A large, ornately decorated building with a domed roof and intricate patterns, featuring arches and a minaret, against a twilight sky.

Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan: A Silk Road Journey

Asia

14 Days

From $7,595

Moderate

Book Now

Overview

Evocative and timeless, the fabled Silk Road weaves together a tapestry of cultures and civilizations. Join adventure-spirited women for a dazzling in-depth journey through Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and marvel at the architectural splendor that speaks of conquest and untold prosperity—blue-domed mosques, intricately-tiled madrassahs, gold-gilded mausoleums, and elegant minarets. From Samarkand’s scale-defying Registan Square to the walled sandcastle town of Khiva and Bukhara’s 10th-century urban heart… And from the pageantry of Kyrgyz nomadic costumes to remote village hospitality in the Chon-Kemin Valley, expect to be awed—and moved. Along the way, forge special connections with the local people—suzani embroidery artists, renowned ceramicists, poetry performers, archaeologists, and chefs—each offering a silken strand tied to millennia of precious traditions.

Main Attractions

Silk Road Highlights and Delights

Follow this legendary ancient trade route to the wondrous cities, grand scale monuments, and bustling bazaars that echo the long and fascinating history of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Breathtaking Architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Explore exquisite palaces, massive walled fortresses, and bejeweled mosques, madrassahs, and minarets.

Tradition, Craft, and Cuisine

Engage with renowned ceramicists, Suzani embroidery masters, archaeologists, and bakers and chefs as you dine on traditional foods, hear a performance of epic poetry, and witness the pageantry of exquisite Kyrgyz nomadic costumes.

Map showing travel routes in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan with airplanes and bus icons connecting cities like Tashkent, Bishkek, Samarkand, and Bukhara.

Itinerary

Five women sitting at a restaurant table with partially eaten meals, smiling at the camera. The background is decorated with string lights.

Welcome to Uzbekistan!

Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to your hotel. Enroute, drive along tree-lined boulevards fronted by large 20th-century buildings that recall earlier Soviet times—a striking contrast to the city’s legendary history and rich cultural lore. Meet your delightful guide and gather with fellow travelers for a trip briefing and introductions all around. Continue to a local restaurant for your first sampling of Central Asia’s unique flavors at your Welcome Dinner.

Meals dinner

A group of eight smiling people holding certificates pose with a chef in a kitchen setting.

Experience Tashkent’s Cross-Section of History and Enjoy a Cooking Class

Begin your city explorations with a walk among the monuments in Independence Park, and take a ride on the city’s subway, famous for its unique artistic details. Step into the colorful chaos of Chorsu Bazaar and observe the workings of a traditional tandoor bread bakery. Visit the six-generation Rakhimov ceramics studio, then join a local chef for a lively cooking class and lunch. Marvel at the stunning domed architecture of vast Khast-Imam Square, the city’s spiritual heart, and in the adjacent library, view the Uthman Quran, believed to be the oldest in the world.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner

Seven people standing in front of a building with intricate blue and white tile work and a wooden door.

Flight to Khiva, Explore the Palace, Fortress, and Mosques

An early morning flight brings you to magical Khiva. As you approach this walled wonder, it’s easy to imagine yourself astride a camel in a caravan more than 700 years ago. Pass through the heavy wooden gate, one of three that leads into Ichon-Qala, the inner city, and begin your exploration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Follow the winding lanes between sand-colored buildings with their unique facades. Admire the forest of ancient carved wooden pillars inside the Juma Mosque, explore the fortress of Kunya Ark, the brilliantly painted harem rooms at the Tash-Hauli Palace, and the exquisite blue-and-white-tiled mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, Khiva’s patron saint.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner

Three women smiling at a dining table with a large round bread, a plate of peaches, and a bowl of watermelon slices. Elegant chairs and curtains in the background.

Mahalla Community and Cooking Lesson with Local Family

Drive to a nearby traditional neighborhood, mahalla, and spend the morning with a welcoming family at their small village farm. Stroll through the bountiful fruit orchard, visit the bread room and learn about tandoor baking, and join the women of the family for a delightful step-by-step lesson in making the local traditional dish, Shivit Oshi, hand-cut noodles infused with fresh dill. After a delicious lunch in the family home, return to Khiva for the afternoon on your own—perhaps walk the city walls for stunning views!

Meals breakfast, lunch

Sunset view of an ancient brick building with turquoise domes and intricate archways, surrounded by a courtyard and distant cityscape.

