Self-Launched Highlights of Uzbekistan: Silk Road Cities by Rail

Fly into Urgench Airport (the nearest hub to Khiva). From the airport, take a shared taxi or arrange a pre-booked private transfer to Khiva — the journey takes around one hour and costs roughly £5–8 by shared taxi or £15–20 private. En route, ask your driver to pass Ulli Khovli, a well-preserved traditional courtyard home on the outskirts. Check into your guesthouse inside or just outside the Ichan Kala (inner walled city) — staying inside the walls puts you steps from every major monument. Spend the afternoon doing a self-guided walking tour of the old town: the Mohammed Amin Khan Madrasah, Kunya Ark fortress, Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum and the iconic Islam Khodja Minaret are all free or very low cost to enter and are clustered tightly together. Pick up a combined site entry ticket at the Ichan Kala gate (approx £5–8). End the evening with plov and bread at a local teahouse — Khiva's old town restaurants are excellent value.

🚌Shared taxi from Urgench Airport to Khiva (~£6). Alternatively, a pre-booked private transfer costs ~£15–20.

🛏Guesthouse inside or near Ichan Kala, e.g. Orient Star Khiva or Arkanchi Hotel (~£18–25/night)

• →Shared taxi transfer from Urgench Airport to Khiva (~£6)
• →Stop at Ulli Khovli traditional domestic architecture (free exterior viewing)
• →Self-guided walking tour of Ichan Kala old town
• →Visit Mohammed Amin Khan Madrasah, Kunya Ark fortress, Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, Islam Khodja Minaret (combined entry ticket ~£5–8)
• →Welcome dinner at a local teahouse — try plov and non bread (~£4–6)

Spend the morning exploring Khiva's lesser-visited monuments. The Juma Mosque's extraordinary forest of 212 carved wooden columns is unmissable; the Tash Hauli Palace showcases the finest tilework in the city; and the Nurullabay Palace offers a glimpse of early 20th-century courtly life. Entry to each is covered by the combined Ichan Kala ticket you purchased yesterday. Late morning, join a shivit oshi cooking class — this signature Khivan noodle dish gets its vivid green colour from dill. Several local guesthouses and cooking schools offer hands-on classes bookable directly or via GetYourGuide (search 'Khiva cooking class', ~£20–30 including lunch). The afternoon is free: wander the rooftop terraces, browse the craft bazaar for suzani textiles, or climb the Islam Khodja Minaret for panoramic views.

🚌On foot — everything is walkable within the Ichan Kala

🛏Guesthouse inside or near Ichan Kala, e.g. Orient Star Khiva or Arkanchi Hotel (~£18–25/night)

• →Visit Juma Mosque (wooden columns), Tash Hauli Palace and Nurullabay Palace (covered by combined entry ticket)
• →Shivit oshi cooking masterclass with lunch included — book via GetYourGuide or directly with a local guesthouse (~£20–30)
• →Free afternoon: rooftop walks, craft bazaar, Islam Khodja Minaret climb
• →Evening: explore the illuminated old town walls at dusk (free)

Rise early for a day-trip to Ayaz Kala, one of the most dramatic of the ancient Khorezmian desert fortresses. Hire a local driver from your guesthouse for a half-day excursion (~£25–35 for the car, shareable between 2–4 travellers). The round trip takes roughly 3–4 hours including time to explore the fortress and take in the sweeping desert views. Return to Urgench in time to board the Soviet-era overnight train to Bukhara (Urgench–Bukhara, departs early-to-mid afternoon, journey ~10–11 hours in a platzkart or kupe carriage). Book your train ticket in advance at the official Uzbekistan Railways website (uzrailpass.uz) or at Urgench station — kupe (4-berth compartment) costs approximately £8–15. Pack snacks and water for the overnight journey through the Kyzyl-Kum Desert. Arrive Bukhara late evening.

🚌Shared hire car to Ayaz Kala and back to Urgench (~£8–12pp). Train Urgench–Bukhara ~£8–15.

