A seven-day escorted group tour of the three great Silk Road cities, travelling city to city by high-speed train, on guaranteed departure dates with a maximum of twenty travellers.
The route3 cities, joined by rail.
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7 days, 6 nightsDuration
3 citiesWhere you sleep
05 Mar — 21 May 20276 departures
Max 20 travellersGroup size
Twin share · land only, flights extra
Why this journey
This is the classic Uzbek circuit done as a small escorted group rather than a private tour, and the two things that follow from that are worth knowing up front: the dates are fixed and guaranteed, and the group is capped at twenty. You travel with an English-speaking guide throughout, and every intercity leg is by train rather than road.
The shape is simple. Two days in Tashkent open the trip, including a metro system that is genuinely one of the world's most decorated and was closed to photography until 2018. Then the Afrosiyob high-speed train carries you west to Bukhara, where the old town is compact enough to walk in a single day and holds over a hundred and forty protected monuments. Two nights in Samarkand close the circuit, built around the Registan, Gur-Emir and the blue-tiled necropolis of Shakhi Zinda.
What distinguishes it from a private itinerary is the rhythm. You move when the group moves, meals are taken together on a set menu, and the price holds whether two people travel or twenty. In exchange you get a fixed cost, a guide who stays with the group from arrival to airport, and none of the logistics of arranging trains and entry tickets across three cities yourself.
Trip highlights
01Guaranteed departure dates with a maximum group size of twenty travellers
02All three intercity legs by high-speed Afrosiyob train, not by road
03The Registan in Samarkand, three madrasas facing one square
04Over 140 protected monuments in the walkable old town of Bukhara
05Tashkent's metro stations, each one designed as a separate work of architecture
06Full board throughout on a set menu, with an English-speaking guide from arrival to airport
Day-by-day itinerary
What's included
Included in your trip9 items covered in this fare
Hotels1
Six nights in 3-star hotels on a twin or double sharing basis
Transport4
Train ticket Tashkent to Bukhara in economy class
Train ticket Bukhara to Samarkand in economy class
Train ticket Samarkand to Tashkent in economy class
All transfers and transport in air-conditioned vehicles
Entrance Fees1
All entrance tickets to the monuments named in the programme
Guide1
An English-speaking escorted guide for the whole programme
Meals1
Full board meals throughout on a set menu
Other1
Assistance from our local team at any hour of the day
Plan and pay separately7 items not covered by this fare
Not included7
International flight tickets
Consular visa fee
Travel and health insurance
Early check-in and late check-out beyond the nights listed
Tips for the guide, driver and hotel staff
Personal expenses
Anything not named under the inclusions
Your hotels
Hotels are named on your confirmation — all are of the stated category.
Attractions we visit
3 go inside0 walk through0 exterior only
On the route3 places
TashkentEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
BukharaEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
SamarkandEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
When to Go
Uzbekistan
IdealGoodFairAvoid
SepGood
Spring (Mar–May) is the best time — lush, not too hot. Autumn (Sep–Oct) is also excellent for sightseeing.
Samarkand
Average High
29°C
Rainfall
5mm
Tashkent
Average High
29°C
Rainfall
6mm
Bukhara
Average High
29°C
Rainfall
3mm
Before you go
These dates do not move
This is a scheduled group departure, so the itinerary runs to fixed dates that cannot be shifted for one booking.
The first day is arrival in Tashkent; check flights from your own country for the day before, as many arrive overnight.
The tour runs with a minimum of two and a maximum of twenty participants.
Documents and visa
Carry a passport valid for the whole of your stay in Uzbekistan.
Visa requirements depend on your nationality and the consular fee is not included; check them well before booking flights.
Keep a copy of your booking confirmation and hotel details with you.
Dress and mosque etiquette
Shoulders and knees should be covered inside mosques, madrasas and mausoleums, for everyone.
Women are asked to cover their hair at several of the working religious sites on this route.
A scarf in the day bag settles the question at every religious site on the programme.
Money and the climate
The local currency is the Uzbek sum; cards are accepted in city hotels and larger shops but bazaars and small cafes are cash.
Spring and autumn departures are warm and dry; the middle of summer is genuinely hot in Bukhara and Samarkand.
Sun protection and a refillable water bottle are worth carrying on the walking days.
Common questions
Is this a private tour or a group departure?
A group departure. You travel on one of the guaranteed dates with other travellers, a minimum of two and a maximum of twenty, with an English-speaking guide accompanying the group throughout.
Does the price change if the group is small?
No. The price is $1330 per person on every departure date regardless of how many people travel, which is the main practical difference from a private itinerary. A single traveller adds the $205 single supplement for sole use of a room.
How do you travel between the cities?
By train on all three intercity legs, in economy class: Tashkent to Bukhara, Bukhara to Samarkand and Samarkand back to Tashkent. The service is normally the high-speed Afrosiyob.
What happens if the Afrosiyob is full?
The Afrosiyob may be replaced by the Sharq local train if seats are unavailable when you book, or if a timetable change stops the fast service fitting the programme. The route and the sightseeing stay the same; the journey takes longer.
What meals are included?
Full board on a set menu from breakfast on day 2 through dinner on day 6. Day 1 is an arrival day with no meals included, and day 7 is breakfast only, or a breakfast box if you leave early.
What standard are the hotels?
Three-star properties: three nights in Tashkent, one in Bukhara and two in Samarkand. Some Uzbek hotels do not match international three-star fittings but are comfortable and well run. The named hotels are confirmed subject to availability, and any substitute is of a similar category.
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your nationality, and the consular fee is not included in the tour price. Check the requirement well before you book flights, since the tour dates are fixed and cannot move to suit a late visa.
How much walking is there?
A fair amount. The Bukhara day is a walking tour of the old town on uneven historic paving, and the Samarkand and Tashkent days involve long stretches on foot between monuments. Shoes with grip matter more than anything else in your case.
Policies & booking terms
Booking terms
Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified.
All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased prior to departure.
Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, taxes, or supplier costs.
Guests are responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, and any required vaccinations.
Cancellations or amendments are subject to the applicable cancellation policy outlined in the package.
The company is not liable for delays, cancellations, or changes due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
All travelers must adhere to the local laws and customs of the destinations visited.
No refunds will be issued for unused services, including but not limited to meals, accommodations, or activities.
The company reserves the right to modify the itinerary or substitute hotels of similar standards if necessary.
All special requests (e.g., room preferences, dietary requirements) are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
Guests are responsible for any additional costs incurred due to personal expenses, such as phone calls, laundry, or minibar charges.
Check-in and check-out times are subject to hotel policies and may vary by property.
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