Two Capitals of the East — Samarkand, Gijduvan & Bukhara — 5 Days

If you don’t have time for a full vacation but still want to see the pearls of the Silk Road, five days is enough. No Tashkent, no long transfers — just Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda and Bukhara’s old town, with a short stop at a family of hereditary potters in between.

Route

Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara.

Why this tour

• The shortest multi-day format in our catalog — ideal if your vacation days are limited.
• Skipping Tashkent keeps the route compact without losing what matters most: the architecture of Samarkand and Bukhara.
• The Gijduvan pottery workshop adds a hands-on craft experience between the two architectural cities.
• Flying into Samarkand and out of Bukhara means no unnecessary loops on the map.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Samarkand, check-in, free evening.
2. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble, Siyob bazaar.
3. Drive to Gijduvan — a pottery masterclass with a family of hereditary ceramicists, lunch with grilled kebabs. On to Bukhara in the evening.
4. Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
5. Transfer to Bukhara airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Licensed guide in each city
• Comfortable transport between cities
• Breakfasts, lunch at the Gijduvan ceramicists’ house
• Entrance tickets to listed sites

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.