
Uzbekistan 360°: Khiva, Bukhara, and the Silk Road
The trip in a nutshell
Our group trip to Uzbekistan will transport us to the enchanting land of "A Thousand and One Nights," where we'll experience a journey filled with ancient stories, desert adventures, and a touch of excitement, including local train rides and an overnight stay in a traditional yurt.
From picturesque oases and bustling bazaars to charming tea houses, sacred sites, and Soviet-era palaces, this organized tour of Uzbekistan offers a timeless allure. We’ll explore a section of the legendary Silk Road—the historic trade route that connected Beijing to the Mediterranean, serving as the most vital link for goods between China and the Western world.
Our adventure begins in the ancient city of Khiva and takes us to Bukhara, eventually reaching Samarkand, the capital of Tamerlane's empire, before concluding in modern Tashkent.
Are you ready to uncover the mysteries of this fascinating corner of the world?
Trip type
360º - it's our great classic that allows you to discover the destination in all its aspects. We recommend packing a backpack rather than a suitcase as there will be lots of moving around.
Physical rating
MODERATE - this itinerary may involve hiking or other activities that require a moderate amount of physical effort. Be prepared for some potential long transfers and early wake up calls!
Entry requirements
Please visit your country's official government website to find out the necessary requirements for entering the country of destination.
Arrival and departure
This trip will begin and end in Tashkent. Aim to arrive on the first day by 5pm - on the last day you are free to leave whenever!
Group
5 WeRoaders
What's included
8 nights accommodation in shared rooms with a private bathroom (please note: during the night in the Yurt the bathroom will be shared)
All breakfasts
Night train to Urgench (Khiva) on day 2
Walking tour in Khiva (half day) with local English speaking guide
Train to Bukhara on day 3
Walking tour in Bukhara (half day) with local English speaking guide
Private transport with driver (day 6 - day 7)
"Local Experience" : a night under the starry sky in the Kyzylkum desert in a typical Yurt with dinner and bonfire included
A picnic on the shores of Aydarkul Lake to recharge your batteries
Walking tour in Samarkand (half day) with local English speaking guide
Train from Samarkand to Tashkent on day 8
Travel coordinator services
Free cancellation with 100% refund up to 31 days before departure
Itinerary
Welcome to Uzbekistan
Check-in
Round trip flights are not included in the package, so you can choose from where and when you want to fly. This is to give you maximum freedom of choice!
Check-in at the hotel in Tashkent , the capital.
It will be great to start getting to know each other right in front of traditional Uzbek dishes, toasting with the best inebriating elixir in the world: Russian vodka!
Included: overnight stay with breakfast
Not Included: airport transfers, meals and drinks
Among the streets of Tashkent
Discovering the city
Rich in monumental buildings, immense parks, and modern neighborhoods, Tashkent almost feels like a typical European capital. But don't be fooled—it also hides ancient complexes and spiritual centers waiting to be discovered. Today, we will explore this fascinating city together, before boarding the night train that will take us to our next destination, the beautiful Khiva!
Included: overnight stay, night train to Urgench (Khiva)
Money pot: any entrance tickets in Tashkent
Not Included: meals and drinks
Khiva and its history: from the Kunya Ark fortress to the Juma mosque
Between history and traditions
Good morning, WeRoaders! How was your first night on the train? We’ve arrived in Khiva, a true open-air museum, filled with palaces, monuments, and madrassas. Once we drop off our backpacks at the hotel, we’ll meet our local guide to explore this incredible city: we’ll visit the Kunya Ark fortress, the ancient residence of the sovereigns (excited to see the harem and the prisons?), the Juma Mosque with its beautifully carved wooden columns, and many other sights that will leave us speechless.
Speaking of mouths, how about grabbing a bite? They say the city bazaar is the perfect spot for a street food-style lunch.
After lunch, we’ll have more time to explore the city at our own pace before heading back to the hotel for a relaxing and refreshing hot shower.
Included: overnight stay with breakfast, walking tour with local guide (English speaking) in Khiva
Money pot: transfer from Urgench to Khiva, any entrance fees and activities
Not Included: meals and drinks
On the way to Bukhara
A long train journey
There are many kilometers between us and our next destination—about 435 to be exact! And what better way to tackle a long journey than aboard a local train?
Seated in a comfortable carriage, you can use these hours to sort through the thousands of photos you’ve taken over the past two days and enjoy the ever-changing scenery unfolding before your eyes. Plus, we’ll be helping the environment: when it comes to sustainability, there’s no doubt—the train is the most eco-friendly way to travel. Taking the railway is a smart, responsible, and convenient choice!
