The Great Silk Road Book
Uzbekistan

Adventure

Nature

Tailor-made

At nightfall, the moon illuminates the peaks of the minarets, the domes of the mosques and the monumental doors of the medersas in the cities along the Silk Road. Khiva, the oasis of Khorezm, Bukhara, the beauty of the spirit, and Samarkand, the pearl of Transoxania, will plunge you into an atmosphere worthy of the "Thousand and One Nights".

A journey full of contrasts, combining the sincere hospitality of the Uzbek people, the discovery of a rich cultural heritage and the crossing of the great deserts of Central Asia.

From

2295€

Length of stay

12 days / 10 nights

Minimum number of participants

Privatized trip from 2 persons
Customisable programme

Highlights

Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand...but that's all we can tell you
At sunset, a camel ride across the steppe
Welcome and hikes in the Tajik village of Sentob and the Uzbek village of Sukok (exclusive)
Complimentary: Dinner at a local's house with a Plov, the traditional meal

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Day 1

France, Tashkent

Flight to Uzbekistan

Flight to Uzbekistan

Flight from Paris or province to Tashkent. Depending on the airline, overnight on board.

 

Day 2 - (BLD)

Tashkent - Urengench - Khiva

Discovering Tashkent

Discovering Tashkent

Arrival in Tashkent early in the morning (07:00). Welcome at the airport by the guide and driver. Check-in at the hotel

Discover the old town and Khasti Imam square. Then visit the Tchor Sou ("four paths") market.

Lunch and discovery of the modern part of Tashkent

Transfer to Tashkent airport for flight to Urengench, transfer to Khiva (30 km).

Dinner and overnight in Khiva.

 

Day 3 -(BLD)

Khiva

Discovering Khiva

Discovering Khiva

Breakfast at the hotel. Discovery of Itchan Kala, the inner city, entrenched behind high brick walls. Khiva is undoubtedly the most intact of the cities dotted along the Silk Road in Central Asia. The whole day is devoted to visiting the city-museum.

Lunch during the visit.

Dinner in the Khan's summer palace. Night in Khiva.

Day 4-(BLD)

Khiva - Bukhara 475km

The Central Asian desert

The Central Asian desert

Departure by car for Bukhara at 8.30 am.

For around a hundred kilometres, we pass through the villages of the Khorezm region and then across the Kizil Koum (Red Sand) desert. There will be a few stops for photos and lunch in one of the "Chaykhana" - oasis cafés.

Arrival in Bukhara in the late afternoon. Check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight in Bukhara.

Day 5-(BLD)

Bukhara

Bukhara old town

Bukhara old town

The whole day is devoted to exploring the ancient part of Bukhara. Most of Bukhara's attractions are concentrated in the old city of Shakhristan and can be visited on foot.

Lunch on the terrace of a local café with a magnificent view of Poi Kalon.

Private dinner in the Modar I-Khan medersa and overnight in Bukhara.

Day 6-(BLD)

Bukhara

Bukhara and surrounding area

Bukhara and surrounding area

After breakfast, you will set off to explore the area around Bukhara. Visit the sacred site of Bakhaoudin Nakshbandi (16th century) and then the summer residence of the last emir, Setora-i-Mokhi Khosa (19th century).

The tour continues with a visit to the Chor Minor medersa (early 19th century), one of the most attractive and bizarre buildings in Bukhara.

Free time to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town or enjoy the magnificent hammam of Bukhara (14th century). Dinner and overnight in Bukhara.

Day 7-(BLD)

Bukhara - Guijduan - Aydar yurt camps (240 km)

In the footsteps of Alexander the Great

In the footsteps of Alexander the Great

We leave at 9am for the village of Abou-Abdulloh-Guijdovani - Guijdovan (70 km), famous for its fine ceramics.

On the way, visit the small town of Nourata, where you can climb Alexander the Great's hill, and visit the Nomozgokh mosque and the sacred Chachma spring. Arrival at the yurt camp at around 17:00.

Free time to watch the sun set over the desert.

Camel ride across the steppe.

Overnight in a yurt.

Day 8-(BLD)

Yurt camps -Lake Aydar -Sentob village

Lake Aydar and Sentob village

Lake Aydar and Sentob village

Breakfast in the yurt.

Departure for the shores of Lake Aydar, continuing along the banks of the lake to observe the birdlife that colonises the banks (pelicans, cormorants, condors, etc.).

