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The Silk Road Cities — a 7-Day Plan You Can Actually Do
The 7-day version for April: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 6-day plan · 7-day plan · 9-day plan · best time to go.
7
days
999 km
distance
12.5 h
on trains
45
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Spring and autumn are the Silk Road's sweet spots — blue-tile domes under blue skies, and bearable desert trains.
Day 1 Tashkent → Samarkand
🌡 -5.0–33.9°C · 🌧 ~8 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
09:00
Kukeldash Madrasahmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
See the grand yellow-brick courtyard and historic hujras.
50 min · Tashkent · Adult 15,000 som
open: Daily 08:00-18:00
09:50
Minor Mosquechurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Marvel at the gleaming white marble and traditional minarets.
50 min · Tashkent · Free
open: 24 hours
10:40
State Museum of the Temuridsmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Explore the legacy of Timur through gripping exhibits and artifacts.
50 min · Tashkent · Adult 40,000 soʻm
open: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00
15:15
Panjab Shia Mosque and Panjab Madrasahchurches & landmarksmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Witness vibrant Shia ceremonies and social gatherings in this center.
50 min · Samarkand
16:05
Afrasiyabchurches & landmarksmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Walk among ancient ruins of Samarkand's rich past.
90 min · Samarkand
18:30
Historichistory & sagaslocal & traditionalstreet food
Savor authentic shashlik and Uzbek dishes near Registan.
75 min · Samarkand
open: Daily 08:00-22:00
Overnight: Samarkand
e.g. Jahongir Hotel · Registan Hostel
Day 2 Around Samarkand
🌡 -5.0–33.9°C · 🌧 ~8 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
09:00
Samarkand Regional Theater of Musical Dramachurches & landmarksmuseums & heritagelocal & traditional
Appreciate Uzbek performances in a Soviet-era building.
90 min · Samarkand
10:30
Galaasiya Mosquechurches & landmarkscoffee & bakes
Feel the charm of a neighborhood mosque near famous Samarkand bread.
50 min · Samarkand
11:20
Bibi-Khanym Mosquechurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Witness the grand yet troubled architecture of Timur's era.
50 min · Samarkand · Adult 75,000 som, child 30,000 som
open: Daily 09:00-20:00
12:10
Gur-e-Emir Mausoleumchurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Marvel at the final resting place of the legendary warlord Timur.
50 min · Samarkand · Adult 75,000 som
open: Daily 09:00-19:00
13:00
Ishrat-khana Mausoleumchurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Explore the eerie ruins of a Timurid dynasty women's burial site.
50 min · Samarkand · Free
open: Daily 09:00-18:00
13:50
Khodja Ahrar Complexchurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Marvel at ornately tiled mausoleum, mosque, and madressa.
50 min · Samarkand · 35000som
open: 24 hours
14:40
Cafe Magistrcoffee & bakes
Relish veggie options in stylish setting with English-speaking staff.
60 min · Samarkand
open: M-Sa 08:00-23:00, Su 12:00-23:00
Overnight: Samarkand
e.g. Jahongir Hotel · Registan Hostel
Day 3 Around Samarkand
🌡 -5.0–33.9°C · 🌧 ~8 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
09:00
Sayyid Ibrahim Shrine and Imamzadeh Shia Mosquechurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Feel the serene beauty of Shiite shrine interiors akin to Iran.
50 min · Samarkand
09:50
Roman Catholic Church of St. John the Baptistchurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Appreciate neo-Gothic architecture built by wartime prisoners.
50 min · Samarkand
10:40
Armenian Church of the Holy Mother of Godchurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Observe Samarkand's Armenian heritage in this historic church.
50 min · Samarkand
11:30
The former Orthodox Church of St. George the Victoriouschurches & landmarksmuseums & heritage
Discover a museum and art gallery in a transformed church building.
50 min · Samarkand
12:20
Baha'i Spiritual Centermuseums & heritagelocal & traditional
Discover a tranquil multi-ethnic spiritual haven tucked away.
50 min · Samarkand
13:10
Or Avner Synagoguemuseums & heritagelocal & traditional
Experience late 19th-century Jewish tradition in a modern renewal.
50 min · Samarkand
14:00
Joni Oshlocal & traditional
Taste acclaimed plov before it sells out early.
60 min · Samarkand · 70,000 som for a "half" portion, salad,
open: Opens 11:00; closes when they run out of Plov, usually before 14:00
Overnight: Samarkand
e.g. Jahongir Hotel · Registan Hostel
Day 4 Bukhara
🌡 -3.2–38.8°C · 🌧 ~3 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
12:22
Magok-i-Attari Mosquechurches & landmarksmuseums & heritage
Explore a sunken mosque turned captivating carpet museum.
