Our all-inclusive Uzbekistan tour offers a captivating journey along the legendary Silk Road, with overnight stays in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. Guests will explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda, and the historic city of Bukhara.
The itinerary includes visits to iconic landmarks such as the Kalon Mosque, the Ark Fortress, the Khast Imam Complex, and the vibrant Chorsu Bazaar. Throughout the journey, guests will enjoy meals at some of Uzbekistan’s finest restaurants, experience a traditional dance performance and a pottery demonstration, and take part in special cultural experiences, including a cooking class and a visit to a traditional paper workshop.
Guests will enjoy a wonderful combination of stays in modern, luxury hotels as well as smaller, boutique hotels. Free time is woven throughout the itinerary for personal exploration, shopping, or simply soaking in the local atmosphere.
Danielle N. Lussier is a professor of political science at Grinnell College. Her research focuses on democratization, political participation, and religion and politics, with geographic expertise on post-communist Eurasia and Indonesia.
She is the author of Constraining Elites in Russia and Indonesia: Political Participation and Regime Survival (Cambridge University Press, 2016) and co-author (with Mohammed Ayoob, Michigan State University) of The Many Faces of Political Islam Second Edition (University of Michigan Press, 2020). Her scholarship has been published in Journal of Democracy, Politics & Religion, Problems of Post-Communism, Post-Soviet Affairs, and Slavic Review, as well as in several edited volumes.
Lussier teaches courses on Russian politics, democratization and regime change, Islam and politics, and comparative politics. Lussier also actively participates in the Russian, Central European, and Eurasian Studies fields.
Private drivers will meet all guests at the airport and take them to our five-star hotel, located in the city center.
Note: If guests want to arrive one day early to acclimate to the time change, they may do so. Such guests will be charged for an extra night at the hotel.
We will stay at the brend-new, five-star hotel, InterContinental Tashkent.
We will meet on the top floor of our hotel and enjoy a meal in its rooftop restaurant, Ember.
Note: The sun sets around 6 p.m., so guests may opt to arrive a little earlier to enjoy the view and a beverage
Meet in the hotel lobby and begin our tour of Tashkent, the largest city in Central Asia.
Please avoid wearing revealing clothes such as short skirts and sleeveless tops as these can be considered inappropriate for many locations in the city.
Arrive, with our local guide, via private bus, at the Khast Imam complex, a collection of mosques, one of which contains the oldest Qur’an in the world.
After touring the complex, we’ll have lunch at a nearby restaurant, Myasnoy Steakhouse.
Take a tour of Chorsu Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in the world.
Arrive at Amir Temur Square and enjoy a stroll through this famous public space.
Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart for the nearby restaurant, Syrovarnya, which serves Italian food.
Meet in the hotel lobby with bags, and depart for Tashkent train station.
Depart on high-speed train, bound for the ancient city of Samarkand, which used to be a major hub on the Silk Road, and contains several UNESCO World Heritage sites. A local guide and driver will meet our group upon arrival in Samarkand.
Please note: Train schedules in Uzbekistan are subject to change. The exact departure and arrival times will be confirmed closer to the travel date.
Alongside our local guide, visit Registan Square, one of the most famous sights in all of Uzbekistan.
Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant, Samarqand Osh Markazi. This restaurant specializes in traditional Uzbek meals served family-style.
We will explore the Gur Amir Museum, a magnificent mausoleum that serves as the final resting place of Timur (Tamerlane) and showcases exquisite Timurid art and architecture.
Arrive at our hotel in Samarkand and enjoy free time.
Accommodation will be at a boutique or upscale hotel conveniently located in or near the historic center. Possible options include Kosh Havuz Boutique Hotel, L’Argamak Hotel or a similar hotel in the same class.
Meet in the hotel lobby and walk to a nearby restaurant.
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart with a local guide to Shah-i-Zinda, which is full of ancient tombs and other marvels.
We will take our time exploring this site, which has stunningly beautiful examples of ancient tilework, both inside and outside:
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, depart for the nearby village of Konigil, located about 20–30 minutes from Samarkand, to visit the Meros Paper Mill. Here, guests will see the traditional process of making Samarkand paper from mulberry bark, a craft that dates back many centuries along the Silk Road.
On the way back to Samarkand after visiting Konigil village, we will stop at Art Gallery Happy Bird, one of the city’s best antique stores, offering a beautiful selection of Uzbek traditional crafts.
Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart for the El Merosi Theater, and at 6 p.m. we will witness a traditional Uzbek dancing performance in a local theater.
Enjoy dinner at Restaurant Samarkand, which has colorful outdoor seating and live music.
Meet in the hotel lobby, with bags. Depart with a local guide, on a private bus, bound for the historic city of Bukhara.
On the way, we’ll stop at Gijduvan, which is famous for its ceramic pottery.
Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant, located within the grounds of a pottery workshop and store.
Continue the journey on our bus to Bukhara, a UNESCO-protected city considered the holiest city in Central Asia.
