How much does it cost?

From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this tour escorted?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London through to the return flight, ensuring logistics and guiding are handled throughout.

Which trains are included?

The high-speed Afrosiyob train, Standard Class. It operates two legs: Kogon (near Bukhara) to Samarkand on Day 7, and Samarkand to Tashkent on Day 9.

What flights are included?

Round-trip flights from London Heathrow to Urgench (via Istanbul) and return from Tashkent to London (via Istanbul).

What meals are provided?

Breakfast and dinner each day, plus 3 lunches: in the Kyzylkum Desert yurt, with a local family in Samarkand, and along the coach route to Bukhara.

What is not included?

Travel insurance and cancellation cover. Optional extras include flight upgrades, London hotel stays before or after, and UK rail connections to your departure station.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Uzbekistan & the Ancient Silk Road

Escorted Silk Road tour through Uzbekistan by train, coach, and flight

Great Rail Journeys' 11-day escorted tour immerses you in the Silk Road heritage of Uzbekistan, beginning with a flight from London Heathrow to Urgench and ending in Tashkent. Over the course of the tour, you will spend two nights in the walled fortress city of Khiva, three nights exploring Bukhara's madrasas and trading domes, and two nights in Samarkand discovering the Registan and Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis. Two high-speed Afrosiyob train journeys bookend the central portion of the itinerary, with coach travel bridging Urgench to Khiva, and a crossing of the Kyzylkum Desert to Bukhara. Each day is guided; a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. Evenings feature local restaurants and a cooking masterclass with a family in Bukhara. This tour suits history lovers drawn to ancient fortresses and archaeological sites, couples seeking comfortable paced travel with free time, and food-focused travellers eager for authentic Uzbek meals and cultural encounters.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £100 since 4 Jul, to £2,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement is GBP 430 (USD 574), approximately 18 percent above half the double-room rate, which is substantial.
Group size reaches up to 40 travellers; this is not a small-group experience.
Days 4 and 9 involve 3 to 4 hours of coach travel; the train legs are limited to Bukhara-Samarkand and Samarkand-Tashkent on the high-speed Afrosiyob.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Overnight flight
Flight from London to Urgench in ancient Khorezm
Meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London Heathrow ahead of an overnight flight to Urgench via Istanbul, capital of Uzbekistan's Khorezm region.
Day 2overnight: Khiva
Khiva, the 'largest open-air museum in the world'
Arrive in Urgench and transfer to Khiva's UNESCO-listed Old City, staying in a hotel located in a former madrasa. Guided sightseeing tour of the walled Old City, Itchan-Kala, including the Djuma Mosque. First dinner together at a local restaurant.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3overnight: Khiva
Kyzylkum desert fortresses and lunch in a traditional yurt
Coach into the Kyzylkum desert to visit the ancient hilltop citadels of Toprak-kala and Ayaz-Kala, with lunch at a traditional yurt camp. Return to Khiva for dinner with a traditional Khorezm folklore performance.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Bukhara
Along the Silk Road to Bukhara
Coach through the Kyzylkum (Red Desert) to Bukhara, with a lunch stop at a local café en route. Check in to the hotel for three nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Bukhara
Exploring Bukhara's eternal beauty
Guided walking tour of Bukhara including the Ulugbek madrasa, the trading domes, the Po-i-Kalyan complex and the Ark of Bukhara, plus a puppet workshop visit. Evening cooking masterclass and dinner with a local family.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6overnight: Bukhara
Uncovering beautiful Bukhara's storied history
Visit the Bahauddin Naqshband Memorial Complex, the former home of Fayzulla Khodjaev and the Chor Minor gatehouse. Free afternoon before dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7railovernight: Samarkand
The golden journey to Samarkand
Visit the Samanid mausoleum, then take the high-speed Afrosiyob train from Kogon to Samarkand. Check in to the hotel with dinner in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8overnight: Samarkand
The 'noblest public square in the world' in Tamerlane's city
Guided tour of the Registan, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Siyob Bazaar and the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, plus the Gur Emir Mausoleum and the Meros Silk Paper Centre. Evening dance show at the Theatre of Historical Costume and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9railovernight: Tashkent
The lost city of Afrasiyab and on to Tashkent
Visit the lost hilltop city of Afrasiyab and the Observatory of Ulugh Beg, followed by a traditional lunch with a local family. Board the Afrosiyob train to Tashkent, with dinner at a restaurant before checking in to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10overnight: Tashkent
Exploring the vibrant Uzbek capital of Tashkent
Guided sightseeing tour of Tashkent including Rakhimov's Ceramics Studio, Khast Imam Square, the Kukeldash Madrasa and Chorsu Bazaar, plus a ride on the Tashkent metro. Final group dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11
Homeward bound
Transfer to Tashkent airport with a packed breakfast for the flight back to London Heathrow via Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Guided tour of Khiva's walled Old City (Itchan-Kala), visiting the Djuma Mosque with original 10th-century carved wooden pillars.
Day 3Coach journey into the Kyzylkum Desert to visit the ancient fortress remains of Toprak-kala and Ayaz-Kala, with lunch at a traditional yurt camp.
Day 5Walking tour of Bukhara's architectural heritage including the Po-i-Kalyan complex, the Ark fortress, and a traditional puppet workshop, followed by a cooking masterclass with a local family.
Day 8Guided tour of Samarkand's Registan, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, and Gur Emir Mausoleum, with a dance show at the Theatre of Historical Costume.
Day 9Visit the lost hilltop city of Afrasiyab and the Observatory of Ulugh Beg, then board the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Tashkent with lunch at a local family's home.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
9 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class rail travel; all rail and coach travel throughout
Flights from London Heathrow to Urgench via Istanbul, Tashkent to London Heathrow via Istanbul (usually depart in the afternoon)
Breakfast and dinner each day, 3 lunches
Group luggage transfers between hotels from Bukhara to Tashkent
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,376 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this tour escorted?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London through to the return flight, ensuring logistics and guiding are handled throughout.
Which trains are included?: The high-speed Afrosiyob train, Standard Class. It operates two legs: Kogon (near Bukhara) to Samarkand on Day 7, and Samarkand to Tashkent on Day 9.
What flights are included?: Round-trip flights from London Heathrow to Urgench (via Istanbul) and return from Tashkent to London (via Istanbul).
What meals are provided?: Breakfast and dinner each day, plus 3 lunches: in the Kyzylkum Desert yurt, with a local family in Samarkand, and along the coach route to Bukhara.
What is not included?: Travel insurance and cancellation cover. Optional extras include flight upgrades, London hotel stays before or after, and UK rail connections to your departure station.