An Epic Uzbekistan Itinerary 2024

Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's one of the ways we keep bringing you free content. Learn more in our Disclosure Policy.

Disclosure image

TWO-WEEK UZBEKISTAN ITINERARY

Uzbekistan offers the modern-day traveller a journey back to a time when what we now see as small Uzbek cities, were once the major trade centres on the lucrative Silk Road.

Come with us on this Uzbekistan itinerary — a journey through time.

Beautiful tiled mosaics of a madrasah and minaret in Uzbekistan
Beautiful tiled mosaics of a madrasah and minaret in Uzbekistan

Its main ancient cities, SamarkandTashkentBukhara and Khiva, reflect glorious eras of days long gone. Now, intertwined with their own unique flavours of the modern age. This two-week Uzbekistan itinerary takes you on a journey exploring these mystical famed cities of old.

If you are looking at visiting Uzbekistan, read our Practical Uzbekistan Travel Tips and Guide, which gives you heaps of useful information for a trip to Uzbekistan. It includes how to book trains in Uzbekistan, information on credit card use, currency exchange, sim cards, travel safety, food, accommodation, and loads more.

Uzbek tea cups and tea pot
A cup of green tea – Uzbek Style

2 WEEK UZBEKISTAN ITINERARY: OVERVIEW

This Uzbekistan itinerary is easily adjusted from 2 weeks to 1 week or up to 3 weeks. We’ve included additional options to choose from if you have more time.

We spent 2 weeks traversing Uzbekistan by train which made for the most relaxing and stress-free travel.

Here is our 14-day Uzbekistan itinerary which proved to work perfectly, giving us enough time at each place without the feeling of having to rush:

Stop 1 – Tashkent 1-day visit

Stop 2 – Samarkand 3-day visit   (Tashkent to Samarkand = 300 kilometres)

Stop 3 – Bukhara 3-day visit (Samarkand to Bukhara = 280 kilometres)

Stop 4– Khiva 3-day visit (Bukhara to Khiva = 450 kilometres

Stop 5 – Khiva to Muynak and the Aral Sea ship cemetery  1-day visit (Khiva to Muynak = 380 kilometres (one-way)

Stop 6 – Urgench  1-day visit (Khiva to Urgench = 32 kilometres)  Urgench to Tashkent flight = 2-hours via Bukhara)

Planning a Trip to Uzbekistan?

Uzbekistan Tours

If you want an even easier Uzbekistan Itinerary consider this Grand Uzbekistan Tour.

This 14-day tour includes accommodation and entry fees and covers all the main cities, Tashkent, Nukus, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand.

⭐️ Check out this tour and other Uzbekistan options here on Viator | ⏰ 14 days | ⭐️ 5/5 Star Reviews

Traveller Reviews for this Uzbekistan itinerary tour

⭐️ Explore this Uzbekistan Tour here

UZBEKISTAN ITINERARY MAP

UZBEKISTAN ITINERARY VIDEO

Below is our video capturing the essence of our Uzbekistan trip which includes visits to Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva as well as a day trip to the Aral Sea ship cemetery.

Uzbekistan's Ancient Silk Road Cities

BEST ATTRACTIONS ON THIS EPIC UZBEKISTAN ITINERARY


STOP 1 – TASHKENT ITINERARY

TASHKENT METRO

The Tashkent Metro is an underground train system that was built in 1966, following an earthquake. The Metro was designed to not only be earthquake-proof but to double as nuclear bunkers when under Soviet rule. 

The underground stations are resplendent with stunning and individually styled decor made from metal, marble, granite, alabaster and glass. Each one is designed by Uzbekistan artists and architects and each station has its own particular theme.

Tashkent's underground metro stations are a must see part of any epic uzbekistan itinerary
Tashkent’s underground metro stations are a must-see attraction

UZBEKISTAN HOTEL

Jump off the metro at Amir Temur Hiyoboni Station and you will have quick and easy access to the Uzbekistan Hotel, just a few hundred metres away.

This hotel exemplifies typical Soviet 1970s brutalist architectural style and boasts 243 rooms on 16 floors. Its facade is made up of lots of interlocking concrete squares.

The Uzbekistan Hotel was built I’m 1974 and is one of the largest in the country. Many of the city’s large buildings were destroyed in the 1966 Tashkent Earthquake, and the hotel was part of the city’s rebuild.

