Discover how to plan your perfect Uzbekistan itinerary. From 1 to 4 weeks, find the best routes, travel tips and must-see places across the Silk Road. Here are my Uzbekistan itinerary suggestions to visit the most beautiful places in the country.
Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia famous for its stunning mosques, mausoleums, madrasahs, and other sites linked to the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean. If you love historical sites and beautiful Islamic architecture, you’ll certainly love traveling to Uzbekistan!
All the main Silk Road cities and places of interest in Uzbekistan are connected by train or bus so it’s very easy to travel independently around the country.
I’ve visited Uzbekistan many times over the last 9 years, and I’ve genuinely enjoyed all of my trips!
As I know the country very well by now, I can help you plan your trip to Uzbekistan and will share more about the Uzbekistan points of interest, the best things to do, and the most beautiful places to visit in Uzbekistan.
In this guide, you’ll find various Uzbekistan travel itinerary suggestions from one week in Uzbekistan, a 10-day trip to Uzbekistan, a 14-day Uzbekistan itinerary, to an additional list of Uzbekistan tourist places and off-the-beaten-path destinations if you’d have 3 to 4 weeks to travel around the country.
Tip: See my Uzbekistan Travel Page for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Uzbekistan!
Step into the heart of the Silk Road and experience Uzbekistan beyond the guidebooks: from the blue domes of Samarkand to remote desert landscapes and hidden mountain trails.
Join the 14-day Highlights of Uzbekistan Adventure Tour and experience the country in a deeper, more meaningful way!
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Plan your trip to Uzbekistan
Planning your Uzbekistan itinerary? These are the tools I personally use and recommend to make your trip smooth and stress-free:
- ✈️ Find the best flight deals → Compare routes and prices easily
- 🚆 Book your train tickets easily → I recommend checking availability on 12Go (much easier than the official railway website)
- 🏨 Find the best hotels in every city → Book your accommodation in advance, especially during high season
- 🚖 Need transfer to and from the airport and train stations? → Install Yandex.go or find transfers here, saves you time and hassle when you arrive
- 📱 Stay connected from the moment you arrive → Get an e-SIM and stay connected throughout Central Asia
- 🧭 Prefer a ready-made experience? → Join my Uzbekistan Adventure Tour
- ✍️ Want a custom itinerary? → I can help you plan your perfect trip
- 🛡️ Travel insurance → Get flexible travel insurance for your trip to Uzbekistan
How to get to Uzbekistan
Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Urgench (near Khiva) all have international airports these days.
Tashkent International Airport is the most popular arrival destination in Uzbekistan and, in my opinion, the best place to start your trip in Uzbekistan. It’s a 30-minute drive to get from the airport to the city center of Tashkent by taxi.
You can also travel overland to Uzbekistan from one of its neighboring countries. The easiest and most common routes are:
- from Almaty (Kazakhstan) to Tashkent by bus and train
- from Shymkent (Kazakhstan) to Tashkent by bus and train
- from Osh (Kyrgyzstan) to Tashkent by bus, shared taxi and train
- from Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) to Tashkent by bus
- from Penjikent (Tajikistan) to Samarkand by shared taxi
- from Khudjand (Tajikistan) to Tashkent by bus
Citizens of the European Union, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and many more countries can travel to Uzbekistan visa-free for a period of 30 days.
Citizens of 75 countries, including China, and India, have been granted the right to receive an electronic entry visa for a period of 30 days.
I have so much more info to share from how to travel to Uzbekistan, how to apply for a visa and what to wear to how much money to bring and how to prepare yourself for the trip. You can read everything in the Complete Travel Guide to Uzbekistan.
What is the perfect time to visit Uzbekistan
The best time to visit Uzbekistan is spring (mid-April – beginning of June) or autumn (mid-September – beginning of November). The temperatures during these seasons are very pleasant, and it shouldn’t be too hot to walk around during the day. However, these are the busiest times in the country.
If you want to avoid the crowds in the Silk Road cities, you should travel to Uzbekistan in summer (June – September) or winter (November – March). Just be aware that summers can be soaring hot, with temperatures up to 40°C during the day.
Winter in Uzbekistan isn’t too cold, with average temperatures around 5°C, and it’s most of the time sunny so this season is a great time to visit Uzbekistan for anyone who wants to avoid crowds.
How many days are enough for Uzbekistan
It’s possible to visit the main tourist attractions in Uzbekistan within one week but I’d recommend at least 10 days to fully absorb everything this country has on offer.
How to travel around Uzbekistan
The quickest way to travel around Uzbekistan is by train. The modern high-speed train, called the Afrosiyab, is a bit more expensive than the old-fashioned Sharq train but you’ll get faster to your destinations.
I highly recommend booking your train tickets in advance! Some trains are quickly sold out, especially in during the high season (May – September). It would just really suck if you have to wait an extra day to catch the train to the next city, especially when you’re on a tight schedule, and therefore have to skip a destination.
You can book your train tickets online on the official Uzbekistan Railways website. Read my Uzbekistan Railways Guide – How to take trains in Uzbekistan in which I explain the online booking process. Getting train tickets in Uzbekistan used to be quite complicated, but it’s become much easier in recent years.
👉 Tip: I recommend checking schedules and booking your tickets via 12Go. It’s often more straightforward than navigating the official railway website, especially if you’re booking from abroad.
If you prefer to buy your tickets on the spot, you can go to one of the train stations in Uzbekistan upon your arrival and buy all the train tickets you need in one go. Note: most train tickets are likely sold out during high season!
