16 to 24 October, 2027

Umeda, our local host, & Mar Pages, SFT Co-Founder

Where we will go

This is a trip focused on architecture, history and traditions.

Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent and Welcome dinner

Day 2: Women’s history, Chorsu Bazar, Tashkent metro, flight to Khiva

Day 3: All about Khiva

Day 4: High speed train to Bukhara, cooking demo at a local home, House Museum of Fayzulla Khodjaev, the Ark Fortress and Chor-Minor

Day 5: Bukhara historical walking tour, suzani embroidery demo, carpet workshop and store, private sunset dinner

Day 6: Shopping morning in Bukhara, high speed train to Samarkand, winery visit and tasting

Day 7: Registan Square, Siyob Bazaar, Bibi Khanym Mausoleum and Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis

Day 8: Tea with a vintage fashion designer, transfer to Tashkent, farewell evening learning about marriage traditions, plov show cooking and dancing

Day 9: Departure

Day 1 : Arrival in Tashkent and Welcome dinner

Driving time: Less than 1 hour return to dinner.

On arrival, you’ll make your way to the hotel on your own time.

We will meet in the evening for a welcome briefing followed by dinner at one of the city’s most fashionable restaurants to sample our first shared dinner of Uzbek plates.

Inclusions: Welcome drink and dinner. Transportation in minibus to and from dinner.

Overnight at Cowne Plaza Hotel 4*

The newly opened Crowne Plaza Hotel is a fantastic hotel with modern amenities, a great breakfast spread and an accessible location for our sightseeing.

Rooms are comfortable, modern and sleek with large windows and all the amenities that a traveler needs to settle in after a long journey.

There is a well equipped gym, a spa, and an indoor swimming pool with whirpool and sauna.

Day 2 : Women’s history, Chorsu Bazar, Tashkent metro, flight to Khiva

Activity: 4 hour walking history, bazar and metro tour.
Driving time: 1.5 hours driving in Tashkent, 45min driving in Urgench. 2 hour flight to Khiva.

We are spending our day in Tashkent before flying to Urgench, the airport nearest to Khiva.

Tashkent is a sprawling metropolis that is in full development while still keeping many of its Soviet buildings and renovating its core Silk Road center.

We will start the morning in the Old City, the historic, medieval-origin northwestern sector of Tashkent which conserves some of the oldest buildings, and which had to be reconstructed after the 1966 earthquake that devastated the city.

This district combines the old and the new, with recent developments bringing traditionally inspired infrastructure and a large new Islamic Center.

We will visit the area with the team behind Zanmakon Cultural Center, also know as the Women’s Museum.

We will learn about both the city and the country’s past through the lens of women, including the evolution of their role and rights from pre-WWII through the war, the Soviet Union, and until today.

We will end the visit with a private brunch onsite.

Our morning will continue in nearby Chorsu Bazaar, a new UNESCO World Heritage listed market that is part of Tashkent’s group of modernist architecture buildings and has everything, from food to clothing and handicrafts and is a sweet overwhelming attack on the senses.

This is the place where you see everyday Uzbek life unfold; locals buying and selling, vendors offering you to try some of their goods or smell their spices, and piles of edible games of Tetris stacked in what appears to be a challenge to the rules of nature.

We will visit the bread making section, where bakers make thousands of traditional Uzbek breads every day in the traditional tandoor and sell them throughout the market and beyond and you can make your own too.

We will also visit the indoor market area with dried fruits and nuts, sugar and sweets of all kinds, tea, pickles and more. And of course, there is also a souvenir and clothing section.

There will be some free time for you to explore on your own followed by our tour of the Soviet-era metro, starting with the station right by the market.

Tashkent’s Metro is made of four lines and 50 stations, many of which are beautifully decorated and pay homage to their name or location.

The metro opened in 1977 and was the first in Central Asia. We will stop at a few of the best stations to admire the design and take some photos and continue our way towards Uzbekistan Hotel, our last stop of the day.

This Soviet brutalist hotel opened in 1974 and has a fantastic rooftop bar from which we can enjoy almost 360 degree views of the city below.

It is also a popular wedding venue, with large halls set up for the ceremonies with hanging chandeliers, red velvet curtains and sparkling decorations. If a couple is getting married, it’s likely we’ll be invited over for a dance.

After the visit, we will take the bus and drive to the airport to catch an evening flight to Urgench, the gateway airport to Khiva.

Dinner will be at the airport or onboard, and you can grab snacks or sandwiches to go.

