- Uzbekistan Escorted Tours
- Uzbekistan and the Silk Route
Central Asia's cradle of culture for millennia, Uzbekistan's place at the heart of the ancient Silk Road has attracted architects, scientists and mathematicians for centuries, as well as marauding conquerors intent on plundering the riches within. Explore the rich and fascinating history of this welcoming country with tours of its stunning mosques, immense citadels and breath-taking mausoleums and discover the huge influence it has had on the world in everything from mathematics to military tactics.
Depart UK on your scheduled flight to Tashkent
Dinner
On arrival into Tashkent, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. After a few hours to refresh and settle in, your cultural exploration of Uzbekistan’s capital begins. Your tour starts with a visit to the Museum of Applied Arts, home to exquisite Uzbek craftsmanship and design. Visit Rakhimov's Ceramic Studio where you will see different generations of ceramists making pottery and seeing the traditional methods. Next, explore the Old City, home to the revered Khast-Imam square, the religious heart of the city, built on the tomb of the scholar, craftsman and scientist Hazrati Imam. The square is home to some of Tashkent’s most important Islamic architecture and heritage, including the Barak-Khan Madrasa which is an elegant blue-domed structure with an intricately detailed facade and the Muyi Muborak Madrasa, known for its finely carved ceilings and ancient manuscripts, including the famed Quran of Caliph Uthman, considered the world’s oldest surviving Quran. After exploring these 16th-century treasures, enjoy a change of pace with a visit to the vibrant Chorsu Bazaar and along Tashkent’s Broadway Street which leads you to the statue of Amir Temur and Independence Square. Pass by the grand Alisher Navoi Theatre Square and experience the artistry of the Tashkent Metro.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Start you day with a morning flight to Urgench and transfer to Khiva. An important trading post on the Silk Road for centuries due to its position halfway between China and Rome, Khiva is a colourful treat for the eyes and a UNESCO-listed treasure that feels more like an open-air museum than a functioning city. Upon arrival take a walking tour of Ichan Qala where you will walk past some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Kalta Minor Minaret and Kunya-Ark Citadel. Enjoy lunch before checking in to your hotel.
Breakfast & Dinner
Today, you’ll have the chance to wander through Khiva’s ancient streets and discover a millennium of history on a fascinating guided tour. Gaze up at the UNESCO-listed Ichan Kala, surrounded by towering mud-brick fortifications. Explore the 12th century fortress of Kuhna Ark and wonder at the intricately tiled Pahlawan Mahmud Mausoleum, built in honour of the brave Uzbek hero Pahlavan Mahmoud.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, enjoy the vastness of the Uzbekistan Desert views as you drive from Khiva to Bukhara. Upon arrival, you will have time to explore the local area.
Breakfast & Dinner
One of the most ancient cities in Uzbekistan, Bukhara is over 3000 years old and dates back to nearly a thousand years before Alexander the Great's conquest of Central Asia. Like most historic cities in Uzbekistan it was an important trading post along the Silk Road, but is probably better known throughout the Islamic world as a being a great centre of learning and has even been referred to as Central Asia's holiest city. Today, you will get the opportunity to explore some of its many architectural wonders on a guided tour of the city. The formidable Ark citadel was initially built in the 5th century and was the fortified residence of the rulers of Bukhara for centuries, containing palaces, temples barracks and even a prison. It has been destroyed and subsequently rebuilt many times, including by Genghis Khan who ransacked Bukhara in 1220 AD. Your tour guide will escort you around the various minarets, mosques, madrassas and mausoleums of the city before leaving you to explore this architectural wonder at your own pace.
Breakfast & Dinner
Today is at leisure to wander this fabulous city, exploring its bazaars, stone pools and ancient streets without a guide.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, depart for Samarkand stopping en route at the 'green city' of Shakhrisabz. With a well-groomed, green and modern appearance it's hard to believe the city is over 2700 years old. The centre of the city has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site and contains an exceptional collection of monuments, including the gleaming white Ak Saray Palace built for Amir Timur or Tamerlane, famous warrior Khan, military tactician and founder of the Timurid Empire. Born in a neighbouring village, Tamerlane turned Shakrisabz into his residence after assuming power and ordered his architects to build a series of intricate mausoleums and stunning mosques, the ruins of which can still be explored today. Leaving the Timurids 1st city behind you'll continue onwards to the 14th century capital of their empire, Samarkand.
