Uzbekistan in 5 days

Five days is the minimum to see all three of Uzbekistan’s great Silk Road cities without rushing too much. The route runs east to west: Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva, and ends with a flight back from Urgench, near Khiva, to Tashkent. This avoids the long journey back across the desert.

The ideal start is a flight into Samarkand, which has international connections. If you arrive in Tashkent, take the early Afrosiyob to Samarkand on day 1 (about 2–2.5 hours). See Samarkand airport and Tashkent to Samarkand.

Begin at the Registan with its three madrasahs, then visit the Gur-Emir, the tomb of Timur. In the afternoon, walk to the Bibi-Khanym mosque and the Siab bazaar. Return to the Registan at night to see it lit up.

Start early at the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, a street of turquoise-tiled mausoleums. Then visit the site of Afrosiyob, the ancient city of Samarkand, with its museum of Sogdian wall paintings, and Ulugbek’s observatory, built by the astronomer-king in the 1420s. If you have time, visit a paper mill or carpet workshop.

In the late afternoon, take the Afrosiyob train to Bukhara, about 1.5 hours. See Samarkand to Bukhara. Arrive in time for dinner at Lyabi-Hauz.

Spend a full day in Bukhara’s old town. Morning: the Poi-Kalyan ensemble with the Kalyan minaret, the trading domes and the Ark fortress. Afternoon: the Samanid mausoleum, the Bolo-Hauz mosque and the four-towered Chor Minor. Evening: a folklore show or dinner on a rooftop terrace. If you prefer, swap some old-town sights for the Bahauddin Naqshband shrine on the outskirts. See things to do in Bukhara.

Cross the Kyzylkum desert to Khiva. By train, the journey takes about 6–7 hours, ending at Khiva station next to the old walls. By private car, it is about 450 km and 6–7 hours, with views of the Amu Darya and stops at roadside cafés. Start early. See Bukhara to Khiva.

Arrive in time to walk the walls of Ichan-Kala at sunset; the view from the western gate or a watchtower over the domes and minarets is unforgettable.

Explore Ichan-Kala, the walled inner city, a UNESCO World Heritage site: the turquoise Kalta Minor minaret, the Kunya-Ark fortress, the Juma mosque with its forest of carved wooden columns, the Tash-Hauli palace and the Islam Khodja minaret, which you can climb for the best view. See our Khiva itinerary.

In the afternoon or evening, drive 35–40 minutes to Urgench airport and fly to Tashkent (about 1.5 hours) for your international flight, or fly abroad directly if a route exists. See Tashkent to Urgench.

If your flights arrive and depart from Tashkent, reverse the route: fly Tashkent → Urgench on day 1 and spend the afternoon in Khiva; day 2 in Khiva; day 3 across the desert to Bukhara; day 4 in Bukhara and the evening train to Samarkand; day 5 in Samarkand and the evening train back to Tashkent. This needs an early arrival on day 1.

Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are ideal for this route, with pleasant temperatures in all three cities and comfortable conditions for the desert crossing. They are also the busiest months, so book trains, flights and hotels early.

In summer, temperatures in Bukhara and Khiva often exceed 40 °C. Sightsee from early morning until late morning, rest in the afternoon, and go out again in the evening. Take the train rather than the car across the desert, or travel very early. In winter, days are short and Khiva is cold, often below freezing at night, but the cities are quiet and prices for hotels are lower. Dress warmly and check that your hotel has good heating.

Whatever the season, keep some flexibility: an extra night anywhere on the route makes the trip much more relaxed, and leaves time for the small discoveries, a teahouse, a workshop or a conversation, that often become the best memories.

• Samarkand: near the Registan or the pedestrian street. See where to stay in Samarkand.
• Bukhara: in the old town near Lyabi-Hauz. See where to stay in Bukhara.
• Khiva: inside or just outside the walls of Ichan-Kala. See where to stay in Khiva.

• Book trains and flights early, especially the Afrosiyob and the Urgench–Tashkent flight.
• Travel light: you change hotels three times.
• Hire a guide for half a day in each city.
• Best seasons: April–May and September–October.
• With 1–2 more days, add Tashkent, a yurt camp in the desert or the desert fortresses near Khiva. See our 7-day itinerary.

Our team is based in Khiva and can arrange trains, cars, flights and guides for the whole route.