Our Uzbekistan holidays
Our small group holidays that travel overland across the ‘Stans are the most convenient and insightful way to discover the history behind the Silk Road, as well as the countries that it passed through. Our Uzbekistan holidays unfurl stories of Alexander the Great, ancient desert cities, nomadic tribes, and the Islamic treasures that make up this glittering jewel in the heart of central Asia. There are few better ways to appreciate the history and present-day culture of Uzbekistan than in the company of expert local guides, and staying in locally owned hotels.
Our top Uzbekistan holidays
Uzbekistan tour, nature and culture
From
US $1085 to US $1325
9 days
ex flights
A tour to the towns of the ancient Silk Road in Uzbekistan.
Tailor made
Uzbekistan small group tour
From
£2699 to £2749
12 days
inc UK flights
Explore cities and landscapes of the ancient Silk Road
Small group2023: 21 Apr, 19 May, 2 Jun, 25 Aug, 8 Sep, 15 Sep, 29 Sep, 6 Oct
Silk Road holiday, small group
From
£3345 to £3995
15 days
ex flights
Discover amazing Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan
Small group2023: 16 Apr, 10 Sep, 2024: 14 Apr, 8 Sep
The five stans silk road holiday
From
£5499 to £6149
23 days
inc UK flights
Step into the pages of history on a silk road tour
Small group2023: 10 Jun, 17 Jun, 1 Jul, 8 Jul, 29 Jul, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 16 Sep, 2024: 1 Jun, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep
Central Asia overland tour, the stans
From
£4999 to £5699
26 days
ex flights
An epic journey through the five 'stans' of Central Asia
Small group2023: 2 Sep, 2024: 7 Sep
The Silk Road small group tour
From
£3499 to £3999
15 days
inc UK flights
Discover the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China
Small group2023: 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 18 Jul, 8 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 2024: 14 May, 21 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 16 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep
Uzbekistan holiday, Tamerlane's Empire
From
£2800 to £2990
15 days
ex flights
Take a deeper look into the hidden gems of Uzbekistan
Small group2023: 5 Sep, 2024: 23 Apr, 3 Sep
Uzbekistan tour, Road to Samarkand
From
£2485 to £2780
12 days
inc UK flights
Travel the ancient Silk Road through remote Central Asia.
Small group2023: 31 Mar, 3 Apr, 19 May, 26 May, 2 Jun, 4 Aug, 11 Aug, 1 Sep, 8 Sep, 15 Sep, 22 Sep, 29 Sep, 2 Oct, 6 Oct, 13 Oct
Uzbekistan tours
From
£1375 to £1425
9 days
ex flights
See the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand
Small group2023: 26 Apr, 20 Sep, 2024: 24 Apr, 18 Sep
About our Uzbekistan holidays
Uzbekistan culture
Likely a legacy of the country’s role on the Silk Road trade route, Uzbekistan’s people are known for their welcoming attitude towards travellers. Invitations to tea or a meal are not at all unusual, though many households stick to traditions like not shaking hands, and men and women occupy separate rooms. As is so often the case, food and drink are integral to Uzbek hospitality, whether that’s platters of plov, sharing freshly baked bread, or the ubiquitous teahouses (usually admitting men only, though). And since local guides accompany most trips, you have a useful conduit to Uzbek culture at your side throughout.
Islamic architecture
Uzbekistan’s spectacular Islamic architecture is the jewel in its crown, and admiring it is the principal reason to visit the country. Standing in stark contrast to many of the grey and dreary Soviet buildings, the mosques, madrasas and minarets you’ll see in cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are dizzying in colour and detail. Highlights include Itchan Kala – the walled old town of Khiva – and the vast Kalyan Minaret of Bukhara from which criminals and adulterers were thrown in past centuries. Samarkand is unmissable for its magnificent Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Registan Square, which comes flanked by towering madrasas on three sides.
The Silk Road
The Silk Road isn’t simply geography. It is history: a sprawling network of trade routes across Central Asia and into Europe that inevitably spread culture, languages, architecture and cuisine alongside goods. While the Silk Road may have fallen largely into disuse by the mid-19th century, its story can be traced through the most significant cities and ruins along the way. In Uzbekistan, these include Samarkand and Bukhara, but you might also stay in a traditional yurt camp – as Silk Road merchants would have – or embark on an overland tour of this most iconic of journeys.
The Stans
The vast Central Asia region is made up of the Stans. If you’re travelling to Uzbekistan, it makes sense to visit some or even all of the others in one go, to gain a greater appreciation for the similarities and contrasts between each. Uzbekistan is all about the Silk Road cities with their Islamic architecture; Turkmenistan is desert and weird dictator-chic; Tajikistan has the rugged mountains and Pamir Highway. Kyrgyzstan is remote, romantic and wonderful to explore on horseback, and Kazakhstan is just too huge to see in one go – most routes stick to the south and the Singing Dune.
Types of tours & holidays in Uzbekistan
Adventure holidays in Uzbekistan take many forms. You might embark on an epic overland journey through the ‘Stans, following in the footsteps of Silk Road traders by staying in yurt camps and trekking on camels, or tackle a wider Asia tour through Turkey, Iran or Western China. Opting for one of many small group holidays allows you to explore key Silk Road landmarks in the company of local guides and like-minded travellers, with all the tricky logistics ironed out. And if you’d prefer to shape your Uzbekistan holiday around your own interests then tailor made trips let you do precisely that.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Uzbekistan or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
01273 823 700
Call us tomorrow after 9am
Calling from outside the UK
[Uzbekistan culture: Aleksandr Zykov]
[Islamic architecture: Angshuman Chatterjee]
[The Silk Road: Adam Jones]
[The Stans: Prashant Ram]
[Types of holidays: Chris Shervey]
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