From Sogd to Khorezm — Tajikistan & Uzbekistan — 14 Days

From mountain villages in Sogd, where time seems to have stopped, over the Shahristan pass into the busy, fertile Fergana Valley, and on to the turquoise domes of Samarkand and Bukhara. This route crosses regions rarely combined in a single trip, showing Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as two sides of the same historical coin.

Route

Dushanbe → Margeb → Lake Iskanderkul → Penjikent → Sarazm → Margozor lakes → Istaravshan → Khujand → Kokand → Rishtan → Tashkent → Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara.

Why this tour

• An extended version of “Secrets of Ancient Sogdiana” — the same mountainous Tajikistan, continuing on through Istaravshan and Khujand into the Fergana Valley.
• Istaravshan, with the Mug-Teppe fortress, is an ancient city tourists almost never include in their plans.
• Two pottery centers on one route — Rishtan in Uzbekistan and the craft workshops of Istaravshan.
• 14 days with no backtracking — a linear route from Dushanbe all the way to Bukhara.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Dushanbe, check-in, free evening.
2. Dushanbe: the National Museum of Antiquities, the Hissar fortress, the Mehrgon bazaar.
3. Drive to Margeb, then on to Lake Iskanderkul (2,195 m) in the Fann Mountains.
4. Hike to the “Fann Niagara” waterfall, drive to Penjikent.
5. The Sarazm settlement, the Margozor lakes cascade, a picnic.
6. Drive to Istaravshan over the Shahristan pass — the Mug-Teppe fortress, a craft workshop. Drive to Khujand.
7. Cross the border, drive to Kokand.
8. Rishtan — the blue pottery workshop. Kokand: Khudoyar Khan’s palace, the Madari-Khan mausoleum.
9. Drive to Tashkent over the Kamchik pass.
10. Tashkent: the Khast-Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar. Drive to Samarkand.
11. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble.
12. Drive to Gijduvan — a masterclass with the ceramicists. On to Bukhara in the evening.
13. Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
14. Transfer to Bukhara airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Comfortable transport in both countries
• Guide in each country
• Breakfasts, a picnic at the Margozor lakes, several lunches as per the itinerary
• Entrance tickets within Tajikistan

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.