50 min · Bukhara
open: M-Sa 09:00-17:00
13:12
Khoja Gaukushan complexchurches & landmarksstreet food
View restored complex's exterior with mosque, medressah, and hauz.
50 min · Bukhara
open: Closed
14:02
Baha' al-Din Naqshband Mausoleumchurches & landmarksmuseums & heritage
Experience peace in this revered Sufi complex and mosque.
50 min · Bukhara · free
open: Sa-Th 08:00-18:00
14:52
Bolo Hauz Mosquechurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
See a mosque with a minaret and painted pillars beside a small hauz.
50 min · Bukhara · Free
15:42
Mausoleum of Saif ed-Din Bokharzi & Bayan-Quli Khanchurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Feel the serene aura of ancient spirituality in this historic shrine.
50 min · Bukhara
16:32
Chor Minorchurches & landmarks
Admire four distinctive towers of this unique mosque exterior.
50 min · Bukhara
open: M-Sa 08:00-20:00
18:30
Silk Road Tea Househistory & sagascoffee & bakes
Indulge in aromatic spices and herbal teas.
75 min · Bukhara
open: Daily 10:00-18:00
Overnight: Bukhara
e.g. Hotel Amulet · Komil Hotel
Day 5 Around Bukhara
🌡 -3.2–38.8°C · 🌧 ~3 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
09:00
Ark Citadelhistory & sagas
Walk through the historic heptagonal fortress walls and grounds.
50 min · Bukhara
open: Daily 09:00-18:00
09:50
Chashma-Ayub Mausoleumchurches & landmarks
Feel the legend of Job's spring at this ancient burial site.
50 min · Bukhara
open: Daily 09:00-20:00
10:40
Ismail Samani Mausoleumchurches & landmarks
Marvel at the elegant oldest Muslim mausoleum in Bukhara.
50 min · Bukhara
open: Daily 08:00-18:00
11:30
Namozgoh Mosquechurches & landmarks
Appreciate the rich decorations inside this historic mosque.
50 min · Bukhara
open: M-Sa 08:00-19:00
12:20
Baland Mosquechurches & landmarks
Catch a glimpse of beautiful interior decorations if open.
50 min · Bukhara
13:10
Khanaka of Faizabadchurches & landmarks
Witness the elegant arches of this still-active mosque.
50 min · Bukhara
14:00
Doston House
Savor delicious meals in a charming 19th-century guesthouse.
60 min · Bukhara
open: Daily 12:00-15:00, 18:00-21:00
Overnight: Bukhara
e.g. Hotel Amulet · Komil Hotel
Day 6 Khiva
🌡 -4.8–37.1°C · 🌧 ~2 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
14:22
Uc Avlija Mausoleumchurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Sense medieval serenity in the dome and portal of three dervishes.
50 min · Khiva
15:12
City Gateshistory & sagasstreet food
Pass through historic entrances into the fortified Ichon-Qala.
50 min · Khiva
16:02
Kalta Minorhistory & sagas
See the striking blue and green tiles of an unfinished dream.
50 min · Khiva
16:52
Pahlawan Mahmud Mausoleumchurches & landmarks
Feel inspiration from the brave in a popular pilgrim's sanctuary.
50 min · Khiva · 25,000 som
Day 7 Around Khiva
🌡 -4.8–37.1°C · 🌧 ~2 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
09:00
Kutli Murad Inak Medressalocal & traditional
Admire intricate arches and historic student cells under vast skies.
50 min · Khiva
09:50
Khan Anush Mohammed's Bathchurches & landmarks
Feel the warmth of ancient stone walls in a subterranean spa.
50 min · Khiva
10:40
Kuhna Arkchurches & landmarks
Explore centuries of khan rule in a fortress with a blue-tiled mosque.
50 min · Khiva
11:30
Mohammed Rakhim Khan Medrassah and Squaremuseums & heritage
Stand where history unfolded in a square once filled with life.
50 min · Khiva
12:20
Juma Mosquechurches & landmarks
Enter a vast historic hall with octagonal grace and tradition.
50 min · Khiva
13:10
Islam Khoja Minarethistory & sagas
Look up at a towering desert landmark visible from miles away.
50 min · Khiva · 100000 som, not included in city ticket
14:00
Khorezm Art Restaurantmuseums & heritage
Delight in exquisite local cuisine in a setting blending cultures and artistry.
60 min · Khiva · Salads at 2,000 som, soups 6,000 som, ma (price listed 2012)