Itineraries
Uzbekistan in 7 days: the classic itinerary
A realistic one-week route through Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, with transport times, where to sleep and what to skip.
The best 7-day Uzbekistan itinerary is a loop: arrive in Tashkent, fly to Urgench for two nights in Khiva, cross the desert to Bukhara for two nights, then take the fast train to Samarkand for two nights and return to Tashkent. Every leg is under seven hours, and no city gets less than one full day.
The route at a glance
| Day | Route | Transport | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Tashkent | — | Tashkent |
| 2 | Tashkent → Urgench → Khiva | Flight about 1 h 40 + 40 min drive | Khiva |
| 3 | Khiva: Ichan-Kala | On foot | Khiva |
| 4 | Khiva → Bukhara | Road 6–7 h, or train | Bukhara |
| 5 | Bukhara | On foot | Bukhara |
| 6 | Bukhara → Samarkand | Fast train about 1 h 30 | Samarkand |
| 7 | Samarkand → Tashkent, depart | Fast train about 2 h | — |
For a second full day in Samarkand, make it 8 days: see Classic 8-day Uzbekistan tour.
Day 1 – Tashkent
Most international flights land in Tashkent at night or early morning. Rest, then spend the afternoon in the old city: the Khast Imam complex, which holds an early Quran manuscript, and Chorsu Bazaar. In the evening, ride the metro and see a few of its decorated stations. If you land late, skip sightseeing: you will pass through Tashkent again on day 7.
Day 2 – Fly to Khiva
Take the morning flight to Urgench and drive 40 minutes to Khiva. Check in inside or next to the walls, then walk into Ichan-Kala in the late afternoon and climb the ramparts or the Kunya-Ark bastion for sunset. See Urgench airport to Khiva.
Day 3 – Khiva
A full day in Ichan-Kala: Kalta Minor, the Islam Khoja minaret at opening time, the Juma Mosque, Kunya-Ark, Tosh-Hovli and the Pahlavon Mahmud mausoleum. Lunch on shivit oshi. Our Khiva in one day plan has the timings.
Option: if you have one extra day, spend it on the desert fortresses of Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala.
Day 4 – Across the Kyzylkum to Bukhara
The road from Khiva to Bukhara is about 450 km. It follows the Amu Darya, the border river with Turkmenistan, for a stretch, then crosses the Kyzylkum desert. With a private driver it takes 6–7 hours, with a lunch stop at a roadside chaikhana. The alternative is the train; check the current timetable in our trains guide. Arrive in Bukhara for an evening walk around Lyabi-Hauz.
Day 5 – Bukhara
Bukhara’s old town is larger and more spread out than Khiva’s. Start at the Ark fortress, see the Poi Kalyan ensemble with the Kalyan minaret, walk through the trading domes, visit the Samanid mausoleum (10th century) and end at Chor Minor. Return to Poi Kalyan after dark, when it is lit. See the Bukhara travel guide.
Day 6 – Fast train to Samarkand
A morning train takes about 1.5 hours to Samarkand. Afternoon: Gur-e-Amir, Timur’s mausoleum, then Registan Square at sunset and again after dark. Book this train early: in spring and autumn it sells out.
Day 7 – Samarkand and back to Tashkent
Morning: Shah-i-Zinda, the avenue of tiled mausoleums, best before the light gets harsh; then Bibi-Khanym mosque and Siab Bazaar. Take an afternoon or evening fast train to Tashkent (about 2 hours) for your flight home, or stay the night.
Making it work
- Book the Tashkent–Urgench flight and the fast trains first; they are the bottlenecks.
- Reverse the loop (Samarkand first, Khiva last) only if flights out of Urgench suit you better; then fly Urgench → Tashkent at the end.
- Travelling in July or August: start sightseeing at 7:00, rest from 12:00 to 16:00, go out again in the evening.
- Want to slow down? Make it 8–10 days. See how many days you need and the 10-day itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough for Uzbekistan?
Yes, for the four classic cities if you fly from Tashkent to Urgench. You get one full day each in Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, plus their evenings.
Should I start in Khiva or Samarkand?
Start in Khiva. The Tashkent–Urgench flight is the fastest way west, and the fast trains between Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent make the return easy at the end of the trip.
Can I do this itinerary by public transport?
Mostly. Flights and trains cover every leg except Khiva to Bukhara, where you can take the train or a shared taxi. Book flights and fast trains as early as possible.
Rules, timetables and prices change. We check this page regularly, but always confirm entry requirements with official sources before you travel.
