Treasures of the Timurid Empire — Khiva, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz, Samarkand, Tashkent — 9 Days

To really understand the Timurid Empire, seeing Samarkand alone isn’t enough — you need to travel through all five cities Tamerlane built, conquered, and called his own. This tour covers the whole route west to east, from medieval Khiva to modern Tashkent, with no backtracking.

Route

Urgench → Khiva → Bukhara → Shakhrisabz → Samarkand → Tashkent.

Why this tour

• Includes Shakhrisabz — Tamerlane’s UNESCO-listed hometown, often left out of shorter routes.
• Linear west-to-east logistics — no unnecessary loops on the map.
• Finishing in Tashkent is convenient if your return flight departs from the capital.
• 9 days is enough for all five cities without ever feeling rushed.

A 10-day version with an extra day in the Chimgan mountains after Tashkent is also available.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Urgench, transfer to Khiva, free evening.
2. Khiva: Ichan-Kala, the Kunya-Ark fortress, the Tash-Khauli palace, the Islam-Khoja minaret.
3. Drive to Bukhara across the Kyzylkum desert, a stop by the Amu Darya river.
4. Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
5. Drive to Shakhrisabz — a tour of the Ak-Saray palace ruins and the Dorus-Saodat memorial complex, continue to Samarkand in the evening.
6. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque.
7. Samarkand continued: Shah-i-Zinda, the Ulugbek Observatory; transfer to Tashkent.
8. Tashkent: the Khast-Imam complex, Chorsu Bazaar, an old town walk.
9. Transfer to the airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Comfortable air-conditioned transport between cities
• Licensed guide in each city
• Breakfasts, one plov-house lunch
• 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 per-person price are arranged with your travel consultant at booking.