👉 Another thing I like to recommend is installing the Yandex Taxi app on your phone. This app allows you to easily order a taxi without having to bargain for the price or get scammed. Like most taxi drivers around the world, Uzbek taxi drivers love tripling the standard rate for unwary tourists. If you want to be care-free, you can also book your transfer in advance.
Uzbekistan Itinerary 7 days: How to spend one week in Uzbekistan
This itinerary includes the 4 most beautiful and interesting destinations in Uzbekistan. The only thing though is that Khiva lies at a big distance from the other cities (see map below).
If you really want to visit these 4 stunning Silk Road cities in 7 days, you’ll have to be willing to rush a bit and not spend more than one full day in each place.
In case you’d only have 5 days in Uzbekistan: follow the itinerary below and choose between the following options:
1. Skip Khiva and travel instead from Tashkent to Bukhara on day 2. Skip Shahrisabz or spend only one day in Samarkand
2. Skip Tashkent and fly directly to Urgench. Check flight options to Urgench here. Skip Shahrisabz or spend only one day in Samarkand.
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- Day 1: Arrive in Tashkent in the morning, visit Tashkent, overnight in Tashkent or night train to Khiva
- Day 2: Arrival in Khiva in the morning, visit Khiva, overnight in Khiva
- Day 3: Visit Khiva in morning, travel to Bukhara by train, overnight in Bukhara
- Day 4: Full day in Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
- Day 5: Travel to Samarkand in morning, visit Samarkand, overnight in Samarkand
- Day 6: Visit Samarkand or day trip to Shahrisabz or day trip to Seven Lakes in Tajikistan, overnight in Samarkand
- Day 7: Visit Samarkand, return to Tashkent in late afternoon or fly out from Samarkand
Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent, overnight in Tashkent or Night train to Khiva
The first thing I recommend you to do when you’re in Tashkent – in case you haven’t pre-booked any of your train tickets yet – is to go to the Northern Railway Station (Tashkent Vokzal) and buy your train tickets for the duration of your trip to Uzbekistan.
Look on the map below to see where you can find Tashkent Vokzal. The easiest way to get there is by taking the metro and getting off at Tashkent Metro Station. The ticket office is on the left-hand side of the train station.
Try to go as early as possible (the Tashkent train station should be open from 8:00 am) to avoid waiting in line for hours. Most of the clerks speak English.
Don’t forget to bring your passport and cash money! Credit card payments (by VISA or Master Card) don’t always work.
As soon as you’ve got the transport for your Uzbekistan trip covered, you can start with the fun part – exploring Tashkent!
Now how to spend a fun day in Uzbekistan’s capital city?
Things to do in Tashkent
There are many fun things to do and attractions to visit in Tashkent. Even if you wouldn’t have much time, here are my personal top 5 places and activities to do in Tashkent:
- Admire the Islamic architecture of the Hazrat Imam Complex and see the oldest Koran in the world
- Go shopping or watch people at the Chorsu Bazaar
- Have lunch at the Central Asian Plov Center
- Ride the Tashkent metro and photograph some of the world’s most beautiful metro stations
- Go for a stroll around Amir Timur Square where you’ll also be able to visit Hotel Uzbekistan and the Amir Timur Museum nearby
For a complete one-day Tashkent itinerary, that also includes these top 5 places, check out my Complete City Guide to Tashkent. This guide tells you everything you need to know about visiting Tashkent, including how to get around Tashkent easily, the top 15 things to do in the city and how to get to every place of interest by public transport.
City Tours in Tashkent
There are several guided city (walking) tours you can do in Tashkent. I often like taking a guided tour around a city as it allows me to learn more about the local culture and the history of a destination.
Here are a couple of city tours in Tashkent I recommend:
Taking the overnight train to Khiva
To save yourself time, take the night train from Tashkent to Khiva. Departure is at 21h from Tashkent train station (to get there, take the metro to Tashkent metro) and you’ll arrive at Khiva train station at 10h55 the morning after. You can book train tickets here. Note: you should be at the train station 45 minutes before departure as you have to go through luggage and passport control.
Note: from May 1st 2026, there will be direct high-speed trains going between Tashkent and Khiva, saving you 7 hours of traveling time!
Alternative option: Take a flight from Tashkent to urgench
A flight from Tashkent to Urgench (Khiva’s nearest airport) takes around 1.5 hours and costs around €60 one way. You can book your flight through Uzbekistan Airways and leave in the early morning of day 2.
Where to stay in Tashkent
Here are my recommendations for the best places to stay in Tashkent:
- Hotel Suzuk-Ota →centrally located and best mid-range choice
- Lotte Tashkent Palace →if you’re craving some luxury in the city center
- Mirzo Hotel → comfort near the airport
- Guesto Hostel → private rooms for budget travelers
Day 2: Khiva, overnight in Khiva
If you’re taking the night train, you’ll arrive in Khiva around 10h55 in the morning. It’s a 20-minute walk from the train station to the center of Khiva. I always walk it but you can also ask your hotel for a taxi.
If you decided to take an early morning flight from Tashkent to Urgench, you’ll have to take or arrange a taxi from the airport in Urgench to Khiva. The ride takes around 30 minutes and costs around €25. You can also book your taxi in advance here to save time.
Itchan Kala, Khiva’s old city center, has over 50 historical sites. As you’re a bit short in time, you won’t be able to visit them all but you’ll have enough time to see Khiva’s main attractions as it’s a very small city.
Top things to see in Khiva:
Here are the top 4 places in Khiva you should definitely see:
- The Kalta Minor minaret
- The Islam Khodja minaret – definitely climb to the top for a panoramic view over Khiva!
- The Juma mosque
- The Kuhna Ark Fortress – climb the watchtower to see the sunset over Khiva!