It’s definitely worth a visit and you could even plan to stay in one of its classically furnished rooms for as little as £54 per night.

Find out more and current booking deals here.

Russian hotel with structured metal architecture in Tashkent on this Uzbekistan Itinerary
Hotel Uzbekistan’s external facade is maze-like

CHORZU BAZAAR

Chorzu Bazaar is a traditional marketplace selling breads, spices, fruit and vegetables.

The closest Metro stop to here is easy to remember – Chorsu, on the blue ‘Uzbekistan’ line.

It’s a short 750m walk to arrive at the bazaar.

Chorzu Bazaar building dome like with a blue roof on the Uzbekistan itinerary
Chorzu Bazaar, Tashkent

Plov Centre

The Plov Centre, also known as the Central Asian Plov Centre is a restaurant that serves up Plov, an Uzbek traditional dish. Plov is made of rice and meat and cooked in huge cauldrons at the centre.

The closest Metro stop is Habib Abdullayev which is about 650m from the restaurant. 

plate of plov, Uzbekistan Itinerary
Plate of plov

Tashkent’s Museums

There are plenty of Tashkent museums to choose from:

  • State Museum of History: Tracing Uzbekistan’s history
  • State Museum of Art: It has several thousand pieces of art, the largest collection in Uzbekistan
  • Amir Timur MuseumDedicated to the Mongol warlord Amir Timur with many antiquities relating to his life  
  • Museum of Applied Art: Showcasing Uzbek carpets, ceramics, textiles and handicrafts
  • Tashkent Museum of Railway TechnicsDiesel and steam locomotives and other train equipment

TASHKENT TOUR

If you’d prefer to take a guided tour of Tashkent – check out this Tashkent City Tour, including stops at:

  • Amir Timur Museum
  • Amir Temur Square
  • Independence Square (Mustakillik Square)
  • Memorial Square
  • Monument of Courage Earthquake Memorial
  • Minor Mosque
  • Tashkent Television Tower
  • Memorial to the Victims of Repression
  • Chorsu Bazaar
  • Ensemble Hazrati Imam
  • Palace Nations Friendship
  • Uzbekistan State Museum of Applied Art

👉 Book or find out more about this jam-packed tour of Tashkent | ⏰ 7-9 hours | ⭐️ 5/5 Star Reviews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great tour! Great price 1 Wonderful guide! — Frederick_B, Jun 2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great tour, guide and experience — Kevin_P, May 2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A lovely tour of Tashkent! Great, friendly guide, Mirzabek, with perfect English! — Jo_A, Apr 2022

TRAIN TRIP: TASHKENT TO SAMARKAND

Arriving at Tashkent’s main train station, South Railway Terminal, we showed our passports and tickets (have hard copies of your train tickets on hand) and passed our bags through X-ray machines. Our passports and tickets were checked a second time and we were then directed onto the train departure platform.

The platform signs, as expected, were in Cyrillic but just ask around and you’ll be pointed to the correct platform.

It was a fuss-free experience.

READ MORE: The Best Places to visit in Tashkent

Tashkent old Russian passenger train waiting at the platform
Uzbek trains are the best stress-free means of transport

STOP 2 – SAMARKAND ITINERARY

The city of Samarkand is thought to date back to the 8th century BC and in that time, has had its share of foreign rulers. This is evident in the mix of architectural styles seen on buildings and monuments.  In 2001, Samarkand was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

REGISTAN SQUARE

Registan Square consists of three madrasahs (ancient universities):

  • Ulughbek,
  • Sherdor and
  • Tilla-Kori

These huge structures date back to the 15th century and frame a central square in the heart of Samarkand. 

Each madrassah opens onto its own internal courtyard.

Travel Tip: At sunset, there is a period of about 20 minutes where the Madrassah is illuminated by the sun’s rays. Perfect for photos from the tiered seating area overlooking the entrance.

Every few nights, there is a laser light and sound show projected onto the Madrasahs. 

Registan square with 3 huge madrasahs facing each other
The three huge madrasahs of Registan square – what feats of workmanship

BIBI KHANYM MOSQUE AND MAUSOLEUM

This was one of the largest mosques in the world during the early 15th century. On the opposite side of the street to the mosque, is an unobtrusive and rather plain mausoleum containing five tombs. One of which is believed to be for the mother (Sarai Mulk-Khanym), and another for the wife of the famous Uzbek ruler, Amir Timur.

