Bukhara
Bukhara is over 2,000 years old, built on the site of a former Buddhist monastery, it has hundreds of minarets, mosques and madrassas with key sites being the Kalyan minaret, that's tower is a prominent landmark of the city, the Ismail Samani mausoleum and Bolo Haouz Mosque, one of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city.
It is a great place to stock up on souvenirs, from hand-painted ceramics to silk scarfs for the relatives. But remember, Uzbeks are a trader nation: if you haven’t bargained, you have been fooled!
Bukhara has the best sleeping options in all of Central Asia: top-notch service combined with historic authenticity at boutique hotels like Komil or Amulet represent Uzbekistan at its finest. Al fresco dining under centuries-old plane trees in one of the restaurants surrounding the Lyabi Haus quarter is a must.
The city is connected to Samarkand and Tashkent by high-speed rail making it easy to reach for tourists.
Bukhara and Khiva
Uzbekistan's medieval cities
Bukhara, sited on the remains of a Buddhist monastery, was to become one of Islam’s most important places during the Middle Ages. At over 2,000 years old, it is the most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia, with an urban fabric that seems to have changed little over the centuries. Hearing the call to prayer glide over the azure domes of the Po-i Kalyan is the stuff of Orientalist fantasies...read more
14 days
Essential Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan
Explore the historical heritage of Persian Central Asia
21 days
The Silk Road Trail
Explore Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan
Bukhara Tours
Best of Central Asia
Experience the people, history and nature of the 'Five Stans
22 daysFrom €4,580| Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan | |
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Small group tour, Private guided tour |
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Active, Walking, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
Best of Central Asia
Experience the people, history and nature of the 'Five Stans
22 days From €4,580 per person By Kalpak Travel| Destinations | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
|---|---|
| Activity | Active, Walking, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
| Tour Type | Small group tour, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Mild |
Kalpak Travel’s Best of Central Asia Tour combines the cultural highlights and natural beauty of five different countries in one epic journey.
In each of the Central Asian republics you’ll visit the modern and historic capitals, and see firsthand the cultural treasures and traditions of both the nomadic people who have crossed this region for centuries, and also the people who have settled in its cities.
The eclectic contemporary architecture of Nur-Sultan and Ashgabat contrasts with the sprawling Soviet-styled cities of Almaty, Bishkek, and Dushanbe, and nothing can prepare you for the impact of the great Silk Road cities, where flourishing Islamic culture and the medieval Timurid Empire left a lasting architectural legacy.
Travel across the five ‘Stans with us to experience the very best of Central Asian hospitality on an unforgettable adventure.
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Accommodation |
Kalpak trips visit a combination of quality hotels, traditional Yurt camps, guesthouses, and camping (all equipment provided). Get in touch for more information. |
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Guided excursions |
Expert, English-speaking guides accompany you throughout the entire trip, giving you unique insights into the local culture and history. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and rail journeys are included. |
|
All meals |
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the price. You're not obliged to eat every meal with the group, and your guide will happily direct you to recommended local restaurants and markets if you prefer. |
|
Internal flights |
Domestic/internal flights are included where applicable. |
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Camping equipment |
All equipment for overnight stays in Yurt camps is provided. |
Historical Cities of Central Asia
Following in the footsteps of Marco Polo
15 daysFrom €4,060| Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan | |
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Small group tour, Private guided tour |
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Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
Recommended Day Tours & Activities
Historical Cities of Central Asia
Following in the footsteps of Marco Polo
15 days From €4,060 per person By Kalpak Travel| Destinations | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan |
|---|---|
| Activity | Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
| Tour Type | Small group tour, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Easy |
Kalpak Travel’s Central Asian Silk Road Tour will lead you through the remarkable cities of the Great Silk Road, many of which are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
You will discover the cultural treasures and traditions of both the nomadic people who have crossed the region for millennia, and of the settled population. Explore three of the sprawling, Soviet-era capitals of Central Asia.
Absorb the architectural legacies of flourishing Islamic cultures and the mighty Timurid Empire in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. In your two-week stay, you will be immersed in centuries of history and the diverse cultures of the peoples who built the ‘Stans as you see them today.
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Accommodation |
Kalpak trips visit a combination of quality hotels, traditional Yurt camps, guesthouses, and camping (all equipment provided). Get in touch for more information. |
|
Guided excursions |
Expert, English-speaking guides accompany you throughout the entire trip, giving you unique insights into the local culture and history. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and rail journeys are included. |
|
All meals |
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the price. You're not obliged to eat every meal with the group, and your guide will happily direct you to recommended local restaurants and markets if you prefer. |
|
Internal flights |
Domestic/internal flights are included where applicable. |
|
Camping equipment |
All equipment for overnight stays in Yurt camps is provided. |
Best of Uzbekistan
Explore Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva
8 daysFrom €1,540| Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent | |
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Small group tour, Private guided tour |
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Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
Best of Uzbekistan
Explore Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva
8 days From €1,540 per person By Kalpak Travel| Destinations | Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent |
|---|---|
| Activity | Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
| Tour Type | Small group tour, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Mild |
An escorted small group tour to the highlights of this spectacular but highly underrated country.