Upon landing in Urgench, we will be transferred to Khiva for check in at our hotel and overnight.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, walking tour of Tashkent Old City with brunch, visit to Chorsu market, the metro and Uzbekistan hotel. Evening flight to Urgench. Transportation in a minibus.

Overnight at Mercure Khiva 5*

The Mercure Khiva Hotel is a newly opened property right outside the city gates of Khiva, in a privileged location with easy access to the city and all the facilities of a modern luxury hotel.

Rooms are spacious and facing quiet courtyards, and the hotel offers an indoor swimming pool, a well equipped gym and a spa.

Breakfast is lovely, and has views of some of the city’s minarets and a sprawling buffet of local and international items.

Day 3 : All about Khiva

Activity: Full day walking sightseeing tour

Wake up to a wonderful buffet breakfast at the hotel and get ready for a full day of exploration in Khiva’s Itchan Kala old walled city.

Itchan Kala is a UNESCO World Heritage listed old town made up of over 250 old houses and more than 50 historic monuments including madrasahs, mosques, caravanserais, mausoleums, etc.

The city is one of the best preserved cities along the Silk Road and a living museum surrounded by mud brick walls that are 8 to 9 meters high and 5 to 6 meters thick and which can be walked, but with a thriving population still living in it.

Historically, the city was the most isolated from the rest of Uzbekistan, and it was the last stop for traders on the Silk Road before starting their hard journey across the Persian Desert, so it was a place to rest and stock up.

The majority of the buildings currently standing are from the 18th and 19th century when the city was rebuilt following Central Asian designs, but some parts are older.

This is because the city was severely damaged after the war between Bukhara and Iran, and only rebuilt later on.

Itchan Kala is small, measuring only 400 meters by 600 meters, and is entirely pedestrian, so it can only be explored on foot.

This is the best way to learn more about Uzbekistan’s golden period and get used to the labyrinthic style streets in a safe environment where you can’t get lost.

Our full day walking sightseeing tour will explore the streets of this fortress where locals go about their daily life amid tourists admiring its beauty.

We will visit the Juma Mosque with its 213 wooden carved columns and the Kunya-Ark citadel, the residence of the Khans who controled the Khiva Khanate in the 17th century, a fortification inside the fortress.

Mukhammad Amin Khan and Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah were converted into hospitality buildings (restaurants, hotels) during Soviet times when religious teachings were restricted, but preserved the beautful majolica tile designs.

Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum is the tomb of the city’s patron saint and a religious pilgrimage site, and Toshkhovli Palace, all of which are incredible architectural pieces with blue tiled domes, intricate tile designs and beautiful art.

We will also admire Kalta Minor, the widest minaret in Uzbekistan, completely covered in blue tiles of all shades and unfinished at 29 out of the 70 intended meters, hence its wide base that was meant to hold a tall construction.

If you wish, you can also climb the narrow spiral staircase to the top of the tall Minaret of Islom Khodja in your free time. Minaret of Islom Khodja is the tallest minaret in the city and was built in the 20th century.

We will break for lunch at the rooftop of a restaurant with the best views in town, and sample local delicacies such as dil noddles, typical of Khiva.

You will have the rest of the afternoon free to explore on your own, walk the city walls, go back to the hotel to relax, or shop to your heart’s content (Khiva is great for jackets and souvenirs).

We will meet again for sunset drinks and dinner at a great rooftop restaurant with a different perspective than that from lunch, so you can enjoy Itchan Kala views at night.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, walking tour of Itchan Kala with entry tickets to the old town and any buildings visited, lunch and dinner with a view.

Overnight at Mercure Khiva 5*

Day 4 : High speed train to Bukhara, cooking demo at a local home, House Museum of Fayzulla Khodjaev, the Ark Fortress and Chor-Minor

Activity: 1.5 hours walking at the various sightseeing spots.
Driving time: 1 hour driving, 3 hours train ride.

We will wake up early to check out and take our packed breakfast to the train station for a 7am high speed train ride to Bukhara.

The train takes about 3 hours and crosses barren desert landscapes. Our luggage will be transferred by bus to our next hotel so that we avoid the chaos that happens when the train stops, often for a very short period of time, and hundreds of people have to rush to embark and disembark while trying to get their luggage from the limited storage space.

The high speed train line between Khiva and Bukhara opened in mid-2026 and cut down the travel time between the two cities by half when compared to driving.

Once we arrive in Bukhara, we will get on a bus to drive to the home of a local family who will welcome us for a cooking class and lunch.