Here, you can see how Bukhara once prominently straddled the Silk Road (please refer to the left side of the map below, which depicts our journey along the Silk Road from Samarkand to Bukhara):
Arrive at our hotel in Bukhara and enjoy free time.
Accommodation will be at a modern or boutique hotel conveniently located in or near the historic center. Possible options include Mercure Bukhara Old Town, Paradise Plaza Luxury Hotel, Wyndham Bukhara, or Hotel Malika Bukhara.
Meet in the hotel lobby and walk to a nearby restaurant, Ayvan Restaurant.
Meet in hotel lobby and depart, with a local guide, for our tour of this ancient city. Start out by touring The Great Minaret of the Kalon and the Kalon Mosque.
Travel to the Bukhara Bazaar. Enjoy shopping and exploring at one of the pivotal trade centers of the Silk Road.
Guests can find plenty of traditional handicrafts like textiles, jewelry, and ceramics.
Enjoy lunch at Mavrigi Restaurant.
Enjoy a tour of The Ark Fortress, built in the 5th Century, which served as the home to Bukhara’s rulers for more than a thousand years.
Relax for the rest of the day at the hotel, or continue exploring the area independently.
Meet in the hotel lobby and walk to nearby restaurant.
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart with a local guide for a cooking masterclass featuring traditional Uzbek cuisine. Under the guidance of a local chef, guests will learn how to prepare one of the classic Uzbek dishes and discover the flavors and techniques behind the country’s culinary traditions.
After the class, enjoy lunch featuring the dishes prepared during the masterclass.
In the afternoon, depart with a local guide for the Chor-Bakr Necropolis, an ancient cemetery that has not been fully restored like most other sites.
Relax for the rest of the day, or continue exploring the area independently.
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart for dinner. Enjoy dinner at Zaytoon, one of the best restaurants in Bukhara, offering high-end Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.
Check out of hotel and leave bags in the lobby.
Spend your free time exploring Lyabi-Hauz, one of the most atmospheric and beloved areas of Bukhara. Centered around a tranquil historic pool, this lively square is surrounded by madrasas, cafés, artisan shops, and shaded walkways.
It’s a perfect place to relax, people-watch, enjoy a coffee or tea, browse local crafts, or simply soak in the timeless ambiance of the old city.
Meet at a local restaurant for lunch.
After lunch, return to the hotel to collect your bags. Then depart by private bus for the train station to board the train to Tashkent.
Travel by high-speed train from Bukhara to Tashkent, enjoying views of the open countryside along the way.
Upon arrival in Tashkent, our driver will meet you and transfer you to our four-star hotel for check-in.
Train schedules are subject to change. Final departure and arrival times will be confirmed closer to the travel date.
At the Radisson Blu, we will all have upgraded rooms on the executive-level floor.
After a long day of travel, guests may eat at the hotel’s restaurant or simply order room service. Meals will be charged to John Shors Travel.
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart for a visit to a local Tashkent home to experience traditional Uzbek hospitality. Guests will enjoy tea and light homemade treats while learning about everyday life, customs, and family traditions in Uzbekistan.
Lunch at a restaurant in the modern Tashkent City district.
After lunch, explore Tashkent City, the large modern development in the heart of the capital. The area features contemporary architecture, public spaces, fountains, and parks that highlight the city’s modern transformation.
(Note: Tashkent City does not look like this yet. The project is about half complete)
After exploring Tashkent City, those who wish may return to the hotel by metro, accompanied by the guide. Tashkent’s metro system is famous for its beautifully designed stations, each decorated with unique architectural and artistic elements reflecting Uzbek culture and Soviet-era design.
Enjoy free time, as it will be our last afternoon in Uzbekistan.
Meet in the hotel lobby and depart for Caravan Restaurant, where we will enjoy tradition food and live music and dancing.
Private transportation is provided to the Tashkent International Airport.
(*This is an all-inclusive tour with the exception of alcoholic beverages and hotel incidentals such as laundry, room service, etc.)
Price of Tour:
$8,995 USD per person, based on double occupancy
$10,695 USD per person, based on single occupancy
Price includes:
Accommodations at high-end hotels
All transportation within Uzbekistan, including train tickets
Meals and non-alcoholic drinks
Fees (museums, tours, guides, etc.)
Excursions (traditional dancing show, pottery demonstration, etc.)
Tips
Price does not include:
Airfare to and from Tashkent
Alcoholic drinks
Activities during free times
Hotel incidentals such as room service, mini bar, Internet and phone charges, laundry, etc.
Expenses incurred if guest decides to arrive early for the tour, or stay after the tour concludes
Exact tour details may differ slightly from what is listed above, depending on recommendations from local guides; as restaurants close, streets are refurbished, etc.
Hotels may change, but will be in the same class as noted above
Before booking your slot, please ensure that you are physically and mentally fit to travel fully unassisted. This includes being able to:
Walk two or more miles per day, including on uneven surfaces
Go up and down steps and inclines
Stand for periods of time
Carry personal bags and luggage independently
Have a look at our full “Traveler Expectations and Disclaimer” page here.
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your trip. For your convenience, you can explore options from our trusted travel insurance partner here.