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Private, on your own dates · Uzbekistan

Charming Uzbekistan

A compact private tour of Uzbekistan’s three great cities: the old quarter of Tashkent, a walk through medieval Bukhara and a full day in Samarkand, linked by the Afrosiyob high-speed train.

The route3 cities, 1 nights in each.
Loading map…
5 days, 4 nightsDuration
3 citiesWhere you sleep
Hotel accommodation in a twin or double room with daily breakfast, in the hotel class you chooseMeals

Twin share · land only, flights extra

Why this journey

Charming Uzbekistan fits the essentials of the Silk Road into five days without turning them into a race. The trick is the railway: the Afrosiyob high-speed train covers the distances that once took caravans weeks in a couple of hours, so each city gets real time on foot rather than a morning seen through a coach window.

Tashkent comes first, and it is more interesting than its reputation as a transit capital suggests — the Khast-Imam complex, the vast Chorsu Bazaar, plov cooked in cauldrons for hundreds, and a metro built as a gallery. From there it is south-west to Bukhara, a city whose old centre has barely changed its street plan in five centuries, for an afternoon among its pools, domes and minarets.

Bukhara to Samarkand is a short train ride, arriving in time to see the Registan lit at night. The next day is the full Samarkand programme: Temur’s tomb at the Gur-Emir, the three madrasas of the Registan, Bibi-Khanym, the tiled lane of Shakhi-Zinda and Ulugbek’s observatory, before an evening train back to Tashkent for the flight home.

Everything is private — your own guide in each city and your own transfers — with lunch at the Plov Centres in Tashkent and Samarkand included, and a local SIM card so you are connected from the first hour.

Trip highlights

  • 01All three great Silk Road cities in five days
  • 02Every intercity leg by the Afrosiyob high-speed train
  • 03The Registan and Gur-Emir floodlit on your first evening in Samarkand
  • 04Plov lunches at the Plov Centres in Tashkent and Samarkand
  • 05Private guides and transfers throughout

Day-by-day itinerary

What's included

Included in your trip10 items covered in this fare
Hotels1
  • Hotel accommodation in a twin or double room with daily breakfast, in the hotel class you choose
Transport3
  • All airport and railway station transfers
  • All transport during the tour as set out in the itinerary
  • Afrosiyob high-speed train tickets Tashkent–Bukhara, Bukhara–Samarkand and Samarkand–Tashkent in economy class
Entrance Fees1
  • Entrance tickets to the monuments and museums named in the itinerary
Guide1
  • Licensed local guides for the sightseeing named in each day
Visa1
  • Visa support: an invitation letter or e-visa assistance where needed
Meals1
  • Welcome plov lunches at the Plov Centres in Tashkent and Samarkand
Other2
  • A local prepaid SIM card with 40 GB of data per group
  • Round-the-clock assistance from the local team
Plan and pay separately6 items not covered by this fare
Not included6
  • 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

Your hotels

Hotels are named on your confirmation — all are of the stated category.

3 go inside0 walk through0 exterior only
On the route3 places
TashkentEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
BukharaEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
SamarkandEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside

Uzbekistan

IdealGoodFairAvoid
SepGood

Spring (Mar–May) is the best time — lush, not too hot. Autumn (Sep–Oct) is also excellent for sightseeing.

Samarkand
Average High
29°C
Rainfall
5mm
Tashkent
Average High
29°C
Rainfall
6mm
Bukhara
Average High
29°C
Rainfall
3mm

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.

Common questions

Is five days enough for Uzbekistan?

For the three main cities, yes, if you travel between them by train as this tour does. You will see the headline sights of each; if you want day trips out into the mountains or the desert, look at the longer programmes.

How long are the train journeys?

Tashkent to Bukhara is about four hours, Bukhara to Samarkand under two, and Samarkand to Tashkent about two and a half, all on the Afrosiyob high-speed train.

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.
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