All of our arrangements have been specially designed to incorporate a reason to travel and, for ease of choice, these have been categorised under the titles shown below.
11 nights from
£2595
Start in Tashkent, at once a multi-ethnic metropolis, commercial hub, farmers’ market town and exporter of textiles; in short, Uzbekistan in microcosm. Khiva’s afficionados wax lyrical about the UNESCO listed ‘old town’, where 300 houses and monuments huddle within fortress walls. Travel from Khiva to Bukhara into the timeless, tranquil landscape of the Kyzylkum Desert; its red sand ridges punctuated with small oasis settlements. Bukhara’s entire medieval masterpiece forms its core, complete with labyrinthine lanes, azure onion domes and bastions of the Ark Fortress. At the crossroads of cultures and trade routes, Samarkand reflects exotic architectural styles, where monuments hem huge squares, intricately paved alleys run between mosaicked façades, and silks and spices spill scent and colour through the city’s bazaar.
Learn to cook the traditional Uzbek dish ‘Pilov’ in a local home in Samarkand. Meet with the family who live here to learn about daily life. A popular dish throughout Central Asia with variations in diff erent regions ‘Pilov’ usually combines rice with onion and carrots, plus mutton, beef or lamb cooked slowly in layers.
Shah-I-Zinda (Day 9) monument involves many steps.
Travel between the cities by road, whilst being a classic way to experience the country, involves some long journeys with only limited opportunities for comfort breaks.
The order of sightseeing tours may vary in accordance with local conditions.
Hotels in Uzbekistan are simple and unpretentious but well-located with a restaurant, bar and air-conditioned rooms with private facilities and satellite TV. From time to time, there may be water and electricity shortages and, on occasion, alternative hotels may be used. WiFi (free) is available at all hotels on the tour, although can be intermittent depending on local conditions. Food is based on fresh local produce and is nutritious but can be repetitive.
Extra nights are on request, please call to discuss your requirements
Hampton by Hilton
(per night) £70
Single supplement £55
18
Enjoy an opera, ballet or theatre performance in a state-of-the-Art historical Navoi theatre. The repertoire includes both national Uzbek and European classic opera and ballet carefully cherishing the cultural heritage developed and obtained locally from the previous epoch and developing it into modern trends.
Air travel and taxes, transfers, 10 nights' accommodation, breakfast daily, 1 lunch & 9 dinners, itinerary as described, services of guides and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Travel insurance, visa procurement, optional excursions, overseas airport taxes, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
A Guide to the 'Stans
1 May 2018
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Highlights of Uzbekistan
A great value tour of the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan including Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand, using the high speed railway line to travel between the capital Tashkent and Bukhara
Legends and Empires
Experience a Central Asian Odyssey on this epic 26 day journey exploring the ancient lands and medieval cities of the fabled Silk Route
