Day 1: Arrive Khiva

A direct flight from Istanbul brings us to Urgench, gateway to Khiva the most westerly point of our travels. After a late breakfast and rest we will take a city tour to see the first of our UNESCO World Heritage sites visiting; Ichan-Kala Fortress, Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Kunya-Ark, Juma Mosque, Toshkhovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum and the Minaret of Islom-khodja.

Overnight Khiva.

Day 2: Khiva fortresses

Way out in the surrounding Kyzylkum Desert are the monuments of Ancient Khorezm and we will drive out into this remote area to see the Kushan monuments of Kyzyl-Kala and Toprak Kala, the latter the former third century capital of Khorezm. Not without reason this is called “the museum of fine arts of Ancient Khorezm” and is the only completely excavated Khorezm monument, known for its ingenious architecture. Later in the afternoon we’ll visit one of the largest fortresses of Ancient Khorezm; Ayaz Kala.

Overnight Khiva.

Day 3: Fly to Bukhara

The desert reaches are large and so this morning we will fly onto Bukhara. The rest of the day will be spent enjoying a walking tour of this compact and fascinating city, taking in the quirky Chor-Minor Madrasah, the showpiece Kalyan Minaret is magnificent and nearby one can sit under the shade of mulberries in the attached Kalyan Mosque complex. There is the exquisitely constructed Ismail Samany Mausoleum, with the most intricate brickwork imaginable and we will see a variety of other superb brick and blue tiled constructions including; Miri-Arab, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrasahs, Lyabi Hauz, Magoki-Attori Mosque and the smaller Bolo-Khauz Mosque with wooden supporting columns. Huge walls still surround part of the Ark Fortress a reminder of the past glory and strength of Bukhara and we will walk through the vaulted ceilings of the restored trade domes where many a deal was struck in the past and great place to find finely-constructed handicrafts today. Overnight Bukhara.

Day 4: Bukhara

There will be a morning excursion to Sitorai Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir and a unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture with collections of artefacts from around the world as well as exhibitions of fine Susana embroidery and ornate handmade clothing with remarkable intricate needlework. An eclectic place. In the afternoon there will be more time to enjoy the old city, which is a delight to wander independently. Overnight Bukhara.

Day 5: To Samarkand

An express train takes us onto Samarkand, arguably the most iconic of all Silk Road cities. After lunch and before we explore the city in full we will sample other cultural aspects with a visit to the Meros paper mill, where artisans have resurrected the techniques of traditional paper making using mulberry wood. Back in the city we will see the Afrisob Museum to give an overview of the history of Samarkand. Overnight Samarkand.

Day 6: Samarkand 

The finale to our tour will be a full day exploring magnificent Samarkand. We will visit the spectacular Registan Square, the crumbling ruins of Bibi Khanum Mosque, a structure too vast in concept for the ground it stands on, the nearby Siyob Bazaar still buzzes with activity and affords the chance to buy delicious local treats and see what local residents buy and sell. There are the modest but significant remains of Ulugbek’s ground-breaking and incredibly accurate Observatory, as well as the exquisite blue-tiled ensemble at Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis and of  course the iconic Gur Emir Mausoleum, the authentic shrine of Tamerlane. Overnight Samarkand.

Day 7: Tashkent

A day of contrast. We will take the excellent fast train to the capital Tashkent and after lunch there will be a city tour, a chance to see modern Uzbekistan and its new architecture, tree-lined grand boulevards and its historical context. Overnight Tashkent.

Day 8: Direct Flights to Istanbul 

Departure to Istanbul for connecting flights.