We will make “tuhum barak” and samsa and enjoy lunch in the family’s guest living room sitting on traditional mats.

Tuhum barak are similar to ravioli and are made with flour, vegetable oil, water, egg then fashioned into square or triangular pieces and filled with egg and spices. The small parcels are then boiled in water and enjoyed with cream or sour cream.

Samsas are similar to the Indian samosas and found across Central Asia. They are a savory pastry that can be baked in the tandoor oven or fried and filled with meat and onions or vegetables.

Lunch will be accompanied by pomegranate, virgin mojitos, tea, grapes and other fresh fruit.

With our bellies full, we will start our sightseeing of Bukhara at the House Museum of Fayzulla Khodjaev, an opulent memorial building from the 19th century that depicts the life of a wealthy statesmen who led the Bukhara Soviet People’s Republic at the beginning of the 20th century and reformed social life. He later fell out of grace with Stalin’s Government and ended up being beheaded.

The building is extravagant and showcases furniture of the time, frescoes, murals, lavish carpets and embroidery, stained glass and more, which contrasts with the rest of the Islamic architecture of the city.

After our visit, we will continue by bus to the Ark Fortress, a 16th century structure outside of the ancient city of Bukhara that was used until Bukhara fell to the Soviet Union in 1920.

The Ark is surrounded by 16 to 20 meter high walls and is at a vantage point over the city of Bukhara from where you can enjoy panoramic views.

We will end the day at Chor-Minor Madrasah, the 19th century gatehouse to a former madrasah that was destroyed which is also part of the Bukhara UNESCO World Heritage listing for the historic center of Bukhara.

The madrasah top floors are still in use while the ground floor dwellings are now shops. Look out for the stork’s nest at the top of one of the minarets and notice how all four minarets are different in design.

We will then continue to Bukhara city to check in to our hotel. The evening is free to enjoy on your own.

For those who are up for it, our guide will walk you to the city center and give you a brief orientation if you feel like exploring lively Bukhara at night. We will offer a return pick up back to the hotel, or you can walk on your own, the city center is 10min away on foot.

Or stay at the hotel, use the indoor pool and sauna and have dinner nearby to be ready for next day’s exploration.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, high speed train ride from Khiva to Bukhara, luggage transfer by road, cooking demo and lunch at a local home, tickets and guided visit of House Museum of Fayzulla Khodjaev, the Ark Fortress and Chor-Minor Madrasah. Transportation in a minibus.

Overnight at Hotel Poykhent Bukhara 4*

Newly opened Hotel Poykhent Bukhara is the only luxury hotel within walking distance to the historic center on a well lit road that you actually want to walk.

This is a locally owned, modern property, with sleek design, all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay and spacious rooms facing both internal courtyards and the streets.

Rooms are well thought out, and there are many patios and quiet spaces to relax plus a lobby bar for a drink.

Day 5 : Bukhara historical walking tour, suzani embroidery demo, carpet workshop and private sunset dinner

Activity: Walking tour
Driving time: 3 hours total with stops.

We will wake up early to enjoy Bukhara before the crowds and head into the historic city center for a walking craft and architecture tour.

We will start at the majestic Lyabi-Hauz ensemble, a group of historic buildings surrounding a pool that were built in the 16th century.

The buildings around the pool include Kukeldash Madrasah, a smaller madrasa and a lodging building for sufi Muslims.

The entire complex has several folk legends and an interesting story and the main madrasa is the largest in the city.

We will continue our morning with a stop at a fashion store where the owner has maintained her love for suzani embroidery by continuing to create these wonderful traditional pieces while her daughter uses the same traditional techniques to create beautiful modern clothing in silk and wool.

The owner will show us her craft in a brief demo and we will have time to see vintage suzani and new ones. She also teaches the younger generations as a master embroiderer and her student’s work is also on display.

Suzani originated in Persia and gets its name from the world needle. They are delicate pieces that were traditionally part of dowries and remain a decorative piece in Uzbek homes.

In Uzbekistan, suzani typically depict flowers or pomegranate, a symbol of prosperity and love.

Our morning will continue to visit the trading domes, the centers of trade during the Silk Road, now filled with shops selling spices, clothing, carpets and more.

We will also visit the marvellous Ulugbek Madrasah, the oldest preserved madrasah in Central Asia dating back to the beginning of the 15th century during the Timurid Dynasty, and many were built modelling it afterwards.

Ulugbek Madrasah is located in front of Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, built two centuries later but equally beautiful, especially because of the pink and yellow decorations on the facade, this being the first time yellow was used in Bukhara.

