This Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary & Guide will have you feeling like you’ve stepped back in time as you travel through the ancient Silk Road.
This Central Asia gem is becoming increasingly popular year by year and once you arrive you’ll quickly realize why.
Marvel at stunning Islamic Architecture, sip tea with locals, get lost exploring bazaars and let’s not forget devouring shashlik kebabs with homemade obi non (bread) right out of a tandoor oven.
In this guide I will cover 4 major stops: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, how to get to each, what to do and of course some travel tips to make your journey to and in Uzbekistan go as seamless as possible.
This post is all about an Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary & Guide-Discover The Ancient Silk Road.
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Uzbekistan Fun Facts
- Official Language: Uzbek and Russian
- Currency: Uzbekistani Som (SOM)
- Population: 35.6 Million
- Capital City: Tashkent
- Major International Airport: Tashkent International Airport
- Best Time to Visit: September- November and April- Early June
- Uzbekistan was the heart of the historic Silk Road, the ancient trading route that connected China with Europe and the Middle East.
- During the 13th and 14th Century Uzbekistan was conquered by Genghis Khan.
- Uzbekistan was ruled by Russia for nearly 200 years and was part of the Soviet Era until 1991 when Uzbekistan finally gained its Independence.
- The National Dish of Uzbekistan is Plov, a dish made typically with rice, pieces of meat, carrots and onions.
10 Day Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary
Almost all international flights will have you arriving at Tashkent International Airport and because of that our first stop on our 10 Day Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary is Tashkent.
Tashkent
Welcome to Tashkent, the Capital of Uzbekistan. This modern city is filled with beautiful parks, historical sites, cafes and a some truly stunning metro stations.
Known as the largest city in Central Asia this lively capital is the perfect introduction to our 10 day Uzbekistan itinerary.
How to Get to Tashkent
Before arriving at Tashkent International Airport I highly recommend downloading the Yandex App, pretty much this app is “Uber”. Like with any country using the airport taxi services will come with a up-charge. We were quoted about 4 times the amount of what we found on Yandex.
A trip into the city should take about 10-15 minutes and cost around $1.50 USD/ 17.000 SOM
Places to Visit in Tashkent
Day 1
- Visit Amir Temur Square
- Amir Temur Museum: Cost to visit $3 USD/ 40.000 SOM
- Snap a Picture of Hotel Uzbekistan
- Lunch at Kamolon Osh Drujba
- Sunset at Magic City
Day 2
- Chorsu Bazaar
- A visit to Hazrati Imam Complex is (Free) but if you want to see what is claimed as “The World’s Oldest Koran” you’ll have to pay $4 USD/ 50.000 SOM
- Memorial to the Victims of Repression and the Surrounding Park
- Ride the metro and visit a couple stations, I know so random but the metro stations are actually so pretty.
Where to stay in Tashkent :
We stayed at the comfortable and family run Nest Inn.
Search alternate accommodation options in Tashkent HERE.
Samarkand
Samarkand is the second largest city in Uzbekistan and undoubtedly the most famous stop in Uzbekistan.
It is said to be one of the oldest cities in the world dating back to 7th Century BC and famous for being one of the most important Silk Road cities and often called “The Pearl of the Eastern Muslim World.
Samarkand attracted many conquerors including Alexander The Great, Genghis Khan and Amir Temur as well as the very famous world traveler Marco Polo.
How to Get to Samarkand
Take the Afrosiyob Bullet Train from Tashkent to Samarkand.
Journey Time: 3 Hours
Afrosiyob Cost: Economy $20 USD/ 245.000 SOM Business $29 USD/ 360.000 SOM VIP $40 USD/ 495.000 SOM
Once you arrive at Samarkand Railway, order a Yandex before proceeding outside the gates that way you wont get bombarded by the many taxis waiting outside the gates, just say Yandex and they “should” leave you alone.
Journey time into the city is roughly a 15 minute drive and should cost around $1.25 USD/ 15.000 SOM
Places to Visit in Samarkand
Day 3
- Registan $5 USD/ 65.000 SOM
- Gur-I Amir Complex $3 USD/ 40.000 SOM -The resting place of the Great Conqueror Amir Temur.
