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Private, on your own dates · Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan Adventure

The most complete Uzbekistan programme: two days on the Ustyurt plateau by the Aral Sea with a night in a yurt camp, the desert fortresses, Khiva, three nights in Bukhara, the Kyzylkum, three nights in Samarkand and the Chimgan mountains.

15 days, 14 nightsDuration
4-star hotels · breakfastStay and meals

Twin share · land only, flights extra

Overview

The most complete Uzbekistan programme: two days on the Ustyurt plateau by the Aral Sea with a night in a yurt camp, the desert fortresses, Khiva, three nights in Bukhara, the Kyzylkum, three nights in Samarkand and the Chimgan mountains.

Trip highlights

  • 01A night in a yurt camp by the Aral Sea on the Ustyurt plateau
  • 02The ship cemetery at Muynak and the wetlands of Sudochie
  • 03The desert fortresses of ancient Khorezm and Khiva’s walled town
  • 04Three nights each in Bukhara and Samarkand, with free days
  • 05Nurata, a Kyzylkum yurt camp, Aydarkul and the Chimgan mountains

Day-by-day itinerary

The route

Tashkent → Nukus → Khiva → Bukhara → Nurata → Samarkand → Tashkent

6 cities.
The route6 cities.
Loading map…

Explore the daily plan, including overnight stops and meals.

You are met at Tashkent International Airport and driven into the city. The afternoon is spent with a local guide, starting where Tashkent is oldest: the Khast-Imam complex, the religious centre of the capital, whose library keeps one of the earliest surviving copies of the Quran.

From there it is a short walk to Chorsu Bazaar under its great green dome, where the city does its actual shopping — spices, dried fruit, bread stamped in patterns, and a whole hall of nothing but dairy. Lunch is plov at the Central Asian Plov Centre, where it is cooked in cauldrons large enough to feed several hundred people at a sitting.

The rest of the day is modern Tashkent: a ride on the metro, whose stations were each designed as a separate piece of architecture, then Independence Square, the Alisher Navoi Theatre and Amir Temur Square.

  • Khast-Imam complex
  • Chorsu Bazaar
  • Plov lunch at the Central Asian Plov Centre
  • A ride on the Tashkent metro
  • Independence Square and Amir Temur Square
overnight
Tashkent
Meals
Lunch

Sightseeing about 6–7 hours. Lunch at the Plov Centre is included.

What's included

Included in your trip16 items covered in this fare
Your hotels
  • 4-star hotel accommodation
  • 4-star hotel accommodation
Hotels
  • A night in a yurt camp near Aydarkul, with dinner and breakfast
  • Four-wheel-drive vehicle for the Ustyurt plateau
Meals
  • Welcome plov lunches at the Plov Centres in Tashkent and Samarkand
Transport
  • All airport and railway station transfers
  • All transport during the tour as set out in the itinerary
  • Domestic flight Tashkent–Nukus in economy class
  • Night train Urgench–Bukhara in a private sleeper compartment
  • Afrosiyob high-speed train Samarkand–Tashkent in economy class
Entrance fees
  • Entrance tickets to the monuments and museums named in the itinerary, except in Muynak, Nurata and Shakhrisabz
  • Chairlift ticket in the Chimgan mountains
Guide
  • Licensed local guides in Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand
Visa
  • Visa support: an invitation letter or e-visa assistance where needed
Other
  • A local prepaid SIM card with 40 GB of data per group
  • Round-the-clock assistance from the local team
Plan and pay separately9 items not covered by this fare
Not included
  • International flights
  • Lunches and dinners other than those named as included
  • Consular visa fees where a visa is required
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Tips for guides and drivers
  • Personal expenses
  • The optional Savitsky Museum ticket in Nukus
  • Excess baggage on the domestic flight
Entrance fees
  • Entrance fees in Muynak, Nurata and Shakhrisabz, about €18 per person in all, paid on site
Accommodation4-star hotel accommodation
MealsDaily breakfast included
Tashkent3 nights
Hotel confirmed before travel
Nukus1 night
Hotel confirmed before travel
Khiva2 nights
Hotel confirmed before travel
Bukhara3 nights
Hotel confirmed before travel
Nurata1 night
Hotel confirmed before travel
Samarkand3 nights
Hotel confirmed before travel

Your hotel names are confirmed before you travel. Where alternatives are listed, the confirmed property will be a 4-star hotel of the same standard.

