The Legendary Silk Road

The legendary Silk Road! By Silk Road we mean the area, which develops over 8,000 km, consisting of land, sea and river routes along which, in ancient times, exchanges between the Chinese and Roman empires had developed. It was called the Silk Road, but in reality many other precious goods were commercialized, the destination of this trade was Rome, where it was not known where exactly this precious material came from and how it was produced. Russian Tour can organize the trip by train or private transport from Almaty to Ashgabat and, on request, add more routes by making personalized quotations. This trip will allow you to learn about many cultures along the legendary Silk Road and about many places that have made history, with the visit of no less than seven UNESCO World Heritage sites.

On board this first-class luxury train, you will enjoy a wide selection of accommodation options from economy quad-berth compartments to deluxe DBL /single use compartments, full board treatment during the travel and will be able to take part in comprehensive visit programmes in all the included destinations with the full support of an English-speaking guide. Find out more about the Silk Road express itineraries writing at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Silk Road: Almaty - Turkestan - Tashkent - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand - Khiva - Bukhara - Ashgabat

The Silk Road tour, with the visit of 3 nations (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan) can be organized on request at any time of the year. By 2022 we have decided not to repeat the route on a private train, since it is too limited in terms of dates (only 4 per year, in April and October) and as languages spoken by the guides (English, French and Spanish), and betting on a tour focused exclusively on Uzbekistan, with an English-speaking guide and private transportation, which has already been tested with great success during 2019, and that can be organized at any time of the year. The description of the route is as follows. For the other itineraries you can contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request a quotation.

To the Heart of Tamerlane’s Empire, 2021/2022

Country: Uzbekistan
Tour duration: 12 days / 11 nights
Best time to travel: March - June, August - November
Itinerary: Urgench - Khiva - Bukhara - Aydarkul Lake - Samarkand – Shakhrisabz - Chimgan - Tashkent

This exciting and informative tour will enlighten you on the history and culture of Uzbekistan and its world-famous ancient cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, which still keep traces and legacies of the trade Silk Road cultural exchange and once-great empires of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and especially Timur, better known as Tamerlane in the West, who made Samarkand his capital.

A military genius whose conquests shook the world in the 14th century, Timur was also a great patron of the arts. Samarkand still boasts a number of magnificent architectural monuments built during the reign of his dynasty, including his mausoleum Gur-e Amir, a gem of medieval Islamic architecture, where he lies under a huge jade slab.

Russian Tour invites you to see them all - as well as many more fascinating Uzbekistan’s monuments dating from different times - and hear most interesting stories about them. During the tour you will also visit exotic Uzbek bazaars, taste delicious dishes of Uzbek cuisine, travel across impressive landscapes, meet hospitable and charming locals, and enjoy many more other traveler’s tidbits.         

Itinerary, 2021/2022

Day 1     Urgench, arrival
Arrival in Urgench with international flight. Transfer to the hotel and check-in.

Day 2      Khiva
Breakfast at the hotel.  After breakfast start of the guided sightseeing tour around Khiva. Visit Guided sightseeing tour around Khiva (inside Ichan-Kala ‘inner city’ historic old city): Pakhlavan Mahmoud Complex, Kunya-Ark Fortress, Kalta Minor Minaret, Islam Khoja Minaret and Madrasah, Tash Khauli-Khan Palace, Juma Mosque, Muhammad Amin-Khan Minaret and Madrasah, Avesta Museum. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3     Khiva 
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we make a day trip out of Khiva and visit the ancient fortresses of Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala. Arrival in Khiva in the afternoon. Rest at the hotel.