- Lunch at Kokandskaya Somsa
Day 4
- Shah-I-Zinda $3 USD/ 40.000 SOM -Our favorite stop in Samarkand
- Bibi Khanym Mosque $3 USD/ 40.000 SOM
- Siyob Bazaar
- Lunch at Obloqul Bobo Mulyon Manti
- Registan for Sunset
- Dinner at Roni Pizza Napoletana
Where to Stay in Samarkand :
We stayed at a homestay called Elite Boutique Hotel and although we had a few complaints it was nothing major. All in all it was a comfortable stay with the best included breakfast we had in our entire time in Uzbekistan.
Search alternate accommodation options in Samarkand HERE.
Bukhara
Next up, Bukhara, one of the best preserved Islamic cities of Central Asia and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to more than 2000 years old.
This was once a prominent stop on the Silk Road between the East and the West and a beautiful example of a medieval city in Central Asia.
How to Get to Bukhara
Take the Afrosiyob Bullet Train from Samarkand to Bukhara.
Journey Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Afrosiyob Cost: Economy $14 USD/ 178.000 SOM Business $21 USD/ 263.000 SOM and VIP $26 USD/ 323.000 SOM
Bukhara Railway Station is about a 20 minute drive to the city. Yandex should cost around $2 USD/ 25.000 SOM.
Places to Visit in Bukhara
Day 5
- Ismail Samani Mausoleum
- Bolo Hauz Mosque
- Ark of Bukhara (recommend going close to sunset)
- Dinner at Bon Bon
Day 6
- Chor Minor Madrassah
- Lyabi Khause Square
- Lunch at The Plov
Need an afternoon pick me up head next door to Old Street Coffee House
- Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah and Ulugbek Madrassah
- Po-I-Kalyan Ensemble
- Dinner at Zaytoon
Where to Stay in Bukhara :
We stayed at Qamar Hotel. If you’re on a budget I do recommend it for the value vs what you get, it’s simple and basic but quiet and clean.
Search alternate accommodation options in Bukhara HERE.
Khiva
Welcome to Khiva’s Itchan Kala (Khiva Old Town) our last stop on our Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary and one of the best preserved and most impressive destinations on the Silk Road.
Most describe this beautiful part of Uzbekistan as an open-air museum and as you first walk into the city you will immediately know why.
Towering minarets, clay buildings, well preserved streets and majestic fortress walls evoke what was once the grandeur of the this ancient Silk Road stop.
Because of this Khiva was the first place in Uzbekistan to be inscribed as a UNESCO Heritage Site. With over 50 historical sites scattered throughout the city.
How to Get to Khiva
Today’s journey is much longer than previous travel days.
To get to Khiva take the sleeper train, usually scheduled around 3:30 am or 4:30 am.
Journey to Khiva: 6 hours and 30 minutes.
Cost: Sleeper (6 Bunk Beds to a Room) $12 USD/ 146.850 SOM Coupe (4 Bunk Beds to a Room) $16 USD/ 195.330 SOM
I highly recommend spending the extra $4 USD for the Coupe option as we heard from other passengers that there was no ac in the Sleeper option. If you’re visiting during the winter or late autumn season this should not be a problem but for spring or summer I definitely recommend upgrading to Coupe because the ac worked amazing well in our Coupe room.
The ride from Bukhara to Khiva was surprisingly comfortable. You’ll receive a closed plastic bag with a bottom sheet, top sheet, cover for a pillow and small towel. Bathrooms are also available onboard.
Plan to purchase tickets at least one week in advance. Tickets do sell out.
Once you arrive at Khiva Railway order a Yandex and if you’re staying in the Old City it should take roughly 10 minutes and cost around $0.50 USD/ 5.000-6.000 SOM.
Tip: A fee of $15 USD/ 200.000 SOM is required to enter The Old City but if you’re staying in a hotel/homestay just let the guards know and they’ll let you enter, exit and reenter without having to pay. If you want to see the sites though you will have to purchase a ticket and is valid for one day only, so here is what I recommend.
Places to Visit in Khiva
Day 7
Don’t buy the required ticket to see the sites just yet. On Day 1 do the following:
- Wander the Streets of the Old City
- Kalta Minor Minaret- A large un-finished turquoise tiled tower who’s Khan dropped dead leaving the structure incomplete.
