From €2,047
Destination:
Uzbekistan
Available from:
10 March 2023
Available to:
30 October 2023
from:
Paris + 7 cities
Duration:
9 nights
Travellers:
1 to 6
Meal plan:
full board
Star rating:
high-standard
Transport  Transfer  Guide  Visit  Suitable for families  Perfect for couples 

The Turkic country of Uzbekistan (also known as the Republic of Uzbekistan) is a landlocked region in Central Asia. This ancient country owes its multicultural heritage to the rule of multiple empires through the centuries and gained notoriety as a Silk Road trading hub. The Silk Road was a 6,400 kilometre-network of land and sea routes that facilitated trade between the East and the West in the 15th century. Travel back in time and enjoy an 11-day, 9-night tour in a country that celebrates its historical past. A French-speaking guide will accompany you on an intimate journey through Uzbekistan from arrival to departure (from Tashkent airport, in the city’s capital). Tour highlights include: superb accommodation (the area is known for its hospitality), visits to major tourist attractions (public squares, madrasas, mausoleums, mosques, fortresses, archaeological remains, historical monuments, museums, palaces, markets…), insightful interactions with locals (meals at local homes) and other exciting activities (including wine and liquor tasting at the Khovrenko Winery; a visit to a local silk paper factory, lunch at a yurt, traditional dance shows etc).

Your itinerary includes several stops at a number of Uzbek cities (Urgench, Khiva, Bukhara, Shahrisabz). It will be followed by a trek across the mesmerizing red sands of the Kyzylkum Desert, also home to the karakul sheep (hardy sheep infamous for their curly black coats and ability to survive harsh conditions) before reaching your final destination, the city of Samarkand (nicknamed the Crossroads of Cultures). This mythical city, located on the historic Silk Road, is renowned for its mosques, mausoleums and, most importantly, the ornate Registan (a public square whose name translates to “sandy palace” in Persian).

Enjoy an 11-day, 9-night stay from €2,047 per person. Non-contractual information as of 25 September 2023.

 

Departures available from: Lyon, Brussels, Geneva, Marseille, Nice, Paris and Toulouse.


Gallery

  • This tour, off the beaten track, offers travellers a unique oriental experience.
  • This small, guided group tour offers an intimate look at the historical and cultural sites of Central Asia’s caravan cities.
  • Local transfers are included in the prices, including your flights from Tashkent to Urgench and rail travel from Bukhara to Samarkand and from Samarkand to Tashkent.
  • The infamous Silk Road facilitated trade between the East and the West and stretched from Rome to China. Very few travellers have travelled the route in its entirety, due to the rapid exchange of goods. It is, however, estimated that a round trip will take approximately 2 years.
  • Uzbekistan declared its independence from the Soviets in 1991. 10 years later the city of Samarkand, nicknamed the ‘Crossroad of Culture’, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Flanked by three impressive madrasas (theological schools and Islamic universities), Registan was built in Samarkand between the 14th and 16th-century, with the intention of serving as a public square in order to herald royal announcements. The prestigious madrasas offered religious teaching as well as astronomy and mathematical sciences.
  • You are eligible for a full refund should your trip be affected by Covid-19 restrictions.
  • This tour can accommodate up to 6 people but requires a minimum of 2 travellers. The inclusion of additional excursions can be scheduled, upon request.
  • No visas are required to travel to Uzbekistan, should your stay be shorter than 30 days. Your passport should, however, be valid for at least 3 months from the intended date of arrival.