From 12th-century mosques to 6th-century walled cities, you’ll experience the very best of the Silk Road and learn how the rise and fall of the Timur Empire left a profound architectural legacy.
But it's not all ancient history here: you'll get a feel for life under Soviet rule -- still fresh in many memories -- as well as get to know the people and culture of contemporary Uzbekistan in all its fascinating complexity.
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Accommodation |
Kalpak trips visit a combination of quality hotels, traditional Yurt camps, guesthouses, and camping (all equipment provided). Get in touch for more information. |
|
Guided excursions |
Expert, English-speaking guides accompany you throughout the entire trip, giving you unique insights into the local culture and history. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and rail journeys are included. |
|
All meals |
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the price. You're not obliged to eat every meal with the group, and your guide will happily direct you to recommended local restaurants and markets if you prefer. |
|
Internal flights |
Domestic/internal flights are included where applicable. |
|
Camping equipment |
All equipment for overnight stays in Yurt camps is provided. |
Uzbekistan in Depth
Explore Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez and Fergana Valley
14 daysFrom €2,590| Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Termez, Derbent, Fergana Valley | |
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Small group tour, Private guided tour |
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Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
Uzbekistan in Depth
Explore Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez and Fergana Valley
14 days From €2,590 per person By Kalpak Travel| Destinations | Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent, Termez, Derbent, Fergana Valley |
|---|---|
| Activity | Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, History, Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
| Tour Type | Small group tour, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Easy |
Explore the ancient cities frequented by nomads and conquerors, the architectural legacy left by a flourishing Islam and the great Empire of Timur. Mosques, madrassas, fortresses and unforgettable landscapes await, ranging from fertile valleys to open steppes and never-ending deserts.
Tour modern Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. Visit the Fergana Valley to learn about the strong local traditions of ceramics and silk production, Termez, a historic regional center of Buddhism and well-preserved Khiva, a museum city surrounded by mud brick walls.
Spend time in the charming Old City of Bukhara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site before arriving at the wonders of Samarkand. Along the way you'll meet local people and master craftsmen, who will share with you their expertise in paper making, ceramics, and silk production.
|
Accommodation |
Kalpak trips visit a combination of quality hotels, traditional Yurt camps, guesthouses, and camping (all equipment provided). Get in touch for more information. |
|
Guided excursions |
Expert, English-speaking guides accompany you throughout the entire trip, giving you unique insights into the local culture and history. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and rail journeys are included. |
|
All meals |
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the price. You're not obliged to eat every meal with the group, and your guide will happily direct you to recommended local restaurants and markets if you prefer. |
|
Internal flights |
Domestic/internal flights are included where applicable. |
|
Camping equipment |
All equipment for overnight stays in Yurt camps is provided. |
Best of Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan
Follow the footsteps of the Kyrgyz Nomads and ancient Silk Road traders
15 daysFrom €3,160| Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan | |
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Small group tour, Private guided tour |
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Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
Recommended Multi-Day Tours
Best of Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan
Follow the footsteps of the Kyrgyz Nomads and ancient Silk Road traders
15 days From €3,160 per person By Kalpak Travel| Destinations | Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan |
|---|---|
| Activity | Responsible Travel, Community-led Tourism, Solo Travel |
| Tour Type | Small group tour, Private guided tour |
| Physical Level | Mild |
For well over a thousand years, merchants carried their wares over remote mountain passes in Kyrgyzstan, along verdant river valleys and through the great Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan.
These nomads, conquerors, and settlers left behind an architectural legacy that draws on forgotten empires and ancient religions. Uzbekistan has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its age-old cities: Bukhara, Khiva, and Samarkand, arguably the jewel in the country’s dazzling crown.
Central Asian mosques, madrassas, fortresses, and bazaars combine to create a timeless atmosphere, while out in the countryside, the country’s incredible landscapes will capture both your imagination and your heart.
|
Accommodation |
Kalpak trips visit a combination of quality hotels, traditional Yurt camps, guesthouses, and camping (all equipment provided). Get in touch for more information. |
|
Guided excursions |
Expert, English-speaking guides accompany you throughout the entire trip, giving you unique insights into the local culture and history. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections, hotel transfers and rail journeys are included. |
|
All meals |
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the price. You're not obliged to eat every meal with the group, and your guide will happily direct you to recommended local restaurants and markets if you prefer. |
|
Internal flights |
Domestic/internal flights are included where applicable. |
|
Camping equipment |
All equipment for overnight stays in Yurt camps is provided. |
Bukhara Travel Companies
Kalpak Travel
Small group tours of Central Asia
| Central Asia | |
| Custom itinerary, Small group tour, Private guided tour | |
| Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Nature & Wildlife, Culture, Solo Travel |
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