🛏Zargaron Boutique Hotel or similar guesthouse in Bukhara old town (~£20–30/night)

• →Half-day excursion to Ayaz Kala desert fortress (~£8–12pp in shared hire car)
• →Overnight Soviet-era train from Urgench to Bukhara in kupe (4-berth) compartment (~£8–15, book via uzrailpass.uz or at station)
• →Pack your own snacks/dinner for the train journey (~£3–5)

Bukhara is one of the best-preserved Islamic cities in Central Asia and is extremely walkable. Start at the Ismail Samani Mausoleum — one of the earliest surviving Islamic structures in Central Asia and free to enter. Continue to the imposing Ark Fortress (entry ~£2–3), the Poi Kalyan ensemble (the 12th-century Kalon Minaret, mosque and madrasah, ~£1–2), and then Ulugbek's Madrasah and the Lyab-i-Hauz pool area — a lively square lined with mulberry trees and teahouses. Grab a cheap lunch at one of the chaikhanas (teahouses) around Lyab-i-Hauz (~£3–5). After lunch, visit Magok-i-Attari Mosque and the Nadir Divanbegi Khanqah. In the evening, head to one of the historic madrasah courtyards that host traditional Shashmaqam folk music and dance performances — these are bookable at the door or via your guesthouse (~£5–10).

🚌On foot — Bukhara's old town monuments are all within easy walking distance

🛏Zargaron Boutique Hotel or similar guesthouse in Bukhara old town (~£20–30/night)

• →Ismail Samani Mausoleum (free)
• →Ark Fortress (~£2–3 entry)
• →Poi Kalyan ensemble — Kalon Minaret, mosque and madrasah (~£1–2)
• →Lyab-i-Hauz pool area and Ulugbek's Madrasah (free/low cost)
• →Magok-i-Attari Mosque and Nadir Divanbegi complex (~£1–2)
• →Evening Shashmaqam folk music and dance performance in madrasah courtyard (~£5–10, book at the door or via guesthouse)

Start the morning with a short taxi ride (~£3–5) to the Bahauddin Naqshbandi Ensemble, a major pilgrimage site for followers of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. The complex is peaceful and free to enter; modest dress is required. Back in Bukhara, seek out one of the miniature painting workshops in the old town — the craft is taught by several artists who welcome independent visitors for short introductory sessions. Ask your guesthouse to recommend a reputable workshop or search GetYourGuide for 'Bukhara miniature painting' (~£10–20 for a session including lunch, or buy direct). After lunch, take a taxi to Bukhara railway station and board the Afrosiyob bullet train to Samarkand (journey ~1hr 45min, ~£8–12 in economy class, bookable at uzrailpass.uz). Arrive Samarkand early evening, check in and explore the area around your guesthouse.

🚌Taxi to Bahauddin Naqshbandi Ensemble (~£3–5 return). Afrosiyob bullet train Bukhara–Samarkand ~£8–12.

🛏Guesthouse near Registan, e.g. Antica B&B, Zerafshan Hotel or Bibikhanum Boutique (~£20–30/night)

• →Bahauddin Naqshbandi Ensemble pilgrimage site — taxi there and back (~£3–5 total), entry free
• →Miniature painting workshop in Bukhara old town (~£10–20 including lunch, book via GetYourGuide or direct)
• →Afrosiyob bullet train Bukhara–Samarkand (~£8–12 economy, book at uzrailpass.uz)

Samarkand is the crown jewel of the Silk Road and today you'll walk in Timur's footsteps. Begin at Gur-e-Amir, the stunning mausoleum of Timur (Tamerlane), then walk to Registan Square — the monumental ensemble of three madrasahs is genuinely one of the most spectacular sights in the world. A combined entry ticket covers most sites (~£5–8). Mid-morning, make your way to the Hudjum Silk Carpet Factory, where you can watch master weavers at work and buy directly (no tour markup). In the afternoon, visit the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis — a processional avenue of brilliantly tiled 14th–15th century mausoleums — and Ulugbek's Observatory on the hill above the city. For dinner, consider booking a table at Antica B&B (the same venue used by Exodus) — the hosts offer genuine insight into Samarkand's heritage and the food is excellent (~£8–12 for a full meal).

