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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Uzbekistan & the Ancient Silk Road

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

Illustration of Uzbekistan & the Ancient Silk Road

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.

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

  1. Day 1overnight: In transit / Urgench

    Flight from London to Urgench in ancient Khorezm

    Your Silk Road adventure begins at London Heathrow by meeting the Tour Manager and fellow travellers ahead of an overnight flight to Urgench, via Istanbul. The capital of Uzbekistan's Khorezm region, Urgench sits near to the mighty Amu Darya River, historically known as the Oxus.

  2. Day 2overnight: Khiva

    Khiva, the 'largest open-air museum in the world'

    Arriving in Urgench early this morning, we transfer to the heart of Khiva's UNESCO-listed Old City. Our hotel is located in a former madrasa. Guided sightseeing tour of the astonishing Old City of Khiva (Itchan-Kala), visiting the Djuma Mosque with original 10th-century carved wooden pillars. First dinner together at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Khiva

    Kyzylkum desert fortresses and lunch in a traditional yurt

    Travel by coach across the Amu Darya River into the remote Kyzylkum desert. Visit Toprak-kala ('Earth City') and the remains of Ayaz-Kala. Lunch at a traditional yurt camp. Return to Khiva for dinner with a performance by a traditional Khorezm folklore troupe.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Bukhara

    Along the Silk Road to Bukhara

    Travel by coach through the Kyzylkum (Red Desert) to Bukhara, with a lunch stop at a local café en route. Check in to hotel for three nights. Free time to explore or relax before dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Bukhara

    Exploring Bukhara's eternal beauty

    Guided walking tour of Bukhara's architectural and cultural heritage: Ulugbek madrasa, trading domes, Po-i-Kalyan complex (Kalan Minaret, Kalan Mosque, Mir-i-Arab madrasa), the Ark of Bukhara fortress, and a traditional puppet workshop. Evening cooking masterclass and dinner with a local family.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. 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 madrasa gatehouse. Free afternoon at leisure. Dinner at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7railovernight: Samarkand

    The golden journey to Samarkand

    Morning visit to the Samanid Mausoleum. Transfer to Kogon train station and board the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Samarkand. Check in to hotel and dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Samarkand

    The 'noblest public square in the world' in Tamerlane's city

    Guided tour of the Registan, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Siyob Bazaar, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, and Gur Emir Mausoleum. Visit the Meros Silk Paper Centre. Dance show at the Theatre of Historical Costume before dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. 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. Traditional lunch with a local family. Board the Afrosiyob train to Tashkent. Dinner at a restaurant on arrival.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: Tashkent

    Exploring the vibrant Uzbek capital of Tashkent

    Guided sightseeing tour: Rakhimov's Ceramics Studio, Khast Imam Square, Kukeldash Madrasa, Chorsu Bazaar, and a ride on the ornate Tashkent metro. Final group dinner at a local restaurant.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  11. Day 11

    Homeward bound

    Transfer to Tashkent airport with a packed breakfast for an early 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 the tour
  • Flights from London Heathrow to Urgench via Istanbul
  • Return flights from Tashkent to London Heathrow via Istanbul
  • 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

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.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes guided walking tours of Old Cities and bazaars in Khiva, Bukhara, and Tashkent, with stairs and uneven ground; no hiking or high-altitude activities.
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.

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