Day 4     Khiva - Bukhara (road transfer, 440 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer across the Kyzyl-Kum Desert and along the Amudarya River to Bukhara. Lunch en route. Arrival in Bukhara. Leisure time. Souvenir shops / workshops. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5     Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour around Bukhara. Visit the following sites: Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo Khauz Mosque, Ark Citadel, Po-i-Kalyan Complex (Kalyan Minaret and others), Ulugbek Madrasah;  after lunch: Lyab-i Hauz Architectural Ensemble, Kukeldash Madrasah, Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah, domed shopping arcade. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6     Bukhara - Aydarkul Lake
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour around sites near Bukhara: Sitora-i Mokh-i Khosa Palace, Baha-ud-Din Naqshbandi Complex; after lunch Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Transfer to the region of Aydarkul lake, deeply into the desert and stop on the shore of the lake-in-desert, named Aydarkul. Accommodation in traditional desert nomads home - yurts in the local yurt camp. After rest everybody will have an opportunity to take a walk in the surroundings, ride a camel or swim. In the evening we taste delicious dinner. Overnight in yurts.  

Day 7      Aydarkul Lake - Samarkand (road transfer, 260 km).
Breakfast at the yurt camp. Transfer to Samarkand. Accommodation at the hotel and rest. Evening walk around Registan Square with the guide.
Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 8     Samarkand.
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour around Samarkand: Registan Square (Ulugbek Madrasah, Sher-Dor Madrasah, Tilla-Qori Madrasah), Gur-e Amir Mausoleum (Tamerlane’s sepulcher), after lunch: Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Ulugbek Observatory. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9     Samarkand - Shakhrisabz
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Shakhrisabz: Ak Saray Palace, Dorus Saodat Complex, Dorut Tillavat Madrasah, Kok Gumbaz Mosque.Overnight in hotel.

Day 10    Tashkent
After breakfast, transfer to Tashkent by train. Start of the guided sightseeing tour around Tashkent. Visit the following sites: Khast-Imam Square, Barak-Khan Madrasah, Kafal-al-Shashi Mausoleum, Kukeldash Madrasah, Tashkent oldest bazaar Chorsu; after lunch: Independence Square, Minor White mosque. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11    Tashkent - Chimgan mountains
After early breakfast transfer to the mountain region for the mountain of Chimgan, located in around 100 km from Tashkent - you will have a slight walk and ride the local cable car. Transfer back to Tashkent. Overnight. 

Day 12    Tashkent, departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport and departure.

The price of the tour in EUR per person for 2021/2022:

Number of person	2	3	4	Sing. supp.	MORE INFORMATION
Hotel 4 stars, double room BB	1640	1490	1330	470	Send request

For larger groups, the individual price is lower, the quotation is provided upon request. It is possible to modify the itinerary and the days of stay according to your wishes. Departure is possible at any time of the year.

Price includes:
•    Accommodation at the hotels  4*,  on double/twin or single sharing basis with breakfasts; early check-in on arrival is included into the package;
•    Yurt camp in Kyzyl-Kum desert  (4 persons/per each yurt, single accommodation is not possible);
•    Camel riding in the yurt camp (upon wish);
•    Sightseeing tour in each city according to the tour program;
•    Entrance fees to the monuments and museums, listed in the program above;
•    Meals - breakfasts at the hotels and meals on full board basis in the yurt camp (lunch, dinner, breakfast and lunch on the next day);
•    Services of Italian-speaking accompanying guide for the whole tour in Uzbekistan;
•    Transportation services for the whole tour - provision of comfortable air-conditioned vehicles is guaranteed;
•    Train tickets for high speed train Afrosiab of “Samarkand-Tashkent” (economy class);
•    A bottle of mineral water on each day of the tour.

Price does not include:
•    International flights;
•    Meals (except meals mentioned above);
•    Medical insurance;
•    Photo and video shooting charges at museums and monuments.

Additional services:
•    Meals:
-    Meals on half board basis (10 dinners) – 240 EUR/per person/for the whole tour;
-    Meals on half board basis (9 lunches) -  170 EUR/per person/for the whole tour;
-    Meals on full board basis (10 dinners and 9 lunches) -  410 EUR/per person/for the whole tour;
•    Extra charge for mountain guide for Day 10 – 60 EUR for the whole group.

For questions and bookings, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.