🚌On foot and occasional short taxi rides between sites (~£2–4 total)

🛏Guesthouse near Registan, e.g. Antica B&B, Zerafshan Hotel or Bibikhanum Boutique (~£20–30/night)

• →Gur-e-Amir mausoleum of Timur (combined entry ticket ~£5–8)
• →Registan Square — three monumental madrasahs (included in combined ticket)
• →Hudjum Silk Carpet Factory — free to visit, buy direct from weavers
• →Shah-i-Zinda necropolis (included in combined ticket)
• →Ulugbek's Observatory (~£2–3 entry)
• →Dinner at Antica B&B or local restaurant (~£8–12)

Head out in the morning to Konigil village (a short taxi ride from the city centre, ~£3–5 each way) to visit the Meros traditional paper workshop. Here, craftspeople still produce handmade paper from mulberry bark using techniques unchanged for over a millennium. The workshop is open to independent visitors; a small donation or workshop fee of ~£3–5 is typical. You can try making paper yourself and buy sheets to take home. Return to Samarkand for a self-organised lunch (~£4–6) before heading to Samarkand railway station for the afternoon Afrosiyob bullet train to Tashkent (journey ~2hrs 30min, ~£8–15 in economy class, book via uzrailpass.uz in advance). Arrive in Tashkent early evening, check in and get your bearings.

🚌Taxi Samarkand centre to/from Konigil (~£3–5 each way). Afrosiyob bullet train Samarkand–Tashkent ~£8–15.

🛏Boutique hotel or guesthouse in central Tashkent, e.g. Mirabilis Hotel or City Palace Hotel (~£22–35/night)

• →Taxi to Konigil village (~£3–5 each way)
• →Meros traditional mulberry paper workshop — hands-on session (~£3–5 donation/entry)
• →Self-organised lunch in Samarkand (~£4–6)
• →Afrosiyob bullet train Samarkand–Tashkent (~£8–15 economy, book via uzrailpass.uz)

Tashkent is a fascinating city shaped by the 1966 earthquake and Soviet rebuilding. Start with a metro ride — buy a Toshkent Card at any station (~£1 loading fee, ~£0.10–0.15 per journey) and hop between the most ornate stations: Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi and Pakhtakor are particularly spectacular. Continue to Amir Temur Square and the Monument of Courage. Then visit the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre — guided interior visits can sometimes be arranged through the theatre box office directly or via a local guide (search GetYourGuide 'Tashkent theatre tour', ~£8–15). In the afternoon, arrange a taxi or rideshare (Yandex Go is widely used in Tashkent, ~£5–8 each way) to the Tashkent region to visit Uzumfermer winery. The winery offers guided tours and tastings to independent visitors; book ahead by email or phone (~£10–15 for tour and tasting). Return to Tashkent for a final evening meal — try the Chorsu Bazaar area for excellent samsa (stuffed pastries) and local wines.

🚌Tashkent Metro (~£1–2). Yandex Go rideshare to/from Uzumfermer winery (~£5–8 each way).

🛏Boutique hotel or guesthouse in central Tashkent, e.g. Mirabilis Hotel or City Palace Hotel (~£22–35/night)

• →Tashkent Metro ride visiting ornate Soviet stations — Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi, Pakhtakor (~£1–2 total)
• →Amir Temur Square and Monument of Courage (free)
• →Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre interior visit (~£8–15, book direct or via GetYourGuide)
• →Taxi/Yandex Go to Uzumfermer winery (~£5–8 each way)
• →Uzumfermer winery guided tour and tasting (~£10–15, book ahead)
• →Dinner at Chorsu Bazaar area (~£5–8)

Your self-launched Silk Road journey ends in Tashkent. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours to revisit the Chorsu Bazaar for last-minute souvenirs — handmade ceramics, ikat silk textiles and dried fruits are all excellent value bought direct from vendors. Tashkent International Airport is around 20–30 minutes from the city centre by taxi or Yandex Go (~£4–7). Uzbekistan has no departure tax payable at the airport. If you want to extend your trip, Fergana Valley (a hub of traditional crafts), the Fann Mountains, or a trip across the border into Tajikistan are all logical extensions bookable independently.

🚌Yandex Go or taxi to Tashkent Airport (~£4–7)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Last-minute shopping at Chorsu Bazaar — ceramics, ikat silk, dried fruits (budget as preferred)
• →Taxi or Yandex Go to Tashkent International Airport (~£4–7)