Uzbekistan Adventure
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Experience Overview
Join an adventure through Uzbekistan and uncover ancient Silk Road cities filled with mosques, mausoleums and markets that are a feast for the senses. On this nine-day trip, you’ll follow in the footsteps of traders and pilgrims, starting and ending in the nation’s capital – Tashkent. Spend two days exploring UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bukhara – the best-preserved example of a medieval city in Central Asia. Walk in the shadows of ancient, blue-tiled buildings, sleep in a yurt under thousands of stars in the Kyzylkum Desert and spend an evening at a homestay with a family in the Nuratau Mountains.
Highlights
- Be wowed by the scale and beauty of the Registan – the commercial centre of medieval Samarkand and one of the best-preserved examples of Islamic architecture. See mosques, mausoleums and medressas adorned with mosaics.
- Spend an evening in the vast Kyzylkum Desert, sleeping in a yurt, stargazing by the fire and soaking in what’s sure to be an I’m-so-far-from-home moment.
- Get to know the stories and people of Uzbekistan while sharing a home-cooked meal with a local family during a homestay in the remote Nuratau Mountains.
- Uncover Bukhara, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city founded more than 2000 years ago. See the Ismail Samanai Mausoleum, Maghoki-Attar (Central Asia’s oldest surviving mosque) and the Ark – the city’s oldest building, dating back to the 5th century.
- Walk the streets of Tashkent with a full day to explore this capital city, including free time to spend as you see fit – take in the sights, sounds and aromas of Chorsu Bazaar and visit the monument to 14th-century ruler Timur at Amir Timur Square.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2207
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private vehicle, Metro, Train
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: KFSA
Starts: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Finishes: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (8), Lunch (1), Dinner (2)Accommodation: Hotel (6 nights), Yurt Camp (1 night), Homestay (1 night)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2061 ($229 /day)
Itinerary
Salom! Welcome to Uzbekistan. Your adventure begins in Tashkent, the nation’s capital and Central Asia's main hub. You'll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Tonight, maybe get to know your group over dinner in the city – ask your leader for the best restaurant recommendations!
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Board a train to Bukhara by train this morning. Located on the ancient Silk Road, Bukhara was historically an important regional and global hub and has a long history of invasions by both Genghis Khan and the Soviet Red Army. After checking into your hotel, you’ll go on a guided walking tour to explore the historic buildings that fill the town centre. Visit the Ark of Bukhara, a fortress that was occupied from the 5th century until it was bombed by the Red Army in 1920, the Bolo Hauz Mosque with its elegantly carved wooden pillars, and the Ismail Samani Mausoleum – this shrine was built around the 10th century and is thought to have survived Genghis Khan's invasion because it had been buried in a flood. It was discovered and excavated in the 20th century and has become a popular spot for pilgrims and local residents, who regard it as sacred.
Included Activities:
- Bukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
- Bukhara - Ark Fortress
- Bukhara - Bolo Hauz Mosque
Optional Activities:
- Bukhara - Fayzulla Khojaev House (30000 UZS)
- Bukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace (60000 UZS)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
With more than 100 monuments scattered throughout Bukhara, there's plenty more to explore today. Set out on a full-day guided tour through the best of this well-preserved ancient city. Visit the iconic Kalon Mosque and Minaret, the Lyabi-Hauz Plaza (built about 400 years ago, surrounding a pool) and the Chor Minor gatehouse. You’ll also stop at Ulugbek Medressa (the oldest medressa in Central Asia) and Maghoki-Attar – Central Asia’s oldest surviving mosque, built in the 12th century on the ruins of a former Buddhist monastery and Zorostrian temple. If you’ve still got the energy after a full day of exploring, maybe go on an optional visit to Bozori Kord Hamam, the oldest Turkish-style bathhouse in Bukhara. Then, enjoy a free evening – your leader can help with suggestions on where to find some authentic Uzbek dishes for dinner tonight.
