8-day Uzbekistan Train Tour: East Route

Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at 14:00. Your tour will start with meeting your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Begin at the Courage Monument, which commemorates the 1966 earthquake and honours the resilience of the people of Tashkent, before continuing to the historic Old City. Visit the Mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi, walk past the Khast-Imam Complex, view the exterior of the Islamic Civilization Center, and stroll along the newly developed Zarkaynar Street. Next, explore Chorsu Bazaar and a local pottery gallery, then ride the beautifully decorated Tashkent Metro to the modern city centre. Enjoy free time for lunch on Taras Shevchenko Street, known for its lively dining scene, then continue to the State Museum of Applied Arts and admire the elegant facade of the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, concluding the tour at Amir Timur Square. Overnight at the hotel.

Early morning transfer to Tashkent railway station. Departure of the train to Kokand at 08:05 (alternative private transport is also available). Arrival in Kokand at 12:16, meeting with the guide and driver to start the active part of the tour in the Fergana Valley. You will visit the main historical and cultural sights of Kokand: the palace of Khudoyar Khan and the Jami Mosque. You will also visit the museum of Hamza, a famous poet and playwright, whose full name is Hamza Hakimzade Niyazi. Next, you will take a short drive to the town of Rishtan (40 km, 1 hour), famous for its magnificent ceramics. You will visit the home and workshop of Rustam Usmanov, a master potter whose works have been exhibited at international exhibitions. You will observe the process of pottery making and admire a beautiful collection of traditional Rishtan ceramics with intricate patterns and blue-green glaze. In the evening, transfer to Fergana (50 km, 1 hour). Upon arrival in Fergana, you will have dinner with a local family, where you will try homemade traditional Uzbek dishes, learn about the culture and way of life of the Uzbek people, and learn about family traditions. During dinner, you will be able to taste dishes such as pilaf, kazan kabob, as well as try authentic tandoor flatbread, local fruits, and sweets. After dinner, transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Overnight at the hotel.

At 09:00 after breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and driver and depart for Margilan (15 km, 30 minutes) to visit the Silk Factory. Here, you will observe the entire process of producing silk fabrics with traditional ikat patterns – from collecting silkworm cocoons to hand dyeing and weaving the fabric on a loom. After the silk factory, take a stroll through a vibrant oriental bazaar. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Tashkent departing at 13:00. Arrival at 14:00. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours In the afternoon or later in the evening you can visit the Islamic Civilization Center in Tashkent on your own (optional).

At 06:30 transfer to the train station. Take the high-speed train, Afrosiyob, departing to Bukhara at 07:30 (605 km). Arrival at 11:17. Upon arrival the driver will transfer you to the hotel in Bukhara. Meet your guide and start a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel and visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum Bakhouddin Naqshbandi. Return to Bukhara and visit Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. At 14:40 transfer from the hotel to the train station. Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Samarkand departing at 15:52, arriving at 17:25 (270 km). Upon arrival the driver will transfer you to the hotel in Samarkand. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar and Gur-Emir Mausoleum – the mausoleum of Amir Timur. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Check out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Ulugbek Observatory and Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. At 16:00 transfer to the train station. Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent at 17:00 (300 km); arrival at 19:10. Pick-up and transfer to the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to Tashkent International Airport. End of the 8-day Train Tour.