For a detailed list of things to do, I highly recommend – of course – my very own City Guide to Khiva. This guide covers all the main sites in Khiva, some history, great tips concerning entrance fees and museum tickets (and how to save money) and practical travel info concerning this open-air museum of Uzbekistan. It’s a must-read!
City Tours in Khiva
I highly recommend taking a guided city tour in Khiva. There’s just so much history in this ancient Silk Road City that you won’t learn if you visit the city by yourself.
I’m talking out of experience as during my latest visit to Khiva, I hired a guide and discovered the city in a completely different way. I usually like to explore places by myself but having a guide to show me around and sharing stories about the history and her daily life in Khiva definitely added value to my experience!
You can find guides at the western gate entrance of Itchan Kala. An English-speaking guide costs around $30 to $40 for a 3-hour tour. I recommend my guide Anna Pasha (she speaks English and French). You can contact her via Whatsapp +998914363780.
You can also book a Khiva city tour online in advance. During this tour, you’ll visit every major site in Khiva while a guide gives you background info and tells stories of this mystical city.
Where to stay in Khiva
There are plenty of great hotels and guesthouses in Khiva. The best place to stay is within Ichan Qala near all the popular attractions and sights. Here are my recommendations:
- Khiva Siyovush Hotel → Fantastic mid-range hotel in the old city center
- Turon Khiva → Trendy 3* hotel in the old city center for those craving some luxury
- Safo Guest House → Ideal for solo travelers and backpackers
Day 3: Travel to Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
There are daily two trains going from Khiva to Bukhara; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This leaves you 2 options:
- Spend the morning in Khiva and take the train in the late afternoon. Arrival in Bukhara around midnight.
- Take the morning train in Khiva and arrive in Bukhara in the late afternoon.
In case you can’t find train tickets or the train schedule doesn’t fit your plans, you can also book private transfer from Khiva to Bukhara.
The train station of Bukhara is located at a 30-minute ride from the old city center so you’ll have to take a taxi from the train station to your hotel. A taxi costs 25.000 som, you will have to bargain but don’t pay more than 30.000 som! You can also ask at your hotel for transfer from the train station to your hotel or book one in advance.
Note 1: I often receive messages from people who are a little worried about arriving at the train station past midnight. As I’ve done this a few times myself as a solo female traveler, I can tell you that it’s safe. There will also be taxi drivers. However, as it’s late at night, they’ll try to charge you 50.000 som. Stick to the 30.000 som and you’ll get a ride!
Where to stay in Bukhara
There are plenty of very good hostels and guesthouses in Bukhara. The best places to stay are in the old town near all the popular attractions and sights:
- Old Gate Family Guest House → beautiful mid-range hotel owned by a local family in the heart of Bukhara
- Shohnishin Boutique → stunning boutique hotel with beautifully ornate rooms, located 50 meters from Lyab-i-Hauz.
- Dervish Hostel → ideal for solo travelers and backpackers
Day 4: Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
The historic town of Bukhara isn’t very big and all the main sights are so close to each other that you can visit them all on foot.
Top things to do in Bukhara:
Here are 5 top places to visit in the old city of Bukhara:
- Ark Fortress
- Poi Kalon Ensemble
- Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble
- Chor Minor Madrasah
- Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan Madrasah
There are of course many more places to see and fun things to do in Bukhara. Check out my Complete City Guide to Bukhara with everything you need to know about this city, including all the main attractions, cool activities and best places to eat!
City Tours in Bukhara
I highly recommend taking a guided city tour in Bukhara. There’s so much history and stories to be told from this ancient Silk Road City. Visiting Bukhara with a guide will make your trip even more interesting!
You can get an English-speaking guide at the tourist information center in the center of the old town. You’ll pay $50 for a 3-hour guided tour and $80 for a 5-hour tour.
You can also book a guided city tour in advance:
Day 5: Travel to Samarkand, overnight in Samarkand
Take the train from Bukhara to Samarkand. The journey isn’t very long – 1,5 hours with the Afrosiyob train and little bit less than 2,5 hours with the Sharq train – and trains are leaving from Bukhara in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Note: the train station is a 30-minute drive from the old city of Bukhara. You should be at the train station 45 minutes before departure as you have to go through luggage and passport control. So you need to depart from Bukhara city at the latest 75 minutes before your train departure.
Getting a taxi to Bukhara train station: ask your hotel to arrange a taxi or find them at the taxi stands near this mosque. A taxi costs around 25.000 som, at night they might charge 30.000 som. You can also arrange a taxi beforehand.
I suggest taking the train in the morning so you have nearly a full day to spend in Samarkand. Once you arrive at the train station in Samarkand, you can take a taxi to your hotel/hostel. The historic center of Samarkand is about 5 km from the train station.
The standard rate to get from the train station to the historic center of Samarkand by taxi is 5000 UZS. Never get into a taxi before agreeing on the price!
The main attractions of Samarkand are located within walking distance of each other. In case you still want/need to take a taxi to get around the city, know that the standard rate for taking a taxi in Samarkand is 4000 UZS.
Top Places to visit in Samarkand:
Here are the top 3 places in Samarkand you definitely should visit:
For a complete itinerary with all the places to visit in Samarkand, and suggestions on where to eat, read my Samarkand City Guide!
City Tours in Samarkand
I highly recommend taking a guided city tour in Samarkand. There’s just so much history in this ancient Silk Road City that you won’t learn if you visit the city by yourself.
