Sur les traces de la Route de la Soie

Flight to Tashkent upon request.

Overnight flight.

Arrival in Tashkent in the morning.

Greeting at the airport by the driver. Transfer and check-in at the hotel. Breakfast. Rest at the hotel.

Guided tour of the capital. The discovery of Tashkent begins in the city’s historic district, home to the Khast-Imam complex, the true spiritual heart of the Uzbek capital. Highlights include the Barakhan Madrasa, a magnificent 16th-century building that once housed the Grand Mufti of Central Asia. Nearby, the Tellia Sheykh Mosque impresses with its central role in the city’s religious life: it is the main Friday mosque, renowned for its precious library housing ancient sacred manuscripts. A little further on stands the mausoleum of Kaffal Ach Chachi, also dating back to the 16th century, which attracts pilgrims who come to pay homage to this great Sufi scholar.

The visit continues with the Koukeldash madrasa, the largest of the seventeen madrasas in Tashkent. It offers a beautiful example of traditional architecture, with exposed brickwork and blue-tiled ceramics.

Finally, you’ll complete the tour with a panoramic drive through the modern city: wide avenues, green spaces, and iconic landmarks such as Independence Square, symbolizing national sovereignty; Amir Timur Square, dominated by the conqueror’s statue; and Theatre Square, where Soviet architecture blends with more recent buildings.

Overnight at the hotel (BB).

Transfer to the station to take the Afrosiyob high-speed train to Samarkand.

The train speeds through the fertile plains and rolling hills of the Zeravshan valley, linking in just over two hours the two great historic cities of the country. As the train leaves the capital, the landscape changes: apartment buildings give way to traditional villages, apricot orchards, and cotton fields—reminders of the region’s major agricultural role.

On arrival, a completely different atmosphere awaits you: Samarkand, the former capital of Tamerlane’s empire, welcomes you with its millennia-old history, turquoise domes, and majestic monuments. This legendary city, located at the crossroads of ancient caravan routes, has seen merchants, conquerors, and scholars from China, Persia, India, and Europe pass through. Today, it still holds the aura of an intellectual, cultural, and artistic center.

Meet at the station and begin visits in Tamerlane’s capital.

The heart of Samarkand beats around the majestic Registan Square, considered one of Central Asia’s most beautiful. Three madrasas (Koranic schools) with facades decorated in exquisite faience surround the square and reflect the architectural ambition of the Timurid rulers. Not far from there, you will visit the Bibi Khanum Mosque, commissioned by Tamerlane himself to honor his wife, an impressive building by its size.

Next, stroll through Samarkand’s lively, colorful bazaar, where dried fruits, sesame bread, spices, fabrics, and handmade souvenirs are sold.

Check in at the hotel and enjoy free time.

Overnight at the hotel (BB).

In the morning, you continue exploring Samarkand with visits to several key sites connected to Tamerlane’s history and the city’s scientific heritage. Then, stop at a traditional workshop to discover ancient techniques for making silk paper, a craft Samarkand has preserved for centuries.

Free time at the market, providing a chance to soak up the local atmosphere and shop. A stroll through the old town lets you savor once more the unique ambiance of this legendary city.

In the late afternoon, private transfer to the station to board the Afrosiyob high-speed train to Bukhara. The three-hour journey takes you from one former imperial capital to a mythical caravan city, following in the footsteps of the old Silk Road.

Through the train’s large windows, the scenery rolls by slowly: arid plains, cultivated fields, small villages, and distant minarets offer a landscape both austere and fascinating. These were once traversed by caravans loaded with silk, spices, precious stones, and knowledge, linking China to Europe. This ancient corridor shaped the cities you visit, which continue to showcase their history through monuments, craftsmanship, and markets.

Upon arrival in Bukhara, you’re transferred to your hotel, ready to discover a city that was once one of the great spiritual and commercial centers of the East, a true crossroads of cultures on the Silk Road.

Overnight at the hotel (BB).

This day is dedicated to discovering the historical and architectural treasures of Bukhara, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. You will explore several emblematic madrasas, true masterpieces of Islamic art, with richly decorated facades full of history.

Enjoy a break at a tea house, the perfect opportunity to sample a local spice blend in a warm, traditional atmosphere.

The tour continues with the major monumental complexes in the historic center, including mosques, majestic minarets, and former seats of power, testimonies to the city’s former splendor. You’ll also admire remarkable mausoleums, among them one of the oldest in the region, known for its unique brickwork architecture.

Throughout the day you’ll immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of Bukhara, shaped by spirituality, beauty, and the heritage of the Silk Road.

Overnight at the hotel (BB).

Continue discovering Bukhara as you wander through one of its most iconic neighborhoods, centered around a shaded pond lined with madrasas and caravanserais—an inviting, lively spot symbolizing the Uzbek way of life.

The tour then takes you to an ancient mosque built upon the remains of even older places of worship, a fascinating testament to the region’s diverse religious influences.

You’ll also explore the old covered markets, recognizable by their domes: each dome once housed a specific trade—jewelers, hat makers, money changers, and more. It’s the ideal stroll to experience the commercial atmosphere of the caravan era. Before leaving the city, you’ll stop in front of an unusual monument with four minarets, now one of Bukhara’s symbols.

In the afternoon, transfer to the station to board the Afrosiyob high-speed train back to Tashkent. Upon arrival in the evening, check in at the hotel for the last night of your Uzbekistan journey.

Overnight at the hotel (BB).

According to your return flight, transfer to the airport. (BB)

Extra night or return flight from Tashkent available on request.