The Very Best of Uzbekistan

All flights with Turkish Airlines travel via Istanbul. We arrive in Urgench this morning and transfer to the nearby historic city of Khiva. On arrival, we check into our home for the next two nights, the Farovon Hotel. Settle in and freshen up ahead of our afternoon sightseeing. Our first introduction to Uzbekistan is Ichan Kala, Khiva’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient walled city. Long celebrated by writers and poets, Khiva’s timeless architecture and atmospheric streets make it a wonderfully evocative destination to explore and photograph. We enjoy an early dinner at a local restaurant before returning to our hotel.

This morning, we return to Ichan Kala to explore the remarkable walled inner city. Our guided walking tour begins at the main gate and brings to life a city that once thrived along the Silk Road, where traditional buildings rise from sun-baked walls in a beautifully preserved ensemble of Islamic architecture. We head to the atmospheric Juma Mosque, where hundreds of carved wooden pillars create a cool, contemplative space, before continuing to the striking and instantly recognisable, turquoise-tiled Kalta Minor and Kunya Ark, the former citadel of Khiva’s rulers. We pause at a family-run guesthouse for lunch where we enjoy a hands-on introduction to Uzbek culinary traditions – learning how to prepare local bread before sitting down to enjoy the freshly made results. Our afternoon is spent visiting the many other historic sites that reveal the city’s artistic and architectural richness. After a full day immersed in Khiva’s history, culture and daily life, we return to our hotel.

After breakfast, we depart Khiva and travel onward to Bukhara by the Afrosiyob high-speed train. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel for the next four nights, the Shahriston Hotel, centrally located within the Old Town. UNESCO-listed Bukhara is one of Central Asia’s most atmospheric and spiritually significant cities. Often regarded as the country’s holiest city due to its historic role as a centre of Islamic theology, Bukhara is also home to more than a hundred preserved monuments and played a vital role as a hub of trade, craftsmanship and administration along the great Silk Road. Its historic lively bazaars shaped the city’s rich cultural identity that still endures today. This evening, we dine at a local family-owned restaurant, taking part in a plov cooking masterclass that offers a brief insight into Uzbekistan’s national dish, a fragrant rice dish traditionally prepared with meat and delicate spices. We enjoy the finished dish, accompanied by a music performance, creating a warm and atmospheric end to the day.

This morning, we explore the outskirts of the city, visiting two of the region’s most important spiritual sites. We begin at the Bakhouddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum, a revered Sufi pilgrimage site offering insight into the traditions that have shaped Bukhara for centuries, before continuing to the Chor Bakr Memorial Complex, the ‘City of the Dead’, where intricately patterned tombs reflect the region’s religious and architectural heritage. Returning to Bukhara, the afternoon is spent at leisure. Perhaps join an optional crafts-focused tour winding through the Jewish Quarter to meet a local knife-maker and traditional puppet master, offering a charming glimpse into the city’s cultural life.

Today, we take a closer look at rural life, driving to nearby Vobkent and the farming hamlet of Nayman, where we are welcomed into a traditional family home. We have the opportunity to explore their gardens, rich with vegetables, fruit, and herbs, before helping to prepare a home-cooked lunch and enjoy authentic Uzbek hospitality. Later, we continue to Gijduvan, a town celebrated for its ceramic traditions. Here, we visit a local ceramics workshop to see how the region’s famous blue and green pottery is shaped, glazed and decorated. Our day finishes with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi Hosa, the former summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara (absolute monarch). Enjoy the Eastern and European influences showcased within its elegant grounds.

The morning is ours to relax or perhaps take a final walk around Bukhara's market stalls. Following an early lunch, we head to Kagan railway station and board the high-speed train to Samarkand – often referred to as ‘the Jewel of the Silk Road’ – and transfer to our hotel for the next four nights, the Mövenpick Samarkand. After dinner we take an evening walk to catch our first glimpse of the world-famous Registan Square, where Samarkand’s iconic trio of madrassahs are beautifully illuminated, creating a memorable first impression of this legendary city.

Today offers a rewarding blend of history, craftsmanship and local tradition as we continue our discovery of Samarkand. We begin at the Ulugbek Observatory, where a 15th-century ruler and astronomer made remarkably accurate observations of the stars, placing Samarkand at the forefront of medieval science. We visit the Afrosiyob Museum and the surrounding ancient settlement ruins, before continuing to Konigil Tourist Village, a centre for the long-standing handicrafts that Uzbekistan is known for. Here, we visit the Meros Paper Mill, where time-honoured methods are used to produce silk paper from mulberry bark. We watch the process in action before taking part in creating our own sheet of paper – a meaningful souvenir to take home. Following lunch, there is time to browse local handicrafts before returning to the city for a late afternoon visit to the Khovrenko Winery. Founded in the late 19th century, this historic winery and museum offer insight into Uzbekistan’s wine-making traditions, followed by a tasting of selected wines and cognacs.

After a leisurely breakfast, we travel north of Samarkand to visit the Imam Al Bukhari Memorial Complex, one of the most important Islamic pilgrimage sites in Uzbekistan and a place of quiet reflection, set within peaceful landscaped grounds. Returning to the city, we visit a carpet weaving factory, where we gain insight into the intricate techniques and symbolism behind Uzbek carpets. After the tour, we enjoy lunch, rounding off our final experiences in Samarkand. In the late afternoon we transfer to the station and board the Afrosiyob high-speed train for our journey to Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s modern capital city. Upon arrival, we transfer to the Crowne Plaza Tashkent, our hotel for our final two nights in Uzbekistan.

Today we say ‘Xush kelibsiz’ – welcome to Tashkent, the most populous city in Central Asia. Home to more than two million people, the city reflects a blend of Uzbek tradition and Soviet-era influence. Historic mosques stand alongside wide boulevards, monumental squares and striking 20th-century architecture. Our morning sightseeing focuses on Tashkent’s historic highlights. We visit the Khast Imam Complex, home to one of the world’s oldest Qurans, dating back to the 7th century, before continuing to the Abdulkasim Madrassah, followed by a visit to Kukeldash Madrassah – still a functioning Islamic school. After lunch, we explore the modern face of the city with visits including Amir Temur Square and Independence Square. A short journey on the Tashkent Metro showcases its unique and ornately designed stations such as Kosmonavtlar, decorated to honour the region's astronauts, and Alisher Navoi, named after the renowned 15th-century Uzbek poet. This evening, we enjoy our final dinner together, with a chance to reflect on our adventures over the last two weeks.

Early this morning, we begin the journey to our chosen UK airport, departing Tashkent with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. As our tour draws to a close, we return home with lasting memories of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities, landscapes, people and cultural traditions.