tour. A private single room is offered on every trip, with the single-room supplement listed alongside the departure price. If you’d rather share, you can opt for a twin room with another solo traveller of the same gender. Around 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you’ll be in good company.
Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.
The next available departures are 8 May 2027; 23 October 2027; 6 May 2028. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.
Yes. Departures marked Guaranteed on this page run whether one traveller books or twelve. We never cancel a confirmed tour for lack of numbers, so you can book flights and time off around it with confidence.
Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; All accommodation; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.
This tour visits Uzbekistan. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.
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