At present I wish to share my Uzbekistan itinerary with you. This nation in Central Asia is thought for its Silk Highway historical past and beautiful structure. If you wish to journey someplace off the crushed path, learn on for my information to easy methods to spend 11 days in Uzbekistan. I’ve included a map and sensible ideas, too.
11 Days in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan isn’t on each traveler’s radar. Landlocked within the ‘stans,’ it typically will get neglected. However the nation is price a particular journey for its wealthy historical past, beautiful landmarks, and good worth.
I’ve wished to journey to Uzbekistan ever since I noticed images of the nation’s monumental structure, blue tiles, and iconic domes on social media. My want was heightened after watching a documentary on the Silk Highway and studying the novel Samarkand. Now I’ve an opportunity to go to, and I can’t wait.
Serendipitously, I’ve deliberate a visit concurrently a few of my buddies. After we uncover our dates overlap, the six of us be a part of forces and journey to Uzbekistan collectively. My pal Priya has labored arduous to craft the itinerary and discover good accommodations and excursions for us. I do know it’s going to be an awesome journey.
Day 1: Tashkent
After flying in from numerous components of the world, my group meets in Tashkent, the nation’s capital. I arrive round 7pm and spend the night listening to about the remainder of the group’s tour of the town that day.
We’re all staying on the Hampton by Hilton resort, which is in an awesome location within the coronary heart of Tashkent. It’s proper close to Amir Timur Sq., and there’s a restaurant within the foyer that serves a complimentary buffet breakfast every morning. If you wish to observe in our footsteps, you possibly can guide a room right here.
Day 2: Tashkent & Khiva
The subsequent morning we get up early and head out to discover the town. We begin with the metro, which isn’t solely a great way to get round Tashkent, but in addition a murals in its personal proper. Stations like Alisher Navoiy are so stunning we let a number of trains go as we {photograph} the beautiful halls and platforms.
We take the metro to the Chorsu Bazaar, the town’s largest and oldest market. Housed in and round a blue-domed constructing, it options every kind of contemporary produce, bread, nuts, meat, and different meals.
After exploring the market, we take the metro again in the direction of Amir Timur Sq.. We head to the enduring Lodge Uzbekistan to alter cash and admire its placing facade. This Soviet-era icon was in-built 1974, and it’s recognized for each its Brutalist structure and for having been the lodging of alternative of visiting dignitaries.
Again at our resort, we meet our tour information. He takes us to Uzbekiston Ovozi Avenue, the place they’re organising for the Navruz celebrations.
This annual vacation is an historic New Yr pageant that heralds the arrival of spring. Festivities happen all through the nation’s main cities, and so they embrace concert events, dances, performances, and cultural occasions.
We have a look round and make an observation to return later when the celebrations are in full-swing.
Within the meantime, the information leads us again to Amir Timur Sq. to {photograph} the equestrian statue of Amir Timur. He was a 14th-century determine who based the Timurid Empire that dominated over modern-day Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Iran.
Afterwards we spend time strolling down the pedestrianized Sailgokh Avenue and testing the wares on the market stalls there. From colourful clothes to artwork and souvenirs, there’s loads to soak up.
After we’re accomplished looking, the information takes us again to the Chorsu Bazaar. We head straight to the bread ovens, the place we’re invited to attempt our arms at placing loaves into and out of the recent clay domes. We purchase some contemporary ones to take with us, snacking as we discover the remainder of the market.
Quickly we get to style sumalak, a candy pudding-like paste constructed from slow-cooked germinated wheat sprouts and flour. Slathered on our contemporary bread, it’s a scrumptious Navruz deal with.
Below the large blue dome, we head upstairs to browse the nut distributors’ produce. They’re promoting each sort of nut conceivable, and we decide up a couple of baggage to take alongside as snacks for the remainder of our journey.
At 4pm we discover ourselves again on Uzbekiston Ovozi Avenue. The Navruz festivities are in full-swing. There’s an enormous live performance on one finish, road performers on stilts within the center, and a market with conventional handicrafts on the opposite.
There are distributors promoting samsa, or savory meat pastries, scorching out of the oven, and dancers performing within the streets.