SIAB BAZAAR

Tucked behind Bibi Khanym, is Samarkand’s largest market, Siab Bazaar. This marketplace sells food, vegetables and all sorts of homewares. It’s pretty busy in the mornings but by lunchtime, the local crowd has pretty much disappeared.

SHAH-I-ZINDA COMPLEX AND SHAH-I-ZINDA CEMETERY 

The Shah-i-Zinda Complex consists of more than twenty mausoleums of the nobility, dating back to the 12th century. The mausoleums are packed closely together and tower over the small streets around them.

Travel tip: The most interesting access to the Shah-i-Zinda Complex, is via an interesting walk through the Shah-i-Zinda Cemetery that borders the Shah-i-Zinda Complex. Access is close to the Hazrati Hizr Mosque.

The cemetery’s main thoroughfare is a display of modern wealth with its amazing array of ornate marble and granite headstones and graves.

Ornate tall mausoleums butting up against each other in a narrow space
These resplendent mausoleums are a tight fit which accentuates their magnificence

AMIR TEMUR MAUSOLEUM

This mausoleum is the burial place of Amir Timur, a famed warrior from the area and under whose rule and subsequent successors Samarkand became the centre for scholarship and science. Also buried here are his two sons, two grandsons and Timur’s spiritual mentor. Amir’s coffin is covered by a single piece of black jade.

AMIR TEMUR STATUE

Crossing into University Boulevard, a mere 200m away, you can see a giant-sized effigy of a seated Amir Temur. It’s a busy roundabout but if you time it right with the traffic lights you’ll be able to cross over.

Travel Tip: You can get some great photos of Amir Temur from Hamid Alimjan Park right opposite without risking life and limb by trying to cross the road.

OTHER SAMARKAND OPTIONS YOU MAY LIKE:

1) Hazrati Hizr Mosque — this 17th-century mosque was renovated in the 1990s and is quite new looking. You are not allowed to take photos inside this mosque.

2) Tilla Kari Park — just behind Registan Square, this park offers interesting and different perspectives of Registan Square.

TRAIN TRIP SAMARKAND TO BUKHARA

The journey from Samarkand to Bukhara was a 2.5-hour train ride.

The same security checks precede entry to the train platform.

Travelling in economy class was easily as comfortable as the Tashkent-Samarkand business class section. The carriage is open-styled with two seats on each side of the aisle. You are able to order food and drinks from the vendor who walks down the aisle.

fast-train-at-a-station
Modern trains also service this popular tourist route

READ MORE: on the Amazing Things to do in Samarkand

STOP 3 – BUKHARA ITINERARY

Bukhara is known as a museum town with over 140 ancient monuments dating back more than 2000 years. The old city was another important trading post on the lucrative Silk Road route. Bukhara’s old city was classified as a UNESCO world heritage listed site in 1993.

CHOR MINOR

This tiny madrasah has four little blue-domed minarets and an open courtyard around it. Inside, there’s a small Uzbek stall selling traditional wares.

Travel Tip: If you like old war memorabilia, then opposite Chor minor was a small market selling all kinds of old war memorabilia including old original military medals and uniforms. It was the only one we saw during our two weeks in Uzbekistan.

small 4 blue domed madrasah
The distinctive 4 blue-domed towers of Chor Minor

Nearby the market, we saw a caged ‘partridge’ which is the national bird of Uzbekistan. Speaking to one of the locals, he told us it was good luck for households to have this caged bird and that most households did.

We also asked about singing birds that we had seen that were kept in cages with a cover over them at restaurants and businesses. He told us that this musical bird was a ‘quail’ and that keeping them covered prompted them to sing.

We wondered if instead, it was a cry for freedom.  

LYABI HAUZ POOL

This old stone pool used to be a meeting place in past times where people drank water, washed and talked. Nowadays, many have been filled due to problems with water-borne diseases.  However, the Lyabi Haus pool remains and to this day, is still a popular place where you can find alfresco dining and a place to relax from the days travelling.

Travel Tip: Head here for a late evening drink or dinner as every couple of days you’ll be able to watch and listen to some traditional music 

table-and-chairs-around-a-pool
Lyabi Hauz

MADRASAH NADIR DEVON BEGI AND HODJA NASRUDDIN 

Nearby the Lyabi Hauz pond is the Nadir Devon Begi Madrasah. The courtyard within has the typical stalls selling Uzbek wares, but you’ll also find metalworkers gently working the metal with their hammers and chisel.

