Enjoy this in-depth tour throughout Uzbekistan, famous for its ancient cities, beautiful mosques and mausoleums, as you travel the ancient trade route - the Silk Road. This journey takes you through nature where you'll discover beautiful rivers and lakes, mountains and architectural wonders.
Our Ultimate Uzbekistan tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
A medieval madrasa built around 1570 as part of the central ensemble and located close to Chorzu Bazaar.
Mizdahkan, an architectural islamic complex, is situated on three hills is the oldest cemetry in Uzbekistan.
This memorial complex is one of the most important Muslim shrines based outside Bukhara.
Heart of the ancient city of Samarkand, famous for its architecture and a popular stop along the Silk Road.
Visit the workshop of a famous family known for their ceramics – Akbar and Alisher Rakhimov. You will learn about the history of ceramics and get to see the unique collection of their exclusive works. Enjoy the tea ceremony with local sweets baked especially for you.
Lunch will be held at the local house of Rakhmon Toshev, one of the best suzani (tapestries) makers in the country. You will try your hand at making “plov” the main national Uzbek dish, usually cooked with mutton and rice, adding large quantities of carrots and onions with spices.
Experience a wine tasting at Khovrenko Winery in Samarkand. You will be taken on a tour of the wine museum, familiarising yourselves with the history of wine making in the region. This winery also produces vodka and brandy.
Fly overnight via Dubai to Tashkent. After checking in to your hotel, you have the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore your surroundings.
Today you will explore this capital city, taking a city tour to visit the old town: Barak Khana Seminary, TilaShaikh mosque and their archives. Continue to Chorsu bazaar, and Kukeldash Madrassah. Later, attend a ceramic workshop, ending with a tea ceremony. Later visit Amir Temur square and the famous Tashkent Metro.
This morning fly to Nukus, where you will visit the Igor Savitskiy Museum, home to one of the finest collections of Soviet avant-garde art from the 1920s and 30s. This afternoon drive to Khiva, visiting ancient fortresses enroute. These include Chalpik Kala – the Tower of Silence. You then visit Kizil Kala Fortress, built in the 1st or 2nd centuries AD. You will continue further to Toprak Kala fortress, an excavated town dating back to the 1st to 5th century, and considered the most important monument on Khorezm from the Kushan time. Lastly you will visit Ayaz Kala, which is considered one of the biggest forts in Karakalpakstan.
Khiva is a town made for walking. It is compact, well maintained, lived in, and basks in beautiful desert light. Explore this ancient city today with leisurely sightseeing for 4-5 hours on foot. Visit Kukhna Ark Fortress, the turquoise-tiled IslomKhodja, the mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud. These are all located within the walled inner town called the Itchan Kala, which was the first site in Uzbekistan to achieve recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage listed site in 1990. Later visit Madrassah Rakhimkhon where studies in religion, astronomy, geography and mathematics took place, the Kalta Minor Minaret and the 19th century Tash Hauli Palace decorated in fine china blue tile work.
Set out for Bukhara. It is a long drive, that will take you more or less the same path that the Great Silk Road followed across desert, with a stops en route to stretch. Arrive in Bukhara.
Explore the many interesting sites within this incredible city of Bukhara. Gaze at the legend filled Poi Kalon Minaret, explore the Ark Fortress of Bukhara and visit the Bolo Hauz Mosque. Lunch at the house of one of the best suzani makers, and participate in a cooking class of traditional “ploy” – cooked with mutton and rice and large quantities of carrots and onions.
Continue sightseeing of Bukhara with an out-of-town excursion to visit the Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of the former emir. You will then stop at Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausolem of the famous Sufi spiritual leader. In the afternoon transfer to the railway station for the train to Samarkand.
See the most significant sites in Samarkand, Registan Square, the three beautiful madrassahs and the grandest structure of Amir Temur's times - the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum. Enjoy wine tasting at Khovrenko Winery with a visit to the museum.
The journey to Shakhrisabz is well worth it. The birthplace of the Great Amir Timur (Tamerlane), located approximately 80km south of Samarkand. Explore the city, visiting Ak-Sarai Palace, Dorus Tilavat cemetery and Kok-Gumbas Mosque, before returning to Samarkand.
Today we continue exploring Samarkand to visit Ulugbek’s observatory, constructed by Ulugbek (Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Visit the ancient settlement of Afrosiab, situated on the spurs of Chupan-Ata hills to the north-east of present-day Samarkand. According to the legend, it was here, on the banks of the river Siab, that the Turanian king and hero Afrosiab, a character of the folk epic ‘Shahnama’, founded the town that became the capital of Sogdiana. Late afternoon transfer to train station to catch your train to Tashkent.
Check out after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home to New Zealand via Dubai, arriving home the following day.
All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price unless a land only option is selected
We have a selection of dedicated departures for solo travellers. These departures feature a maximum group size of 18 and exclusive benefits including a single room throughout your tour, complimentary return airport transfers (within 50km radius of major Australian airports) and a cocktail on arrival at your destination. Travellers from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne also receive a complimentary Australian airport lounge pass for use prior to departure.
Read our latest articles or travel inspiration, exciting news about our destinations and all things Wendy Wu Tours
All of our tours offer a single room supplement, which means you’ll have a room to yourself throughout your chosen tour. Continue the check-out process for the applicable supplement.
On most tours, you can choose our 'Happy to Share' option, which may enable you to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance.
If you are booking on a Dedicated Solo departure, a single room is already included in the price and there are no additional single supplements to pay.
With our flight inclusive option, we'll do the planning for you and meet you on arrival.
We include airport pickup upon arrival at your destination and drop off at the end of your tour (on the scheduled tour arrival and departure days) and when booking pre or post tour accommodation with us.
We partner with established and reputable airlines for your international flights.
We can assist with upgrading your seat to premium or business class for an additional cost.
Our team will work with you to choose your ideal routing and if we make changes to your tour itinerary that impact flights, we’ll rebook them for you.
Our On-Tour Support Team is available to provide advice about how to handle flight changes.
