7-Day Uzbekistan Tour via Istanbul: Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara and Khiva

Updated: 16 June 2026

✅ 7 days · Istanbul connection · Samarkand → Shakhrisabz → Bukhara → Khiva → Urgench · hotels, guides, transfers and online payment

Uzbekistan Tour via Istanbul — 7 Days: Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara and Khiva

A clear one-week Silk Road route: arrive in Samarkand, cross Uzbekistan through Shakhrisabz and Bukhara, finish in Khiva, and depart from Urgench. Choose the hotel level, complete the order online, and receive travel documents from CAJ.UZ.

Book and pay online Prices and hotels Itinerary Payment details

Important: prices are per person from 2 guests. The base package does not include international flights unless they are added to the order. Planned hotels are listed below; if one is unavailable, CAJ.UZ uses a comparable option in the same city and category.

Quick summary: a 7-day cultural route across Uzbekistan with an Istanbul connection. In Uzbekistan the journey runs Samarkand → Shakhrisabz → Bukhara → Khiva and ends at Urgench Airport. Prices start from 820 USD per person in the 3-star plan and 1030 USD per person in the 4-star plan. The tour can be booked and paid for online at /en/buy/39.

Quick facts

Format: 7-day cultural trip through Uzbekistan’s main Silk Road cities.
Route: Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara, Khiva and Urgench.
Travel logic: enter Uzbekistan in Samarkand and leave from Urgench, without returning to the first city.
Best for: first-time visitors, couples, families and small groups using Istanbul as the connection point.
Hotels: 3-star or 4-star plans. In Khiva, the 4-star plan uses Orient Star Khiva as a historic hotel of about 3-star level.
Included: hotels, breakfasts, dinners, local guides, entrance tickets, transport, water, photo/video fees, tourist tax, visa support if needed and a folklore dinner in Khiva.
Not included: international flights unless added, lunches, early check-in / late check-out, insurance, personal expenses and visa fees.
Online order: /en/buy/39.

For English-speaking markets

The route suits guests from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and India, as well as English-speaking residents of Europe and the Gulf, when their international itinerary connects through Istanbul.

Countries

English-language demand

The page is written for people searching in English, not for one single departure country. Istanbul is the common connection point.

Flight hubs

London, New York, Toronto and more

Useful origin cities include London, Manchester, Dublin, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland, Singapore, Dubai and Doha. Direct flights from these cities are not promised.

What makes this route stand out

The cities are famous, but the sequence matters. Samarkand gives the first impact, Shakhrisabz adds the Timurid story and the mountain-pass road, Bukhara gives depth, and Khiva closes the trip inside the walls of Ichan-Kala.

Route logic

No backtracking

The route moves west across Uzbekistan and finishes near Khiva. You do not spend the last day returning to Samarkand or Tashkent.

First impact

Samarkand comes first

Registan, Gur-Emir, Shah-i-Zinda and Ulugbek Observatory appear on the first sightseeing day.

Road experience

Shakhrisabz via the pass

The transfer is part of the experience: mountain views, Ak-Saray and a clear change of landscape before Bukhara.

Finale

Khiva at the end

Ichan-Kala works as a strong final chapter: fortress walls, minarets, compact lanes and the folklore dinner.

Who this tour suits

First-time visitors: the route covers the classic Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva chain in one week, with Shakhrisabz included on the road.
Couples, families and small groups: hotels, guides, transport and dinners are arranged in one package.
English-speaking guests: English-guided sightseeing can be selected when booking, and the route is easy to connect through Istanbul.
May not fit: guests who need a slow luxury-only pace, all lunches included, no long road transfers, or international flights automatically included in the base package.

Prices

Prices are per person from 2 guests. Choose the hotel plan and room type, then continue to the official checkout at /en/buy/39.

3-star plan

820 USD / person

Double or twin room. Planned hotels: Malika Prime in Samarkand, Mehrob Boutique in Bukhara and New Star in Khiva.

