Is 10 days enough for Uzbekistan?

Ten days is the ideal duration for a first visit to Uzbekistan. It gives you enough time to explore Samarkand (3 days), Bukhara (3 days), and Khiva (2 days) without rushing, with 2 days for travel and flexibility.

What is the best order to visit Uzbekistan cities?

The most common and practical route is Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva, following the direction of the ancient Silk Road from east to west. You can do this by high-speed train (Afrosiyob) between Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, then by plane or car to Khiva.

Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?

Citizens of most European countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many other nationalities can enter Uzbekistan visa-free for stays up to 30 days as of 2024. Check the Uzbekistan e-Visa portal for your country's specific requirements.

Travel Tips

Uzbekistan 10-Day Itinerary: Samarkand, Bukhara & Khiva (2025 Guide)

Odil Jurayev

March 22, 2025 12 min read

Best of Uzbekistan 10-day tour – Samarkand Registan Square, Bukhara, and Khiva

Uzbekistan has become one of the world's fastest-growing travel destinations. In 2023, the country received over 7 million international visitors – a number that continues to climb as the country opens up and simplifies its visa policies. It's not hard to understand why: Uzbekistan contains three of the most spectacular Silk Road cities on earth, a rich culinary tradition, extraordinary hospitality, and landscapes ranging from high mountain passes to desert dunes.

Ten days is the ideal length for a first visit. It gives you enough time to explore properly without rushing, to take the occasional day trip, and to absorb the atmosphere of each city rather than simply ticking off sights. This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors and covers the highlights of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, with one optional extension to the desert and yurt camps.

Before You Go: Practical Essentials

Visa

Citizens of most EU countries, USA, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and many others now enter Uzbekistan visa-free for 30 days. Others can obtain an e-Visa online (evisa.mfa.uz) in 3–5 working days for approximately $20–50 USD. Always verify current requirements for your nationality before booking.

Getting There

Fly into Tashkent (International Airport: TAS) – Uzbekistan's capital and main hub. Direct flights operate from many European cities, Istanbul, Dubai, and various Asian hubs. Samarkand also has an international airport (SKD) with growing direct connections.

Getting Around

Afrosiyob high-speed train: Connects Tashkent → Samarkand (2h), Samarkand → Bukhara (1.5h). Comfortable, punctual, air-conditioned. Book ahead.
Samarkand → Khiva: Either a 1-hour flight via Urgench, or a 5-hour drive (interesting but long). The flight is more practical for a 10-day trip.
Within cities: Taxis and Yandex.Taxi app (Uber equivalent). Very affordable.

Currency & Costs

Uzbekistan uses the Uzbekistani som (UZS). Exchange USD at banks or official exchange offices (rates are excellent). Daily budgets range from $30 (budget) to $100+ (comfortable mid-range). A full guided day tour typically costs $50–$80 per person.

The 10-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Tashkent

Fly into Tashkent. Check into your hotel and rest after the journey. If you arrive with energy, the Chorsu Bazaar in the old city is a 15-minute taxi ride and gives an immediate immersion into Uzbek life – pyramids of spices, dried fruit, mountains of bread, and the extraordinary bustle of a Central Asian market. In the evening, walk around the area near Khast Imam Square.

Sleep: Tashkent

Day 2: Tashkent → Samarkand (by train)

Take the morning Afrosiyob train to Samarkand (2 hours; book tickets in advance at uzrailpass.uz). Check in to your hotel near the old city.

Afternoon: walk to the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum – the tomb of Amir Timur, decorated with the most exquisite blue-and-gold tilework in Uzbekistan. The interior is open until early evening and is much calmer than it will be during morning tour group hours. Wander the old streets leading back to your hotel.

Sleep: Samarkand (3 nights)

Day 3: Samarkand – Registan, Shah-i-Zinda, Bibi-Khanym

The essential Samarkand day. Start at Registan Square when it opens at 8 AM – the best time before tour groups arrive. Spend at least 2 hours exploring all three madrasahs. Then walk to Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the adjacent Siab Bazaar for a late breakfast of non (bread) from the tandoor and local tea.

Afternoon: Shah-i-Zinda – the necropolis and avenue of mausoleums that contains the finest tilework in Central Asia. Each mausoleum is decorated differently; allow 2 hours.

Evening: return to Registan for the light-and-sound show after dark.

→ Complete Registan visitor guide

Day 4: Samarkand – Day Trips (Choice of Two)

Use your third Samarkand day for one of these excellent day trips:

Option A: Shahrisabz – Timur's birthplace and UNESCO World Heritage Site, 90 km south. The ruins of Ak-Saray Palace are extraordinary. → Full Shahrisabz guide
Option B: Seven Lakes Tajikistan – Cross-border adventure to the turquoise Haft Kul lakes via Penjikent. Requires Tajikistan e-Visa. → Seven Lakes guide
Option C: Crafts Tour – Silk carpet factory + Konigil paper workshop + Urgut Sunday bazaar. Best on Sundays. → Traditional crafts guide

Day 5: Samarkand → Bukhara (by train)

Morning train to Bukhara (1.5 hours). Check in to a hotel in the old city – Bukhara's guesthouses inside the historic centre are among the most atmospheric in Central Asia.