Overland Drive to Bukhara, Dinner with Folkloric Music and Dance

Begin a long day’s drive early this morning down the highway that literally follows the old Silk Road to the ancient, and once-walled, city of Bukhara. A green oasis with a small lake at its heart, the UNESCO World Heritage city is a 2,000-year-old showcase of monuments, madrassahs, and mosques. Settle into your hotel and walk through the old center for dinner in a former private home, accompanied by musicians playing ancient instruments and a dazzling display of folk dances and costumes.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner

Group of eight people standing in front of a market stall displaying various goods, holding small cups and smiling.

Bukhara Highlights: Puppeteer Studio, Zindan Prison, Chor Minor Mosque, Silk Carpet Gallery

With Silk Road reminders at every turn, experience Bukhara’s highlights and meet a few of its renowned artisans, from a remarkable Uzbek puppet creator to a saffron specialist and knife designer. Step into an infamous torture chamber at Zindan Prison, then follow an expert archaeologist through the massive Ark Citadel, once a city within a city. Enter a gallery of stunning hand-woven rugs and watch the painstaking process of traditional hand loom weaving. Visit the Chor Minor Mosque with its four minarets, each unique in design, and the extraordinary Samani Mausoleum, completed in 905 CE and considered a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.

Meals breakfast, lunch

Three people display an exceptionally long, colorful dress with intricate patterns, standing against a backdrop of ornate architectural details.

Suzani Embroidery Workshop, Train to Samarkand

Venture outside Bukhara this morning to a private home and workshop/gallery where a multi-generational family specializes in the art of suzani, Central Asia’s richly colored textile embroidery created from the silk of locally raised cocoons. Return to Bukhara for lunch and head to the train station for the high-speed trip to Samarkand.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner

Ornate interior of an intricately decorated mosque dome, featuring gold and blue patterns with a central chandelier and arched windows.

Samarkand Exploration: Registan Square, Siab Bazaar, Shah-i-Zinda complex, Dance Troupe Performance

The near-legendary city of Samarkand marked the junction of China and India’s trade routes and became the cultural crossroads of the Silk Road. It was also the chosen capital of Amir Timur’s (Tamerlane) empire. Spend the day exploring the exquisite Islamic architecture, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Registan Square’s breathtaking madrassahs; the gold-gilt interior of Gur-Emir Mausoleum; and the Shah-i-Zinda complex, an ancient stone street lined with individual mausoleums, whose blue and green tiled exteriors shine brilliantly in the sun. Wander among the busy spice and produce stalls of the Siab Bazaar and take in a cultural performance by the El Meorsi Dance Troupe.

Meals breakfast, lunch

A person wearing a cap and sunglasses stands on a dirt path near a stone house. Hilly terrain and scattered buildings are visible in the background.

Ohalik Mountain Village Hike, Samarkand Family Bakery Visit, Train to Tashkent

Drive southward to the village of Ohalik, surrounded by stark mountainous terrain and a favorite starting point for hikers. Enjoy tea with a local family, then set out for a leisurely hike along rolling packed dirt roads, leading to a lovely riverside campground. On the way back to Samarkand, stop at a local family-run bakery for a traditional tandoor bread-making lesson, savoring the warm round loaves with butter and honey afterwards. Catch an afternoon high-speed train back to Tashkent and enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner

People selling and buying dried fruits, nuts, and beans at a market stall. There are large baskets filled with various colorful items.

Fly to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Dinner with a Local Entrepreneur

After a leisurely morning, depart Tashkent for your flight to Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek. Backdropped by the scenic peaks of the Ala-Too Mountains, the city was a major trading center along the northern Silk Road coming from China. Check into your hotel, then set out for dinner in a traditional local restaurant with your Kyrgyz guide. You’ll be joined by an engaging woman educator who shares her story as a founder of a local NGO.

Meals breakfast, dinner

A marching band in military uniforms performs outdoors with various instruments, including tubas, saxophones, and a drum, on a paved area with buildings and trees in the background.

Explore Bishkek: Ala-Too Square, Oak Park, Manas Monument, National History Museum

Learn about Kyrgyzstan’s fascinating recent history on a guided walk from Victory Square, with its impressionistic yurt-shaped World War II monument, through shady Oak Park, and into Ala-Too Square, hallmarked by a huge bronze statue of the country’s mythical hero, Manas. The outstanding State History Museum illustrates Kyrgyz life and art from Nomadic times to the Soviet era, and the kaleidoscopic wares of Osh Bazaar reflect its eastern origins. Enjoy a truly unique cultural experience at the Supara Ethno Complex, from traditional foods and musicto a dazzling presentation of women’s nomadic fashions, including the elaborate turban-like headdress, the elechek.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner

Two women are sitting at a table inside a colorful yurt, smiling and holding bowls. The table has finished dishes and drinks.