Breakfast & Dinner
Samarkand is the epitome of a journey along the Silk Road. The name alone conjures up romantic, almost mythical images of vast tiled squares; huge blue domes sparkling in the sun and patterned minarets reaching into the sky. A trip to Registan, the city's Timurid heart and Central Square proves this to be a reality and showcases the fine work of Tamerlane's master craftsmen and builders, acquired from throughout his sprawling empire. A wide mosaicked square is backed by three immense madrasas, beautifully adorned in intricate blues green and violet patterns, each one a monument to the city's place as the intellectual capital of the region. During the middle ages the city attracted the greatest scholars, architects and scientists around, which can be seen first hand on your visit to Ulugbek's Observatory. Grandson of Tamerlane, Ulugbek was a famous astronomer, scientist and architect whose observatory helped him to produce the most comprehensive catalogue of stars since the 2nd century and greatly advance the world's understanding of the solar system. You can pay your respects to both him and his famous conquering grandfather at the sumptuous Gur- Emir, the ornately decorated mausoleum of the royal family. Once a marvel of the east, its influence can be seen in the style of the great architectural tombs of the Mughal dynasty of North India such the Taj Mahal in Agra. Before dinner, visit the Khovrenko Winery and sample a range of Samarkand wines.
Breakfast & Dinner
This morning, you'll visit the Koni Ghil Paper Mill renowned for making paper of such exquisite quality that only sultans, emirs and viziers could afford it. This 'royal' paper has been exported along the Silk Road for centuries and many 9th and 10th century Arabic and Persian manuscripts were written on it. After this you'll explore one of the treasures of Samarkand, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque built in the late 14th century as a tribute to Tamerlane's wife as well as his victory in Delhi. It is one of the best-known architectural wonders of Central Asia. You'll have a chance to do some shopping at the local Siyab bazaar, before having the rest of the day at leisure to explore this UNESCO listed city at your own pace. This evening you will have the chance to experience a little modern Uzbek culture by enjoying dinner with a local family who will provide a cooking demonstration of Pilav, a famous rice based dish in Uzbekistan.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Take the morning at leisure, you can spend more time shopping in Siab Bazaar or relax with a coffee in the boulevards around Registan Square. Take a train to Tashkent where you can enjoy a festive farewell dinner to round off this unforgettable trip.
Breakfast
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, before transferring to the airport for your return flight to the UK or onto your chosen extension.
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Absolutely loved this trip. What a fantastic country. Every day offered new architectural treasures with out-of-this-world colours. Guide was an excellent historian and, above all, took great care of us.
Marianne Swienink-Havard
21 NovemberAn excellent guide and fantastic sights made this holiday one to remember. A wonderful holiday in a beautiful country, the people were so friendly and always helpful.
Judith Wallace
26 OctoberOur tour guide Ilhom, was exceptional. His knowledge about the country & its history was a key factor in making this tour a memorable experience.
Eunice Nixon-Bain
23 MayThe whole trip was excellent, covering the major cities of the Silk Road, including stopping in Shakhrisabz. The architecture and history were fabulous to learn, and our guide, Jalol, was outstanding. His knowledge and care throughout the tour really made the trip exceptional.
Dawn Goudge
16 MarchFakhriddin Baratov our Mercury guide shared his knowledge of the history and culture of the country and all the incredible places we visited. He made it a much richer experience for us and his personal insights, good humour and patience made it a truly wonderful and memorable experience.
Paul Mnich
10 OctoberOur guide was excellent and had an exceptional knowledge of the itinerary locations. Uzbekistan is a wonderful country, we didn’t know what to expect but it outshone our expectations. It has been a revelation. All the Mosques, Madrasas & Mausoleums were beautiful, many exquisitely decorated. All restaurants and hotels were also of a high standard.