Where to stay in Samarkand
Here are my recommendations for Samarkand:
- Altair Boutique → beautiful mid-range hotel at walking distance from all the highlights of Samarkand
- Kosh Havuz Boutique Hotel → stunning boutique hotel in traditional style located in the old center of Samarkand
- Old Radio Hostel → ideal for solo travelers and backpackers
Day 6: Visit Samarkand or day trip to Shahrisabz, overnight in Samarkand
Today you can go either take a full day to visit Samarkand, go on a (half) day trip to Shahrisabz, a city located 88 km south of Samarkand or to the Seven Lakes in Tajikistan (more below).
Shahrisabz, also written Shakhrisabz and formerly known as Kesh, is one of the most ancient cities along the Silk Road. It was the birthplace of Amir Timur, founder of the Timurid dynasty and one of the most important historical figures of Uzbekistan and Central Asia.
If you’ve spent the previous days in Tashkent and Samarkand, you’ll definitely have seen his statue everywhere, along with his stunning architectural projects.
Things to do in Shahrisabz
Shahrisabz has some impressive monuments that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most famous place in Shahrisabz are the gate arches of the Ak-Saray Palace, the only remains of the palace that was built for Amir Timur.
Other places of interest in Shahrisabz are the Dorut Tilovat Complex with the Kok Gumbaz mosque and the Dorus Siyadat Complex which contains the tomb of Timur’s eldest son.
Shahrisabz is a small city so you can easily see all the main attractions in 2 hours. You could leave in the early morning and be back in Samarkand in the late afternoon to spend more time visiting places around the city.
How to get from Samarkand to Shahrisabz and back:
It’s about 1,5 hours driving from Samarkand to Shahrisabz. The best way to get there is to hire a taxi driver who’ll drive you there, wait for a few hours and take you back to Samarkand.
This 2-way trip with the driver waiting costs about $50 USD. You can always ask around in your hostel or hotel if someone wants to join you and share the costs.
If you don’t want the driver to wait or want to keep the costs lower, you can also go by shared taxi. You can find a shared taxi from Samarkand to Shahrisabz at Suzangaran, which is about 100m south of the Registan mashrutka stop. You shouldn’t pay more than 5000 UZS for a seat in the shared taxi.
It might happen that the taxi only goes to Kitab, a town located at 10 km from Shahrisabz. From there you can take a mashrutka (minibus) or another shared taxi to Shahrisabz, which shouldn’t be more than 2000 UZS. To get back from Shahrisabz to Samarkand, you can look for a taxi in the surrounding area but be aware that the taxi drivers might ask for a lot more money.
You could also take a mashrutka (minibus) from Shahrisabz to Kitab, visit the bazaar there and go to the taxi stand near the junction at the bazaar. Ask the locals for directions if needed.
Tours to Shahrisabz:
In my opinion, the most beneficial way to see Shahrisabz would be by booking a guided day tour to Shahrisabz.
You’ll learn far more about the history from a local guide, have no hassle with transport and have your day taken care of. If you choose this, you can get picked up in Samarkand, listen and learn.
Day trip to the Seven Lakes in Tajikistan
A day trip from Samarkand to the Seven Lakes Tajikistan feels like stepping into a completely different world without having to go far.
One moment you’re wandering between the blue domes and ancient madrasahs of the Silk Road, and a few hours later you’re surrounded by quiet mountain landscapes and a chain of lakes that shift in color from deep turquoise to soft green.
It’s this contrast that makes this experience so special. It adds a layer to your journey that you don’t get from the cities alone, a glimpse into the raw, natural beauty that defines so much of Central Asia.
What I love about this trip is how easily it fits into your itinerary while still feeling like a real adventure.
Crossing into Tajikistan, driving through small villages and winding valleys, and slowly making your way up into the Fann Mountains… it’s the kind of day that unfolds naturally. If you’re craving a moment of quiet and space during your Uzbekistan trip, this is one of the most rewarding detours you can make!
The best and easiest way to make a day trip to the Seven Lakes is by booking a tour that departs from Samarkand.
Day 7: Return to Tashkent or depart from Samarkand
There are daily several trains from Samarkand to Tashkent. It takes a bit more than 2 hours by highspeed train (Afrosiyob) and around 4 hours with the Sharq train to travel between the 2 cities.
Depending on your departure flight from Tashkent; you can spend the morning in Samarkand to (re)visit some more places and/or buy souvenirs at the market or shops. You can then take the train in the afternoon to arrive in Tashkent in the evening.
If you have an early morning flight, you can either travel straight from the train station in Tashkent to the international airport or you can spend the evening in a hotel to freshen up and take a taxi from the hotel to the international airport.
It’s also worth checking flight options from Samarkand, as it can sometimes save you time and backtracking.
Where to stay in Tashkent
Here are my recommendations for the best places to stay in Tashkent:
- Mirzo Hotel → comfortable hotel near the airport
- Hotel Suzuk-Ota →centrally located and best mid-range choice
- Lotte Tashkent Palace →if you’re craving some luxury in the city center
- Guesto Hostel → private rooms for budget travelers
Uzbekistan Itinerary 10 days
I think having at least 10 days in Uzbekistan is ideal to visit all the Silk Road cities and main attractions in Uzbekistan without being in a rush. Below is a detailed 10-day Uzbekistan itinerary suggestion.
- Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent, visit Tashkent, overnight in Tashkent or night train to Khiva
- Day 2: Arrival in Khiva in the morning, visit Khiva, overnight in Khiva
- Day 3: Visit Khiva or day trip to Khorezm Fortresses, overnight in Khiva
- Day 4: Travel from Khiva to Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
- Day 5: Visit Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
- Day 6 – 7: Visit to Nuratau Mountains, overnight in Nuratau Mountains
- Day 8: Travel to Samarkand in morning, visit Samarkand, overnight in Samarkand
- Day 9: Visit Samarkand/ day trip to Shahrisabz, or day trip to Tajikistan, overnight in Samarkand
- Day 10: Visit Samarkand, return to Tashkent or fly out from Samarkand
Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent, overnight in Tashkent or night train to Khiva
See day 1 of the 7-day itinerary above
Day 2: Khiva, overnight in Khiva
See day 2 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 3: Visit Khiva or day trip to Khorezm Fortresses, overnight in Khiva
You can either spend a full day in Khiva or go on a (half) day trip to the Khorzem Fortresses.
The Khorezm Fortresses, also called Ellik Kala in Uzbek, are a series of 50 ancient fortress ruins in the middle of the Karakalpak Desert. They are listed as the Desert Castles of Ancient Khorezm on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Some of the fortresses are more than 2000 years old.
Nowadays, only around 20 of these fortresses remain as some were destroyed during agricultural developments. Some of these Kala’s aren’t more than remaining foundations while others will still give you an idea of how impressive they must have been.
Some of these fortresses (Toprak Kala, Kizil Kala, Ayaz Kala and Jonobs Kala) can be visited as a day trip from Khiva. You can check with your hotel if they can arrange a driver + private transport for you. Prices start from 60 USD.
I would highly recommend arranging a guided tour to those fortresses if you want to learn more about its interesting and rich history. You can book a guided tour via a local agency or you can book this trip online (when available):
Day 4: Travel from Khiva to Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
See day 3 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 5: Visit Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
See day 4 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 6 – 7: Visit to Nuratau Mountains, overnight in Nuratau Mountains
If you prefer to spend more time in the cities, you can stay an extra day in Khiva and/ or Bukhara and you can always go on a day trip from Bukhara (see day 8 of the 14-day Uzbekistan itinerary below). However, if you’re craving some nature during your trip to Uzbekistan, then you should definitely take these 2 days to visit the Nuratau Mountains. I would also recommend spending 2 nights in one or two villages before continuing your trip to Samarkand on day 8.
The Nuratau range is located in the west of Uzbekistan, parallel with the road from Bukhara to Samarkand. The mountains extend between the Kyzylkum Desert on the west and the eastern Barren Steppe. Depending on the season, the area bustles in agricultural activity: mulberries, walnuts and pistachio trees all flourish here.
Hundreds of tiny villages are nestled in the valleys of the Nuratau Mountains. The rolling hills provide thousands of possible trails if you’re into hiking or horse riding. You can also just stay in cozy guest house in one of the villages and go on a wander around the area. You won’t come across many tourists here. You’ll be at total peace (aside from the donkeys, cockerels and goats that were my morning alarm during my time there).
There are many villages where you can spend some time in the mountains and experience the rural village life in Uzbekistan. It will definitely give you a totally different experience from the Silk Road cities!
One of the more popular villages is called Sentob (or Sentyab). The road into Sentob is winding and takes you into the cool shade of walnut trees which run along the banks of the stream that gives life to this small village.
The inhabitants of Sentyab are mostly Tajik who fled the armies of Alexander the Great in Tajikistan. This little oasis is a great place to relax and get your fix of nature, especially after spending days checking out the impressive caravanserais, mosques, and madrasahs of Uzbekistan’s cities. There are a couple of homestays but you can’t book them online, due to limited Wi-Fi in the mountains.
Other villages in the Nuratau Mountains where you can spend some time are Asraf, Hayat and Majerum. You can find more information about these villages in my Uzbekistan Hiking Guide.
How to visit the villages in the Nuratau Mountains
Because the Nuratau mountain villages are relatively new to tourism, it’s pretty challenging to get there independently.
The easiest would be to get a shared taxi to the closest city, Jizzakh. From there you can get a shared or private taxi to f.eg. Sentob. This might be a little expensive because of the lack of clients and the fact that the drivers might have to drive back without any customers. It is also possible to hitchhike this route with a bit of patience and willingness to explain what hitchhiking is!
The easiest way would be to book an organized tour to the mountains with a local guide. You can always contact me as I have some local partners who can help and I’ll put you in touch with them. There are currently a select amount of tours to the Nuratau Mountains that you can book online. Here are the two experiences I would recommend:
Day 8: Travel to Samarkand, visit Samarkand, overnight in Samarkand
You can arrange with your tour guide – or hitchhike or take a private taxi – to travel from the Nuratau Mountains to Samarkand in the morning. You’ll be in Samarkand around noon. See day 5 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 9: Visit Samarkand or day trip to SHahrisabz or day trip to Tajikistan, overnight in Samarkand
See day 6 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 10: Visit Samarkand, return to Tashkent or flight departure from Samarkand
See day 7 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Plan your perfect Central Asia journey
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With years of on-the-ground experience in the region, I’ll help you travel deeper, smoother, and with confidence.
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Uzbekistan Itinerary 14 days: How to spend 2 weeks in Uzbekistan
Here’s a suggestion for a 2 week Uzbekistan itinerary. You can also look at my 14-day Highlights of Uzbekistan Adventure Tour for inspiration – or just join the tour ;).
- Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent, visit Tashkent, overnight in Tashkent
- Day 2: Visit Margilan & Rishtan (Fergana Valley), overnight in Kokand
- Day 3: Visit Kokand, night train to Khiva
- Day 4: Arrival in Khiva in the morning, visit Khiva, overnight in Khiva
- Day 5: Visit Khiva or day trip to Khorezm Fortresses, overnight in Khiva
- Day 6: Travel from Khiva to Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
- Day 7: Visit Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
- Day 8: Day trip from Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
- Day 9: Visit to Kyzyl Kum desert and Aydarkul Lake, overnight in Kyzyl Kum desert
- Day 10 – 11: Visit to Nuratau Mountains, overnight in Nuratau Mountains
- Day 12: Travel to Samarkand in morning, visit Samarkand, overnight in Samarkand
- Day 13: Visit Samarkand or day trip to Shahrisabz, overnight in Samarkand
- Day 14: Visit Samarkand, return to Tashkent
Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent, overnight in Tashkent
See day 1 of the 7-day itinerary above
Day 2: Travel to margalan (Fergana Valley), visit MarGalan & Rishtan, overnight in Kokand
The Fergana Valley has always been an important place as it used to be the main Silk Route between Samarkand and Kashgar (China). It’s said people in the Fergana Valley have produced silk for around 1,000 years, while its bazaars continue to entice people in with beautiful stalls. It’s also the most fertile region of Uzbekistan, making it Uzbekistan’s agricultural heartland and the most industrious province.
The valley’s towns are predominantly of Uzbek heritage (the most densely populated part of Uzbekistan) so if you really want to get to know its beautiful people and authentic traditions, the Fergana Valley is the place to learn.
Take the train from Tashkent to Margilan in the early morning. The train journey takes around 5 hours so you’ll arrive in Margilan in the early afternoon.
THINGS TO DO IN MARGILAN
- Yodgorlik Silk Factory: see the whole silk manufacturing process – from how the silk is made, the traditional silk-weaving techniques to the final product.
- The colorful Kumtepa bazaar (only on Thursdays and Sundays)
- Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrasah
After your visit to Margilan, take a (shared) taxi to Rishtan. The journey takes around 1 hour.
Rishtan is known for its fine pottery and you can visit the International Ceramic Center, which is like an art space for pottery masters. Workshops and stalls are located on the first floor, while the potters and their families live on the second floor.
You’re also always welcome to visit the Ceramic Workshop of Rustam Usmanov, one of Rishtan’s local ceramic masters.
After your visit in Rishtan, take a (shared) taxi to Kokand, which is a 35-minute drive. You can spend the night in Kokand.
Tours to Fergana Valley
As it might be hard to get around the Fergana Valley by public transport, you can always opt to book a guided tour from Tashkent. Here are a few tours I recommend:
Where to stay in Kokand
- Silk Road Kokand Hotel → one of the nicests hotels in Kokand!
- Rohat Hotel → for budget backpackers
Day 3: Visit Kokand, night train to Khiva
Kokand is usually overlooked by travelers in favor of the more famous cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva. It does, however, boast some interesting history and did play an important part during the Silk Road, linking South Asia and East Asia and acting as a crossroads between these routes.
Things to do in Kokand
Visit the following highlights of Kokand in the morning:
Take the train to Tashkent and then travel to Khiva
Take the train from Kokand to Tashkent. You can then choose to either spend the night in Tashkent and take an early morning flight to Urgench or take the overnight train from Tashkent to Khiva (see day 1 of the 7-day itinerary above).
Here are my recommendations for places to stay in Tashkent on this evening:
- Aqua Hotel → at walking distance from the train station in Tashkent
- Mirzo Hotel → near the airport of Tashkent
Day 4: visit Khiva, overnight in Khiva
See day 2 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 5: Visit Khiva or day trip to Khorzem Fortresses, overnight in Khiva
See day 3 of the 10-day itinerary above.
Day 6: Travel from Khiva to Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
See day 3 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 7: Visit Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
See day 4 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 8: Day trip from Bukhara, overnight in Bukhara
Today you can choose to spend an extra full day in Bukhara or go on a guided tour to see all the historical sites in the countryside near Bukhara: the Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa Palace (Palace of Moon-like Stars), Bakhautdin Naqsband Mausoleum and the Chor Bakr Necropolis.
I also recommend visiting Uba, a village famous for making traditional clay ovens. Almost everyone in the village of Uba makes a living crafting clay ovens. These are made with the vast supplies of clay that are found in the rivers near the town.
If you happen to be in Bukhara on a Sunday or Tuesday, you can also visit the animal market, another very interesting local experience! Read The Complete Bukhara City Guide for a detailed overview of all the places to visit in and around Bukhara.
Day 9: Visit to Kyzyl Kum desert and Aydar Lake, overnight in Kyzyl Kum desert
If you’re craving some nature during your trip to Uzbekistan, then you should definitely visit Aydar Lake in the south-eastern Kyzyl Kum desert. Aydar Lake is part of the man-made Aydar-Arnasay system of lakes, which covers an area of 4,000 km2.
The lake is particularly beautiful during spring and summer when it’s surrounded in colorful alpine grasslands. You’ll also spot birds like pelicans and herons here.
There are also a lot of fun things you can do at Aydar Lake. You can go for walks or explore the area by horse or camel. The water is warm enough from June until August to swim in the lake and you’re also allowed to do some fishing between the months of September and April.
How to get to Aydar Lake
Aydar Lake is quite remote and you can only get there by driving there yourself, taking a shared taxi or by booking a tour (more info below). Just know that taking a taxi there can be on the expensive side. It’s also possible to hitchhike there.
If you visit Aydarkul coming from Bukhara, you first have to take a marshrutka (minibus) or shared taxi to the city of Navoi (you can also do this coming from Samarkand). From there you can take a shared or private taxi to “Aydar” or try to hitchhike there.
Go on a tour to Aydar Lake
The easiest way to visit Aydarkul is by booking a tour there. This 2-day tour to Aydarkul and the Nuratau Mountains offers a very unique experience. This trip combines a visit to Aydar lake with exploring historical sites in the Kyzylkum desert and a night at a yurt camp!