Bishkek to Chon-Kemin: Burana Tower, Traditional Lunch at a Family Home, Arrive Tarsuu Village, Experience a Kyrgyz Wedding Ceremony

Drive eastward toward the soaring peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains and stop to explore, and climb, the 11th-century Burana Tower— a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the last remaining watchtowers along the Kyrgyz Silk Road. Continue to the Don-Aryk village where a warm welcome and delicious traditional meal awaits inside a richly decorated yurt. Civilization fades as you drive through the Chon-Kemin Valley to your guesthouse, surrounded by breathtaking views. Join in the festivities and experience a traditional Krygyz wedding ceremony in a lovely nearby garden.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner

Three people on horseback cross a rocky stream in a grassy, mountainous landscape under a clear blue sky.

Chon-Kemin to Bishkek: Horseback Ride, Felt Design, Traditional Cooking Lesson, Yurt Building

Wake up to the crisp air of the valley and set out for an optional horseback ride, or leisurely village walk. Meet the women who proudly demonstrate their handmade felt work (a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage), and learn how to prepare two Kyrgyz specialties, beshbarmak (a meat and noodle dish) and boorsok, mini fried dough balls eaten with fresh jam. Watch the assembling of a traditional nomadic yurt, from its round skeletal frame to the weather-defying felt-wrapped walls, roof, and doorway. Drive back to Bishkek and prepare for your Farewell Dinner, toasting to many wonderful memories in the company of new friends.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner

Four women stand together holding wine glasses and smiling in a warmly lit room with wooden floors and furniture.

Transfer to the Airport for Your Flight Homeward

Leave the splendors of Central Asia and depart Bishkek at any time today. One group transfer is provided; private transfers can be arranged for an additional fee.

Meals breakfast

Three women in traditional purple attire perform a cultural dance in an ornate courtyard, with musicians playing in the background.

Accommodations

Please note that all amenities were current when written and are subject to change at any time.

Outdoor pool with a clear blue surface reflecting a multi-story building with balconies and large windows, surrounded by trees and a neatly paved area.

Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace

This centrally located hotel is large, elegant, and blends European charm with Central Asian accents. Guestrooms are airy and serene, facing either the lovely courtyard and pool or the Opera House and park.

AMENITIES: complimentary toiletries, minibar, bottled water, safe, flatscreen TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning

A hotel corridor with wooden railings and columns overlooks a central courtyard surrounded by two-story buildings featuring numerous windows with decorative wooden details.

Zarafshon Boutique Hotel

Built just inside the ancient walls of Khiva, this boutique hotel is decorated with carved wood and gold gilding. Rooms open inward to a covered tiled courtyard, and a rooftop deck showcases city views. Walk out the front door and all of Khiva is easily accessible on foot.

AMENITIES: complimentary toiletries, Wi-Fi, air conditioning

A tall, modern office building with large windows and trees in the foreground.

Devon Hotel

The Devon hotel is ideally situated just a short walk to Hodja Nasreddin and near the historic Maghak-i ‘Attari Mosque in Bukhara. It offers 31 rooms equipped with modern amenities and guests can enjoy views of the town from their rooms. The hotel is also close to attractions like the Lyabi Hauz Pool and Mousoleum Chasma Ayub Mausoleum.

AMENITIES: complementary toiletries, hair dryer, coffee/tea maker, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, Wi-Fi

A three-story brick hotel with a red roof and arched blue windows, set against a partly cloudy sky, with trees and a lamp in the foreground.

Hotel Grand Samarkand Superior

Opened in 2012, the lovely four-star Hotel Grand Samarkand Superior features traditional decor, a nice restaurant serving regional delicacies, a fitness center and sauna.

AMENITIES: complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, minibar, safe, flatscreen TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning

A modern Novotel hotel building with large windows and an overcast sky in the background.

Novotel Bishkek City Center

This large, spacious international hotel is centrally located and caters to every comfort. The rooms are modern, the lobby includes private sitting corners, and the bar is large and lively.

AMENITIES: complimentary toiletries, bathrobes, hair dryer, minibar, electric kettle, coffee / tea maker, bottled water, flatscreen TV, cable / satellite TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioner

A wooden building with large windows is surrounded by a garden of vibrant pink and red flowers under a clear blue sky.