Departure for the village of Sentob, a beautiful Tajik village on the banks of a river and surrounded by lush orchards. Lunch followed by a dip in the pretty village of Sentob, at the foot of the Nurata mountains.

Relax, take an easy stroll through the village and meet the locals.

Overnight in a guest house (double room, shared WC and hot showers).

Day 9-(BLD)

Sentob - Samarkand

Samarkand, at the crossroads

Samarkand, at the crossroads

At 09:00, departure for Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand around noon. Lunch and discovery of the capital of the Temurid Empire.

Dinner and overnight in Samarkand.

Day 10-(BLD)

Samarkand

Between Mausoleums and Museums

Between Mausoleums and Museums

The whole day is devoted to discovering the capital of the empire of Timur or Tamerlane. The crossroads of the different silk routes, from the west to Persia, from the east to China, and from the south to India.

Visit to the Ulugbeg Observatory - one of the largest observatories of the Middle Ages - and the Chakhi Zinda necropolis.)

The tour continues with the Syab market and the Bibi Khanoum mosque.

Dinner and overnight in Samarkand.

Day 11-(BLD)

Samarkand - Tashkent

return to Tashkent

return to Tashkent

In the morning, departure for the typical village of Khartang and a visit to the sumptuous mausoleum of Imam al-Bukharï, one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Uzbekistan.

In the afternoon, visit the paper and carpet factories. Free time.

Around 4 p.m. transfer to the station to take the Samarkand-Tashkent high-speed train.

Arrival in Tashkent at 7.15pm.

Dinner and overnight in Tashkent.

Day 12

Tashkent - France

Back to France

Back to France

Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Price per person from €2,295 incl. VAT*.

- Based on 2 participants

This price includes :

  • International return flights from Paris*.
  • Airport and train station pick-ups in Uzbekistan
  • Domestic flight Tashkent - Urengench
  • Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary (on a shared double room basis)
  • All meals mentioned (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
  • Night in yurt with full board
  • Overnight accommodation with full board
  • Transport for transfers according to the programme
  • French-speaking tour guide
  • Guided tours and admission to monuments according to the programme
  • Samarkand - Tashkent high-speed train tickets (Spanish Talgo)
  • Folk dances in Khiva

At your expense :

  • Assur Travel multi-risk insurance (optional)
  • Visa fees
  • Drinks during meals
  • Meals not clearly mentioned
  • Personal expenses and activities not explicitly mentioned in the programme
  • Any other excursions or expenses not mentioned in the price
  • Tips to guides and drivers
  • Photo and camera rights on certain sites

* Price from Paris. Please contact us for any other departure city.

For a group request (from 10 people) or to customize your trip, please contact us.

Comfort

3* hotels, Yurt camps and homestays
Meals are either at local people's homes, in restaurants or in local cafes.

Climate and equipment

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September-October) are normally the best times to visit the country. The weather is mild in April and the desert has a brief flowering period. In autumn, the harvest season, the markets are full of fresh fruit. For trekking in the mountains, the summer period (July-August) is best, but the weather is unpredictable and there may be snow on the passes.
The climate is characterised by considerable temperature variations. The temperature range can reach 20°C. There are also significant differences between the desert and mountainous areas. In the lowlands, the climate is pleasant from May to early June and from September to early October. In summer, temperatures are stifling: it is over 40°C in Tashkent, and 50°C in the south of the country. In winter (January-February), daytime temperatures vary between 5 and 10°C.

Health

Up-to-date vaccination: diphtheria-tetanus-polio
Recommended vaccinations: typhoid fever, viral hepatitis A and B
Ask your doctor or an International Vaccination Centre for advice
It is strongly advised not to drink tap water

Formalities

PASSPORT & VISAS
For French nationals, a passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of return and a visa. All foreigners must be in possession of a visa and an invitation from an individual, company or organisation approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or travel through an accredited travel agency.
Further information on the France Diplomatie website

The + humans trip

  • Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand...but that's all we can tell you
  • A night in a yurt near Lake Aydar Kul
  • At sunset, a camel ride across the steppe
  • An evening of dance and song in the Khan's former palace in Khiva
  • Uzbek crafts
  • An evening of dance and song in the ancient medersa of Nodyr Divan Beghi in Bukhara
  • A welcome in the Tajik village of Sentob

Request for a data sheet

Please enter your e-mail address so that we can send you your data sheet as soon as possible

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Non-contractual data sheet

  • respect for human and responsible values
  • the guarantee of a tailor-made trip
  • seamless support from our teams
  • the useful journey allowing the development
  • a safe journey
× How can I help you?