We’ll depart in the morning and arrive in Bukhara by late afternoon, relaxed and ready to head straight to the hotel, drop off our bags, and then venture out to find the best restaurant in town.
Included: overnight stay with breakfast, train from Khiva to Bukhara
Money pot: any tickets and entrances
Not Included: meals and drinks
Bukhara
Discovering Bukhara
After a hearty breakfast, we’ll have the entire day to explore this incredible city. Bukhara, also known as the "sacred city," even surpasses the legendary Samarkand in the sheer number of architectural monuments. With over 140 buildings of immense artistic and cultural value—all of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites—it’s no surprise that a traditional Uzbek saying goes, "Samarkand is the wonder of the earth, but Bukhara is the wonder of the spirit."
Our local guide will lead us through a half-day tour of the city’s marvels: the four towers of Chor-Minor, with their distinctive blue domes; the majestic Ark Fortress, once the royal residence; the former Mogaki Attari monastery, now a mosque; and the iconic Poi-Kalyan, with its towering minaret.
We’ll also visit the stunning Lyabi Hauz complex, with its bustling shops and merchants, where we can take a delightful break by the pool.
The rest of the day is completely ours to either continue exploring the city in more depth or to engage in other activities.
And for dinner, how about indulging in some delicious food and refreshing drinks, and ending the evening in a fairytale atmosphere?
Included: overnight stay with breakfast, walking tour with local guide (English speaking) in Bukhara
Money pot: any extra activities
Not Included: meals and drinks
Towards the Kyzylkum Desert passing by Lake Aydarkul
Lakes, legends and magical nights: have you ever slept in a Yurt?
Another day, another magical place awaits us. This morning, we head to Nurata, a legendary destination wrapped in mystery. According to legend, 40,000 years ago, a meteorite struck here, creating a crater and a miraculous water source that appeared from nowhere. This water, believed to be curative, maintains a constant temperature of 20 degrees—not a degree more, not a degree less!
Our journey then continues to Lake Aydarkul—a lake in the middle of the desert?! Yes, that’s right. After all, we’re in Uzbekistan, where everything feels magical. This lake, far from being a mirage, is a true natural wonder. Its origins are mysterious—there’s a scientific explanation, but we won’t spoil the magic just yet!
We’ll relax with a picnic on the shores of the lake before heading to our traditional camp. Here, beneath a sky full of stars, we’ll spend an unforgettable night in yurts! Not sure what a yurt is? You could Google it, or better yet, join us (the second option is definitely more fun!).
And here’s the best part: dinner is included, along with a night around the campfire!
Included: overnight stay with breakfast, minivan transport, picnic on the lake shore, dinner
Money pot: any extra activities
Not Included: any drinks
Samarkand
Samarkand, a travellers dream!
Alexander the Great once said of this city, “Everything I have heard about this city is true, except that it is more beautiful than I could have imagined.”
WeRoaders, it’s time to head to Samarkand—a city of myth, legend, and the dream of every true traveler.
We’re about to arrive in one of the oldest cities in the world. Samarkand was founded at the end of the 14th century BC and flourished for many years before being destroyed by Genghis Khan, only to rise again between the 14th and 15th centuries under Tamerlane—a great leader and patron of art and culture—who declared it the capital of his empire.
Since then, the historic center of Samarkand has remained almost untouched, preserving its magical atmosphere. Let’s take our time and enjoy it: we have half a day to explore, whether it’s immersing ourselves in the culture, relaxing, shopping, or whatever suits our style!
Included: overnight stay with breakfast, minivan transportation
Money pot: any extra activities
Not Included: meals and drinks
Samarkand again!
Walking through Samarkand and travel to Tashkent
Good morning, Samarkand! Today, we have the chance to uncover the secrets of this ancient city with a half-day guided walking tour, so let’s get moving—it’s time to explore!
In the afternoon, we’ll board the train that will take us back to where it all began: Tashkent.
We’ll reunite for one final dinner together—let’s raise a toast to the end of this incredible adventure and to all the unforgettable memories we’ll take home with us.
Included: overnight stay with breakfast, half-day walking tour with local guide (English speaking) in Samarkand, train to Tashkent
Money pot: any extra activities
Not Included: meals and drinks
Goodbye Uzbekistan
Check-out and goodbye
Check-out and goodbye – until your next WeRoad adventure!
End of services. The itinerary may undergo some variations that differ from what is stated above. These variations may not be predictable nor depend on WeRoad’s will, i.e. climate conditions, national holidays, strikes, etc.





FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Round-trip flights are not included in any of our trips because we like to give you autonomy and flexibility: you can choose the airline you want to fly with, the departure airport that suits you best, and how many and which stops you want to make.
Since flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: if possible, you can arrive at your destination a few days earlier or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!
This is the question of all questions, and here’s the answer, broken down into points!
The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator.
It is used to streamline paymentsfor extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group.
It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.
You’ll find the amount of the money pot on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the money pot’ – how do you get there? Look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money pot? Click here’, and you’ll find the details.
The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.
It is used exclusively for group expenses that ALL participants decide to take part in.
It is estimated based on the experiences of other groups but can vary depending on the needs of the group itself. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.
If not all of the money pot is used, the difference will be returned to all participants at the end of the trip in equal amounts.
The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the money pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.
If you pay in advance part of the money pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded in case of trip cancellation.
We offer several payment methods to meet all needs:
1. Credit or debit card from Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
2. Installment payments for certain countries only
If you choose the deposit and balance option, you can pay the balance from your MyWeRoad Personal Area via bank transfer.
Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.
If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option.
How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.
In general, we always choose local accommodations, avoiding large hotel chains, because we love to experience the culture of the place and, whenever possible, contribute to the local economy. Typically, our accommodations are hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and hostels run by local entrepreneurs, with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.
For our Collection trips, which are our premium category, the accommodations are always 4 or 5-star or carefully selected boutique hotels.
The list of accommodations for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator between 5 and 3 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!
If you're wondering why WeRoad trips have a money pot, we’re assuming you already know what it is. If not, or if you have any doubts, we invite you to read all the information here!
Let’s quickly recap: The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator. It’s used to speed up payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group.
But let’s get to the point: why the money pot? First of all: it gives us a lot of flexibility. In all WeRoad trips you will have a bunch of Must See/Must Do activities already included - these are experiences, places or activities that simply cannot be missed! Any extra activities is decided by the group, why? Because each group is unique and may have particular wants or desires and the Money Pot allows each group to customise their trip to make it perfect for their requirements!
It also helps us speed up payments – imagine being in the subway in New York City, one by one purchasing the ticket...a nightmare right? Thanks to the Money Pot, the Travel Coordinator can simply purchase the tickets for everyone making the entire processes smoother! Any leftover money will be returned at the end of the trip and split equally amongst all participants.
In some destinations, buying goods or services on site is more economical as you are able to negotiate the price - places like Morocco, or South East Asia, bargaining is part of the culture. As such, our Travel Coordinators will be able to secure the best deal for all participants.
The amount of the money pot is specified in each trip – look for this button
which will take you to a detailed breakdown for each trip, like this:
WeRoad is not authorised to provide this information due to privacy reasons.
However, there is a solution - you can connect with your travel buddies by joining our Facebook group. Look for a post related to your trip, or ask the group admins for help in connecting with your future travel companions!
If a Travel Coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you're interested in, you can easily find their introduction post in the group via the website: in the tour list, click on 'Ask the coordinator', or in the trip details page, in the coordinator section, click on 'Ask [coordinator's name] for information on this trip in our Facebook group'. For both cases, see the screenshots below!
Tour List
Trip details page
In all our groups, the Travel Coordinator and participants speak English – knowing how to speak and understand English is therefore a fundamental requirement to participate in our trips.
On average the groups are made up of 6-15 people, with a minimum of 3/4 participants and a maximum of 15.
All our travellers are in theirs 20s, 30s and 40s. If you're very curios to know the age range of the group for a tour you're interested in, you can contact us by WhatsApp at +447716573700
Regarding the male-female ratio, this is not guaranteed and varies trip by trip.
The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller and will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will be available for any eventuality and will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary (transports, timings, accommodations, meeting points, etc.), so you can enjoy the trip without any worries!
You will have the chance to get to know them when the WhatsApp group is created approximately 2 weeks before departure - this will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking – their details will be specified in the schedule or on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your Personal Area, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.
Yes, in all our trips you will share a room with other same-sex travellers, and the bathroom will either be private or shared only with fellow participants of the trip. The rooms we select can be doubles, triples, quadruples, or multi-bed (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.
There are never dorms with people outside the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodations like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.
During the booking process, you can also choose to opt for a mixed room: in this case, if needed, only those who have agreed to this option may share a room with travellers of a different sex. If you are booking for multiple people together and select this option, the room will not be exclusive to your group but may be shared with other travellers in the group.
When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'Once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you, even if you no longer travel with us.
But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. We can also meet up for a dinner or a trek together at one of the events organised by our coordinators around the world!