Kemin Guesthouse

Set in a remote valley surrounded by stunning mountain views, this simple but comfortable guesthouse is the perfect spot for experiencing local life—and beautiful sunsets! Airy rooms, a dining room with handmade wooden furnishings, and a large deck add to the community feel of Kemin.

Amenities: complimentary toiletries, Wi-Fi

What People Are Saying

On every AdventureWomen trip there are so many things to do, see, eat, experience. And for those women who want to take a rest day, that’s available too. It’s a perfect balance. Please offer this trip again!

What People Are Saying

Traveling with AdventureWomen provided me with unique opportunities not available with other companies. For instance, the face-to-face open conversations with women from Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan would not have happened with other itineraries.

What People Are Saying

Traveling with AdventureWomen was an empowering experience. From the moment we set off, I felt a sense of camaraderie and support among the group. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, offering a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion. I made lifelong friends and created memories that I will cherish forever.

Dates & Pricing

Start Date	End Date	Availability	Pricing	Booking Link
Aug 30	Sep 12	Space Available	$7,595*	Select Room Standard Room, Single $8,595 total, $800 deposit Book Now Standard Room, Double $7,595 total, $800 deposit Book Now

*Additional Pricing Information: 2025 Optional Single Accommodation: $1,000

Start Date	End Date	Availability	Pricing	Booking Link
Aug 29	Sep 11	Space Available	$7,795*	Call for Availability

*Additional Pricing Information: 2026 Optional Single Accommodation: $1,100

Arrival: Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (TAS) before 4:00 PM today.

Departure: Depart Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (FRU) any time today. One group transfer is provided today; private transfers can be arranged for an additional fee.

What's Included

Accommodations as per itinerary based on double occupancy
All meals as listed in the itinerary
All ground transportation
One group transfer on arrival and departure
Guided sightseeing and activities as indicated in the itinerary
Drinking water available in large jugs to refill personal bottles
All gratuities except for the main guide
Domestic airfare

What's Not Included

International airfare to Tashkent and from Bishkek
Optional activities
Meals not specified in the itinerary
Alcoholic beverages (unless otherwise specified)
Fees for photography inside museums
Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, or travel insurance
Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
Items of a personal nature
Gratuities for head guide

FAQs

Absolutely! We happily welcome all women as long as you are physically capable of doing the activities on your chosen trip. Our guests range from 18-85+! It is important to us to talk to each guest to make sure each woman chooses the right trip for her physical ability and interest.

You can process your registration on our online booking system or over the phone. Most deposits are $800. In many cases, and unless otherwise indicated, your deposit is transferable if you notify us in writing 120 before your trip departs.

Be sure to check the ‘What’s Included’ section of the trip you are interested in. Once you get to the departure city and meet the group, we often include most meals, all accommodations, all activities (although there might be an optional activity at an additional cost), transportation while on the adventure, qualified local guide(s) and some trips also include an AdventureWomen Ambassador. Our trips do not include airfare to/from the arrival and departure cities. However, internal flights are included in some itineraries so please read the itinerary carefully.

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it! Many of the women who travel with AdventureWomen come solo. For those that do not choose a single supplement, we pair you with a roommate. Usually, when we change accommodations on a trip, we will change roommates if we can, so you get a chance to know others in our group. A limited number of single supplements may be available for an additional charge.

That depends entirely on the trip! AdventureWomen adventure travel trips are rated according to the physical fitness level demanded by the included activities.

Moderate: These adventures exercise your mind more than your body and are designed for women who prefer a leisurely, less rigorous experience. For example, you could walk up to 2 miles per day through cities and villages, stand in museums for a few hours, relax on a boat, or view wildlife from a vehicle.
Active: Adventures that get you on your feet! You should be in good physical condition where you are comfortable walking on uneven surfaces, such as cobblestone streets, biking manicured nature trails or kayaking calm waters.
High Energy: These adventures are designed for women who enjoy a physical challenge and crave being on the go! You should be prepared for itineraries that include (but are not limited to): a full day of biking on a rolling terrain, hiking 5-8 miles on moderate to steep trails, being active at high altitudes, whitewater rafting, or skiing.
Challenging: Adventures that get your heart rate pumping, these are demanding yet deeply rewarding and designed for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. You should be in excellent physical condition, and be able to hike up to 10 miles, in steeper, more rugged terrain.

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Person walking down a narrow blue-painted street with potted plants lining the walls.

Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan: A Silk Road Journey