Included Activities:
- Bukhara - Magoki Attori Mosque
- Bukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque
- Bukhara - Ulugbek Madrasa
- Bukhara - Lyabi-Hauz Plaza
Optional Activities:
- Bukhara - Hammam Bozori Kord (400000 UZS)
- Bukhara - Folklore & Fashion show (70000 UZS)
- Bukhara - Zindon (20000 UZS)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Depart Bukhara and drive to Gijduvan – a craft and trade hub since ancient times. Here, you'll visit a ceramic workshop where sixth-generation ceramicists Abdulla and Alisher Narzullaev make some truly beautiful pieces. Continue to Nurata, which archaeological remains suggest was inhabited thousands of years ago. This is where Alexander the Great built the Nur Fortress in the 4th century BC, the ruins of which can still be seen today. After, travel into the Kyzylkum Desert to spend the night sleeping in yurts. Spend the evening by the campfire and have dinner under a desert sky glittering with thousands of stars.
Included Activities:
- Gijduvan - Ceramics workshop
Accommodation:
- Yurt (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, you’ll travel to a Tajik village in the Nuratau Mountains. These serene villages are hidden in the hills, lined with paths shaded by greenery that wind their way between the stone buildings. The region is an oasis, with irrigation channels watering crops and giving life to trees. Spend the day hiking to waterfalls or petroglyph sites, possibly seeing argali – the endemic mountain sheep. Tonight, you’ll spend the night at a homestay, learning about local traditions and culture from your host family. Learn to bake traditional Uzbek bread in a tandir (clay oven). This evening, your hosts will teach you how to make the beloved national dish of plov (rice, onion, carrots and either mutton, lamb or beef cooked in layers in one large pot). Learn more about local village life as you tuck into your delicious creation for dinner.
Included Activities:
- Nuratau - village visit
- Nuratau Mountains - Plov cooking demonstration & dinner
Accommodation:
- Homestay (Number of Nights: 1)
There's perhaps no more well-known site in Central Asia than the magnificent Registan in the heart of the city of Samarkand – today, you’ll witness this grand city square first-hand. This was once a gathering place where locals would hear royal announcements and watch public executions. You’ll also visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the resting place of Timur – the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty. The story goes that this crypt was opened in 1941 by a Soviet anthropologist, who found an inscription on Timur's gravestone essentially saying, 'He who opens this will be defeated by an enemy more fearsome than I.' On the following day, the Soviet Union was attacked by Hitler. After a day of sightseeing, you’ll have a free evening. Maybe unwind at the hotel to prepare for another full day of exploring tomorrow.
Included Activities:
- Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
- Samarkand - Registan Square
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Continue to soak in the ancient sites and modern buzz of Samarkand today. You’ll visit Shah-i-Zinda, an avenue of mausoleums decorated with blue tiles. Its most sacred shrine is built around what's thought to be the grave of Qusam Ibn Abbas, cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. Stop by the Bibi-Khanym Mosque for an impressive example of Islamic architecture, built for Timur by his wife, Bibi Khanym. Then, you’ll have some free time to uncover more of this Silk Road city at your own pace. Maybe head to Ulugbek's Observatory, the Tomb of Daniyar or the Afrosiab Museum, or wander the Siyob Bazaar where you’ll find fresh local produce and regional handicrafts.
Included Activities:
- Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
- Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Optional Activities:
- Samarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory (50000 UZS)
- Samarkand - Tomb of Daniyar (50000 UZS)
- Samarkand - Afrosiab Museum (60000 UZS)
- Samarkand - Siob Bazaar - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Return to Tashkent by train this morning. When you arrive in the city, hop on the local metro and go on a short guided tour. Visit the Amir Timur Square, then spend some time wandering the Chorsu Bazaar. The bazaar’s main building is topped by an impressive dome, and the stalls here sell an array of sweets, fresh bread, local produce, ceramics and souvenirs. Then, enjoy some free time. You might be able to catch a ballet or opera performance at the Alisher Navoiy Theatre tonight – this theatre is just one of three that were given 'Bolshoi’ (‘Grand’) status by the Soviet Union, with the other two being located in Moscow and Minsk. See the theatre’s 20th-century architecture, which blends Uzbek and Soviet influences. Maybe get your group together for a final dinner tonight to celebrate a trip well-travelled.