- Mohammed Amin Khan Madrasah
- Pahlavon Muhmud Mausoleum- The entrance isn’t included in the day ticket. Cost $2 USD/ 25.000 SOM
- Lunch: Sofra Restaurant
- Walk the Old City Walls for sunset- Located near the North Gate- The entrance isn’t included in the day ticket. Cost $1 USD/ 20.000 SOM
- Dinner at Terrassa Cafe
Day 8
Purchase your day ticket today, Cost $15USD/ 200.000 SOM
- Kuhna Ark and the Watchtower- Unfortunately the Watchtower is also not included in the day ticket so if you want to go up you’ll have to pay $8 USD/ 100.000 SOM.
I recommend doing either the Khoja Minaret or the Watchtower, but in the end is completely up to you if you would like to do both. Just keep in mind that Khoja Minaret also comes at an additional cost.
- Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrassah
- Juma Mosque
- Islam Khoja Madrassah and Khoja Minaret- if you would like to climb the minaret you’ll have to pay an additional $8 USD/ 100.000 SOM
- Tash Khovli Palace
Your ticket includes entrances to many other madrassahs and museums so explore at your leisure.
If you are on a tight budget and wondering if skipping the day ticket purchase is okay, I would say go ahead and skip it. Yes the sites are nice but honestly the beauty is really wandering the city and you see so much for free.
Although Khiva is absolutely stunning I did not like that everything seemed to cost extra, just include it all in the ticket and call it a day. On the other hand I still do recommend a visit because the Old City itself is pretty remarkable.
Tip: Looking for a market to buy snacks and drinks at half the price from Old Town? There is one about a 5 minute walk from the West Entrance called Gastronom. This is the closest market to the Old City.
Where to Stay in Khiva :
We decided to stay in Itchan Kala at Old Street Khiva, we found our stay to be comfortable and well located, and although the sign on the outside of the building says hotel, it’s a homestay.
Search alternate accommodation options in Khiva HERE.
Overnight Train to Tashkent
Day 9
No Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary would be complete without hopping onboard a Soviet Era Train and that’s exactly what you’re about to do.
This unique and one of kind overnight adventure will take 15 hours to arrive to Tashkent and although that sounds like an absurd amount of time it was actually a fairly comfortable ride.
Cost Sleeper (6 Bunk Beds to a Room) $18 USD/ 226.560 SOM Coupe (4 Bunk Beds to a Room) $25USD/ 320.180 SOM SV (2 Bunk Beds to a Room) $46 USD/ 582.330 SOM
On your bunk bed will be a closed plastic bag with a bottom sheet, top sheet, cover for a pillow and small towel. Bathrooms are also available onboard.
Departure is usually scheduled for after 5pm which is good because the first hour or two are hot, especially if you are traveling during the Summer like we did. You’ll arrive in Tashkent the following morning around 8:00-8:30 am.
I recommend bringing snacks, water and drinks. Although there is a lady passing through every hour or so offering snacks and drinks if you forget to bring your own or run out early. She stopped coming around 11pm.
If a 15 hour train ride sounds miserable or just not your cup of tea you can also fly out of Urgench Airport, which is about a 50 minute drive from Khiva.
Flight Home
Day 10
Arriving in Tashkent around 8:00-8:30 am gives you plenty of time to catch a flight home from Tashkent International Airport in the afternoon or early evening.
Make sure to get there 3 hours before your flight, there are so many check points before finally arriving at your gate, it took us a full 2 hours!
Taxi to the airport should take 10-15 minutes and cost around $1.50 USD/ 17.000 SOM.
Uzbekistan Visa
Visa-free or E-visa for most nationalities.
U.S Passport holders will need an E-Visa to enter Uzbekistan. This E-Visa is valid for a 30 day period.
I’m going to link a Reddit post that will help with the visa process since it is extremely particular with the picture upload and reading this will save you lots of time and frustration.
Hopefully they fixed it but just in case read Reddit Forum before applying for your E-Visa.
Check here for list of countries with Visa Free entry to Uzbekistan.
How to Get a Visa for Uzbekistan
Need a Visa? Follow the links below for a hassle free experience.
Uzbekistan Travel Tips
Download the Yandex App. “The Uber of Uzbekistan”. Avoid the hustle or bargaining with Taxi rides, and install this app. Rides are between .50 Cents/6.000 SOM to $2 USD/28.000 SOM. You can also order food via the app.
No need to exchange money beforehand, they’re plenty of ATM’s around the cities.