This madrasah is unfinished because the Khan was dethroned while it was under construction and the project was abandoned.

We will have lunch at a beautiful modern Uzbek restaurant and continue our walking tour of the city with its most stunning buildings, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah that form the Po-i-Kalyan architectural ensemble with 2 facing madrasahs and a minaret is the most famous spot in the city.

The complex was built in the 16th century and remains in use until today as an Islamic center of studies and worship.

The courtyards, the tile work and the massive courtyard inside the mosque make this an impressive complex.

We will end the sightseeing day with a stop at a female owned carpet store that is a treasure trove of silk and wool carpets made by hand in the workshop at the back of the store.

Learn about the carpet making tradition in Bukhara and see how the carpets are made.

You will have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy Bukhara on your own and we will meet again in the evening for an unforgettable private rooftop dinner at a very unique location especially reserved for us and with incredible sunset views over the city. 

We will sample local foods and drinks and see the evening fall on the city.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, walking sightseeing tour with entry tickets where required, lunch at a modern Uzbek restaurant, suzani demo, carpet introduction and private sunset rooftop dinner.

Overnight at Poykhent Bukhara 4*

Day 6 : Shopping morning in Bukhara, high speed train to Samarkand, winery visit and tasting

Activity: Free time in Bukhara, followed by the train and winery visit.
Driving time: 2 hours train ride.

Bukhara is a stunning city so we have left the morning free for shopping or to book that local hammam appointment you have always wanted to try.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and take a short walk into the city center for more photography, a coffee people watching, shopping in the many bazars and sampling more Uzbek food.

Lunch will be on your own and we will meet at the hotel just after it for an afternoon high-speed train to Samarkand, the largest of the cities in our program.

Upon arriving in Samarkand, we will drive directly to a local wine cellar to learn more about the history of wine in Uzbekistan and try several local wines from the family-owned winery directly from the grandson of the owner himself, coupled with snacks. There may also be some cognac and grappa included.

We will continue to the hotel for check in and a group dinner. We have a very big day tomorrow but if you are up for it, you can walk over to Registan Square for the daily light and music show.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, high speed train tickets to Samarkand, winery visit and tasting, dinner at the hotel. Transportation in minibuses.

Overnight at Movenpick 4*

Samarkand is a large city so finding the right accommodation that is walking distance to the main sights is very difficult which is why the Movenpick is the only walkable alternative in the historic part of the city.

This luxury property is about 15min walk to Registan Square on a well lit road that you can easily and safely walk on your free time.

The hotel has an impressive atrium, a nice bar, indoor and outdoor pools, a gym and a spa.

Rooms are modern and comfortable with all the amenities international travelers may need but it is the location that truly sets it apart from all other hotels in the city center.

Day 7 : Registan Square, Siyob Bazaar, Bibi Khanym Mausoleum and Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis

Activity: 6 hours walking tour across the sights with stops.
Driving time: 30min to 1 hour depending on traffic

We will enjoy breakfast at the hotel and start our full day of sightseeing in Samarkand early, before the crowds arrive, at the spectacular Registan Square.

Registan Square is the pearl of Samarkand and the most famous sight in the entire country. Even after a few days of sightseeing in the country, you will still be impressed and left speechless at the sight of it.

This was the heart of the Timurid Empire and a center or commercial and ceremonial activities in the city and region.

The square is framed by 3 impressive buildings: Ulugh Beg Madrasa, the Sherdar Madrasa and the Tilakari Madrasa.

The first was built in the 15th century and was the best religious University in the Muslim world of the east, while the other two were built 2 centuries later.

We will go on a walking guided visit of the square followed by free time to explore and photograph on your own.

We will then continue towards Bibi Khanym Mosque with two stops on the way: Fatima’s Gallery and Siyob Bazaar. 

Fatima’s gallery is a colorful store owned by Fatima, a fashion designer and community leader, who has her own workshop and clothing store selling unique pieces using vintage fabrics from around the country.

Women from all over Uzbekistan collect vintage fabrics, often from old dowries and inheritance and sell it to Fatima, who transforms them into beautiful modern, colorful pieces.

We will meet Fatima and chat with her and have some free time to browse the shop and see if a piece catches your eye.

We will continue on foot to Siyob Bazaar, a massive covered market offering anything from dried fruits to pottery and souvenirs.

You will have a bit of free time to explore on your own before we head to lunch at a local restaurant with great views over Bibi Khanym Mosque, which will be our next stop.