3-star single

990 USD / person

For one guest in a private room while keeping the 3-star hotel plan.

4-star plan

1030 USD / person

Mövenpick Samarkand, Paradise Plaza Luxury in Bukhara and Orient Star Khiva as a historic hotel of about 3-star level.

Plan	Double / twin room	Single room	Note
3-star	820 USD per person	990 USD per person	Price per person from 2 guests
4-star	1030 USD per person	1280 USD per person	Khiva uses Orient Star Khiva as a historic hotel of about 3-star level

International flights, insurance, visa fees, lunches and personal expenses are separate unless they are added to the order.

What is included and what is separate

Included

Core services

accommodation in the selected plan;
breakfasts and dinners according to the itinerary;
local guides for sightseeing;
entrance tickets;
air-conditioned transport for excursions and transfers;
1.5 litres of mineral water per person per day;
photo and video fees at monuments;
folklore show in Khiva;
tourist tax;
visa support if needed.

Separate

Not in the base price

international flights unless added to the order;
early check-in and late check-out;
lunches, personal expenses and tips;
excess baggage over 20 kg;
travel insurance;
Uzbekistan visa fee.

Shown in documents

Before travel

hotel names and addresses;
airport transfer times linked to flights;
guide language;
passport spelling for each guest;
daily meeting points and timing.

Planned hotels

These hotels show the level of each plan. If one property is unavailable for your travel date, CAJ.UZ uses a comparable hotel in the same city and category.

3-star plan

Samarkand · 3-star

Malika Prime

Samarkand

Used for the Samarkand stay in the 3-star plan, after the arrival and city tour day.

Bukhara · 3-star

Mehrob Boutique

Bukhara

A boutique-style Bukhara hotel for the three-night old-city part of the route.

Khiva · 3-star

New Star

Khiva

Used for the final Khiva part of the 3-star route, close to the old-city atmosphere.

4-star plan

Samarkand · 4-star

Mövenpick Samarkand

Samarkand

The Samarkand hotel in the 4-star plan, used for a more comfortable start after arrival.

Bukhara · 4-star

Paradise Plaza Luxury

Bukhara

A Bukhara hotel for guests choosing the 4-star plan during the longest city stay.

Khiva · historic hotel, about 3-star level

Orient Star Khiva

Khiva

Included in the 4-star plan as a historic hotel of about 3-star level, chosen for its setting inside the old city.

Route logic

The route is linear: Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara, Khiva, then Urgench Airport. This saves the last day from a long return to the starting city.

Stage	Place	Why it matters
Arrival	Istanbul → Samarkand	The trip starts directly in a major historic city
Timurid chapter	Samarkand and Shakhrisabz	Registan, Gur-Emir, Ak-Saray and the mountain-pass road
Old city depth	Bukhara	Three nights allow both city and suburban monuments
Finale	Khiva	Ichan-Kala closes the route with walls, minarets and a folklore dinner
Departure	Urgench → Istanbul	The tour ends near Khiva instead of returning east

Adobe walls of Ichan-Kala in Khiva — **Khiva.** Adobe walls of Ichan-Kala, the final historic stop on the route.

Bukhara madrasah facade with blue tilework — **Bukhara.** Madrasah facade and blue tilework in the old city.

Craft stalls in a covered old-city street — **Old city streets.** Craft stalls and walking lanes between monuments.

Main places on the route

Samarkand

Registan and Timurid Samarkand

Samarkand opens the route with Registan, Gur-Emir, Shah-i-Zinda, Siab Bazaar, Afrasiab Museum and Ulugbek Observatory.

Shakhrisabz

Ak-Saray and the mountain pass

Shakhrisabz adds Ak-Saray, Dorut-Tilovat, Dorus-Saodat and the road over Takhtakaracha Pass.

Bukhara

Old city and suburban monuments

Bukhara includes the Ark, Poi-Kalyan, trading domes, Lyabi-Hauz, Chor-Minor, Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa and Chor-Bakr.

