8-Day Private Train Tour, Meals

8-Day Private Train Tour, Meals. Rated 4.7 across 40 reviews. Runs 8 days. From $1035.

Overview

Eight days, five cities, one private group: this tour runs from Tashkent to Urgench by air, then on to Khiva, by train to Bukhara, by high speed train to Samarkand, and back to Tashkent by rail on the final leg. Reviewers repeatedly single out the operations manager for keeping every transfer on schedule, with drivers waiting on arrival.

Six nights of accommodation are included, in centrally located high rated or boutique hotels with twin rooms, plus six breakfasts. Air-conditioned ground transport, the Khiva to Bukhara train, and the high speed trains between Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent are all part of the package, as is hotel pickup as detailed at booking. The domestic flight from Tashkent to Urgench, museum entrance fees, tips and any single room supplement are paid separately.

Days are full: Tashkent sightseeing on day two, Khiva on day three, Bukhara on day four, Samarkand on day six, with free time or optional tours on days five and seven. Several reviewers describe the guides as knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and mention that the operator is willing to customize the route, including ending in Samarkand or adding extra locations.

What's Included

Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
6 nights twin rooms in high rated centrally located 3-4 star or boutique hotel
Experienced Licensed guides in each city
Train Khiva-Bukhara, High speed train Bukhara-Samarkand-Tashkent
24 hour customer service.
Breakfast (6)
Hotel pickup, as detailed at booking

Not Included

Tips for guides & drivers
Entrance fee - Museums (US$75.00 per person)
Single room supplement if required (US$150.00 per booking)
Domestic airline ticket Tashkent-Urgench starting at $70/ticket

Itinerary

Tashkent arrivalThe tour opens with 15 minutes in Tashkent, admission free, with an overnight stay in a centrally located hotel. Meals on this day are not included.
Tashkent sightseeing, fly UrgenchDay two covers 7 stops. Alisher Navoiy Theater (30 minutes, admission not included), Ensemble Hazrati Imam (1 hour, admission not included), Amir Temur Square (30 minutes, free), a Tashkent Metro tour with guide (30 minutes, admission included), the Uzbekistan State Museum of Applied Art (1 hour, admission not included), then Tashkent (30 minutes) and Urgench (40 minutes), with an overnight in a central hotel and breakfast.
Khiva, train to BukharaDay three takes in 9 stops in Khiva: Itchan Kala (30 minutes, admission not included), Kalta Minor Minaret (30 minutes, free), Citadel Kunya-ark (1 hour, admission not included), Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum (30 minutes, admission not included), Juma Mosque (30 minutes, admission included), Islam Khodja Complex (30 minutes, admission not included), Stone Palace or Tash Khauli (30 minutes, admission included), and the Khiva Silk Workshop (30 minutes, free), before the train to Bukhara (6 hours) with breakfast and a central hotel overnight.
Bukhara sightseeingDay four has 6 stops: Lyab-i-Hauz (1 hour, admission not included), Poi Kalyan Mosque (30 minutes, admission not included), Ark of Bukhara (1 hour, admission not included), Trading Domes (1 hour, free), Maghak-i 'Attari Mosque (30 minutes, admission not included) and Bolo Hauz Mosque (30 minutes, free). Breakfast and a central hotel overnight are included.
Free time, train to SamarkandDay five allows free time or an optional tour in Bukhara (4 hours), then the train to Samarkand (3 hours), with breakfast included and another central hotel overnight.
Samarkand sightseeingDay six covers 5 stops: Registan (2 hours, admission not included), Gur Emir Mausoleum (1 hour, admission not included), Shah-i-Zinda (1 hour, admission not included), Bibi Khanym Mosque (1 hour, admission not included) and Siab Bazaar (1 hour, free). Breakfast and a central hotel overnight are included.
Free time, train to TashkentDay seven offers free time or an optional tour in Samarkand (4 hours), then the train to Tashkent (3 hours). Breakfast is included but accommodation on this night is not.
DepartureDay eight is a 30-minute transfer in Tashkent for departure, with no accommodation and no meals included.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this itinerary.

Pace and walking. Days are full, with sightseeing blocks of one to two hours at sites such as Registan and the Ark of Bukhara. Comfortable shoes are a sensible choice for long days out. Reviewers describe the tour as well organized.
Extra costs to budget. Museum entrance fees, listed at US$75.00 per person, are not included. The domestic flight Tashkent to Urgench starts at $70 per ticket, a single room supplement is US$150.00 per booking, and tips for guides and drivers are extra.
Food and drink. Six breakfasts are included, along with hotel stays.
Train travel tips. Three train legs are included: Khiva to Bukhara and the high speed trains Bukhara to Samarkand and Samarkand to Tashkent. One reviewer noted train stations can be somewhat chaotic, so keeping hotel names handy in case you miss your assigned driver is sensible.
Private group feel. Only your group participates, with licensed guides in each city and drivers coordinated in advance. Multiple reviewers mention drivers always waiting on arrival and the operations team reachable by phone throughout the trip.
Customization. The operator is open to adjusting the route. One reviewer suggested ending in Samarkand and noted the company was happy to customize and add locations, and another recommended an extra day tour from Samarkand to the seven lakes in Tajikistan.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are fine and infant seats are available. Museum entry fees and the domestic flight to Urgench are paid on top of the tour price, so budget for these before you go. One reviewer found the train stations somewhat chaotic and advised keeping hotel names ready in case of a missed driver meeting.

Choosing Well

What is included in the price?

Six nights in twin rooms at centrally located boutique or similar hotels, six breakfasts, air-conditioned vehicle transport, the Khiva to Bukhara train and high speed trains between Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent, licensed guides in each city, hotel pickup as detailed at booking, and 24 hour customer service are all included. Museum fees, the domestic flight, tips and a single supplement are not.

Is the flight from Tashkent to Urgench included?

No. The domestic airline ticket from Tashkent to Urgench is excluded and starts at $70 per ticket. The tour's ground transport and train legs are included, but this flight is booked and paid for separately.

Do I need to pay museum entrance fees separately?

Yes. Museum entrance fees are not included and are listed at US$75.00 per person. Some sites on the itinerary, such as Amir Temur Square and the Trading Domes, are free, but major museums and several monuments require separate tickets.

Is hotel pickup provided?

Yes, hotel pickup is included, as detailed at booking. Reviewers also mention drivers waiting for them on arrival at destinations along the route.

Is the tour suitable for children or people with limited mobility?

Pushchairs are accessible and infant seats are available, and the listing states most travellers can participate. However, the tour is not wheelchair accessible, so travellers with significant mobility needs should consider the walking-heavy days before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience's start time. Cancelling within 24 hours of the start time means no refund, and changes made within that window are not accepted. Cut-off times are based on the experience's local time.