Best of Uzbekistan — the Silk Road in 10 Days

Best of Uzbekistan — the Silk Road in 10 Days

The complete journey across Uzbekistan: Tashkent, the walled desert city of Khiva, Bukhara, a night in a yurt camp on Aydarkul lake, Samarkand and Shahrisabz — four ancient cities and the Kyzylkum in between, with a private guide throughout.

Pricing

This is a private, tailor-made grand tour — the price depends on your dates, hotels and group size. Send the form and we will send you a detailed quote within 24 hours.

Quick facts

  • RouteTashkent → Khiva → Bukhara → Aydarkul yurt camp → Samarkand → Shahrisabz → Tashkent
  • Duration10 days / 9 nights
  • PricePrivate tour · price on request
  • CitiesTashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Shahrisabz
  • StylePrivate, guided · hotels + one yurt-camp night
  • Best seasonApr–Jun & Sep–Oct

Ten days from end to end of the Uzbek Silk Road. You begin in Tashkent, fly west to the walled old city of Khiva, cross the Kyzylkum to Bukhara, spend a night in a desert yurt camp beside Aydarkul lake, and finish among the great monuments of Samarkand and Shahrisabz.

It is a private tour with a local guide in each city, comfortable hotels, and the internal flight and long desert drives arranged for you — the classic first trip to Uzbekistan, unhurried and complete.

What makes this special

  • Khiva, Bukhara & Samarkand
  • A night in a desert yurt
  • Internal flight, no backtracking
  • One unhurried grand loop

How it works

  • Tashkent & Khiva

    Two days in the capital, then a short flight west to Urgench and the walled museum-city of Khiva.

  • Across the desert

    The long drive over the Kyzylkum to Bukhara, then out to a yurt camp on Aydarkul lake for a night under the stars.

  • Samarkand

    The Registan, Gur-e-Amir, Bibi-Khanum and Shah-i-Zinda — the headline monuments, with time to take them in.

  • Shahrisabz & home

    A day over the pass to Timur's birthplace, then back to Tashkent for your flight.

4 Silk Road cities
Kyzylkum + yurt camp
Internal flight included
Local guide in each city
Departure Day 1 · Arrival, Tashkent
Return / Drop-off Day 10 · Departure, Tashkent

Day 1 · Tashkent — Arrival

City tour · overnight Tashkent
Included today Hotel Dinner
  1. STOP AT

    Arrival & Old-Town Tour

    Arrival in Tashkent and transfer to your hotel. A guided tour of the old town — the Barak-Khan madrasah and the Museum of Applied Arts — then dinner at a local restaurant.

    • Barak-Khan madrasah
    • Museum of Applied Arts

Day 2 · Tashkent

Modern city + metro · overnight Tashkent
Included today Hotel Breakfast
  1. STOP AT

    The Modern City

    The newer side of Tashkent — Independence (Mustaqillik) Square and Amir Timur Square — travelling between sights on the city's famously ornate metro, where each station has its own design.

    • Independence Square
    • Amir Timur Square
    • The Tashkent metro

Day 3 · Tashkent → Khiva

Flight to Urgench · overnight inside Ichan-Kala
Included today Flight Hotel Breakfast
  1. STOP AT

    Fly West to Khiva

    A morning flight to Urgench and the short transfer to Khiva, staying inside Ichan-Kala, the walled inner city. A guided walk through what was the capital of the Khorezm khanate — minarets, madrasahs and city walls almost unchanged for centuries.

    • Overnight inside the old walls
    • Ichan-Kala guided tour
    Why travellers love it: Sleeping inside a walled Silk Road city.

Day 4 · Khiva → Bukhara

~480 km across the Kyzylkum · overnight Bukhara
Included today Private car Hotel Breakfast
  1. STOP AT

    The Desert Road to Bukhara

    A long drive (about 480 km, 8–9 hours) across the Kyzylkum desert, following the Amu Darya river to Bukhara. Arrival in the late afternoon, with the evening free.

    • The Kyzylkum crossing
    • Along the Amu Darya

Day 5 · Bukhara

Full-day walking tour · overnight Bukhara
Included today Hotel Breakfast
  1. STOP AT

    The Old City on Foot

    Bukhara's monuments sit close together, so this is a day almost entirely on foot: the Samanid mausoleum (9th–10th c.), the Chashma-Ayub shrine, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble with its great minaret, the Ark fortress, the trading domes and the pool at Lyabi-Hauz.

    • Samanid mausoleum
    • Poi-Kalyan & the Kalyan minaret
    • The Ark & the trading domes
    Why travellers love it: The most complete medieval city in Central Asia.

Day 6 · Bukhara → Nurata → Yurt Camp

Nurata · night in a desert yurt on Aydarkul
Included today Camel ride Yurt Dinner
  1. STOP AT

    Nurata & the Yurt Camp

    On the way to the desert, a stop at Nurata: the Chashma holy spring, the Namozgokh mosque, and on the hill the ruins of a fortress attributed to Alexander the Great. Then into the Kyzylkum to a yurt camp beside Aydarkul lake — dinner under the open sky and music round the fire.