Afternoon: wander the Ark Fortress, the ancient citadel that was Bukhara's seat of power for 1,500 years. Then walk to the Kalon Minaret – standing 46 metres tall, it was so impressive that Genghis Khan reportedly ordered it spared when he destroyed the rest of the city in 1220.

Sleep: Bukhara (3 nights)

Day 6: Bukhara – Old City Deep Dive

Bukhara's old city is the best-preserved medieval Islamic city in Central Asia. Spend a full day exploring:

Kalon Mosque – the great Friday mosque beside the minaret
Mir-i-Arab Madrasa – opposite the mosque, still functioning as a religious school
Chor Minor – a unique 19th-century gatehouse with four blue-tiled towers, hidden in the residential streets
Trade Domes (Toki) – the covered bazaars that have served as trading centres since the 16th century; still full of craft shops
Lyabi-Hauz – the central pool surrounded by mulberry trees and teahouses; the social heart of the city

Day 7: Bukhara – Day Trips & Surroundings

Options within an hour of Bukhara:

Bahauddin Naqshband Shrine – the holiest pilgrimage site in Uzbekistan, 10 km east of Bukhara; an active Sufi shrine in a beautiful garden setting
Ismail Samani Mausoleum (within the city) – the oldest surviving building in Uzbekistan (9th century), with extraordinary geometric brickwork
Sitorai Mohi-Hosa Palace – the Emir of Bukhara's summer palace, 5 km north; fascinating mix of Russian and Uzbek architecture with a textile museum inside

Day 8: Bukhara → Khiva (by plane)

Fly from Bukhara (or nearby Urgench) to Urgench, then taxi 35 km to Khiva (1 hour total door-to-door from airport to hotel).

Khiva's old city (Itchan Kala) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most intact ancient walled city in Central Asia. The entire inner city is preserved as a museum; you buy one ticket covering all the major monuments. Check in to a hotel inside the old walls – the experience of waking up inside the city walls at dawn is unforgettable.

Afternoon/evening: Walk the perimeter walls for panoramic views, then explore the main monuments as they empty out for the evening.

Sleep: Khiva (2 nights)

Day 9: Khiva – Full Day in Itchan Kala

Khiva is smaller than Samarkand or Bukhara but extraordinarily dense with monuments. Key sights:

Islam Khodja Minaret – the tallest in Khiva; climb it for the best views of the walled city
Kalta Minor – the unfinished blue-tiled minaret that was meant to be the tallest in the world; it was abandoned when the Khan died
Juma Mosque – supported by 218 carved wooden columns, each unique, from different periods
Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum – the patron saint of Khiva; beautiful tile interior
Tosh-Hovli Palace – the Khan's harem palace with 160 rooms; extraordinary carved plaster decoration

Evening: dinner at one of the restaurants inside the city walls with live Uzbek music.

Day 10: Khiva → Fly Home

Morning: one last walk through the old city before the tour groups arrive. The light at dawn on the turquoise-tiled domes is among the most beautiful sights in all of Central Asia.

Fly from Urgench back to Tashkent (1 hour) for your international connection, or fly directly home if your routing allows.

Optional Additions (If You Have 12–14 Days)

Nuratau Mountains homestay (2–3 days from Samarkand): Rural mountain villages, hiking, and authentic family homestays. A complete contrast to the city monuments. → Nuratau homestay tour
Yurt camp in the Kyzyl Kum desert (1 night): Camel riding and a night under the desert stars. Accessible as a detour between Bukhara and Khiva. → Yurt camp tour
Fergana Valley (2 days from Tashkent): Silk production at Margilan, ceramics at Rishtan, and some of Uzbekistan's best food.

Month-by-Month: Best Time for This Itinerary

Month	Conditions	Verdict
March–May	Mild, flowers, some rain possible	✅ Excellent
June	Warm, long days, pre-heat	✅ Good
July–August	Very hot (35–42°C); start early, rest midday	⚠️ Manageable with planning
September–October	Golden light, warm, harvest season	✅ Excellent
November–February	Cold (0–10°C); monuments uncrowded	⚠️ For cold-weather fans

Book the Guided 10-Day Tour

Prefer to have everything arranged? Our Best of Uzbekistan in 10 Days tour covers Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva with English-speaking guides in each city, all transport, and hotel recommendations. You focus entirely on the experience – we handle the logistics.

See the 10-Day Uzbekistan Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days should I spend in each city?

Samarkand: 3 days (2 full + 1 day trip). Bukhara: 3 days (2 full + 1 for surroundings). Khiva: 2 days. Tashkent: 1 day (transit).

Is Uzbekistan safe for tourists?

Uzbekistan is one of the safest countries in Central Asia for tourism. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. The main risks are standard travel precautions: watch your belongings in markets, use negotiated prices for taxis, and drink bottled water.

What's the best way to travel between cities?

The Afrosiyob high-speed train is the best way between Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara – it's fast, comfortable, and punctual. Khiva requires either a 1-hour flight via Urgench or a 5-hour drive; the flight is easier for a 10-day itinerary.

Can I do Uzbekistan independently without a guided tour?

Yes – Uzbekistan is increasingly easy to navigate independently. Trains are bookable online, apps like Yandex.Taxi work everywhere, and English signage is improving. However, guided tours at the major monuments significantly enrich the experience, as most of the history and stories are not available in English on site.