Welcome to the new and improved Forward Travel website. We're currently putting the finishing touches on the site, so you may notice that some features or pages are still being updated or are temporarily unavailable. We appreciate your patience as we complete the final stages of development. If you notice any issues while browsing the website, we'd greatly appreciate you letting us know so we can address them as quickly as possible. To report an issue, please contact us on +61 401 812 219 or drop us a message at thekitchen@forwardtravel.com.au. Thank you for helping us make the Forward Travel experience even better. Get in Touch

Forward Travel

Tailor-Made Itineraries

Forward Travel

Tailor-Made Itineraries

Silk, Mosaics & Deserts

Image of Handmade Carpets Traditional Knotted Uzbek Silk Rugs Uzbekistan Asia

Travel Map

Tashkent, Uzbekistan → Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Country: Uzbekistan
Start: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
End: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Date: Flexible
Duration: 13 days
Theme: Culture, Discovery, Active
Physical rating: Moderate
Meals: 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 1 dinner
Transport: Private vehicle, flight, train, hiking, walking
Price: On Request

Request Customisation

Trip Highlights

Explore Khast Imam Square and view the historic Osman Qur’an in Tashkent.
Ride the Tashkent Metro and visit its Soviet-era stations.
Visit the desert fortresses of Toprak-Kala and Ayaz-Kala.
Walk through UNESCO-listed Ichan Kala in Khiva.
Cross the Kyzylkum Desert between Khiva and Bukhara.
Discover the trading domes and bazaars of Bukhara.
Watch a folklore and fashion performance inside a madrassah.
Visit Gijduvan’s ceramic workshops and meet artisans.
Stay overnight in a traditional yurt camp near Aydarkul Lake.
Walk among dunes and steppe landscapes in the Kyzylkum region.
Explore Registan Square and Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand.
Visit Ulugbek Observatory and the Afrosiab Museum.
Experience traditional silk papermaking at the Meros Paper Centre.
Hike in the Zarafshan Mountains and visit rural Uzbek villages.

Request Customisation

Itinerary

Must Know

Inclusions

Accommodation throughout the tour
Meals as specified in the itinerary
Local English-speaking guides at each destination
Private transport and transfers throughout the journey
Domestic flight from Tashkent to Urgench
High-speed train ticket from Samarkand to Tashkent
Entrance fees to monuments, museums, and historical sites listed in the itinerary
Drinking water during sightseeing and transfers
Yurt camp stay in the Kyzylkum Desert region

Exclusions

Uzbekistan tourist tax (approx. USD 59 per person)
International and domestic airfares not listed in inclusions
Visa fees and visa processing costs
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities
Personal expenses
Optional activities and services
Photo and video fees at museums and monuments
Alcoholic beverages
Meals not specified in the itinerary
Anything not specifically listed under inclusions

Will This Trip Suit You?

Interested in Silk Road history and Islamic architecture.
Enjoy cultural immersion and historical walking tours.
Want a mix of cities, desert landscapes, and mountain scenery.
Photography enthusiasts interested in mosaics, bazaars, and desert scenery.
Comfortable with several long overland travel days.
Interested in local crafts, ceramics, textiles, and paper-making traditions.
Seeking a balance of comfort hotels and one experiential yurt stay.
Seeking a luxury-only experience throughout.
People with limited mobility or difficulty walking on uneven surfaces.
Uncomfortable with extended road journeys through desert regions.
Want nightlife-focused or resort-style holidays.
Sensitive to heat, dust, or dry desert climates.
Prefer slow-paced itineraries with minimal hotel changes.

✦Ready when you are

Want to See Asia on Your Own Terms?

Let’s bring your dreams to reality. Perhaps you already know what you want to see and do, perhaps you don’t. We will help you bring your social media feed to reality.

Book Private ChatBuild your own itinerary

ATTA & CATO accredited

1,000+ happy travellers

Reply within 24 hours

Your travel consultant

David Smyth

Director, Forward Travel

Sample only

AvailabilitySample only

Response timeSample only

Session length30 minutes

Schedule a call →

Silk, Mosaics & Deserts

Trip Highlights

Itinerary

Day 1: Tashkent

Day 2: Tashkent

Day 3: Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva

Day 4: Khiva

Day 5: Khiva – Bukhara

Day 6: Bukhara

Day 7: Bukhara

Day 8: Bukhara – Gijduvan – Nurata – Aydarkul Lake

Day 9: Aydarkul Lake – Samarkand

Day 10: Samarkand

Day 11: Samarkand – Zarafshan Mountains – Samarkand

Day 12: Samarkand – Tashkent

Day 13: Departure

Must Know

Inclusions

Exclusions

Will This Trip Suit You?

Want to See Asia on Your Own Terms?