    • Nurata holy spring & fortress
    • Yurt camp on Aydarkul
    • Campfire under the stars

Day 7 · Yurt Camp → Samarkand

Aydarkul lake · overnight Samarkand
Included today Hotel Lunch
  1. STOP AT

    Aydarkul, then Samarkand

    A morning at Aydarkul lake — a lakeside lunch, and a swim in the warm months — before the drive to Samarkand, arriving with the rest of the day free.

    • Aydarkul lake
    • Optional swim
    • Evening in Samarkand

Day 8 · Samarkand

The headline monuments · overnight Samarkand
Included today Hotel Breakfast
  1. STOP AT

    The Pearl of the Orient

    A full day among the great sights of Samarkand: the Registan with its three madrasahs, the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum of Timur, the vast Bibi-Khanum mosque and the tiled avenue of tombs at Shah-i-Zinda.

    • The Registan
    • Gur-e-Amir
    • Bibi-Khanum
    • Shah-i-Zinda
    Why travellers love it: The image most people carry home from Uzbekistan.

Day 9 · Samarkand → Shahrisabz → Samarkand

Over the pass to Timur's birthplace · overnight Samarkand
Included today Hotel Breakfast
  1. STOP AT

    Shahrisabz

    South over the Tahtakaracha pass to Shahrisabz, the birthplace of Amir Timur: the towering ruins of the Ak-Saray palace, the crypt Timur prepared for himself, and the Dorut Tilavat complex, before returning to Samarkand.

    • Ak-Saray palace ruins
    • The crypt of Timur
    • Over the Tahtakaracha pass

Day 10 · Samarkand → Tashkent — Departure

Transfer to Tashkent · end of tour
Included today Breakfast
  1. RETURN

    Departure

    Transfer to Tashkent (by fast train or road, as your flight requires) and on to the airport. End of the tour.

    • Transfer to Tashkent
    • Airport drop-off

What's included

Included

  • Private air-conditioned transport throughout
  • Internal flight Tashkent → Urgench
  • Local English-speaking guide in each city
  • Hotels (9 nights: 8 in hotels + 1 in a desert yurt camp)
  • Daily breakfast; some lunches and dinners as shown
  • Camel ride and dinner at the yurt camp
  • All transfers and the long intercity drives

Not included

  • International flights to and from Uzbekistan
  • Entrance tickets to the monuments
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Travel insurance, personal expenses and tips

Best for

  • First-time visitors who want to see all of Uzbekistan
  • Travellers who prefer a private, guided pace over a coach group
  • Anyone combining the cities with a desert night
  • Couples, families and small groups

Practical tips

  • Ten days is the comfortable minimum to see all four cities without rushing
  • The Khiva → Bukhara desert drive is long (8–9 hours) — a good book and water help
  • Pack layers: cities can be hot while the yurt-camp night is cold
  • Modest dress for mosques and shrines; a headscarf is useful for women
  • Best in spring and autumn; midsummer is very hot, especially in the desert
  • Dates, hotels and pace are all flexible — tell us what you want and we build around it

Gallery

Frequently asked questions

How much does the tour cost?
It is a private, tailor-made tour, so the price depends on your travel dates, the hotel class you choose and how many of you are travelling. Send us the form with your dates and we will reply with a detailed quote, usually within 24 hours.
Which cities does it cover?
All four of Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities — Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand — plus Shahrisabz and a night in a desert yurt camp on Aydarkul lake.
Is the internal flight included?
Yes. The Tashkent–Urgench flight (for Khiva) is included so you avoid the very long drive west. The rest of the route is by private car, with one long but scenic desert drive from Khiva to Bukhara.
What are the hotels like?
Comfortable tourist-class hotels in each city by default, with boutique and higher-end options available — tell us your preference and we quote accordingly. One night is in a traditional yurt camp with shared facilities.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. This is our classic 10-day route, but it is fully private, so we can adjust the pace, add or drop nights, change hotels, or extend it — for example with the Fergana valley or the Nuratau mountains.
When is the best time to go?
April to June and September to October have the most comfortable weather across the whole route. July and August are hot, particularly in the desert; winter is cold but quiet and the monuments are beautiful under a clear sky.
How much walking is there?
A fair amount in each city, all at a gentle pace — the old towns are compact and largely flat. There is no hiking on this tour; the desert night is by vehicle and camel, not on foot.

Why Book With Jahongir Travel?

15+ Years Experience Operating since 2009 — over 3,000 guests guided across Central Asia.
Local Samarkand Guides Born and raised here — we know the stories, the people and the hidden spots.
Private Transport Included Air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver on every tour.
Fully Customisable Tell us your interests — we tailor every itinerary to match your pace.
WhatsApp Support Direct line to your guide — ask anything, any time, before or during your tour.