A Culinary Journey Through Uzbekistan’s Silk Road Cities
A quiet, food-led journey through Uzbekistan’s storied cities, shaped by markets, home kitchens, and the steady rhythm of Silk Road life.
Trip Overview
Description:
The Experience
This journey follows the old caravan routes at an unhurried pace, pausing for time in kitchens, courtyards and markets. It’s a trip where recipes carry as much history as monuments, and where each city reveals itself through the everyday rituals of cooking, gathering and sharing meals.
You move from Tashkent’s wide boulevards to Samarkand’s blue-tiled avenues, then on to Bukhara’s shaded squares and Khiva’s desert-wrapped old town. Along the way, families open their doors, artisans keep long-practised skills alive, and the cadence of local life sets the tone.
Who This Trip Is For
This journey suits travellers who enjoy learning about a place through its food, craft and lived traditions rather than fast sightseeing. It’s for those who appreciate small groups, slow meals, and conversations with people who call these cities home.
It may feel too measured for travellers who prefer a packed, high-energy itinerary or those who want luxury-first travel. Here, the richness lies in simplicity and presence.
Highlights
Day 1 — Arrival in Tashkent
You are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is left free to rest and ease into the city after your flight.
Day 2 — Old Tashkent & a Family Cooking Session
After breakfast, explore Tashkent’s older quarters: the Hazrati Imam complex, the Barakhan Madrasah, and the Applied Arts Museum, where domestic design from earlier centuries is still preserved with care.
A short metro ride reveals stations known for their sculptural detail. Later, visit Chorsu or Alay market to buy ingredients for a home-cooked plov. Lunch is prepared and shared in a family courtyard. The evening is open, with the option to attend a performance at the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Day 3 — Tashkent to Samarkand by Train
An early breakfast before boarding the fast train to Samarkand. On arrival, visit Gur-e-Amir, Registan Square, the Bibi Khanym Mosque and the Siab Bazaar, where you gather produce for an evening cooking session with a local family.
Together, you prepare lagman and somsa, ending the day with dinner in a private home.
Day 4 — Mountain Village & Samarkand Traditions
Travel to Urgut, a mountain village known for its suzani embroidery. After time at the local bazaar, return to Samarkand for a visit to Konigil village and the silk paper workshop, where traditional methods are still used.
A second cooking session introduces regional dishes such as Samarkand non or nohat shorak, prepared slowly in the company of your hosts.
Day 5 — Samarkand to Bukhara
After breakfast, board the Afrosiyob train to Bukhara. The afternoon is unstructured, allowing time to settle into the old city at your own pace.
Day 6 — Bukhara’s Outskirts & an Evening of Local Culture
A half-day visit takes you to the Summer Palace, Sitorai Mokhi Khosa, and the Bahauddin Naqshbandi Shrine. In the afternoon, return to the city for a wine tasting at the Kukeldash Madrasah.
Later, attend a music and dance performance at Nadir Divan-Beg madrasah, where the setting — arches, courtyards, soft lighting — adds to the atmosphere.
Day 7 — Desert Crossing to Khiva
Drive across the Kyzylkum Desert towards Khiva, stopping by the Amu Darya river for a simple fried fish meal. Arrive by mid-afternoon and settle into your hotel within the old city walls.
In the evening, walk through Khiva’s mosques, palaces and madrasahs before joining a cooking session dedicated to Khorezm dishes such as tuhum barak and shivit osh. Dinner is accompanied by local music and dance.
Day 8 — Khiva to Tashkent
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Tashkent. The rest of the day is free for unhurried shopping or one final walk through the city before your onward journey.
Inclusions
Hotel accommodation in 3-star and boutique hotels
Twin/double rooms with breakfast
Transportation by coach
Local guide throughout
Entrance fees
Train and domestic flight tickets
Drinking water daily
Cooking sessions with all ingredients
Dinners in family homes
Wine tastings in Samarkand and Bukhara
Local music and dance shows in Bukhara and Khiva
Exclusions
International flights
Visa fees (if applicable)
Travel insurance
Meals not mentioned
Personal expenses and tips
Request Add On Services
Extend Your Stay
Add nights, add cities, slow the pace, linger longer.
Milestone Moments
Birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, planned to your brief.
Private Experiences
Art, culture, cuisine, and special access, arranged for you.
Tailored Requests
Dietary needs, accessibility, preferences, and thoughtful touches.
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