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Tailor Made Rail · Independent rail holiday with private guided sightseeing

Uzbekistan - Along the Silk Road by Rail

Eleven-day Silk Road rail journey through Uzbekistan's ancient cities

Illustration of Uzbekistan - Along the Silk Road by Rail

Tailor Made Rail's 11-day Silk Road journey takes you by train and overnight sleeper through four historic cities in Uzbekistan. You fly overnight from London to Tashkent, then travel independently by rail to Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand, with private guided tours and car transfers at each stop. The itinerary balances structured sightseeing with free time: after arriving in Tashkent on day 2, you have a morning at leisure before an afternoon tour, then a full free day to explore the bazaars and old quarter. That evening you board the sleeper train to Khiva, arriving the next morning. In Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand you receive afternoon or full-day private guided tours of UNESCO sites, medieval caravanserais, mosques, madrassahs, and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. The bullet train from Bukhara to Samarkand on day 8 and the return train to Tashkent on day 10 form part of the itinerary. This trip suits repeat rail travellers, history lovers, and those seeking private-guide comfort with the independence of travelling between cities by train.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are listed 'or similar'; your final accommodation depends on availability and the operator's selection
  • Day 10 offers free time before the afternoon train back to Tashkent; there is no guided activity that day

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Overnight flight

    Overnight to Tashkent

    Fly overnight from London towards the Uzbek capital.

  2. Day 2overnight: Tashkent (Mir Luxe Plaza or similar)

    Arrive Tashkent

    Arrive early morning; a private transfer takes you to your hotel to check in, rest and have breakfast before exploring the capital at leisure.

  3. Day 3overnight: Tashkent (Mir Luxe Plaza or similar)

    Tashkent

    Free morning, then an afternoon private sightseeing tour of modern Tashkent - the Soviet-era subway, Mustakillik Square, Amir Temur Square, Theatrical Square and the Monument of Courage.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Overnight sleeper train

    Tashkent and overnight to Khiva

    A free day - Chorsu Bazaar, the Old City and the Khast Imam complex are recommended - before boarding the overnight sleeper to Khiva after dinner.

  5. Day 5overnight: Khiva (Erkin Palace Hotel or similar)

    Khiva

    Arrive this morning and transfer to your hotel; an afternoon guided tour takes in the Kunya-Ark Fortress, Kurinish Khana, the Mohammed-Amin-Khan Madrassah and the Palvan-Kari complex.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Bukhara (AMIRAN Boutique Hotel or similar)

    Khiva to Bukhara

    A morning tour of the Juma Mosque and the Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, then an afternoon train south-east to Bukhara, arriving around 9pm.

  7. Day 7overnight: Bukhara (AMIRAN Boutique Hotel or similar)

    Bukhara

    A guided exploration of Bukhara's UNESCO World Heritage core - mosques, madrassahs, fortresses, mausoleums and the medieval trading domes.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Samarkand (Kohinur Plaza & Spa or similar)

    Bukhara to Samarkand

    A morning visit to the Bakhauddin Nakhshbandi Architectural Ensemble, including the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, then an afternoon bullet train east to Samarkand.

  9. Day 9overnight: Samarkand (Kohinur Plaza & Spa or similar)

    Samarkand

    A guided sightseeing tour of Samarkand's famous landmarks, the Siab bazaar, the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and the Ulugh Beg Observatory.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Tashkent (Mir Luxe Plaza or similar)

    Samarkand to Tashkent

    A day at leisure before an afternoon train back to Tashkent, arriving mid-evening.

  11. Day 11

    Tashkent to London

    Transfer to the airport for the flight back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Board the overnight sleeper train to Khiva after dinner in Tashkent, travelling through the night in Coupe class
  • Day 5Arrive in Khiva and tour the Kunya-Ark Fortress, Mohammed-Amin-Khan Madrassah, and Palvan-Kari complex
  • Day 8Travel by bullet train from Bukhara to Samarkand in the afternoon, after visiting the Bakhauddin Nakhshbandi Architectural Ensemble
  • Day 9Guided tour of Samarkand's Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and Ulugh Beg Observatory, and explore the Siab bazaar

Included

  • Return flights to Tashkent
  • Return private transfers between Tashkent airport and hotel
  • All rail journeys, in 'Coupe' class (or best available)
  • Overnight sleeper from Tashkent to Khiva
  • 8 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Private tours in each destination as specified in the itinerary
  • Private car transfers to and from stations
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes. All four rail journeys (Tashkent to Khiva, Khiva to Bukhara, Bukhara to Samarkand, and Samarkand to Tashkent) in Coupe class, plus the overnight sleeper from Tashkent to Khiva, are included. Return flights from London are also included.
Is this escorted or independent?
It is independent rail travel with private guided sightseeing tours. You travel by train on your own between cities, but each city includes a private guided tour and private car transfers.
How many nights are in hotels and how many on the train?
Eight nights in hotels (three in Tashkent, one in Khiva, two in Bukhara, two in Samarkand) with breakfast included. One night is spent on the overnight sleeper train from Tashkent to Khiva.
When does this trip run?
The operator has not published specific departure dates in the available information; contact Tailor Made Rail to confirm availability.
What is included in the price from GBP 2,899?
Return flights, all rail journeys in Coupe class, eight nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast, private guided tours in each destination, private car transfers to and from stations, and travel documentation.

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