Desert Castles of Uzbekistan & the Seven Lakes of Tajikistan
Tashkent → Khiva → Desert fortresses of Khorezm → Bukhara → Samarkand → Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) → Shakhrisabz
From €1,155 per personView tour
Uzbekistan · 12 days
Uzbekistan in depth: 12 days
TashkentKokandRishtanMargilanKhivaDesert fortresses of KhorezmBukharaNurata & Lake AydarkulSamarkandShakhrisabz
The classic cities at a slower pace, plus the craft workshops of the Fergana Valley, the desert fortresses of Khorezm and a night in a yurt camp.
Highlights
- Silk ikat in Margilan and ceramics in Rishtan
- Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala fortresses
- A night in a desert yurt camp
- Two full days in Bukhara
- Shakhrisabz over the mountain pass
Route map
By airBy trainBy road
- TashkentDays 1, 4, 12 By train → Kokand
- KokandDay 2
- RishtanDay 3
- MargilanDay 3 By air → Khiva
- KhivaDay 5 By road → Desert fortresses of Khorezm
- Desert fortresses of KhorezmDay 6 By road → Bukhara
- BukharaDays 7–9 By road → Nurata & Lake Aydarkul
- Nurata & Lake AydarkulDay 10
- SamarkandDay 11 By road → Shakhrisabz
- ShakhrisabzDay 12 By road → Tashkent
Positions are exact; lines show the order of the route, not the road.
Day by day
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Day 1Arrive in Tashkent Tashkent
Arrival, rest and an evening walk around Amir Timur Square.
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Day 2Train to the Fergana Valley Fergana
Morning train through the mountain tunnel to Kokand: the Khudayar Khan palace and Juma Mosque.
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Day 3Rishtan and Margilan Fergana
A master potter’s studio in Rishtan, then Margilan’s silk workshops, from cocoon to hand-woven ikat.
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Day 4Back to Tashkent Tashkent
Morning at Kumtepa Bazaar (on market days), afternoon train to Tashkent and the Khast Imam complex.
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Day 5Fly to Khiva Khiva
Flight to Urgench and transfer to Khiva. Afternoon in Ichan-Kala.
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Day 6Desert fortresses of Khorezm Khiva
Cross the Amu Darya to Toprak Kala and Ayaz Kala; lunch or an overnight stay at the yurt camp.
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Day 7Across the Kyzylkum to Bukhara Bukhara
Full-day drive across the desert to Bukhara.
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Day 8Bukhara Bukhara
The Ark, Poi Kalyan, the Samanid Mausoleum and the trading domes.
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Day 9Bukhara at leisure Bukhara
Sitorai Mohi-Xosa palace, Chor Minor, a hammam or a suzani workshop.
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Day 10Yurt camp at Aydarkul Yurt camp
Drive via Nurata to a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum: camel ride at sunset and dinner by the fire.
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Day 11Samarkand Samarkand
Continue to Samarkand: the Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda.
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Day 12Shakhrisabz, then Tashkent
Morning over the Takhtakaracha Pass to Shakhrisabz, evening high-speed train to Tashkent for departure.
Hotels, transport & meals
Accommodation
Hotels are chosen to match your budget, from boutique guesthouses to the best available.
Transport
Private vehicle with driver, plus trains or flights where they save time.
Meals
Details are confirmed in your proposal.
Gallery
Make it yours
Change the pace, upgrade hotels, add a night in a yurt camp or a day in the mountains. Tell us what to change and we’ll send a revised route and price.
Ask about this tour
Tap a question: WhatsApp opens with it already written. Our team in Khiva usually replies within a few hours.
Questions about this tour
How does booking work?
Tell us your dates, group size and interests through the trip builder, the request form on any tour, or WhatsApp. We reply with a proposed itinerary and price. Once you are happy with it, we confirm hotels, guides and transport.
Can I change an itinerary?
Yes. Every itinerary on this site is a starting point. It can be shortened, extended, upgraded or combined with another country.
Is there any obligation when I ask for a proposal?
No. Proposals are free and you pay nothing until you decide to confirm your trip.
What is your cancellation policy?
Our cancellation terms are included with every proposal, before you pay anything.
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