Khiva

Ichan-Kala finale

Khiva closes the tour with Kalta-Minor, Kunya-Ark, Juma Mosque, Tash-Hauli and the city walls.

Ark Fortress in Bukhara at dusk — **Ark Fortress.** One of the main stops on the Bukhara walking route.

Kalyan Minaret and blue dome in Bukhara — **Poi-Kalyan.** The minaret, mosque and madrasah form Bukhara’s strongest ensemble.

Day-by-day itinerary

How to read the itinerary

Time: city sightseeing times are planning times, not rigid minute-by-minute promises.
Flights: airport meeting times follow the airline schedule for your travel date.
Order: the sequence of visits may change because of traffic, opening hours, weather and group pace.
Meals: breakfasts and dinners are included according to the itinerary; lunches are separate unless added to the order.

Day 1 — Samarkand: arrival via Istanbul and city sightseeing

Meals: breakfast, dinner.

Arrival information

Route logic: Istanbul → Samarkand.
Flight: TK372 may be used as the route flight if it matches the selected date.
Important: exact flight time is shown in the travel documents.

Airport meeting in Samarkand and transfer to the hotel.

After rest and breakfast, the Samarkand city tour starts with the main Timurid and Silk Road sights.

Time	Programme	Duration
Early morning	Arrival in Samarkand — airport meeting and transfer to the hotel.	by flight time
Morning	Rest after the flight — time to freshen up before sightseeing.	free time
11:00–11:50	Registan Square — three madrasahs and the main architectural symbol of Samarkand.	50 min
12:00–12:35	Gur-Emir Mausoleum — the Timurid family mausoleum.	35 min
12:45–13:25	Siab Bazaar — fruit, bread, spices and everyday Samarkand life.	40 min
13:30–14:30	Lunch break — in a convenient point of the route.	1 h
14:40–15:10	Bibi-Khanum Mosque — a large Timurid mosque near the bazaar.	30 min
15:25–16:10	Shah-i-Zinda — narrow lanes and turquoise mausoleums.	45 min
16:25–17:00	Khoja Daniyar Mausoleum — a peaceful site linked to Prophet Daniel traditions.	35 min
17:10–17:45	Afrasiab Museum — archaeological finds and frescoes from ancient Samarkand.	35 min
18:00–18:30	Ulugbek Observatory — the remains of the medieval astronomical observatory.	30 min
Evening	Kebab dinner — local-style dinner after the Samarkand tour.	as arranged in the itinerary

Kebab dinner served on a table in Samarkand — **Dinner.** Kebab dinner is one of the Samarkand food moments.

Mixed kebabs, salads and sauces on the table — **Local table.** Meat, salads and sauces served for a relaxed evening meal.

Kebabs being cooked over charcoal — **Charcoal grill.** A simple, direct food experience after the first sightseeing day.

Notes:

This is an early-arrival day; pace can be adjusted after the flight.
Comfortable shoes are recommended for Registan, Shah-i-Zinda and museum stops.
The order of visits may change due to opening hours and traffic.

Day 2 — Samarkand → Shakhrisabz → Bukhara

Meals: breakfast, dinner.

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meeting with the driver in the hotel lobby and departure toward Shakhrisabz.

Time	Programme	Duration
08:00	Breakfast at the hotel.	—
09:00	Departure to Shakhrisabz — meeting with the driver in the hotel lobby.	—
Morning	Takhtakaracha Pass — mountain road between Samarkand and Shakhrisabz.	by road
Midday	Ak-Saray Palace — the monumental remains of Amir Timur’s palace.	40 min
Midday	Dorut-Tilovat Complex — religious and memorial ensemble in the historic centre.	35 min
Afternoon	Dorus-Saodat Ensemble — memorial complex linked to the Timurid dynasty.	35 min
Afternoon	Continue to Bukhara — drive west after the Shakhrisabz visit.	by road
Evening	Arrival in Bukhara — hotel check-in and dinner.	—
After dinner	Old Bukhara walk — optional evening walk near the historic centre.	free time

Mountain road through the Takhtakaracha Pass — **Takhtakaracha Pass.** The road segment is part of the experience, not just a transfer.

