Golden Silk Road — Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Gijduvan & Samarkand — 8 Days

If you’re choosing your first tour of Uzbekistan, this is probably it. All four of the country’s must-see cities — Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand — without unnecessary logistical compromises: we swap the grueling 8-hour overland drive for a short flight, so you spend your time on the sights, not the road.

Route

Tashkent → Khiva → Bukhara → Gijduvan → Samarkand → Tashkent.

Why this tour

• A flight between Tashkent and Khiva instead of a multi-hour bus ride saves an entire day of the trip.
• A stop in Gijduvan with a family of hereditary potters — something standard programs often skip.
• The right balance of length and coverage: 8 days is enough for all four cities without feeling rushed.
• The most-booked route for first-time visitors to the country — proven logistics with no surprises.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Tashkent, city orientation, the Khast-Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar.
2. Flight Tashkent → Khiva (instead of a long overland transfer). Ichan-Kala old town walking tour.
3. Drive across the Kyzylkum desert to Bukhara, a stop by the Amu Darya river.
4. Bukhara old town: the Ark fortress, the Kalyan minaret, Lyab-i Hauz, the covered trading domes.
5. Drive to Gijduvan — a pottery masterclass with a family of hereditary ceramicists, lunch with grilled kebabs. Continue to Samarkand in the evening.
6. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque.
7. Samarkand continued: the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, the Ulugbek Observatory, Siyob bazaar.
8. Transfer to the airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Domestic flight Tashkent–Khiva
• Comfortable air-conditioned transport between cities
• Licensed guide in each city
• Breakfasts and some lunches (including the Gijduvan ceramicists’ lunch)
• Entrance tickets to listed monuments

Not included

• International flights, insurance
• Dinners not listed in the itinerary

Confirmed hotel categories, the exact flight schedule and the final per-person price are arranged with your travel consultant at booking.