On arrival in Samarkand or Tashkent International airport, transfer to your hotel to rest before your afternoon explorations of the city. Visit the old town: Barak Khana Seminary, TilaShaikh mosque and their archives. Continue to Chorsu bazaar, the oldest market in Tashkent and Kukeldash Madrassah. Attend a workshop of a famous ceramist family, Akbar and Alisher Rakhimov, where you will learn about the history of ceramics before enjoying a tea ceremony with freshly baked sweets and pastries just for you.

This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Nukus, visiting the Igor Savitskiy Museum, home to one of the finest collections of Soviet avant-garde art from the 1920s and 30s. The museum has an impressive collection of Soviet Realism and a surprisingly large collection of works by well-known European masters. Later drive 15 km from Nukus to visit Mizdahkan complex of historical monuments located on three hills. The west hill is crowned with the ruins of Gyaur-Kala Fortress, while the eastern hill hosts the oldest Central Asian necropolis.

After breakfast drive to Khiva, visiting ancient fortresses en route. Chalpikkala – the Tower of Silence. You will then visit Kizil Kala Fortress, built in the 1st or 2nd centuries AD. It was occupied until the 4th century and then abandoned. You will continue further to Toprak Kala fortress, an excavated town dating back to the 1st to 5th century, and considered the most important monument on Khorezm from the Kushan time. Lastly you will visit Ayaz Kala, which is considered one of the biggest forts in Karakalpakstan. The site consists of three fortresses which were built from the 4th century BC to the 7th century AD, before arriving in Khiva.

Khiva is a town made for walking. It is compact, well maintained, lived in, and basks in beautiful desert light. Explore this ancient city today with leisurely sightseeing for 4-5 hours on foot. Visit Kukhna Ark Fortress, the turquoise-tiled Islom-Khodja, the mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud. These are all located within the walled inner town called the Itchan Kala, which was the first site in Uzbekistan to achieve recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage listed site in 1990. Later visit Madrassah Rakhimkhon where studies in religion, astronomy, geography and mathematics took place, the Kalta Minor Minaret and the 19th century Tash Hauli Palace decorated in fine china blue tile work.

Today you will set out for Bukhara across the famous KyzylKum desert ('Red sands'). It is a long drive, taking between 7-8 hours. The route you will travel is more or less the same path that the Great Silk Road followed across desert. There will be several photo stops made to capture the flora and fauna, as well as a stop on the banks of the Amudarya River (the fabled 'Oxus' of Antiquity). Arrive in Bukhara.

Today explore the many interesting sites within this incredible city of Bukhara, one of the most famous names of ancient Islam. Gaze at the unique and legend filled Poi Kalon Minaret, explore the Ark Fortress of Bukhara and visit the Bolo Hauz Mosque. Lunch will be at the house of one of the best suzani makers, visiting his workshop and participating in a cooking class of traditional 'ploy' – cooked with mutton and rice and large quantities of carrots and onions.

After breakfast continue sightseeing of Bukhara with an out-of-town excursion to visit the Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of the former emir, showing a unique mixture of traditional Russian style architecture harmoniously mixed with local oriental traditions. Continue to Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausolem of the famous Sufi spiritual leader. In the afternoon transfer to the railway station for the train to Samarkand.

Today, explore some of the most significant sites in Samarkand and its city centre, seeing the famous Registan Square, the three beautiful madrassahs: the Ulug-Bek Madrasah built in 15th century; the Tillya-Kori Madrasah built in 17th century; the Sher-Dor Madrasah, also built in 17th century. Visit Gur Emir - mausoleum of Great Tamerlane. Later see the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times - the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum, the Silk Road bazaar and ShahiZinda necropolis. Enjoy wine tasting at Khovrenko Winery with a visit to the museum.

This morning you will travel the 2 hours to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of the Great Amir Timur (Tamerlane), located approximately 80km south of Samarkand. Explore the city, visiting sites such as the remnants of Ak-Sarai Palace, Dorus Tilavat cemetery and Kok-Gumbas Mosque. Continue onto the Plateau of Devils an extensive plateau of granite slabs looking like sculptures of demons and monsters. Return to Samarkand.

Today we continue exploring Samarkand to visit Ulugbek’s observatory, constructed by Ulugbek (Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Visit the ancient settlement of Afrosiab, situated on the spurs of Chupan-Ata hills to the north-east of present-day Samarkand. According to the legend, it was here, on the banks of the river Siab, that the Turanian king and hero Afrosiab, a character of the folk epic ‘Shahnama’, founded the town that became the capital of Sogdiana. Late afternoon transfer to train station to catch your train to Tashkent.

After breakfast check-out of your hotel and transfer to Tashkent or Samarkand International airport for your onward flight.