ITINERARY
Days 1–2: Tashkent (2 Nights)
Modern Capital with Ancient Roots
Welcome to Tashkent, a city whose 2,000-year history stretches from ancient caravan crossroads to Soviet reconstruction and modern nationhood. Guests will be met at the airport by our chauffeur and transported to the hotel (staying 2 nights). We start the tour with a welcome dinner on October 19th, extra nights at the group hotel can be arranged for those arriving early. For our first day in the city, we’ll visit these sites.
Khast Imam Complex
The spiritual heart of Tashkent, this complex grew around the tomb of the 10th-century scholar Kaffal Shashi. Its present ensemble largely dates to the 16th century under the Shaybanid rulers. The complex houses one of Islam’s most revered relics — the 7th-century Uthman Quran — linking Uzbekistan directly to the earliest period of Islamic history. The surrounding madrassahs and mosques reflect centuries of religious scholarship in Central Asia.
Chorsu Bazaar
Located at the crossroads of the old city, Chorsu has functioned as a trading hub for centuries. Beneath its distinctive Soviet-era blue dome, merchants continue traditions that began when Silk Road caravans passed through ancient Chach. The market remains a living continuation of Central Asia’s mercantile heritage.
Tashkent Metro
Opened in 1977, the metro is one of the most architecturally ambitious in the former Soviet Union. Each station was designed as a monumental “palace for the people,” blending Soviet symbolism with Uzbek decorative motifs — an artistic response to the 1966 earthquake that reshaped the city.
Museum of Applied Arts
Housed in a former diplomat’s mansion, the museum preserves centuries-old traditions of ceramic art, suzani embroidery, wood carving, and metalwork — crafts that once traveled the Silk Road and helped define Central Asia’s artistic identity.
Private Concert
We are planning a private concert with dinner featuring shashmaqom, a refined sort of music, with lyrics derived from Sufi poems about divine love. The instruments of shashmaqоm consist of a pair of long-necked lutes (rawap, tar, tanbur or dutar), the dayra (frame drum), and the sato (bowed lute).
Days 3–4: Khiva (2 Nights)
A Perfectly Preserved Silk Road Citadel
We take a 90-minute flight from Tashkent to Urgench. From there we take a private minibus to visit some of the desert fortresses in the Ellik Qala complex. By evening, we arrive within the mighty walls of Khiva, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most intact medieval cities in the Islamic world. Check in to hotel (staying 2 nights). Over the following day and a half, we visit the following:
Itchan Kala
Encircled by massive mud-brick walls dating largely from the 17th century, Itchan Kala contains more than 50 historic monuments. Though many structures are from the 18th–19th centuries, the city’s foundations stretch back over a millennium. It flourished as the capital of the Khiva Khanate, strategically positioned between Persia, Russia, and nomadic territories.
Kalta Minor Minaret
Begun in 1851 by Khan Muhammad Amin, this striking turquoise-tiled tower was intended to be the tallest minaret in Central Asia. Construction halted upon the Khan’s death, leaving it uniquely squat and broad — yet one of the most iconic silhouettes of the Silk Road.
Tosh-Hovli Palace
Built in the 1830s as the residence of Allakuli Khan, the palace showcases elaborate carved wooden columns and vibrant Khorezm tilework. Its harem courtyards and audience halls reflect the ceremonial power of the khans during Khiva’s political zenith.
Juma Mosque
Unlike typical Islamic mosques crowned by domes, the 10th-century Juma Mosque (rebuilt in the 18th century) is famed for its forest of over 200 carved wooden columns. Some columns date back nearly a thousand years, preserving layers of artistic evolution.
Days 5–7: Bukhara (3 Nights)
The Sacred and Scholarly Heart of Central Asia
Few cities rival the historical depth of Bukhara, a major intellectual center of the Islamic Golden Age, and famous for one of the longest-enduring Jewish communities. We travel from Khiva to Bukhara on day 5 (6 hours), and check in to the hotel (staying 3 nights). Over the following days, we will visit these sites, and meet local artists and musicians.
Po-i-Kalyan Complex
This monumental ensemble anchors Bukhara’s skyline. The Kalyan Minaret, built in 1127 by the Karakhanids, survived Genghis Khan’s invasion and once served as both a call to prayer tower and symbol of political authority. The adjacent mosque and Mir-i-Arab Madrassah reflect the city’s status as a theological powerhouse.
Ark Fortress
Dating in origin to at least the 5th century CE, the Ark functioned as the seat of Bukhara’s rulers for over a millennium. Rebuilt repeatedly after invasions, it housed royal courts, treasuries, and prisons. It remained the residence of the Emir until the Russian conquest in 1920.
Trading Domes
The 16th-century domed bazaars — Toki Zargaron, Toki Telpak Furushon, and others — were purpose-built commercial centers where jewelers, hat makers, and money changers operated under vaulted ceilings designed to cool desert heat. They reflect Bukhara’s prosperity as a Silk Road mercantile hub.
Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble
Centered around a tranquil pool built in 1620, this plaza is framed by madrassahs and a khanqah (Sufi lodge). In a desert climate where water symbolized life and blessing, such pools were vital community gathering spaces.
Days 8–10: Samarkand (3 Nights)
Imperial Capital of Timur
The ancient city of Samarkand has been a regional capital city for several millenia. We travel from Bukhara to Samarkand by high-speed train (3 hours) and check-in to hotel (staying 3 nights). Over the following days, we will explore this legendary city on foot, including these highlights:
Registan Square
The ceremonial heart of Timurid Samarkand, Registan evolved over two centuries. The Ulugh Beg Madrassah (1417–1420) reflects the ruler’s passion for astronomy and science, while the later Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kari madrassahs complete the harmonious square. Its monumental scale symbolized imperial ambition.
Shah-i-Zinda
This sacred necropolis developed between the 11th and 15th centuries around the legendary tomb of Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. The dazzling tilework adorning its mausoleums represents some of the finest ceramic artistry of the Timurid era.
Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Commissioned by Timur after his Indian campaign in 1399, this colossal mosque was intended to be the grandest in the Islamic world. Though partially damaged by earthquakes, its scale and ambition reflect Timur’s desire to rival the greatest capitals of his time.
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
Originally built for Timur’s grandson, the mausoleum became Timur’s own resting place in 1405. Its ribbed azure dome and intricate interior influenced later Mughal architecture, including monuments in India.
Days 11–12: Return to Tashkent
On our final day, we travel by high-speed train 3 hours back to Tashkent. Over a celebratory banquet, we’ll reflect on the highlights of our journey that has spanned more than two millennia of history — from ancient caravan cities and Mongol conquests to Timurid splendor and modern independence.
Check in to hotel (staying 1 night). Airport transfers as necessary.
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Tamada Club