Bibi Khanym Mosque was considered the most impressive of the Islamic World in the 15th century. Built by Timur and named after his wife, it was plagued with structural issues as a result of the large dome, and the rushed construction and renovation works were stopped at the end of the 16th century.

Unfortunately, the mosque was majorly damaged during the 1897 earthquake and ended up in ruins.

The Government decided to start restoration efforts in 1974 during the Soviet Union, and these are still ongoing, even though the majority of the structure has been restored to its former glory.

We will end the day at the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, a complex of over 20 mausoleums and ritual buildings built between the 11th ad 15th centuries and later on in he 19th century.

This is perhaps the most impressive of all the Central Asian constructions, made of narrow passageways, blue tiled domes and intricate cupolas. The gates to most buildings are covered in bright majolica tiles and have rich designs.

This is a fantastic way to end a full day of walking sightseeing in the city.

You will have the rest of the day free to enjoy on your own, return to the main shopping area, relax at the hotel or visit Registan at night for the light and music show.

Overnight at Movenpick Samarkand 4*

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch at a local restaurant, visit of Registan Square, Bibi Khanym Mosque and Sha-i-Zinda and ticket to all the sights. Transportation in a minibus.

Day 8 : Tea with a fashion designer, transfer to Tashkent and farewell evening

Activity: Free time to walk around New Tashkent
Driving: 2 hours back to Tashkent and 1 hour to and from dinner depending on traffic.

We will enjoy one last breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to visit the shop of Lena Ladik for tea.

Lena moved to Uzbekistan when she was a student decades ago, and was always passionate about textiles and fashion.

Her shop is a treasure trove of Central Asian and former Soviet fashion and fabrics which she has put together in incredible designs that showcase tradition and keep heritage alive.

There are unique jewelry pieces, hats and shoes as well as coats and jackets that are one of a kind. We will enjoy tea and hear her stories and how some of her designs have come to life.

You will have free time to enjoy the recent development of New Tashkent and have lunch on your own before we board the bus and drive to Tashkent.

Upon arrival in the city, we will check in to the hotel and get ready for the evening’s events.

We will transfer to the Human House to meet the owner, Lola Sayfi, and hear the story that brought her to create a place for people to come together, and to preserve traditions.

Lola bought the traditional clay building the store and cafe is housed in and renovated it while keeping its original Uzbek design.

She is a fashion designer and artist at heart and has her own design studio in the store, where her team creates unique pieces using vintage fabrics, much like Lena.

Our evening will also include a private masterclass on wedding and marriage traditions in Uzbekistan, a plov demonstration and a party, Uzbek-style, to say goodbye to our week-long amazing journey.

The marriage masterclass will immerse us in the atmosphere of an Uzbek wedding, an extraordinary celebration with rich traditions.

We will learn why 250 guests is considered a small gathering, and what gets written down in the wedding book; there are many Uzbek wedding traditions that are unique to the country and are part of the lead up and the wedding celebration itself.

We will learn to play the karnay, how to properly fold kurpachas, pass the endurance test set by an Uzbek mother-in-law, play national traditional games and learn how to eat plov the right way.

If you’re up for it, you can also dress up as an Uzbek bride and there may be surprise gifts.

There will also be a plov making demo which we will then enjoy at our farewell dinner.

Plov is a tradition, culture, and art passed down from generation to generation. We will learn the recipe and understand the philosophy behind cooking plov, including the history of the dish and its regional features, how to select the right ingredients, how to cook zirvak, the foundation of plov’s flavor, and master the technique of adding rice and bringing the dish to perfection.

The evening will end with dinner and live music and a celebration of a cultural journey.

We will return to the hotel afterwards.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, hosted visit of Lena Ladik’s Singing Bird store, wedding masterclass, plov demo, live music and farewell dinner. Transportation in a minibus.

Overnight at Crowne Plaza Tashkent 4*

Day 9 : Departure

After breakfast, make your own way to the airport.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel.

About Your Host, Umeda

Umeda has worked as a tour guide for many years in addition to continuing her career in archeology and conservation of Uzbekistan’s heritage.

In addition to English, Uzbek and Russian, she also speaks Spanish and loves to share Uzbek culture and Silk Road history with her guests, as well as tell them more about modern day Uzbekistan.

Our inaugural 2027 departure will also be accompanied by one of our professional photographers and our Co-Founder, Mar Pages, who designs our itineraries.

Mar has visited over 145 countries more than half of those solo, and travels half of the year for the last 20+ years.