Right outside the madrasah, is a statue of Hodja Nasruddin, an ancient philosopher known along the Silk Road for his wisdom and wit. It is said that those who rub the statue will have good luck.

MADRASAH KUKELDASH

Just north and over the road lies the Madrasah Kukeldash. It doesn’t look very different from other madrasahs, but inside is a family-owned business selling and teaching Suzanne embroidery. Many of the materials were decorated with the good luck fruit, the pomegranate.

KALON MINARET, POI KALYAN MOSQUE AND MIRI-ARAB MADRASAH

These three attractions are all close together. We recommend visiting the adjoining Kalyan Mosque first, which you must depart just prior to sunset, as it still operates as a mosque.

Poi Kalyon Mosque, built in the 16th century, has a huge inner courtyard built with a series of 208 columns and 288 domes with a solitary mulberry tree in the centre.

The beautiful 12th-century Kalon minaret towers over the old city. This 45m high landmark is great to orient yourself during walks. Opposite the mosque entrance, is the beautiful facade of Miri-Arab Madrasah.

inner-court-of-a-madrasah-with-minaret
Poi Kalyan mosque’s huge open courtyard 
Illuminated Kalyon minaret at sunset
Illuminated Kalyon minaret at sunset

SAMANID MAUSOLEUM

Approximately two kilometres west of the Lyabi Hauz pool, in Samani Park, lies the Samanid Mausoleum. This 10th-century small medieval crypt is Bukhara’s oldest Muslim monument and displays an amazing example of patterned, symmetrical brick construction.

BOLO HAOUZ MOSQUE

From the Samanid Mausoleum and before reaching The Ark, a slight detour will have you passing a really colourful 18th-century Bolo Haouz Mosque. This wooden mosque has 20 wooden columns supporting a painted wooden roof.

THE ARK

This massive citadel dates back to the 4th century. The thick earthen walls tower above the ground at heights of 16m to 20m. The entrance is through a massive portal by an inclined walkway.

Inside you’ll find that the old rooms, stables and stores now form separate museums with just a few artefacts.

The Ark fortress with one of its locals
The Ark fortress with one of its ‘locals’

TRAIN TRIP BUKHARA TO KHIVA

Before reaching Khiva, the train stops in Urgench for about 10 minutes. Total train travel time was 4 hours. We tried Business Class with super comfortable leather upholstered seats. The price was not exorbitant.

A taxi from Khiva train station to Khiva’s Itchan Kala (walled fortress) took approximately 15 minutes.

READ MORE: On the Best Things to do in Bukhara

STOP 4 – KHIVA ITINERARY

Khiva is Uzbekistan’s northernmost city on the ancient Silk Road route. Its inner city, called Itchan Kala, is a lot smaller than that of the other cities mentioned, but it still offers many attractions.

It must be said though, that during our visit in October 2019, many of the museums had only part-filled shelves on display.

walking-khiva's-walled city
Pedestrian access to the impressive earthen walls around Khiva’s old city

Here are our top places to visit for Khiva’s old city:

DUMA MOSQUE 

With its 218 wooden columns supporting a huge roof, this indoor area is huge even boasting its own small garden areas within.

KALTA-MINOR MINARET

This eye-catching 29m high minaret has a 15m diameter base and is covered with blue glazed tiles.

Kalta minor minaret at sunset
Kalta Minor after sunset

ISLAM-KHOJA MINARET

This minaret towers to a height of 57m and was built in the early 20th century so by no means an ancient building.

TOSH HOVLI PALACE 

This palace is quite interesting with its many rooms of artefacts including pillars, wheels, and water wheels. One of the internal courtyards even had a yurt (albeit modern age) but it was good to see how these were fashioned.  

Beautiful colourful patterns on the palace ceilings
Exquisite tiled mosaics and wood ceilings of the Tosh Hovli Palace

KHIVA GRAVEYARDS 

You can see some of the original ancient graves in the southwestern corner of the old city, but many of these are currently undergoing renovation.

Keep an out when walking around the inner city because a grave will sometimes be marked with a small post with flags which is a symbol of good fortune ahead.

Walking the outside walls will also reveal graves embedded in the structure.

SUNSET WALK OF THE OLD CITY WALLS

Definitely don’t miss this. A set of stairs, beside the northern gate, give access to the 6 to 8-m-high earthen city walls. Walking as far as you can, along the western wall at sunset, will give spectacular views of the minarets and Muhammad Rahim-Khan Madrasah.

