Twin-centreTashkent & Samarkand
- 5★ hotels in both cities
- Direct flights from London Heathrow
- High-speed train and transfers
From£799per person · 2 sharing
View details
Uzbekistan · Holidays from the UK
Uzbekistan holidays from the UK
Tiled madrasas and blue domes in Samarkand, the old trading town of Bukhara and the walled inner town of Khiva, linked by fast trains. A UK consultant arranges your flights, hotels, trains and transfers as one ATOL protected holiday.
Packages from £799 per person, with return flights, hotel and transfers
Direct from Heathrow
Uzbekistan Airways flies direct from London to Tashkent, approx. 7 hours.
Islamic heritage
Mosques, madrasas and shrines in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.
Fast trains
High-speed trains link Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.
ATOL protected
Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416.
Uzbekistan holiday packages
Uzbekistan holiday packages
Flights, hotel and transfers in one price. Every package can be changed: more nights, a different hotel or another UK airport.
3 packages · guide prices per person
Twin-centre
Multi-centreSamarkand & Bukhara
- 5★ hotels in each city
- Direct flights from London Heathrow
- High-speed trains and transfers
From£949per person · 2 sharing
View details
Multi-centreUzbekistan Silk Road
- 5★ hotels in four cities
- Heathrow flights plus a domestic flight
- Trains and transfers
From£1,249per person · 2 sharing
View details
Overview
Uzbekistan holiday guide for UK travellers
Uzbekistan holidays from the UK centre on three old Silk Road cities: Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Direct flights from London Heathrow to Tashkent take approx. 7 hours, and high-speed trains link Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for sightseeing.
Samarkand has the Registan, the blue-tiled tombs of the Shah-i-Zinda and Timur’s mausoleum, the Gur-e-Amir. Bukhara’s old town is smaller and easy to walk, with the Kalon Minaret, the Ark fortress and domed trading bazaars. In Khiva, the Itchan Kala sits inside its mud-brick walls.
Most trips start in Tashkent, the capital, with its mosques, metro and Chorsu Bazaar. From there, take the train to Samarkand and Bukhara, then continue by train to Khiva and fly back from Urgench. Guided tours are optional and can be added in any city.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Uzbekistan
Most holidays begin in Tashkent, where the flights from London land. These are the three cities most travellers come to see. Transfer times are approximate.
Samarkand
Registan · Mausoleums · Bazaars
The Registan’s three madrasas, the Shah-i-Zinda and the Gur-e-Amir. Approx. 2 hrs 15 mins from Tashkent by high-speed train; allow two or three nights.
Nearest airport: Samarkand Airport, approx. 20 mins
Packages from £799 pp
Bukhara
Old town · Mosques · Craft bazaars
A compact old town of madrasas, mosques and domed trading bazaars around the Lyabi-Hauz pool, with the Kalon Minaret and the Ark fortress a short walk away.
Nearest airport: Bukhara Airport, approx. 20 mins
Packages from £949 pp
Khiva
Walled town · Minarets · Add-on
The Itchan Kala, Khiva’s inner town, is ringed by mud-brick walls and full of minarets and madrasas. Reach it by train from Bukhara or fly to Urgench.
Nearest airport: Urgench Airport, approx. 40 mins
Packages from £1,249 pp
Things to see
Places to see in Uzbekistan
A few of the sights to plan your trip around. We can suggest hotels close to the ones you most want to see.
Weather
Uzbekistan weather by month
Average daytime highs in Samarkand and Bukhara. Hover over or tap a month for the figures.
View as a table
| Month | Samarkand | Bukhara |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6°C | 6°C |
| Feb | 8°C | 9°C |
| Mar | 13°C | 16°C |
| Apr | 21°C | 24°C |
| May | 26°C | 30°C |
| Jun | 32°C | 35°C |
| Jul | 34°C | 37°C |
| Aug | 32°C | 35°C |
| Sep | 28°C | 30°C |
| Oct | 21°C | 22°C |
| Nov | 14°C | 15°C |
| Dec | 9°C | 8°C |
Long-term averages from weather2travel.com. Actual weather varies year to year.
Spring and autumn
April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months for sightseeing, at around 21–32°C in Samarkand. Bukhara is a little warmer.
July and August
The hottest months, at around 34°C in Samarkand and up to 37°C in Bukhara and Khiva. Plan sightseeing for the morning and evening.
November to March
Cold, with daytime highs of around 6–14°C in Samarkand and colder nights. The sites are much quieter.
Hazrati Imam Mosque, Tashkent
Halal holidays
Halal holidays in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a Muslim-majority country, so most food is halal and mosques are easy to find in every city. Alcohol is sold in many hotels and restaurants. For an Islamic heritage tour, tell your consultant and we’ll add a guide and visits to the shrines.
- Halal foodMost meat in Uzbekistan is halal, from plov to shashlik and samsa
- Mosques in every cityHistoric and working mosques in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva
- Ziyarat visitsThe Imam al-Bukhari complex near Samarkand and Bahauddin Naqshband’s near Bukhara
- Shah-i-ZindaSaid to hold the tomb of Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
- Near the old townsHotels within walking distance of the main mosques, on request
- Heritage guidesGuides for Islamic heritage tours in each city, on request
Uzbekistan holiday FAQs
Questions about Uzbekistan holidays
Quick answers for UK travellers. For anything else, our UK team is happy to help.
020 7871 4545How long is the flight to Uzbekistan from the UK?
Uzbekistan Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to Tashkent on selected days each week, approx. 7 hours. We can quote connecting flights from other UK airports. Uzbekistan is 5 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 4 hours ahead in summer.
When is the best time to visit Uzbekistan?
April to June and September to October, when Samarkand averages around 21–32°C. July and August are hot, at up to 37°C in Bukhara and Khiva, and winters are cold, at around 6–9°C by day.
How do I travel between Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva?
The Afrosiyob high-speed train takes approx. 2 hours 15 minutes from Tashkent to Samarkand and approx. 1 hour 45 minutes from Samarkand to Bukhara. Khiva is approx. 3 hours 30 minutes from Bukhara by train, and you can fly back to Tashkent from Urgench. Trains often sell out, so we book them with your holiday.
Is halal food easy to find in Uzbekistan?
Yes. Uzbekistan is a Muslim-majority country and most meat is halal. Alcohol is sold in many hotels and restaurants, so tell us if you’d like to avoid it. Many visitors also go to the Imam al-Bukhari complex near Samarkand and the Hazrati Imam complex in Tashkent, whose library holds an early Quran manuscript known as the Uthman Quran.
Are guided tours included?
No. Our packages include flights, hotels with breakfast, trains and transfers, so you can explore at your own pace. We can add an English-speaking guide for a half or full day in any city. Entry fees are paid separately.
Are Uzbekistan holiday packages ATOL protected?
Yes. Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416, and you’ll receive an ATOL Certificate when you pay.
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