Kim Brabant
26 SeptemberDavron, the tour guide, was exceptional. Helpful, fun, relaxed, and delightful company. The preparation of metro tickets, entry to sites, and restaurant choices were impeccable. It was first class.
Bukhara was stunning and all the Timur and Ulug Beg sites. Khiva was fabulous, as was Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent. The light show at Registan is a must-see. Not forgetting the wine tasting, and every restaurant, each one individual and selected with care and attention to style and atmosphere.
Paul Cudd
26 JuneThe main highlights include Khiva and Samarqand. Both are stunning cities with amazing histories. The entire tour was excellent. The guide deserves a special mention here. He explained the long and complex history very well. Also, I really liked the evening arrangements to dine in a different restaurant each evening - it helped to give us a better feel for each city.
Joan Davies
22 MayThe whole trip was incredible, I cannot pick out a highlight. I have to say our guide was the best I have ever come across, you need to hang on to him as his knowledge, care for us, and going over and above were exceptional. He is an exceptional ambassador for his country and I would recommend this tour with Mercury.
Carol Skilling
22 MayThe order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
If you’re visiting Uzbekistan, your passport should have an ‘expiry date’ at least six months from the day you arrive and at least two blank pages.
A visa is not required for entry into Uzbekistan. However, all foreign visitors must present a valid passport upon check-in at their accommodation. Hotel staff will use your passport details to complete mandatory registration with the local authorities. You may also be asked to present proof of registration upon departure, so please keep your registration slip safe.
Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations’ Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves moderate days of walking on uneven paths and small hills, and getting on and off coaches. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS). You will need to exchange your money upon arrival in Uzbekistan, as it cannot be obtained or exchanged outside the country. You can convert your cash at banks, bureaux de change, hotels, and post offices, all of which offer the same government-fixed exchange rate. Visa and Mastercard, debit and credit card are accepted in main tourist areas but are not always reliable and smaller areas and establishments only accept local currency in cash. ATM’s are also available in large cities and tourist areas. All foreign currencies can be exchanged in major banks, but the preferred currencies are US Dollars and Euros (new dated notes in best condition).
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals where these are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, drinks and snacks. Approximately (£400-500) per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour.
It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. we would recommend approximately $5 per day for guide and $3 per day for each driver. Tipping of hotel staff and porters is estimated at $1-$2 per service and restaurants is 5-10% of the bill. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable
This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
For Private Tours or groups 4 and lower, you will be accompanied by a Driver and Local Guides on excursions. These Local Guides will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing.
Please note that road conditions in certain regions may differ from those typically encountered in the UK. Some routes may feature uneven or bumpy surfaces or may not be maintained to the same standard.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Vegetarian and Vegan options are not always available, please request prior to departure and our suppliers will do our best to arrange this. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels.
Uzbekistan is a predominantly Muslim and conservative country where modest dress is expected. Women should cover their shoulders, midriff, and legs below the knees, and may want to carry a scarf to cover their heads when visiting religious sites. Men can wear shorts, but going shirtless is not appropriate. When visiting mosques, mausoleums, and similar places, avoid tight or revealing clothing and ensure shoulders and knees are covered. Wearing comfortable slip-on shoes is recommended, as they are easy to remove when entering these sites.
On arrival in Uzbekistan, you will be met by a Tour Guide from our local agent, Dolores Travel Group, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Dolores Travel Group representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Please note the representative will be waiting near the main exit on the right hand side of the airport. Please make your way left towards the car rental booths on the left-hand side of the airport. On the right-hand side of the booths will be an area to meet your representative. Any issues at all finding your representative please call the emergency contact number or go to the SIXT car rental desk for assistance.
Please note that business class passengers will arrive at a dedicated business class arrivals hall. A driver or representative will be waiting outside the business lounge holding Mercury Holidays sign.
If you need to contact your representative during your stay, the details are: Dolores Travel Group 104A, Kichik Beshagach str. Tashkent, 100025, Uzbekistan Telephone Number: 00998 78 1208883 (office working hours 09:00-18:00)
Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details for Dolores Travel Group Ms. Anna: 00998 55 515 883 E-mail: avishnevskaya@dolorestravel.com
