11-Day Magical Cities, Meals

11-Day Magical Cities, Meals. Rated 4.8 across 10 reviews. Runs 11 days. From $1600.

Overview

This 11-day private tour from Salom Travel Service visits four Silk Road cities: Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. It begins in Tashkent, where the itinerary includes Soviet-era sights, then moves to the desert city of Khiva for its bazaars and artisan shops. The trip finishes in Samarkand with the Registan and its other attractions.

Transport is handled throughout. Ground transfers run in air-conditioned vehicles with a professional driver, a professional guide accompanies the group, and accommodation for all nights is arranged as per the itinerary. Eleven breakfasts and bottled water are included; lunches and dinners are not, so travellers budget separately for those. Hotel pickup at the start is part of the package, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point in Tashkent.

Because it is a private arrangement, only your group travels together. It is not wheelchair accessible, and one domestic flight, from Tashkent to Urgench, is paid for locally rather than included. Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup in TashkentThe tour starts at 09:00, with hotel pickup included as detailed at booking. From there the journey through the Silk Road cities begins.
2. Soviet-era TashkentThe first stretch of the itinerary covers the Soviet-era sights of bustling Tashkent, with a professional guide leading the way.
3. Flight to UrgenchLocal airfare from Tashkent to Urgench is not included and is paid separately.
4. Khiva bazaars and artisansIn the desert city of Khiva the itinerary takes in the bazaars and the artisan shops, with ground transfers provided in an air-conditioned vehicle.
5. Polov cooking in BukharaIn traditional Bukhara travellers learn how to cook Uzbek polov.
6. Samarkand and the RegistanThe final city is Samarkand, home of the famous Registan. Other attractions in the city round out the itinerary.
7. Return to TashkentThe activity ends back at the original meeting point in Tashkent, with chauffeured ground transfers and accommodation included along the way.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing are worth knowing before booking this trip.

• Private group. This is a private tour, so only your group participates. A professional guide and driver are provided for the journey.
• Meals. Eleven breakfasts and bottled water are included. Lunches and dinners, alcohol and soft drinks are not, so plan a food budget for those meals.
• Dress code. The listing specifies smart casual dress. That is the only clothing guidance given for the trip.
• Dietary needs. A vegetarian option is available, but it must be advised at the time of booking. Any specific dietary requirements should be flagged then as well.
• Accessibility and transport. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though most travellers can participate. The meeting point is near public transportation, and the activity ends back where it started.
• Photography fees. Expenditure for photo and video shooting at historical objects is not included. Travellers who plan to shoot photos or video at these sites should expect to pay these charges separately.

Common issues. The main costs to watch are the excluded items: the local flight from Tashkent to Urgench, all lunches and dinners, alcohol and soft drinks, single supplementary rooms, and photography or videography fees at historical sites. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, which matters for travellers with limited mobility. Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking and is subject to availability. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time receive no refund.

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