Three Stars of the East — Khiva, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz, Samarkand — 8 Days
Why go back to where you started? This route runs strictly one way — from Khiva in the west to Samarkand in the east, with no loops and no repeat drives. Convenient if you’re flying out of Samarkand or continuing your trip toward Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan.
Route
Urgench → Khiva → Bukhara → Shakhrisabz → Samarkand.
Why this tour
- Linear logistics with no loop back through Tashkent — saving time and money on extra flights.
- Shakhrisabz, Tamerlan’s hometown, is included without needing a separate side trip.
- An ideal first leg of a longer journey — for example, before tours into Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan.
- 8 days cover four key points in the country at a comfortable pace.
Day by day
- Arrival in Urgench, transfer to Khiva, free evening.
- Khiva: Ichan-Kala, the Kunya-Ark fortress, the Tash-Khauli palace, the Islam-Khoja minaret.
- Drive to Bukhara across the Kyzylkum desert, a stop by the Amu Darya river.
- Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
- Drive to Shakhrisabz — the Ak-Saray palace, the Dorus-Saodat memorial complex. Drive to Samarkand.
- Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble.
- Samarkand continued: the Afrasiyab museum, the Ulugbek Observatory. Free time.
- Transfer to Samarkand airport, departure.
Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)
- Comfortable air-conditioned transport
- Guide in each city
- Breakfasts
- Entrance tickets to listed monuments
Not included
- International flights, insurance
- Lunches and dinners
Confirmed hotel categories, guaranteed departure dates and the final price are arranged with your travel consultant at booking.
Upcoming departures
…