The classic Silk Road circuit covers the four main tourist cities in geographic order, west to east or east to west.
Day 1–2: Tashkent - Arrive. Recover from jet lag. - Day 1: Chorsu Bazaar + Khast Imam + metro photography. - Day 2: Amir Timur Museum + Broadway + evening at a restaurant.
Day 3–5: Samarkand (Afrosiyob train, 2h10) - Day 3: Registan + Gur-e-Amir + Bibi-Khanym. - Day 4: Shah-i-Zinda (sunrise) + Ulugh Beg Observatory + Siyob Bazaar. - Day 5: Day trip to Shakhrisabz (Ak-Saray) OR Konigil paper workshop + free time.
Day 6–7: Bukhara (Afrosiyob train, 1h30) - Day 6: Poi Kalyan + Ark + Lyabi-Hauz. - Day 7: Trading domes + Ismail Samani + Chor Minor + hammam.
Day 8–9: Khiva (shared taxi or private car, ~7h) - Day 8: Transfer day; arrive afternoon. Walk Ichan Kala at sunset. - Day 9: Full day: Kalta Minor + Kunya Ark + Tosh-Hovli + Islam Khoja minaret climb.
Day 10: Departure - Fly Urgench → Tashkent (1h), connect international. OR direct Urgench international flight.
Variations: - Add Nurata yurt camp (1 night between Samarkand and Bukhara). - Add Fergana Valley (2 days, silk + ceramics) between Tashkent and Samarkand. - Add Nukus + Aral Sea (2 days after Khiva). - Reverse direction (west → east) for the same sights in different light.
Transport total cost (trains + shared taxi): ~$80–120 per person for the full circuit.
Uzbekistan in photos
A short visual companion to this entry — photographs from our Uzbekistan travel archive.
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How to get around Uzbekistan
Afrosiyob bullet trains (Tashkent–Samarkand 2h10, Samarkand–Bukhara 1h30), domestic flights (30 min Tashkent–Bukhara), shared taxis (cheap, flexible), private drivers ($60–100/day).
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7-day Uzbekistan itinerary (short trip)
Yes — Tashkent (1 night) → Samarkand (2 nights) → Bukhara (2 nights) → Khiva (1 night) covers the essential Silk Road cities. Skip Khiva if you'd rather slow down.
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Day trips from Tashkent
Chimgan mountains (hiking/skiing, 80 km), Charvak Lake (swimming, 90 km), Samarkand (by Afrosiyob, 2h10 each way), or Fergana Valley highlights (4h each way).
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Uzbekistan entry requirements overview
90+ countries visa-free for 30 days (including US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan). Others eligible for a $20 e-visa at e-visa.gov.uz. Check /visa/<your-country> for specifics.
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Uzbekistan travel budget: what things cost
Cheap by world standards. Budget: $30–50/day. Mid-range: $80–150/day. Luxury: $200–400/day. Biggest variables: hotel tier and whether you use shared or private transport.
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Uzbekistan with kids
Yes — safe, child-friendly culture, interesting without being physically demanding. Shorter city walks, train travel, and the yurt-camp experience work well for ages 6+.