Uzbekistan - The Heart of the Silk Road

Itinerary

Day 1 – Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to the hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have time to explore the city. Overnight at Shodlik Palace or similar.

Day 2 - Khiva
Fly to Urgench and transfer to Khiva, a stunning city with a wealth of ancient monuments. We spend the afternoon exploring its sites, including its many mosques, medressas and mausoleums of former rulers. Overnight Malika Khiva Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 3 – Khiva
Continue our exploration of this marvellous city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later there will be time for you to explore on your own. Overnight Malika Khiva Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 4 – Konye-Urgench - Ashgabat
We cross the border into little known Turkmenistan and head for the site of Konye-Urgench, an ancient capital of the land of Khorezm with beautiful mausoleums. After visiting its key sites we fly to Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat. Overnight Ak Altyn Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 5 – Ashgabat - Mary
Spend the morning exploring the sites of Ashgabat, a modern city that has been the focus of extensive and some would say eccentric building projects. We then fly to Mary, an oasis town close to the ancient city of Merv. Overnight Yrsgal Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 6 – Merv - Bukhara
This morning we visit the ancient site of Merv, the most important in Turkmenistan and dating back 2500 years with an array of old mosques, citadels and Buddhist stupas. After exploring Merv we cross the border back into Uzbekistan and head to Bukhara, Central Asia’s holiest city. Overnight Caravan Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 7 – Bukhara
We spend today exploring Bukhara, one of the most spectacular cities in the region and with a superbly preserved old quarter. Overnight Caravan Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 8 – Shakhrisabz - Termez
Drive to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of the famed leader Timur (Tamerlane). Shakhrisabz is home to numerous breathtaking mausoleums and monuments, and we spend time delving into the history of this once glorious town. Afterwards we continue our drive south to Termez. Overnight Meridien Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 9 – Dushanbe
Cross the border into Tajikistan and drive to Dushanbe, the capital. On arrival we explore Dushanbe’s sites and soak up the atmosphere of this little visited Central Asian city. Overnight Hotel Avesto or similar. (B)

Days 10-11 – Iskander Kul
Drive through stunning scenery to Lake Iskander Kul in the Fann Mountains, where we have opportunities to hike around the lake shore. We have a full free day to explore the area and can visit nearby waterfalls and springs as well as small settlements. Overnight local home. (BLD)

Day 12 –Samarkand
Drive over the Shahristan Pass (3260m) to the small town of Istaravshan where you will have a little time to explore. From there drive via Khojand to the border with Uzbekistan, and continue to Samarkand. Overnight Malika Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 13 – Samarkand
A full day exploring glorious Samarkand, with its spectacular collection of traditional buildings. Samarkand is most famous for its Registan Square, which contains perhaps the most stunning and well preserved architecture in the whole region. Long held in awe by early western travellers, it is easy to lose yourself in wonder at the incredible mosques and medressas, elaborately decorated in blue tiles and traditional Islamic art. Overnight Malika Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 14 – Tashkent
Drive back to Tashkent, arriving around lunchtime. This afternoon we explore the sights of Uzbekistan’s capital and have time for some last minute shopping. Overnight Shodlik Palace or similar. (B)

Day 15 – Tashkent
Tour ends with a transfer to the airport. (B)