Day 10 – 11: Visit to Nuratau Mountains, overnight in Nuratau Mountains
See day 6 & 7 of the 10-day itinerary above.
Day 12: Travel to Samarkand, visit Samarkand, overnight in Samarkand
See day 8 of the 10-day itinerary above.
Day 13: Visit Samarkand/ day trip to Shahrisabz or day trip to 7 Lakes Tajikistan, overnight in Samarkand
See day 6 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Day 14: Visit Samarkand, return to Tashkent
See day 7 of the 7-day itinerary above.
Uzbekistan Itinerary 3 weeks or longer
Below is my Uzbekistan travel itinerary suggestion if you’d have 3 weeks in the country. In case you would like to travel 4 weeks in Uzbekistan, you can spend extra days in the various places mentioned below (this is how I ended up spending a whole week in Bukhara because I liked it there so much…).
- Day 1: Tashkent
- Day 2-3: Fergana Valley
- Day 4-5: Chimgan Mountains
- Day 6: Tashkent to Nukus
- Day 7-9: Karakalpakstan
- Day 10-11: Khiva
- Day 12: Khiva to Bukhara
- Day 13-14: Bukhara
- Day 15-18: Nuratau Mountains
- Day 19-20: Samarkand
- Day 21: Return to Tashkent
Day 1: Tashkent
Spend 1 day and 1 night in Uzbekistan’s capital city. Find my Tashkent itinerary suggestions here.
Day 2-3: Fergana Valley
Travel in the morning of day 3 to the Fergana Valley by train (Margilan, Kokand or Andijan). Overnight in one of the Fergana Valley cities on day 3 (read my Fergana Valley suggestions). Return to Tashkent in the evening of day 4, overnight in Tashkent on day 4.
Day 4-5: Chimgan Mountains
The Chimgan mountains sit tall in the Ugam-Chatkal National Park, which is about 80km east of Tashkent. One of the park’s most mighty attractions is the Greater Chimgan mountain, which is Uzbekistan’s largest peak at 3,309m.
Travel to Chimgan from Tashkent in the morning of day 4, spend the night at Chimgan and return to Tashkent in the evening of day 5.
You can reach the city of Gazalkent which is close to the Chimgan mountains by public bus. There are both electric trains and buses leaving Tashkent to Gazalkent.
From Gazalkent, there are two daily buses Gazalkent-Chimgan (10:30 and 14:30) Chimgan-Gazalkent (06:30 and 13:30) which take around 50 minutes. The road is accessible any time of the year, but in spring there can be limitations because of landslides and mudflows.
The easiest way to get there is by tour (see below).
Things to do in Chimgan
If you’re an outdoor lover, you’ll enjoy spending time in Uzbekistan’s highest mountain range. There are many hiking trails leading to mountain peaks or alpine lakes. You can also just relax and enjoy nature to its fullest at one of the many chalets in Chimgan.
Tours to Chimgan
I offer a 2-day hike in the Chimgan Mountains on my Highlights of Uzbekistan Adventure Tour. I can also bring you in touch with my local guides or you can book one of the tours below:
Where to stay in Chimgan
Chimgan is also Uzbekistan’s ski base so there are plenty of chalets where you can stay in summer and winter. Here are a few of my suggestions:
Day 6: Travel from Tashkent to Nukus (Karakalpakstan)
Nukus is located all the way on the other side of Uzbekistan. You can either take the train and travel for 19 hours across the country or choose the fastest option, which is flying from Tashkent to Nukus with Uzbekistan Airways (around €80 one way). There’s daily an early flight in the morning or one in the evening.
The train from Tashkent to Nukus is a sleeper train and leaves every day, except on Mondays, at 14h in Tashkent. You’ll arrive the day after around 7am in Nukus.
Day 7-9: Karakalpakstan
Whether you’re arriving by train or by domestic flight, you’ll very likely arrive in Nukus in the morning of day 7.
Nukus is the capital of the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan. Karakalpakstan, which translates to ‘land of the black-hatted people’ is a self-governing republic within Uzbekistan.
With the arrival of the Soviet Union in Central Asia in the 1920s, various groups were designated and given territory. Karakalpakstan was one of them and it became a self-governing province within the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was given autonomous Soviet socialist republic status in 1932. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Karakalpakstan became the only autonomous republic allowed to retain its position within the then-new Republic of Uzbekistan.
If you’re fascinated about Uzbekistan’s ancient history and its ties with the Aral Sea, then I would definitely explore Karakalpakstan for at least three days.
Things to do in Karakalpakstan
Here are some highlights to visit in the region of Karakalpakstan:
- The Savitsky Museum in Nukus
- The ancient Khorezm Fortresses
- The ship graveyard in Moynaq
- The South Shore of the Aral Sea
For a detailed 3-day itinerary suggestion for Karakalpakstan, I’m going to refer you to my Karakalpakstan Travel Guide with all the info on where to go, where to stay and how to get to all the different places.
Day 10-11: Khiva
My suggestion for day 10 would be to book a driver or a guided tour from Nukus to Khiva while visiting the Khorezm Fortresses along the way.
You’ll arrive in Khiva in the afternoon of day 10, leaving you 1.5 days in this tiny Silk Road City. This is in my opinion plenty of time to visit all the highlights in Khiva. See day 4 & 5 of the 14-day itinerary above.