Travel Tip: This is a great spot for some magical photos over Khiva Itchan Kala at sunset. 

Moon-over-Khiva-with-its-artifically-lit-minarets
Khiva’s old city at Sunset

READ MORE: Top Things to do in Khiva

STOP 5 – DAY TRIP TO MUYNAK AND THE ARAL SEA SHIP CEMETERY

This Islambek Travel 1-day trip (day trip to Muynak Ship Cemetery) also includes visits to:

  • Chilpik Kala (an ancient earthen tower),
  • Nukus Art Museum,
  • Mizdakhan (a huge cemetery with mausoleums),
  • Muynak Museum and the nearby
  • Aral Sea ship cemetery and
  • Badai Tugai Natural Reserve. 

Travel Tip: This has recently been offered as a 2-day trip which is preferable as you really need all this time to fit in the attractions comfortably. Plus you are looking at approximately 800 kilometres of driving in total for the trip.  

Here are the attractions from the trip:

CHILPIK KALA

Chilpyk is a round, roofless earthen tower, 15 meters high and 65 meters in diameter, built at the top of a rounded natural hill, 43 km from Nukus. There are great views of the surrounding landscape and the nearby Amu Darya river.

Earthen round fortress like structure in the desert
Chilpipk Kala is a real stand-out in the flat desert terrain

NUKUS ART MUSEUM

This museum has roughly 50,000 pieces of Avante-Garde Russian artwork plus other museum pieces from Asia and the Middle East.

MIZDAKHAN

This huge cemetery, dating back to the 4th century, in the town of Khodjeyli consists of distinctive grave sites and mausoleums. Inside the cemetery is the underground mausoleum of Muzlum-Khan-Sulu, the small hillock of Jumart Qassap which is a praying place, is the mausoleums of Muzlum-Sulu-Khan and Shamun-nabi with its 25m long tomb.

Underground mausoleum
Mizdakhan is much more than a cemetery – this underground mausoleum is dazzling

MUYNAK MUSEUM

This museum, on the edge of the old Aral Sea, has photos and memorabilia from the early 20th century, back when the Aral Sea held the title of the fourth-largest inland body of water.

It used to host a flourishing fishing industry before its waters were pillaged for the irrigation of cotton — one of the worst ecological disasters of the 20th century.

ARAL SEA SHIP CEMETERY

Standing on edge of the original coastline brings into view some old fishing vessels pointing out to what was, the Aral Sea of old where waters used to gently lap the now rusted hulls. It is now a desolate, sandy terrain punctuated by scrubby trees.

many-rusty-ship-hulls-lined-up-on-a-sandy-desert
The Aral Ship Cemetery

READ MORE: Khiva to Aral Sea Day Trip

STOP 6 – URGENCH

TAXI RIDE: KHIVA TO URGENCH 

We could have opted to backtrack all the way to Tashkent by train, but instead decided on the 2-hour flight from Urgench via Bukhara to Tashkent.

Grabbing a taxi in Khiva, the journey was just an hour to Urgench, leaving us time to explore a little of the city. Urgench (also sometimes spelt, Urgance) had its fair share of 20th-century monuments and generally, we liked the feel of the place.

Urgench has a nice mixture of 20th century monuments and bridges
Urgench left us with a nice impression of the city

UZBEKISTAN ITINERARY … THAT’S A WRAP

This epic Uzbekistan itinerary could easily be adjusted to fit a longer travel period. Although we wouldn’t recommend shortening this itinerary if you were considering seeing most of these attractions already mentioned.

We didn’t visit the Fergana Valley in the east of the country due to heightened security issues.

If you find other places of interest that should be included, please comment below.

We hope you enjoy Uzbekistan as much as we did.

Pin and Save for Later

Uzbekistan Itinerary pinterest pin

READ MORE:

PLANNING YOUR TRAVELS?

These are some of the travel resources we use when planning our trips.

For a more thorough list visit our Travel Resources page here.

Photo of author

Lars

Lars, grew up in the Australian countryside and discovered his love for nature early on. Leaving Australia at 20, he began a life of travel and exploration. As a co-owner of Lifejourney4two with Shelley, Lars captures their journeys through his photography. Join him here and see the world through his lens.

Leave a comment

Pin It on Pinterest