Included Activities:
- Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
- Tashkent - City tour
- Tashkent - Amir Timur Square
Optional Activities:
- Tashkent - Museum of Applied Arts (60000 UZS)
- Tashkent - Art Gallery of Uzbekistan (50000 UZS)
- Tashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum (60000 UZS)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
There are no further activities planned after breakfast this morning and your adventure through Uzbekistan comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay to see more of Tashkent, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Minta - Traveled, October 2023
I went on the Uzbekistan Adventure trip with Jonibek as the tour leader and it was an amazing trip! If you are on the fence, just book it. Amazing sites, history, culture, friendly people and left with new friends. 10/10 recommend. The weather was perfect at the end of October.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/06/2023
Matthew - Traveled, October 2023
This trip was incredible. Before people would ask why are you going there? where even is uzbekistan? Isnt there a war going on near there? I didnt know how to reply then because i had no idea, but now those seem like very silly questions. Id ask them now, you dont know about Uzbekistan!? And im telling them all about it! We never caught a whiff of any danger of anything in or outside Uzbekistan. Our guide, Jonibek, took such good care of us and equipped us with so much knowledge that I'll be teaching courses to my family for months. I really can't recommend this trip enough to see a burgeoning country before tourism really takes off was a wonderful experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/08/2023
Debbie - Traveled, October 2023
I am a solo female traveler and if you are too, hesitate not. Sign up today, or tomorrow if you need to sleep on it. Uzbekistan Adventure trip delighted me to my very soul. Your tour guide has your back, so you can relax and drink in every magical moment. Trust me, the magic is real!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/05/2023
Peggy - Traveled, April 2024
Die Tour war fantastisch. Usbekistan ist ein tolles Land und es gibt so viel zu sehen. Man fühlt sich überall sicher und wird durch Intrepid perfekt betreut.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/19/2024
Elisabetta - Traveled, October 2023
Uzbekistan, a land steeped in rich history and captivating culture, beckons travelers with its allure of ancient Silk Road cities, stunning architecture, and warm hospitality. For those seeking an efficient yet enriching journey, Intrepid's 9-day tour provides an excellent introduction to this mesmerizing nation. For those with the luxury of time, consider extending your adventure to neighboring Turkmenistan. Indeed, a great tour guide can make all the difference in transforming a good trip into an extraordinary one. Shukrat's expertise, passion, and genuine care for the group undoubtedly enhanced the adventure. His ability to share insights into the country's history, culture, and traditions enriched our experience, making it more meaningful and memorable.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/05/2023
Beatriz - Traveled, October 2023
What a GREAT experience. Uzbekistan is a hidden gem of a country, go there before it gets full of people because I'm sure it will! The trip is perfectly balanced by including big cities like Tashkent, impressive monuments and sites in Bukhara and Samarkand, the desert experience, and a lovely mountain village stay (a personal favorite). Our leader Jamshid went above and beyond to give us a very complete vision of his country and a great overall experience. We were very lucky to have him as our trip leader as we learned a lot from him, in many different ways. Definitely a country I will be back to!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/03/2023
Raz - Traveled, October 2023
Uzbekistan is a rich land of immense history that is rapidly progressing into the 21 century, expect terrific cuisine, historical sites and a OUTSTANDING tour guide in Jonibek. Uzbekistan is well worth a visit, you will not regret.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/18/2023
Paul - Traveled, September 2023
Uzbekistan - this trip was simply fantastic, some early starts and long days, but worth every moment to see the brilliant architecture and meet the friendly people that make Uzbekistan a jewel in the Silk Road
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Julie - Traveled, October 2023
This trip surpassed my expectations and I feel very enriched by it. Uzbekistan felt a calm, resilient and happy country and its people were welcoming, very friendly and so generous. Jonibek our guide was fantastic; always happy to share his knowledge of history as well as current affairs. Nothing was too much trouble and he always tried to tailor the the trip to everyone's needs and make it look effortless, (and am sure it wasn't!) There was a good atmosphere in the group and it made the trip super enjoyable. Samarkand and Bukarah are incredibly beautiful and quite different from each other. Both with exquisite architecture, each with a character of its own. Tashkent is so green and so easy to navigate and its Russian Brutalist architecture is also part of the country's history and I was quite fascinated by it. The homestay was a wonderful experience, it really left a strong impression and the yurt a fun experience. All in all a very well-balanced trip. I think Samarkand could lose the paper workshop activity which was a bit boring and instead add another interesting site, there are so many to chose from! The Afrosiab museum should be an integral part of the visit, the majority voted to go as an extra and it was essential to understand the history of one of the most exciting ancient city in the world. All in all, Loved it!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/15/2023