Tandyr gosht being cooked in a clay tandoor oven — **Tandyr gosht.** A regional food stop may be arranged if timing allows.

Tandyr gosht served with greens on a plate — **Local food.** Tandyr-style meat is linked with the mountain-road day.

Notes:

This is a long road day with a mountain-pass segment.
Timing depends on road conditions, weather and stops.
Large vehicles may use a different road depending on route conditions.

Day 3 — Bukhara: walking tour of the old city

Meals: breakfast, dinner.

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meeting with the local guide in the hotel lobby. Start of the walking tour.

Time	Programme	Duration
09:00–09:40	Samanid Mausoleum — early Islamic brick architecture.	40 min
09:45–10:10	Chashma-Ayub — mausoleum and spring in the old city.	25 min
10:20–10:40	Bolo-Hauz Mosque — wooden-column iwan near the Ark.	20 min
10:45–11:30	Ark Fortress — former residence of Bukhara’s emirs.	45 min
11:45–12:45	Poi-Kalyan — Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah.	1 h

🍽 Lunch break

Time	Programme	Duration
13:00–14:00	Lunch break in a convenient part of the old city.	1 h

Second part of the route

Time	Programme	Duration
14:10–14:45	Trading domes — Toki-Zargaron, Toki-Tilpak-Furushon and Toki-Sarrafon.	35 min
14:50–15:10	Ulugbek Madrasah — one of Bukhara’s historic education sites.	20 min
15:20–15:40	Bukhara Synagogue — part of the city’s multicultural history.	20 min
15:50–16:40	Lyabi-Hauz — old pool, madrasahs and the centre of evening life.	50 min
16:40	End of the walking tour and return to the hotel.	—
Evening	Dinner in the old city atmosphere.	as arranged in the itinerary

Notes:

This is a walking day; the exact distance depends on the final order of visits.
Comfortable shoes are important because of stone streets, steps and old-city surfaces.
The order can change because of opening hours and walking pace.

Day 4 — Bukhara: suburban sights and Osh-Sofi style dinner

Meals: breakfast, dinner.

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meeting with the guide and driver in the hotel lobby.

Time	Programme	Duration
08:00	Breakfast at the hotel.	—
09:00	Meet the guide and driver in the hotel lobby.	—
09:15–09:45	Chor-Minor — small madrasah with four distinctive towers.	30 min
10:10–11:00	Bahauddin Naqshbandi Memorial Complex — important Sufi pilgrimage site near Bukhara.	50 min
11:30–12:25	Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa Palace — summer residence of the last Bukhara emir.	55 min
12:45–13:30	Chor-Bakr Necropolis — historic memorial complex outside Bukhara.	45 min
Afternoon	Free time in Bukhara — rest, photos or a calm walk in the old city.	free time
Evening	Osh-Sofi style pilaf dinner — local dinner experience according to the itinerary.	as arranged in the itinerary

Notes:

The day combines vehicle transfers and short walks.
Traffic and time at each site can affect the exact finish time.
The afternoon is intentionally lighter after the dense walking itinerary of Day 3.

Day 5 — Bukhara → Khiva by road

Meals: breakfast, dinner.

08:00 Breakfast and check-out.

09:00 Meeting with the driver and departure to Khiva.

Time	Programme	Duration
08:00	Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.	—
09:00	Departure to Khiva — meeting with the driver in the hotel lobby.	—
Morning / day	A-380 highway — long road through steppe and desert landscapes.	by road
Day	Amu Darya viewpoint — short stop if timing and road conditions allow.	short stop
Afternoon	Continue to Khiva — drive across the western part of Uzbekistan.	by road
Evening	Arrival in Khiva — hotel check-in and rest.	—
Evening	Dinner with old-city atmosphere — terrace or restaurant setting depending on arrangements.	as arranged in the itinerary

A-380 highway on the road from Bukhara to Khiva — **A-380 highway.** The road from Bukhara to Khiva is a long but logical westbound transfer.