Day 12: Travel from Khiva to Bukhara
See day 3 of the 7-day itinerary above
Day 13-14: Bukhara
See day 7 & 8 of the 14-day itinerary above
Day 15-18: Nuratau Mountains
In the 10-day and 14-day itinerary above, I’m giving suggestions on how to spend 2 or 3 days in the Nuratau Mountains and Kyzyl Kum dessert. As you have more time during your 3 weeks in Uzbekistan, I’d recommend spending at least 4 days in this part of Uzbekistan or even go on a 4-day tour in the Nuratau Mountains.
Day 19-20: Samarkand
Travel to Samarkand in the morning of day 19. This leaves you plenty of time to visit all the highlights of Samarkand and even go on a half-day trip to Shahrisabz.
Day 21: Return to Tashkent or fly out from samarkand
See day 7 of the 7-day itinerary above
Final thoughts: planning your Uzbekistan itinerary
Uzbekistan is one of those countries that’s surprisingly easy to travel, yet still feels like a real adventure. Whether you’re wandering through the blue domes of Samarkand, getting lost in the alleys of Bukhara or watching the sunset in the desert near Khiva, this is a journey that stays with you.
If you enjoy planning your own trip, this itinerary will give you everything you need to get started. But if you’d rather travel without the logistics, I also organize small group tours in Uzbekistan together with trusted local partners, designed to give you a deeper, more meaningful experience of the country.
👉 Have a look at my Uzbekistan tours here
👉 Or reach out if you’d like help planning your own itinerary
Either way, Uzbekistan is a place that will surprise you in the best possible way!
I’d love to hear from you:
Are you planning a trip to Uzbekistan, or is it still on your bucket list? Please let me know in the comments below!
| 👉Tashkent City Guide | 👉Samarkand City Guide |
| 👉Bukhara City Guide | 👉Khiva City Guide |
| 👉Shahrisabz City Guide | 👉 Karakalpakstan Guide |
| 👉Fergana Valley Guide |
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Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for the extensive itineraries you wrote! We are planning a three week trip to Uzbekistan from the end of October to mid November (hope it won’t be too cold/wet/icy?), and your blog is helping us trying to figure out where to go.
I notice that in your itineraries you suggest to travel west after starting out in Tashkent, and travel back to the capital via the other Silk road cities. Is there a particular reason for this route? Or does this just have your personal preference compared to traveling from Tashkent via train to Khiva/Nukus and taking a plane from there back to Tasjkent?
Curious to hear if one order is a better choice than the other 🙂
Thanks in advance,
Renée
Hi Renée, there’s no particular reason why I suggest starting from the West, you can definitely travel the other way around too. Hope this helps!
Hey Cynthia,
We are thinking of visiting Uzbekistan as our first adventurous trip since having a child. The plan is to go for 2 weeks at the end of September when he’ll be about 7 months old and visit Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand by train.
Do you think this is feasible?
We considered including some side trips (Naratau or Khorezm) to reduce the islamic architecture fatigue but couldn’t find a way to do this safely without having to lug a car seat around the country with us.
As I know you are also a new parent I thought it would be interesting to get your insights here.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Rich,
I would also recommend Uzbekistan as a first adventurous trip with a child (planning on returning with my daughter next year). The trains in Uzbekistan are great for traveling with a child, especially the Afrosiyob train. The distance between Bukhara and Khiva (or vice versa) is quite long and if you would take the sleeper train, know that there won’t be much airconditioning (although the temperatures at the end of September should be cooler). The locals will be very helpful when they see you have a baby, it will be an extra starting point of connection and conversation 🙂
As for the car rides, they don’t really use baby car seats there… They usually keep the children on their lapse so if you’re thinking of going to Khorezm or Nuratau, it depends if you feel comfortable doing this. Khorezm can be done as a day tour, for Nuratau mountains, you need at least 2 extra days.
Hope this is helpful.
Best wishes,
Cynthia
Hi Cynthia,
We got back from our trip last Sunday and I just wanted to drop you a reply to say thanks again. We had a fantastic trip and had no issues travelling with our son. We did actually end up taking his car seat with us as it allowed us to do an overnight in the Nuratau mountains and made the taxi journeys between the train station and our accommodation feel a bit safer.
The sleeper train to Khiva worked perfectly, we booked an additional berth so had an entire 4 person cabin to ourselves which made sleeping and napping much easier.
As you alluded to the locals absolutely loved our son, he got so much attention and was a great conversation starter.
Enjoy your trip next year 🙂
Hi Rich, this is so wonderful to hear!! Really happy you had such a great trip. I have now a question for you: how did you travel with the car seat? Do you have a compact one that easily fits in your backpack/suitcase? I’m bringing my daughter to Kyrgyzstan next year and looking for options as we’ll be driving a lot 🙂 Best wishes!
We were lucky that he was still small enough to fit his infant carrier, which could be mounted on our yoyo pram when we were moving around and getting trains and then obviously transferred into the taxi/car when we were driving.
I did look at how we’d manage when he outgrows this seat and most people recommend one of these style backpacks (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09ZP552RB/), but they are not an insignificant thing to carry.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure there are “travel” car seats until you then get to the high-back booster stage.
Hi Rich, thanks for sharing! Yes, that backpack looks handy but very bulky… I still have some time to see my options before my trip. Traveling with small children requires a different preparation 🙂
This post is AMAZING. great job! I have been in Uzbekistan but only for week and I will be coming there this year cause there is soo much to see! Thank you for all your tips!
Thank you Natalia! Wishing you a great second trip in Uzbekistan!
Hi Cynthia, thank you for all the excellent information about Uzbekistan travel.
I am planning to take the sleeper train from Khiva to Tashkent. Do you know if this train has a dinning car?
Hi Paulo,
the sleeper train has a dining car but don’t expect too much from it (+ it’s quite expensive). I recommend bringing your own snacks. Have a great trip!