After having fun with the cultural shows, we head again to the resort to take a look at and catch our flight to Urgench Worldwide Airport within the Khorazm Area of Western Uzbekistan.
90 minutes later, we land, decide up our baggage, and meet our driver. He whisks us off on a 45-minute drive to Khiva, a 2,500-year-old walled metropolis and UNESCO World Heritage web site.
As quickly as we arrive, we’re awed by the traditional metropolis. With over 50 historic monuments and attention-grabbing minarets, that is the stuff of Uzbek fairy tales. It’s all magical within the floodlit evening, and we really feel like we’re in an enchanted kingdom.
After we put down our cameras, we stroll to our lodging, the Feruzkhan Lodge. It’s proper within the walled metropolis, and it’s housed in a former madrassa college. Our rooms are located round a central courtyard, and it seems like we’ve stepped right into a story from One Thousand and One Nights.
Day 3: Khiva
The subsequent morning we get up to blue sky and many sunshine. After breakfast on the resort’s complimentary buffet, we meet our information for the day. She takes us round on a tour to see the most important sightseeing highlights within the historic space of Itchan Kala.
The stops embrace the Kalta Minor Minaret, Muhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Kuhna Ark palace, Juma Mosque, Pahlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum complicated, Islam Khoja Minaret, Museum of Students, Khojamberdibi Madrasah, and Toshhovli Palace.
In between, we take time to browse at market stalls promoting every little thing from clothes to pottery and conventional hats. We take pleasure in contemporary pomegranate juice at an open-air cafe known as Tea Home Bir Gumbaz, watch a woodworking demonstration, and meet a camel named Michael (sure, actually).
We cease for a late lunch at a restaurant known as Mirza Boshi, the place plates of pumpkin dumplings and hearty plov (rice with meat) go down a deal with.
When sundown comes, we head to the rooftop of Terassa. There we take pleasure in drinks with views of every little thing from the Kuhna Ark to the Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasah earlier than descending for a fast (and unimpressive) dinner at a spot known as Murod Josh by our resort.
Day 4: Khiva & Bukhara
The subsequent day we stroll round Khiva on our personal within the morning, revisiting locations we preferred the day earlier than and taking a couple of final images earlier than departing.
Our subsequent cease is Bukhara. There are trains between Khiva and Bukhara on sure days of the week, however our itinerary doesn’t coincide with them. As a substitute, our driver takes us on a 6.5-hour journey by the desert.
He stops to allow us to out for lunch at a roadside restaurant known as Kyzylkum Teahouse. It’s the most costly meal of our journey, and never terribly good. If we may do it once more, we’d survive on snacks till arriving in Bukhara.
After we do arrive, we’re handled to beautiful views of the town from the rooftop of our resort. The Artwork Suzani is in a great location proper subsequent to the central Po-i-Kalyan complicated, and we will’t get sufficient of the vistas from the roof terrace.
After getting settled into our rooms, we now have dinner on the rooftop of Restaurant Kazan, the place we take pleasure in extra views of Po-i-Kalyan. Afterwards we spend the night strolling across the historic metropolis heart.
Day 5: Bukhara
The next morning we meet our information on the resort and head out for an early morning of sightseeing. Highlights of the tour embrace the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah, Chor Minor Monument, Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah, Labi Hovuz Sq., and Toki Sarrofon.
Again on the resort, we eat a fast breakfast on the complimentary buffet earlier than assembly again up with the information for extra sightseeing.
This time we begin with the primary occasion in Bukhara: the Po-i-Kalyan complicated. We admire the tall Kalan Minaret and go into the Sixteenth-century Kalan Mosque, admiring the beautiful structure as we take images and movies.
From there our information takes us to the Ark of Bukhara, a Fifth-century fortress with beautiful views of the town skyline. Afterwards we stroll over to the Bolo Hauz Mosque, Chashmai Ayub Mausoleum, and Ismail Samani Mausoleum, with its beautiful brickwork.
A couple of members of our group are keen on shopping for carpets, so our subsequent cease is the Bukhara Silk Carpets store and manufacturing facility. After take pleasure in tea and halva, we watch a bunch of ladies deftly weaving in a small room.
From there we’re given the official gross sales pitch, the place we see a variety of carpets manufactured from every little thing from sheep wool to camel fur and silk.
