Following the footsteps of great conquerors, with long caravans traveling from West to East, there lay a long trading route, both commercial and intellectual. Crossing the most beautiful oases of the Silk Road, from caravanserais to bazaars, under a starry sky, with dazzling and shimmering turquoise domes, mosques, and madrasas that highlight the route. A dream journey that we invite you to discover along the Silk Road in Uzbekistan. By discovering Khiva, Bukhara, the magnificent Samarkand, and experiencing an unforgettable, dazzling vacation among the hospitable Uzbek people, you will be treated more as a friend than a tourist! Roksi Sam Travel offers you this dream on a small budget! No more hesitation, the charming allure will seduce you… Register now!

Day 1 TASHKENT – URGENCH – KHIVA [B]

Arrival and customs formalities at the airport. City tour of Tashkent. First acquaintance with the Uzbek capital, visiting the Hazrat-i-Imam architectural ensemble (reconstructed in 2007), which includes the mausoleum of Abu-Bakr-al-Kaffal Shanshi, the Barak-khan madrasa, the Friday Mosque, and the Moyie Mubarek Madrasa, which houses the ancient Quran from the 7th century. Visit the Eski Juva district and then stroll through the largest market in Uzbekistan – Chorsu Bazaar. Tour of the Kukeldash madrasa (reconstructed in 2007). In the evening or midday, flight to Urgench and transfer to Khiva (30 km), accommodation in the “Silk Road Caravanserai” madrasa or similar.

Day 2 KHIVA [B]

City tour of Khiva. Khiva, completely restored, offers visitors the appearance it had between the 18th and early 20th centuries. A perfect architectural ensemble, unparalleled in Central Asia.

Visit to Ichan-Kala (the inner city): the “old fortress”; the Tash-huli Palace, the residence of the Khivan Khans, with a small courtyard in the center, featuring an ayvan (veranda) with two columns, entirely covered in painted maiolica tiles, the Ak-Cheikh-Bobo tower with a terrace offering a magnificent panoramic view of the city; the Islam-Khodja madrasa (1908-1912) with the tallest minaret in the city.

In the center of Ichan-Kala, a long blank wall, surrounded by a minaret, serves as the facade of the Juma (Friday) Mosque, the main mosque of Khiva, whose 200 carved wooden columns resemble ancient Arabian mosques. Behind the Juma Mosque stands the most famous monument of Khiva: the Pahlavan-Mahmud Mausoleum (1810-1825).

In front of the Muhammad-Amin Khan madrasa stands the curious Kalta Minor (“short minaret”) of 1855, an unfinished minaret of luminous blue color. Free time for a walk in the evening. Overnight at the “Caravanserai” hotel or similar.

Day 3 KHIVA – BUKHARA (450 KM/6 H) [B]

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time for walking or strolling around the city. In the afternoon, transfer to the Khiva station and departure by train to Bukhara. Arrival in Bukhara. Transfer to the hotel. In the 10th century, during the Samanid dynasty, Bukhara was a leading Muslim religious and intellectual center before being destroyed by the Mongols and later restored by Timur. It has retained much of the charm of its Arab, Persian, and Turkish past.

Overnight at Helene Oasis hotel or similar.

Day 4 BUKHARA [B]

Breakfast at the hotel. City tour. The morning will be devoted to exploring the old town with the Poi-Kalyan complex: a minaret, mosque, and madrasa. Then, stroll through the 40-domed caravanserai market. After the market, visit the Ulugh Beg madrasa, followed by the Lyabi-Haouz complex, one of the most original architectural complexes in Bukhara, the Magoki-Attari mosque, the oldest mosque in Bukhara, and finally, the Chor-Minor mosque, “four minarets,” a strange and attractive monument.

At the gates of the old town stands the Ark fortress, with its reception halls, harem, and prison… Until 1920, it was the residence of the rulers of Bukhara, and there is also a small museum dedicated to the history of Arabic writing and calligraphy. At the foot of the fortress, bordering Registan Square, visit the Bolo-Hauz Mosque, “the mosque with the bowl.” Finally, in the park, stands the Samanid Mausoleum, dedicated to Ismail Samani, the founder of the dynasty, built at the end of the 10th century.

Overnight at Helene Oasis hotel or similar.

Day 5 BUKHARA – SAMARKAND [B]

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time in Bukhara. In the afternoon, transfer to Bukhara train station. Departure by train to Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand and accommodation at the hotel. Samarkand was an important trading center on the Silk Road, at the crossroads of major caravan routes coming from China, India, Siberia, Persia, and Byzantium… The capital of Sogdiana in the 4th century BC, it was captured by Alexander the Great, destroyed by the Arabs in the 8th century, and by Genghis Khan in the 13th century, before regaining glory and prosperity under Timur in the 14th century.

Overnight at SandHill hotel.

Day 6 SAMARKAND [B]

Breakfast at the guesthouse. Excursion to Registan Square, the center of religious life in the region, with the Ulugh Beg, Shir-Dor, and Tilla-Kari madrasas, covered with polychrome ceramic mosaics, predominantly blue. Restored in its original splendor, the complex is one of the most beautiful in Islam and deserves all its accolades.

Visit to the Museum of the History of Culture of Uzbekistan, which has a very beautiful archaeological section. Then, visit the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the bazaar in the heart of the old city. Finally, visit the Guri Emir Mausoleum (the tomb of Timur and his descendants).

Overnight at SandHill hotel.

Day 7 SAMARKAND [BLD]

Breakfast at the guesthouse. Visit with a guide the famous Shah-i-Zinda necropolis (“Living King”), the jewel of Samarkand: an extensive collection of mausoleums that seems to concentrate all the experience of medieval architecture from the 11th to the 15th centuries. Then, visit the extraordinary Ulugh Beg astronomical observatory, a giant sextant built by the brilliant grandson of Timur, the king-astronomer.

Overnight at SandHill hotel.

Day 8 SAMARKAND-ISTANBUL-EUROPE [B]

Very early transfer to the airport and departure, depending on the schedule of the return flight.