Road through desert landscape between Bukhara and Khiva — **Desert road.** The landscape changes clearly on the way toward Khiva.

Notes:

This is the longest road day of the tour.
Wear comfortable clothes and keep water and small essentials with you.
Road timing depends on traffic, road condition, weather and stops.

Day 6 — Khiva: Ichan-Kala and folklore dinner

Meals: breakfast, dinner.

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meeting with the local guide. Walking tour inside Ichan-Kala.

Time	Programme	Duration
09:00–09:25	Kalta-Minor — the unfinished turquoise minaret of Khiva.	25 min
09:25–09:50	Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah — one of the largest madrasahs in Khiva.	25 min
10:00–10:45	Kunya-Ark Fortress — former khan’s citadel inside Ichan-Kala.	45 min
10:55–11:20	Muhammad Rahim Khan II Madrasah — madrasah connected with Khiva’s late khanate period.	25 min
11:30–12:00	Juma Mosque — wooden-column mosque with a calm interior.	30 min
12:10–12:40	Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum — turquoise dome and one of Khiva’s key sacred sites.	30 min

🍽 Lunch break

Time	Programme	Duration
13:00–14:00	Lunch break inside or near Ichan-Kala.	1 h

Second part of the route

Time	Programme	Duration
14:10–14:35	Islam-Khoja Minaret — the tallest minaret in Khiva.	25 min
14:40–15:05	Ak Mosque and Anusha Khan Baths — compact old-city monuments.	25 min
15:15–15:55	Tash-Hauli Palace — richly decorated palace of the Khiva khans.	40 min
16:00–16:40	Ichan-Kala walls — time for photos and the final old-city views.	40 min
Evening	Folklore dinner in Khiva — dinner with a traditional performance.	as arranged in the itinerary

Notes:

This is a walking day inside Ichan-Kala with stone streets and uneven surfaces.
Photo time is important in Khiva; the guide can adjust the order of visits.
Dinner includes the folklore show according to the itinerary.

Day 7 — Khiva → Urgench Airport → Istanbul

Meals: breakfast or breakfast box, depending on hotel policy and departure time.

Departure information

Route logic: Urgench → Istanbul.
Flight: TK263 may be used as the route flight if it matches the selected date.
Important: international air ticket is included only if it appears in your order details.

Time	Programme	Duration
Early morning	Breakfast or breakfast box depending on hotel policy and departure time.	—
By flight time	Transfer to Urgench Airport — meeting with the driver in the hotel lobby.	by transfer
Morning	Urgench → Istanbul — departure flight if selected separately or included in your order details.	by schedule
Airport	End of CAJ.UZ services at Urgench Airport unless additional arrangements are included.	—

Notes:

Airport pick-up time depends on the actual flight.
Breakfast box depends on hotel policy and departure time.
The land itinerary ends at Urgench Airport unless additional services are included.

Flights and transfers

International route logic: Istanbul → Samarkand and Urgench → Istanbul.
For English-speaking guests: the itinerary can work for people from London, New York, Toronto, Sydney and other cities when they connect through Istanbul.
Base package: international flights are separate unless they are added to the order.
Uzbekistan transfers: airport transfers and city-to-city transport inside the itinerary are included.
Timing: airport pick-up and drop-off are based on the flight schedule for your travel date.

Online booking, payment and documents

How the order works

Open /en/buy/39.
Choose the 3-star or 4-star plan and room type.
Enter guest details and upload passport scans if the checkout form asks for them.
Pay online or choose another available payment method.
CAJ.UZ processes the order and sends your travel documents when the services are secured.