After the store, we head off to Toqi Zargaron, a historic coated market space with spices, woodcarvings, and different conventional items on the market. We browse the wares and pop into a couple of artisanal retailers, then take a look at the markets within the Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah.
Afterwards, we head to lunch at a restaurant known as Zolotaya Buhara. It’s buzzing inside, and we order plates of spinach pastries and pumpkin dumplings as we take within the conventional decor.
At sundown we head as much as a rooftop cafe known as Espresso and Store for drinks and views. We will see all the best way to the Po-i-Kalyan complicated from right here, and it’s an awesome place to see the sky flip golden.
After darkish, we meet again up with our tour information and take a stroll by the town heart. Retracing a few of our steps from the morning’s tour, we go balloon sellers and busy cafes en path to Labi Hovuz Sq.. There we take within the buzzing restaurant tables lining the historic pond.
Waving goodbye to our information, we head to dinner on the terrace exterior Chalet Terrassa. There’s dwell music and a chill environment as we take pleasure in our night meal of lagman noodles.
Day 6: Bukhara & Samarkand
On our second day in Bukhara we go away the town heart. Our driver and information take us on a tour to a few essential historic websites simply exterior the city space.
The primary is the Chor Bakr Memorial Complicated. This place was constructed over the burial web site of Abu-Bakr-Mentioned, who died within the 12 months 360 of the Muslim Calendar (round 971 AD). He was one of many 4 Abu-Bakrs, descendants of Muhammad.
The second web site is the Sitori-i-Mokhi Khosa Palace. Constructed within the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, it was a rustic retreat of the Emir of Bukhara. At present it homes a museum of ornamental and utilized arts, and guests can see the beautiful historic interiors and gardens.
The third is the Bahouddin Naqshband Muzey. Established after the demise of Bahouddin Naqshband, the seventh Sufi saint, in 1389, this architectural complicated has been a spot of pilgrimage for hundreds of years. It’s dwelling to every little thing from non secular websites to gardens.
After visiting the complicated, we head to the railway station for our journey to Samarkand. We’ve got time to purchase savory pastries for lunch at a spot known as Aisha earlier than boarding the high-speed prepare. It’s a scenic journey by the Uzbek countryside, with mountains on one aspect and fields on the opposite.
After the 2-hour journey, our driver picks us up on the prepare station in Samarkand and takes us to our lodging. We’re staying on the Bibikhanum Lodge, which is in an awesome location proper subsequent to the beautiful Bibi-Khanym Mosque. There are superb views of it and different landmarks from each the breakfast room and the touchdown.
After getting settled, we stroll to an Indian restaurant known as Cafe Punjab for dinner. Most of our group is both vegetarian or pescatarian, and we’ve been a bit starved for protein in meat-heavy Uzbekistan. We welcome a scrumptious feast of daal, paneer, and different dishes as we cap off our sixth day within the nation.
Day 7: Samarkand
The next morning we begin with a tour of Samarkand. Strolling with our information, we go the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Hazrat Khizr Mosque on our solution to the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis.
This place is filled with historic mausoleums and different ritual buildings courting from the eleventh to the nineteenth century. With their monumental measurement and beautiful tilework, they’re superb to see.
After visiting Shah-i-Zinda, we return to the resort for a fast breakfast. The complimentary buffet comes with a surprising view of Samarkand’s iconic domes, and we will’t take our eyes off the surroundings as we eat.
Breakfast completed, our driver takes us to extra of Samarkand’s sightseeing highlights. We go to Gur-i Amir, a surprising complicated the place Amir Timur is buried. Then we stroll to Registan Sq., selecting up ice cream alongside the best way.
Registan Sq. is among the most beautiful locations I’ve seen on my travels. Well-known for that includes three madrasas surrounding a central courtyard, this place has all of the large-scale structure and tiles I consider once I consider Uzbekistan.
We tour the sq., taking within the design highlights and small museums as our information talks us by the historical past and we stand in awe of the great thing about all of it.
After the sq., I peel off from the group and decide up some savory pastries for lunch at a spot known as Bibikhanum Chayxana. They’re tasty and filling after an enormous morning of sightseeing, and I take pleasure in them at an outside desk in our resort’s inside courtyard.
