Heart of Tamerlane's Empire — Tashkent, Samarkand, Gijduvan, Bukhara — 6 Days

Not everyone has eight days for the full “Golden Triangle” with Khiva — and that’s no reason to skip the trip. Here are the three cities where Tamerlan built, prayed and was laid to rest, without the multi-hour desert drive. The same depth of experience, just more compact and affordable.

Route

Tashkent → Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara.

Why this tour

• A compact alternative to the 8-day “Golden Silk Road” — Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara without the drive to Khiva.
• Built for travelers short on time who still won’t skip Gijduvan and its pottery workshops.
• The Gur-Emir mausoleum in Samarkand is Tamerlan’s actual tomb, not a replica.
• The most affordable way to see the country’s three key cities.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Tashkent, check-in, free evening.
2. Tashkent: the Khast-Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar, an old town walk. Drive to Samarkand.
3. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum — Tamerlan’s tomb, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, Siyob bazaar, the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble.
4. Drive to Gijduvan — a pottery masterclass with a family of hereditary ceramicists, lunch with grilled kebabs. On to Bukhara in the evening.
5. Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
6. Transfer to Bukhara airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Comfortable air-conditioned transport
• Guide in each city
• Breakfasts, lunch at the plov center and at the Gijduvan ceramicists’ house
• Entrance tickets to listed monuments

Not included

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

Confirmed hotel categories, guaranteed departure dates and the final price are arranged with your travel consultant at booking.