I recommend paying with cash, you will get charged a fee for using a credit card, which are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and sites but if you can just avoid the pesky fees and pay cash.
An ESIM or SIM Card can be purchased at Tashkent airport, we purchased ours near baggage claim for $15 USD and it is valid for 30 days with 70 GB of 5G data and unlimited calls and texts. The provider we picked is called UZTELECOM.
Purchase any train tickets needed for your journeys through Uzbekistan at least one week in advance during low season and two weeks during peak season. They do sell out!
We were very mindful of using bottled water to brush our teeth in our 6 months in South East Asia but in Uzbekistan we used the tap water and we were fine.
Make sure you have Google Translate installed on your phone. Uzbeks speak Russian and Uzbek. Although we did encounter several Uzbeks who could say a couple words in English we used Google Translate quite a bit.
For the ladies don’t forget to pack some outfits that are modest as you will need them to visit some sites. Shoulders and legs should be covered and a scarf for your hair will be needed at times.
Best Time to Visit Uzbekistan
September- November and April- Early June would be the ideal time to visit, just remember ideal times always come with more crowds and higher prices.
We visited during Late June and into early July and yes it was hot around 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit/ 32-35 degrees Celsius which was tolerable for us, especially coming from South East Asia where it was hot and humid!
But if you want to avoid such temperatures avoid the Summer.
Is Uzbekistan Safe to Travel
When I think of Uzbekistan the word that pops in my head is “peaceful”. Mathew and I kept saying how peaceful Uzbekistan felt. Kids playing outside, families hanging out in parks, women walking by themselves and us tourist just exploring any street we wished with no concern for safety.
We came across several male and female solo travelers who came to the same conclusion as us. That Uzbekistan felt and is incredibly safe.
As always be mindful of your surroundings and don’t put yourself in sketchy situations.
Travel Insurance for Uzbekistan
Traveling is an amazing experience but with adventure comes the unknown. Protect yourself from unforeseen situations like canceled flights, lost luggage, stolen goods or emergency visits to the hospital while overseas.
Investing in travel insurance can save you from spending thousands of dollars on unexpected emergencies.
It’s 100% worth doing the research and choosing a policy that is going to be relevant for the type of traveling you’ll be doing.
We decided to go with Safety Wing for our year long journey through Asia. Safety Wing has been specially created for backpackers, digital nomads, and long-term travelers.
Just for reference we spend $3.22 a day and this policy covers both Mathew and myself.
Uzbekistan Travel Budget
We spent 17 days in Uzbekistan and for reference this is how much we spent for 2 adults on daily budget of $125 USD.
- Flight: $698 USD (We flew from Hong Kong)
- Visa: $43 USD
- Accommodation: $429.07 USD (private rooms with attached bathroom)
- Transportation: $240.23 USD (Taxi & Train Tickets)
- Coffee Shop/ Cafes: $57.02 USD
- Restaurants: $286.12 USD
- Street Eats: $13.71
- Mini Markets: $43.77 USD
- Activities: $91.32 USD
- Shopping: $18.24 USD
- Travel Insurance: $54.74 USD
- Miscellaneous: $143.11 USD (SIM card, Haircut and sadly had to ship one of our cameras home)
Total Cost for 17 days in Uzbekistan $2118.33 USD for 2 people or $124.60 USD per day.
That concludes this post, Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary & Guide- Discover The Ancient Silk Road.
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE
Travel Resources
Here you can find all the travel site links that we personally use and recommend.
CAMPSITES/CAMPGROUNDS We like to use a couple apps for last minute campsite bookings. Our favorites are HipCamp, The Dyrt and Campendium.
ACCOMMODATION: We find the best deals with BOOKING.COM. The more you book the better the perks like free breakfast with your stay, room upgrades and even higher discounted room rates.
CAR RENTALS: We have always used RentalCars.com and find them to have the best deals, customer service and selection of locations.
FLIGHTS: Our go to for looking up flights is SKYSCANNER, but we try to always book directly with the airline.
TOURS/EXCURSIONS: GET YOUR GUIDE and VIATOR are two very reputable sites with easy and hassle free bookings.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: It’s so important to travel with insurance and for this we use SafetyWing. We are currently using them for our 1 year trip.
TRANSPORTATION: For all our bus, ferry and train transfer needs in Asia we use 12go.asia.
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