Jack - Traveled, September 2023
Uzbekistan is a fascinating country with spectacular sights. Go before it becomes over-touristed. This trip is a great overview. The mountain village is charming and not included in many other tours. The only major place you miss is Khiva, which you should see, but is easy to visit independently.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/03/2024
Emma - Traveled, September 2023
The Uzbekistan Adventure trip was absolutely incredible. If you're wondering whether to take the plunge, just book it and go now before it's overrun with tourists. Bukhara, the homestay and yurt camp were highlights of this trip, though Samarkand and Tashkent were great. The country is beautiful, people are so friendly and the food is great! I wish the itinerary had included Khiva but I also wouldn't have wanted anything removed so I'd recommend adding on a few days at the end of your trip to visit Khiva. We had the best group and one of the best guides called Jonibek. His knowledge of history and his country was incredible. Book this trip now!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/01/2023
Sam - Traveled, September 2023
Excellent, refreshing and inspiring experience of a country which generally doesn’t garner a whole lot of attention. It manages to see a lot in only a week, but doesn’t feel rushed. A great trip, well worth your time and money!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/21/2023
Petur - Traveled, August 2023
Our trip to Uzbekistan was an amazing experience and our guide Lochin was perfect. I would highly recommend taking the trip with Intrepid
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/06/2023
Nicola - Traveled, August 2023
What a pleasant surprise Uzbekistan was! Full of hidden gems and fascinating history. Lochin was a brilliant guide who proudly showed off his country.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/04/2023
Carolin - Traveled, May 2023
Uzbekistan is mesmerizing! We had a great couple of days and experiences the kindheartedness of the locals, great food, and beautiful architecture. Lochin was a fantastic guide, going above and beyond to accommodate us!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/21/2023
Ashley - Traveled, May 2023
A wonderful introduction to Central Asia! Highlights of this trip would definitely be the yurt stay and the homestay in the mountains. The country has such friendly locals, delicious food and incredible architecture. I went as a solo female traveller and would highly recommend to anyone!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/23/2023
Jason - Traveled, April 2023
Uzbekistan is a fascinating country, emerging as modern and confident while respecting its rich history. Intrepid does a great job showing off its beauty, culture, and people. Highly recommend for those who want to learn about Central Asia, Islamic culture, and the former Soviet Union. Very comfortable trip with adventure mixed in!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/01/2023
Rachel - Traveled, April 2023
Amazing trip. I absolutely loved it and it totally exceeded my expectations. Uzbekistan is an incredible country. The architecture is amazing and I liked the balance of cities and historical sites with the quietness of the desert and mountains. Our tour leader jonibek was amazing. Book this. You won't regret it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/25/2023
Umberto - Traveled, April 2023
I wanted to visit Samarkand since ages and I thought that the rest of the tour would have been just a nice add on. Instead, Uzbekistan delivered all way through! Cities are great, people are great, food is great. As a keen photographer, this was a perfect trip; ff you are into taking pictures, this is basically an gigantic amusement park. I chose the tour without Khiva and organised a couple of days up there myself ahead of the tour, highly recommended!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/21/2023
Adeline - Traveled, October 2022
Uzbekistan is a culturally rich and beautiful country. Our guide was incredibly helpful and went out of his way to make sure everyone was satisfied and happy. It was an incredibly intense holiday from the very beginning as we saw so many sites every day. I very much enjoyed the mixture of visiting towns and cities like Bukhara and Samarkand, with the trip out to the desert (visiting a beautiful mosque on the way), the night at the Yurt where we had the opportunity for a short camel ride, then the trip to the mountains and the homestay. Overall I had an unforgettable experience and very much enjoyed the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/30/2022