Within the afternoon, I meet again up with the group to tour the native market. Siab Bazaar is filled with stalls promoting every little thing from spices redolent of the Silk Highway to colourful native pottery. Our information takes us round, declaring numerous meals and serving to us negotiate costs with the distributors.
After the market, we head subsequent door to tour the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. An essential monument, it was one of many largest and most luxurious mosques within the Islamic world within the fifteenth century. With beautiful monumental structure and basic tiles, it’s every little thing we’ve come to like about Uzbekistan.
After touring it, a couple of of us stroll again to Registan Sq. to get some sundown images. It’s superb to look at the sky flip pink and the buildings go from gold to inexperienced because the floodlights regularly exchange the sunshine of day.
We will’t assist returning to Cafe Punjab for dinner. As responsible as we really feel for not consuming native meals, our protein-starved our bodies are hungry for extra chickpeas, lentils, and paneer (and the meals is so good it’s arduous to withstand the temptation).
Day 8: Day Journey to Tajikistan
The subsequent morning two of us get up early and head off on a day journey to Tajikistan. Sadly, the members of our group who solely maintain UK passports didn’t get their visas on time regardless of making use of early (apparently this is quite common).
The 2 of us with US passports can journey visa-free to Tajikistan (and Uzbekistan, for that matter), so our driver takes us on the hour-long journey to the border.
We clear passport management on either side, then meet one other driver and information in Tajikistan. They whisk us off in a model new van, and we pace previous farms with snowcapped mountains within the distance. We’re headed to the Seven Lakes, a preferred day journey to Tajikistan from Uzbekistan.
For the subsequent few hours, we wind up mountain roads, stopping at every lake to take images. There are small villages between every one, and more and more picturesque views as we ascend the mountain. On the seventh lake, we meet an area canine who can’t assist posing for images.
Again down at decrease elevation, we cease for a late lunch in Panjakent, a metropolis on the Zeravshan River. We eat at a desk with a view of the native coated market, having fun with heaping plates of plov and contemporary bread as we admire the surroundings exterior.
Our final cease is at an historic place known as Sarazm. Proper close to the border with Uzbekistan, this UNESCO World Heritage Web site incorporates a Bronze Age settlement with stays of a 4th and third millennium BC proto-urban space.
One of many oldest recognized human settlements in Central Asia, the positioning options excavations and a museum with artifacts and the skeleton of a lady from Sarazam.
Again in Samarkand, we meet up with the remainder of the group for one more dinner at Cafe Punjab earlier than calling it an early evening.
Day 9: Samarkand & Tashkent
The subsequent morning our Uzbekistan itinerary continues as we head off with our information to see extra of the sightseeing highlights of Samarkand.
After she factors out the traditional ruins of the town of Afrosiyob from the van, we begin the day on the Tomb of Daniel. It’s devoted to the Previous Testomony prophet of the identical identify.
First we see a properly, the place plenty of locals are filling up water vessels to take dwelling with them. On a hill above it, 5 domes run alongside the highest of a construction that homes a 60-foot (18-meter) sarcophagus. It seemingly holds the stays of the prophet Daniel.
From the tomb the driving force takes us to a paper mill known as Bumazhnaya Fabrika Meros. Set in a sprawling however charming complicated alongside a bucolic river, it’s dwelling to a museum, workshops, outfitters, eating places, and every kind of different areas.
We’re welcomed with tea, then given a tour of the paper mill. After studying in regards to the paper-making course of, we stroll round to soak up the remainder of the positioning. From artwork galleries to bread ovens, there’s loads happening right here.
Leaving the mill, we head to the prepare station. We’re off to Taskhent, which is a 2 hour and 15 minute high-speed rail journey from Samarkand.
After we arrive within the capital, a driver meets us and takes us to the Hampton by Hilton. We examine in, feeling like we’re coming full-circle after an enormous tour of Uzbekistan.
After throwing our baggage down, we meet one of many group’s native buddies at an Italian restaurant known as Syrovarnya. It’s hip and buzzing, and it exhibits us a recent aspect of the town we didn’t see on our first day. Large plates of pasta and burrata go down a deal with as we recount tales from the journey.