Payment methods

Visa / Mastercard through official CAJ.UZ payment pages.
Bank transfer by invoice or official bank details.
Cash only when agreed with CAJ.UZ.
CAJ.UZ never asks for a full card number or CVV by email or chat.

Cancellation and refunds

Cancellation and refund rules follow the official CAJ.UZ terms and supplier rules.
Hotels, tickets, special rates and already secured services can affect the refundable amount.
Approved refunds are normally returned to the original payer and original payment method.

Useful pages: online payment · purchase terms · cancellation and refunds

Why book directly with CAJ.UZ

Local operator in Tashkent: Central Asia Journeys / CAJ.UZ is based in Uzbekistan and has organised Silk Road travel since 1996.
No international resale layer: you book with the local operator, not through an extra middleman.
Clear logistics: hotel level, road days, flight-dependent transfers and inclusions are explained before travel.
Public trust signals: you can check Google reviews for Central Asia Journeys, the reviews page and company information.

FAQ — 7-day route via Istanbul

Short answers before you place the order.

Is this route only for people living in Turkey?

No. Istanbul is the connection point. Guests from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and other English-speaking markets can use the route if their flights connect through Istanbul.

How does the flight logic work?

The itinerary is built around arrival in Samarkand and departure from Urgench, with Istanbul as the international connection point.

How long is the tour?

The itinerary lasts 7 days.

Which cities are included?

Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara, Khiva and Urgench.

Where does the land itinerary start and finish?

It starts in Samarkand and finishes at Urgench Airport.

Is it private or group-based?

The checkout price is per person from 2 guests. The exact format depends on the date, group size and services available.

Does it run every Monday?

Available dates are selected during the online order. Airport timings depend on the flight schedule for that date.

What hotel plans are available?

You can choose a 3-star or 4-star plan. Planned hotels are listed on this page.

What is different in the 4-star plan?

Samarkand and Bukhara use higher-level hotels. In Khiva, Orient Star Khiva is shown clearly as a historic hotel of about 3-star level.

What is included?

Hotels, breakfasts and dinners, local guiding, entrance tickets, air-conditioned transport, daily water, photo/video fees at monuments, tourist tax, visa support if needed and the Khiva folklore dinner.

What is separate?

International flights unless added, lunches, early check-in and late check-out, personal expenses, excess baggage, travel insurance and Uzbekistan visa fees.

Are Istanbul → Samarkand and Urgench → Istanbul flights included?

Not in the base package. They are included only if flight services are added to the order.

Are exact flight times guaranteed?

No. Airline schedules depend on the travel date. Airport transfers are arranged around the actual flight time.

Which guide language is used?

English-guided sightseeing can be selected for this page. Other languages depend on availability.

Can I choose another guide language?

Yes, when available. Language options may include Turkish, Russian, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean or Chinese.

Are entrance tickets included?

Yes, entrance tickets for the listed sightseeing itinerary are included.

Are meals included?

Breakfasts and dinners are included according to the itinerary.

Are lunches included?

No, lunches are separate unless they are added to the order.

Is visa support included?

Visa support is included if you need it.

Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?

Visa rules depend on citizenship. Check the Uzbekistan visa page before booking.

Can I book online?

Yes. Use the official checkout page: /en/buy/39.

Can I pay by Visa or Mastercard?

Yes, CAJ.UZ supports Visa and Mastercard through official payment pages. Bank transfer may also be available.

Does payment instantly secure every service?

Payment creates the order. CAJ.UZ then secures the services and sends travel documents.

What happens after payment?

CAJ.UZ checks guest details, hotels, guides, transport and flight-linked transfers, then sends the travel documents.

What if the flight schedule changes?

Airport transfers are adjusted to the actual flight time whenever the route services allow it.

Can I change the route or hotel level?

Sometimes yes. Changes can affect the price and service availability.

Can I cancel?

Cancellation and refund rules follow CAJ.UZ terms and supplier policies. Special rates, tickets and secured services may be partly or fully non-refundable.