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
Uzbekistan Silk Road
Three nights each in Samarkand and Bukhara and two in Khiva, with 5-star hotels, breakfast, flights, trains and transfers.
- 10 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- Heathrow flights plus a domestic flight
From
£1,249
per person · 2 sharing
About this holiday
All three of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities in one trip. Spend three nights in Samarkand and three in Bukhara, then take the train to Khiva for two nights inside the walls of the Itchan Kala, before a domestic flight back to Tashkent.
The package includes return flights from London Heathrow, 5-star hotels with breakfast, all your train tickets, the domestic flight from Urgench and your transfers. The extra nights leave time for visits outside the cities, such as the Imam al-Bukhari complex near Samarkand.
- Duration
- 11 days, 10 nights
- Board
- Bed & breakfast
- Hotels
- 5★ in each city
- Flights
- Heathrow plus a domestic flight
- Trains
- Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva
- Good for
- Couples, friends, heritage trips
5★ hotels in four cities
You stay in 5-star hotels in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, chosen to be within walking distance or a short taxi ride of each old town. Hotels in Khiva are often smaller and simpler. We confirm the hotels with each quote.
Hotel features
- Breakfast at every hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Air conditioning
- Close to each old town
- Family rooms on request
- Mosques close by
Times from central hotels
- Registan (Samarkand)approx. 10 mins on foot
- Kalon Minaret (Bukhara)approx. 10 mins on foot
- Kalta Minor (Khiva)a short walk
- Khiva stationapprox. 30 mins on foot
- Urgench Airportapprox. 40 mins by road
- Tashkent Airportapprox. 20 mins
Times are approximate and depend on your hotels.
Included in the price
Included
- Return flights from London Heathrow, with checked baggage
- A domestic flight from Urgench to Tashkent
- 3 nights each in Samarkand and Bukhara, 2 in Khiva and 2 in Tashkent, all 5★
- Breakfast every morning
- Train tickets: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva
- Airport and station transfers
- ATOL protection under ATOL 10416
- A UK consultant before and during your trip
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Guided tours and entry fees
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Extras such as seat selection or extra baggage
Before you go
Flight time
Approx. 7 hours direct from London Heathrow to Tashkent (TAS). The domestic flight from Urgench to Tashkent takes approx. 1 hour 30 minutes.
Time difference
Uzbekistan is 5 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 4 hours ahead in summer. It does not change its clocks.
Money
The currency is the Uzbek som (UZS). Cards are accepted in many hotels and larger shops; carry cash for bazaars, taxis and small cafés.
Visiting mosques
Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes where asked. Women may be asked to cover their hair at working mosques and shrines.
Language
Uzbek is the official language and Russian is widely spoken. English is spoken at many hotels and tourist sites, less so elsewhere.
Weather
Samarkand averages around 26–32°C in May and June. Bukhara and Khiva are hotter, at around 37°C in July, and Khiva is the coldest in winter, at around 2°C by day in January.
Day by day
These are suggestions; guided tours and entry fees are not included, but we can add a guide in any city.
- Day 1
Fly to Tashkent
Fly direct from London Heathrow to Tashkent, approx. 7 hours. Flights land in the early hours, so your room is booked from tonight. Your driver takes you to your hotel, approx. 20 minutes.
- Day 2
Train to Samarkand
Take the Afrosiyob high-speed train to Samarkand, approx. 2 hours 15 minutes. Visit the Registan, and come back after dark when it is lit up.
- Days 3–4
Samarkand
Walk the Shah-i-Zinda, visit the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Siab Bazaar and the Gur-e-Amir, and take a short drive north to the Imam al-Bukhari complex.
- Day 5
Train to Bukhara
Take the train to Bukhara, approx. 1 hour 45 minutes, and spend the evening around the Lyabi-Hauz pool.
- Days 6–7
Bukhara
See the Po-i-Kalyan and the Kalon Minaret, the Ark fortress and the Samanid Mausoleum, and visit the Bahauddin Naqshband complex outside the city.
- Day 8
Train to Khiva
Take the train to Khiva, approx. 3 hours 30 minutes or longer, depending on the train. Your hotel is in or close to the Itchan Kala.
- Day 9
Khiva
Walk the walls of the Itchan Kala, see the Kalta Minor and Islam Khoja minarets, the Kunya-Ark and the Juma Mosque with its carved wooden columns.
- Day 10
Fly to Tashkent
Transfer to Urgench Airport, approx. 40 minutes, for the domestic flight to Tashkent, approx. 1 hour 30 minutes. Spend the evening in the capital.
- Day 11
Fly home
Breakfast at your hotel, then your transfer to Tashkent Airport for your flight to London.
Questions about this package
How do I get to Khiva?
By train from Bukhara, approx. 3 hours 30 minutes or longer, depending on the train. After Khiva, you fly back to Tashkent from Urgench Airport, approx. 1 hour 30 minutes. The trains and the domestic flight are included.
Can I visit the Imam al-Bukhari complex?
Yes. The complex is a short drive north of Samarkand, and the Bahauddin Naqshband complex is just outside Bukhara. We can arrange a driver or a guide for both.
Are guided tours included?
No. You’re free to explore at your own pace, and entry fees are paid at each site. We can add an English-speaking guide in any city, or for the whole trip.
When is the best time for this trip?
April to June and September to October. July and August reach around 37°C in Bukhara and Khiva, and Khiva is cold in winter.
Can I change the number of nights?
Yes. You can add nights in any city or leave out Khiva. Tell us your dates and we’ll price it for you.
More Uzbekistan holidays
You might also like
A shorter trip to Samarkand and Bukhara, or a break in Samarkand.
Multi-centre
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
Questions about this holiday?
Talk to a UK consultant
Call us or send an enquiry, and we’ll check prices for your dates, suggest hotels and change the package to suit you.