Day 10: Day Journey to the Chimgan Mountains
On our final full day in Uzbekistan we take a day journey to the Chimgan Mountains. A driver picks us up within the morning and takes us by New Tashkent and out to a ski resort known as Amirsoy. Two cable vehicles whisk us up the mountain, the place we take pleasure in views from the height.
Again down between the cable vehicles, we cease for a fast snack at Paul. We order every little thing from bread to macarons on the well-known European chain cafe, settling in at a window desk to take pleasure in all of it with a view of the mountains.
As soon as on the base, the driving force takes us farther into the mountains and out to the Charvak Reservoir. Created in 1970, it’s a preferred place for recreation and sightseeing on this a part of Uzbekistan.
Again in Tashkent, we cap off our last full day with a visit to an amusement park known as Magic Metropolis. It’s Disneyesque with its princess fortress, however it additionally incorporates a Large Ben-and-Tower Bridge duo. With a water-and-light present and loads of photograph alternatives, it’s an entertaining place.
We spend a couple of hours at Magic Metropolis, having dinner at Bollywood Cafe and strolling across the grounds to take all of it in. It’s a enjoyable solution to spend a night in Tashkent.
Day 11: Tashkent
The subsequent morning I benefit from the resort’s complimentary breakfast buffet with the group, then head off by myself. My flight is later than theirs, and I’ve many of the day forward of me. I set off to see the sights they noticed on their first day on the town.
Hopping in a taxi, I first go to the Middle for Islamic Civilization. The biggest cultural, scientific, and academic complicated in Uzbekistan, it homes a museum, analysis institute, libraries, worldwide organizations, facilities of conventional crafts, laboratories, and academic departments.
It’s adjoining to the Hazrati Imam Complicated, an architectural monument courting from the Sixteenth to twentieth centuries. The entire web site is large, and the structure is beautiful to see.
After exploring, I take one other taxi to the Minor Mosque. This contemporary place options conventional marble, placing minarets, and a turquoise dome. There’s a reasonably backyard behind it, and it’s a peaceable place to go to.
Leaving the mosque, I stroll right down to the Monument to Braveness. Devoted to the individuals who rebuilt Tashkent after the 1966 earthquake, this sculpture celebrates friendship, fortitude, and braveness.
From there I stroll alongside Sharaf Rashidov Avenue. I absorb every little thing from Independence Sq. to the Palace of Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovich and the State Museum of the Historical past of Uzbekistan as I make my solution to the Alisher Navoiy Theater.
From there I head to lunch at an area cafe known as Bon! This modern place has plenty of lunch choices, and it’s the proper spot for a fast meal on a day of sightseeing. I settle in for a bowl of lentil soup earlier than persevering with on my approach.
The cafe is close to Amir Temur Sq., so I head again by it to achieve the resort. I take a look at, get a taxi, and head to the airport for my flight.
11-Day Uzbekistan Itinerary
It’s been an awesome 11-day journey to Uzbekistan, and I really feel like I’ve seen and accomplished all the large sightseeing highlights. The nation has lived as much as my (excessive) expectations, and it’s been well worth the journey to Central Asia to see it. I hope my information has impressed you to do the identical.
Uzbekistan Itinerary Map & Sensible Data
As promised, I’ve created an interactive map of all of the locations on my itinerary. You possibly can see it right here. I hope it helps you intend an awesome journey of your personal!
Suggestions:Taxi: Seize app (ensure that to obtain it AND register earlier than you allow your house nation)Maps: 2GIS (Google Maps additionally works, however it’s not pretty much as good)eSIM: aloSIM. Use the code “ALADYINLONDON” to get 15% off your first buy right here.Security: I felt fully secure in Uzbekistan, each within the group and by myself. Clearly each place has dangers, however I used to be pleasantly shocked by how a lot comfortable I felt.
Discover this submit useful? Purchase me a espresso!
New right here? Be part of 1000’s of others and subscribe to the A Woman in London weblog through electronic mail.
A number of the hyperlinks on this weblog submit are affiliate hyperlinks. For gratis to you, I earn a small fee if you click on on them and make a purchase order. It doesn’t have an effect on the best way you store, and it’s a good way to help the A Woman in London weblog.
Pin it!