Uzbekistan in Depth

(14 days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Tashkent, Fergana Valley, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva

This is the ultimate private Uzbekistan tour for travelers wanting to experience all the top destinations in this fascinating Central Asia country at a more leisurely pace. It includes your own private escort guide and drivers throughout for private touring of the most interesting cultural and historical sites, traditional crafts workshops, markets and bazaars and much more.

Begin in Tashkent, the modern capital of Uzbekistan. With your private guide, walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town, and visit the vast Hazrati Imam complex to see historic mosques and one of the oldest Korans in the world. Explore Chorsu Bazaar, a busy market under a huge Soviet-era dome that's stocked with spices, produce and other daily goods. Visit the Museum of Applied Arts, a richly decorated historic mansion dedicated to Uzbek crafts such as silk, ceramics, carpets and wood carving. Other touring options include walking through Independence Square, seeing a local synagogue, learning about the country's diverse cultural influences at the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, seeing important historical artworks at the State Fine Arts Museum, and perusing interesting Soviet-era architecture in the metro stations and elsewhere.

Next, fly to the fertile Fergana Valley, a major link in the Silk Road and an important agricultural region known for cotton, silk and fruit. During flexible private touring, visit a silk factory in Margilan where artisans handweave the area's renowned khan-atlas (ikat) textiles, meet a pottery master in his studio in the ceramics town of Rishtan, visit a center for traditional Uzbek crafts (suzani embroidery, metalwork, textiles and more) in a former madrassa, and explore lively local bazaars filled with products from throughout the region. Also visit historical sites such as the revered Juma (Jami) Mosque and the opulent Khan's Palace in Kokand. Upon request, we can also arrange visits to the Ming-Tepe archaeological site and the Babur Literary Museum in Andijan to learn more about the fascinating history of the diverse Fergana Valley.

Return by train to Tashkent for a night.

Continue by high-speed train to fabled Samarkand, one of Central Asia's oldest and most important Silk Road cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During private touring, visit the magnificent Registan, a former trading square bounded on three sides by towering madrassas covered in dazzling tile mosaics. Gaze at the blue-tiled portals, minarets and domes while learning about Samarkand's role as the capital of the influential Timurid dynasty in the 14th and 15th centuries. See other Timurid landmarks such as the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the ornate Gur-e-Amir mausoleum dedicated to legendary ruler Timur (Tamerlane) and his relatives, and the 15th-century Ulugh Beg Observatory, a monumental astronomical device. Walk among the beautiful tile-covered mausoleums of the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble, a hillside necropolis active for more than 800 years. Visit local markets and handicrafts boutiques, and stroll through the old Jewish quarter. Also tour the Afrosiab Museum, which houses archaeological artifacts and an important seventh-century fresco. One evening, enjoy a performance about Uzbek history and traditional costumes at the El Merosi theater. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange a tasting at a local winery, a lesson to learn to make traditional bread and other activities.

One day, enjoy a private excursion over the mountains to the town of Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Timur (Tamerlane) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the historic center, see structures built during the Timurid dynasty, such as the colossal ruined gates of the Ak Saray Palace, the Dorus Saodat memorial complex, the Kok Gumbaz Mosque and the Chorsu Bazaar.

Next, visit Bukhara, an ancient Silk Road religious, cultural and trading center. During private touring, discover why this UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered the best-preserved medieval Central Asian town. Venture inside ancient domed bazaars to browse stalls for local handicrafts such as rugs, silk, suzani (embroidered textiles), jewelry and woodwork. See cultural highlights such as the Ark, an impressive ancient palace-fortress behind mighty walls; the Poi Kalyan complex, including the 12th-century Kalyan (Kalon) Minaret, a masterpiece of patterned brick, and the 16th-century Miri Arab Madrassa, with its enormous portal and two blue-domed towers; the Lyabi-Khauz ensemble, which features two madrassas and a Sufi lodge around a pond and shady plaza favored by locals; the four-towered Char Minar gatehouse; and the 10th-century Ismail Samani Mausoleum. One evening, enjoy a performance of traditional Uzbek dances. Another evening, enjoy a private cooking class to learn to prepare traditional Uzbek dishes such as plov (lamb pilaf) and samsa (meat pastry). Additional touring options include visiting the Bolo Hauz Mosque, Maghoki-Attari Mosque or the synagogue and Jewish cemetery.

Continue to spellbinding Khiva, a walled oasis town and former Silk Road caravan stop on the edge of the desert. With your private guide, explore the narrow lanes of the Ichan Kala, the historic heart of Khiva and an atmospheric collection of mudbrick mosques, madrassas and markets that once served itinerant traders. See highlights of this open-air museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site, such as the dazzling tile-covered rooms and courtyards of the 19th-century Tash Khauli (Stone Palace), the blue dome of the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, the more than 200 carved wooden pillars of the Juma Mosque, the Islam Khodja complex and the turquoise tile-swathed Kalta Minor Minaret. If desired, climb up a bastion of the Kunya Ark fortress or walk a section of the city walls for views over the rooftops of the town.

Return to Tashkent by high-speed train for a night.