Tashkent to Khiva – 8-Day Silk Road Journey

✈ Arrival in Tashkent – the capital and largest city of Central Asia. 🚗 Meet & greet at the airport, followed by transfer to your hotel. 🏨 Hotel check-in from 14:00.

City Tour Highlights (5–6 hours):

• Old City – the historic core of Tashkent
• Khast-Imam Complex – spiritual center housing the 7th-century Quran of Caliph Uthman
• Chorsu Bazaar – vibrant market full of spices, sweets, and local life
• Tashkent Metro – one of the most beautiful in the world
• Museum of Applied Arts – a showcase of Uzbek craftsmanship
• Walk to Amir Timur Square via Navoi Theater

🌙 Overnight in Tashkent

🚆 Morning transfer to the railway station. Travel by high-speed Afrosiyob train to Samarkand (2h 10min).

🌍 Upon arrival: meet your local guide and start your full-day tour:

• Registan Square – the iconic heart of Samarkand
• Bibi-Khanym Mosque – built by Amir Timur, symbol of grandeur
• Siab Bazaar – colorful market for fruits, sweets, spices
• Ulugh Beg Observatory – a 15th-century scientific marvel
• Shakhi-Zinda Ensemble – mystical necropolis of tiled mausoleums
• Gur-Emir Mausoleum – final resting place of Tamerlane

🏨 Overnight in Samarkand 📌 Tour duration: 6–7 hours

🕌 Continue exploring Samarkand:

• Afrosiyob Museum – ancient history and artifacts of the city
• Tomb of Saint Daniel – sacred site venerated by multiple faiths
• Visit Konigil village – traditional production of Samarkand mulberry paper

🕰 Afternoon: Free time at leisure. Private transport available. 🏨 Overnight in Samarkand 📌 Tour duration: 3–4 hours

🚗 Morning transfer to Bukhara (280 km, ~4 hrs) 🏰 En route stop at Rabat-i-Malik Caravanserai (11th century) 🏨 Arrival and check-in at hotel

Walking Tour of Old Bukhara (3–4 hrs):

• Kalyan Minaret & Mosque – symbols of the city
• Miri-Arab Madrassah – prominent Islamic school
• Magoki-Attori Mosque – one of the oldest in the region
• Ulugh Beg & Abdulaziz Khan Madrassahs
• Historic Trading Domes
• Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble – a picturesque pondside plaza
• Chor-Minor Madrassah – four-towered hidden gem

🏨 Overnight in Bukhara

🏰 Full-day sightseeing:

• Ark Fortress – royal citadel of the emirs
• Bolo-Hauz Mosque – wooden pillars & reflecting pond
• Samanid Mausoleum – early Islamic architecture
• Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum – sacred spring of Prophet Job

🚗 Suburban excursion:

• Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace – summer residence of the emir
• Bahauddin Naqshband Mausoleum – revered Sufi site

🕰 Afternoon at leisure 🏨 Overnight in Bukhara 📌 Tour duration: 5–6 hours

🌅 Morning departure for Khiva (480 km, ~7–8 hrs) 🚗 Scenic drive through the Kyzylkum Desert, following an ancient Silk Road route 🍽 Packed lunch recommended due to limited roadside options

🏨 Arrival in Khiva and check-in at hotel 🌙 Overnight in Khiva

🏨 Check-out by 12:00

🏰 Guided tour of Ichan-Kala, the UNESCO-listed old city:

• Muhammad Amin Khan & Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrassahs
• Kalta Minor Minaret – iconic turquoise tower
• Juma Mosque – 213 wooden columns
• Tash-Khovli Palace – former royal residence
• Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum
• Islam-Khoja Minaret – the tallest in Uzbekistan

✨ Afternoon at leisure for shopping or relaxing ✈ Evening transfer to Urgench airport for flight to Tashkent (1h 40min) 🏨 Arrival and overnight in Tashkent

Check-out by 12:00. Free time until your transfer to the airport. End of tour.