Uzbekistan: Heart of Central Asia

Fly overnight from London (regional connections available) to Tashkent with Uzbekistan Airways. (N)

Arrive and transfer to the Miran International Hotel (or similar) for 1 night. Afternoon tour of the old city stopping at Amir Timur Square and the Kukeldash mosque and madrasa. (D)

Transfer to the airport and take a 1-hour morning flight to Urgench. Visit the ancient fortresses of Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala before an afternoon drive to Khiva via Ulli Khovli. Stay 2 nights at the Malika Kheivak Hotel (or similar). (B, L, D)

Full-day tour of Khiva, including Kunya Ark, Islam Khoja minaret, Tash Havli Palace and a local bakery. (B, D)

Full-day drive to Bukhara (7-8 hours) through the Kyzylkum desert, stopping at the Amudaryo river for photos. Stay at the Zargaron Plaza (or similar) for 3 nights. (B, L, D)

City tour of Bukhara, including visits to Chor Minor mosque, the Poi-Kaylan complex, the surviving trade domes and Lyab-i-Hauz complex, once the city’s principal source of water. This evening enjoy dinner and a cooking demonstration. (B, D)

After breakfast, continue your tour of Bukhara, including visits to the imposing fortress known as ‘The Ark’, located on the site of a 2,000-year-old fortress; the Summer Palace; and the Samanid mausoleum, built in the early 10th century with a facade incorporating Zoroastrian symbols. (B)

Drive to Shahrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane, and visit the summer palace, mosques and mausoleums. Continue to Samarkand for 3 nights at the Emirkhan Hotel or the Dilimah (or similar). (B, L, D)

Full-day tour of Samarkand, including visits to Registan Square, the Ulugbek observatory, Afrosiab Museum, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, and the Bibi Khanum mosque. (B)

Continue your tour of Samarkand. Visit Gur Emir mausoleum, which marks the final resting place of several members of the Timurid dynasty, including Timur himself. Other visits include Nodir Divan Begi madrasa, Hazrat Khizr mosque and the Khodja Doniyor mausoleum. After lunch, stop at a silk carpet factory before returning to your hotel. (B, D)

Morning at leisure in Samarkand. This afternoon drive to Tashkent with a stop en route at a small market and Tamerlane Iron Gate. Transfer to the Miran International Hotel (or similar) for 1 night. (B, D)

Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the airport. Fly from Tashkent to London with Uzbekistan Airways. (B)