Samarkand · Bukhara · Khiva
The Golden Road, unhurried
8 days · small group, 10 max · from $1,940 per person
The classical Silk Road cities at the pace they deserve.
Most itineraries sprint the golden triangle in five days and spend half of them in transit. We take eight, ride the fast train in the cool of the morning, and give every city its best hours — early monuments before the crowds, long shaded afternoons, and the evenings when Bukhara and Khiva belong to the people who stayed. Groups are capped at ten travelers with one guide who has done this route more than a hundred times.
Day by day
The shape of the journey
Day 1
Tashkent, gently
Arrival, checked into The Heritage Tashkent. An easy evening walk through the old city quarter and dinner in a mahalla courtyard — plov, and introductions.
Day 2
The 7:28 to Samarkand
The Afrosiyob at sunrise, tea from the trolley, and the Registan before noon. Afternoon at Gur-e-Amir; the square again at dusk, when the tiles catch fire.
Day 3
Samarkand in depth
Shah-i-Zinda at opening time, Bibi-Khanym and the Siyob bazaar while the bread is warm. Afternoon at the Konigil paper mill; evening free — you know where the square is.
Day 4
To holy Bukhara
Morning train down the steppe. First walk at golden hour: trading domes, Lyab-i Hauz, dinner by the pond.
Day 5
Bukhara on foot
The Ark, Po-i-Kalyan, and lunch in a converted madrasa. Free afternoon for the domes' workshops; rooftop dusk opposite the Kalyan minaret.
Day 6
Across the Kyzylkum
The desert crossing to Khorezm — red sand, saxaul, the Amu Darya. Arrival inside Itchan Kala's walls before the light goes.
Day 7
Khiva entire
The full walled city: Juma Mosque's wooden forest, Tash Khauli's courtyards, the Islam Khodja climb. Sunset from the ramparts, shivit oshi for dinner.
Day 8
Home by air
A slow morning in the lanes, then Urgench airport and the short flight back to Tashkent. Departure, or a night at The Heritage before you go.
Included
- 7 nights: boutique hotels inside the old towns (The Heritage Tashkent in the capital)
- All rail (Afrosiyob business class) and internal transfers, incl. the Kyzylkum crossing
- English-speaking historian guide throughout, groups of 10 maximum
- All monument tickets, daily breakfasts, three hosted dinners
- Urgench–Tashkent flight
Not included
- International flights and visa support (we assist on request)
- Lunches and non-hosted dinners
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Asked often
Good questions
How much walking is this?
Four to seven kilometers a day at an unhurried pace, mostly flat, with long breaks. The Islam Khodja minaret climb is optional and earned.
When do departures run?
March through June and September through early November — the months when the route is at its best. Exact dates are confirmed when you inquire.
Can this run privately?
Yes — the same route runs privately for two to six travelers on your dates, priced on request.
Is Uzbekistan safe for travelers?
It is among the safest destinations in Asia; petty crime is rare and hospitality is a national discipline. Your guide handles the practicalities regardless.
What about dietary requirements?
Vegetarian is easy, vegan is manageable with notice, and we brief every kitchen in advance. Tell us when you book.