Sightseeing visits are planned in the itinerary. Admission tickets and monument fees are paid separately.

Ustyurt Plateau
MuynakDay 2

Indicative monthly averages for the route cities shown, not a forecast. Figures are omitted where city data is unavailable.

Samarkand · Tashkent · Bukhara

IdealGoodFairAvoid
NovGood
Samarkand
Average High
11°C
Rainfall
30mm
Tashkent
Average High
12°C
Rainfall
42mm
Bukhara
Average High
11°C
Rainfall
14mm

Private tour

  • This is a private programme for your party alone; the dates are flexible.
  • Prices are per person and fall as the party grows, with a separate rate for one, two and three or more travellers.
  • Children under five travel free and children under ten at half price, sharing with adults.

Trains

  • Intercity legs run on the Afrosiyob high-speed train in economy class unless stated otherwise.
  • Train times are set by Uzbekistan Railways and can move; the programme follows the confirmed timetable for your date.
  • Carry your passport on every train journey — tickets are issued in the passenger’s name.

Dress and etiquette

  • Mosques and mausoleums expect shoulders and knees to be covered; women may be asked to cover their hair at working shrines.
  • Photography inside some monuments carries a small separate fee payable on site.

Hotel classes

  • Standard, Comfort and Comfort Plus differ in the hotels used, not in the sightseeing.
  • Extra nights can be added at the start or end of the tour at a nightly supplement.

The Aral Sea section

  • Days two and three are spent largely off tarmac in a four-wheel drive, about 450 km each day.
  • Accommodation by the Aral Sea is in a yurt or tent camp with simple shared washing facilities.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy on the plateau; the local SIM card will not work everywhere.

Common questions

How remote is the Aral Sea section?

Very. Beyond Muynak there are long stretches of unpaved track, no mobile signal in places, and the camp has basic shared facilities. It is travelled in a four-wheel drive with an experienced local driver, and meals are provided throughout.

What should I pack for the Ustyurt plateau?

Layers: the plateau can be hot by day and cold at night even in summer. Bring a torch, sun protection, wet wipes and any medication you need, and keep a small bag for the camp night so the main luggage can stay in the vehicle.

When is the Aral Sea trip possible?

Usually from April to October. Outside those months the track and the camps may not operate, and the programme can be adjusted.

Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?

Citizens of many countries, including the UK and the EU, can enter Uzbekistan visa-free for a stay of up to 30 days; others, including Indian passport holders, apply for an e-visa, and visa support is included in the tour. Rules change, so check the current requirement for your passport before booking flights.

Which currency should I bring?

The Uzbek som. Cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, but bazaars and small cafes are cash only; ATMs and exchange desks are easy to find in the cities.

What is the best time of year to go?

April to early June and September to October are the most comfortable. July and August are very hot in Bukhara, often above 40°C, and winters are cold but quiet.

Policies & booking terms
Booking terms
  1. Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified.
  2. All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
  3. Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased prior to departure.
  4. Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, taxes, or supplier costs.
  5. Guests are responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, and any required vaccinations.
  6. Cancellations or amendments are subject to the applicable cancellation policy outlined in the package.
  7. The company is not liable for delays, cancellations, or changes due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
  8. All travelers must adhere to the local laws and customs of the destinations visited.
  9. No refunds will be issued for unused services, including but not limited to meals, accommodations, or activities.
  10. The company reserves the right to modify the itinerary or substitute hotels of similar standards if necessary.
  11. All special requests (e.g., room preferences, dietary requirements) are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
  12. Guests are responsible for any additional costs incurred due to personal expenses, such as phone calls, laundry, or minibar charges.
  13. Check-in and check-out times are subject to hotel policies and may vary by property.

Dates & prices

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