12-Day Zoroastrian & Buddhist Shrines Tour in Uzbekistan
Itinerary: Tashkent – Termez – Nukus – Khiva – Bukhara – Samarkand – Tashkent
Season: All year round |
Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Discover the unique blend of
Zoroastrian heritage and
Buddhist archaeological sites in Uzbekistan.
This in-depth journey takes you from ancient Buddhist temples in
Termez to desert fortresses of
Karakalpakstan, and the Silk Road oases of
Khiva, Bukhara, and
Samarkand.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Tashkent
Arrival in
Tashkent in the afternoon/evening. Meet & greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
If time allows, short city tour:
- State History Museum of Uzbekistan
- Ming Urik ancient settlement
- Chorsu Bazaar, Independence Square, Amir Temur Square
Meals: – | Overnight: Tashkent
Day 2 – Tashkent → Termez
Morning flight to
Termez, one of Central Asia’s most important
Buddhist and
Zoroastrian centres in antiquity.
Sightseeing:
- Kokildor-Ota Khanaka (Sufi complex)
- Kyrk-Kyz Fortress
- Sultan Saodat Complex
- Zurmala Tower – ancient Buddhist stupa
- Kara-Tepe and Fayaz-Tepe Buddhist monastery sites
- Al-Hakim at-Termezi Mausoleum on the banks of the Amu Darya
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Termez
Day 3 – Termez → Tashkent
Continue exploring the
archaeological sites of Termez:
- Kampyr-Tepe fortress (Greco-Bactrian ruins)
- Jarkurgan Minaret
- View of the Surkhan Oasis and the “Friendship Bridge” on the
Uzbekistan–Afghanistan border (from a safe distance)
- Archaeological Museum of Termez
Evening flight back to
Tashkent.
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Tashkent
Day 4 – Tashkent → Nukus → Ayaz-Kala
Morning flight to
Nukus, capital of
Karakalpakstan.
Sightseeing:
- Savitsky Museum – world-famous collection of avant-garde art & ethnography
- Short tour of Nukus (Berdakh statue, City Hall, Drama Theatre)
- Drive into the desert to Ayaz-Kala yurt camp
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: Ayaz-Kala Yurt Camp
Day 5 – Desert Fortresses → Khiva
Morning exploration of the
ancient Khorezm desert fortresses:
- Gayur-Kala fortress
- Koi-Krylgan Kala
- Toprak-Kala – royal residence of ancient Khorezm
Afternoon drive to
Khiva, check-in at the hotel inside or near
Ichan-Kala – the walled old town.
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Khiva
Day 6 – Full Day in Khiva
Walking tour of
Ichan-Kala, a UNESCO World Heritage Site:
- Tash-Hauli Palace
- Kalta Minor minaret
- Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasa
- Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum
- Islam Khoja Minaret & Madrasa
- Juma Mosque
- Seyid Allauddin Mausoleum
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Khiva
Day 7 – Khiva → Bukhara
Long drive across the
Kyzylkum Desert following part of the historic
Silk Road.
En-route stop at the
Amu Darya River for panoramic views and photos.
Arrival in
Bukhara, check-in and rest.
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Bukhara
Day 8 – Bukhara Old City
Full-day city tour in the UNESCO-listed old town:
- Lyabi Hauz ensemble & Kukeldash Madrasa
- Magoki Attori Mosque
- Ancient trading domes – Toki Sarrofon, Telpak Furushon, Zargaron
- Ulugbek & Abdulazizkhan Madrasas
- Poi Kalon complex – Kalon Minaret & Mosque
- Ark Fortress
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Bukhara
Day 9 – Bukhara → Samarkand
Morning visit to:
- Sitorai Mokhi Khosa – summer palace of the last Emir of Bukhara
- Bahauddin Naqshbandi complex – important Sufi pilgrimage site
Drive towards
Samarkand with a stop at
Rabati Malik Caravanserai and ancient water reservoir.
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Samarkand
Day 10 – Samarkand Highlights
Full-day sightseeing in legendary
Samarkand:
- Gur Emir Mausoleum – tomb of Amir Temur
- Registan Square – Ulugbek, Sherdor & Tilla Kori madrasas
- Bibi Khanum Mosque
Free time for evening photography in the city.
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Samarkand
Day 11 – Samarkand → Tashkent
Morning continuation of
Samarkand city tour:
- Shahi Zinda Necropolis
- Ulughbek Observatory
- Siyob Bazaar
Afternoon high-speed train back to
Tashkent.
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Tashkent
Day 12 – Departure from Tashkent
Standard hotel check-out.
Transfer to
Tashkent International Airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour Price Per Person
| Group Size | Standard Package |
|---|
| 1 person | $XXXX |
| 2–3 persons | $XXXX |
| 4–5 persons | $XXXX |
| 6–12 persons | $XXXX |
| Single Supplement | $XXX |
* Final price depends on exact travel dates, hotel category and requested extra services.
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12-Day Zoroastrian & Buddhist Shrines Tour in Uzbekistan
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