April 8-April 23, 2026
(booking up to date: 2 people)
The Golden Silk Road, Textiles of Uzbekistan is a 15-day trip to explore the historical and textile attraction centers of Uzbekistan, one of the many important junction points of the Great Silk Road. The trip encompasses not only historical sites to be seen and examined but also numerous in-person cultural encounters and interactions, as well as several lectures from History and Textile professionals, hidden treasures of textile production, and private collections.
Samarkand in Silk Road Days
We are going to contact you very soon via beyondeniz@gmail.com
The itinerary
Day 1- April 8, Wednesday, Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, private transfer to your hotel for a rest, and check-in at our Hotel.
Day 2- April 9, Thursday, Tashkent
Museum of Applied Arts, Tashkent
We will have a welcome breakfast in a Restaurant. After breakfast, we will have an orientation meeting about the general aspects of the tour. We will have a short drive into the Town and a morning visit to the Applied Art Museum, which contains a good number of textiles of silk Suzanis, Metallic embroideries, Pottery from all around, wood art, and samples of Ikats, etc. After lunch, we will visit the Uzbekistan History Museum. Our Turkish group leader, Deniz Coskun, will add some comments on the KARLUK Turkic group, which is one of the main divisions of Turks in Central Asia, as well as the Oghuz Division. After a break at the hotel, we will have our welcome Dinner at Cafe 1991, and overnight at our hotel in Tashkent.
Day 3- April 10, Friday, Fergana
Departure for Kokand City, with a 5-hour train journey. We will arrive at Arrival at Kokand early afternoon and will have lunch at Orda restaurant. We will visit Khudayar Khan Palace, the Authentic palace of the last Uzbek Khanate, remaining from the 19th century. We will see the Juma Masjid & Khalva workshop (optional, according to the time allowance). In the afternoon, we will depart for Rishtan, the famous town hosting one of the classical national Uzbek ceramic styles. 1.5 hours of driving. We will visit Alisher Ceramics Workshop and participate in a master class, where we will observe the classical Uzbek rural ceramic production method. Dinner at Alisher’s. After dinner, we will depart for the Hotel 777 at Fergana town with 1.5 hours of driving, check-in, and overnight at the 777 Fergana Hotel.
Khudayar Khan’s Palace, Kokand
Day 4- April 11, Saturday, Margilan, Fergana
Departure to Margilan, the Ikat capital of Uzbekistan distant by 15 minutes. We will meet our local textile expert, Aziz, who is at the same time one of the most talented ikat producers in the area, who produces his ikats with natural dyes. We’ll visit Qumtepe Bazaar, a local market full of cultural and personal interactions, and visit some artisans’ stands, which our local guide, Aziz, will introduce us to. We will stop by a suzani embroiderer and carpet weaver lady in her house/workshop, examine her crafts, and talk about the importance of women in the crafts world of Uzbekistan. Lunch at z local Cafe. After lunch, Aziz will show us how to make natural dyes for ikats in his workshop. Later on, he will take us to a Bahmal (Uzbek velvet) in a house in a nearby village. We will be at Aziz’s house to see the various rare, naturally dyed ikat types. Dinner at the hotel 777 at Fegana (15 minutes’ drive). Overnight at Hotel 777.
Bahmal Velvet production, Margilan
Adrass style Ikat production
Day 5- April 12, Sunday, Margilan, Fergana
We will begin our day with a short route, a 30-minute drive, to Yadgorlik, the old Russian silk weaving factory with retro vibes. Then we will be in the Madrasa of Fergana, a meeting point with a textile specialist. We will have lunch at Traktir and rest a little bit before happy hour at the hotel. In the late afternoon, we will visit a very special point, the semi-state Weaving center/Museum, with dozens of Ikat and silk carpet weavers and a museum with all stages of textile production. Dinner at the garden of the museum, overnight at Hotel 777, Fergana
Silk extraction in Margilan
The pattern creation process of Ikat fabrics, Margilan
Day 6- April 13, Monday, Tashkent
After checking out of the Hotel 777, we will make a long journey of 5 hours to Tashkent, with minivans. After having lunch at Afsona, we will rest at the hotel. Dinner at Actor. Check in and Overnight in our hotel in Tashkent.
Day 7- April 14, Tuesday, Nukus
We will have a very early wake-up at 04:00, and check out and departure at 04:30. We will drive to the Tashkent airport for 30 minutes. We will fly to Nukus (07:15 am-08:55 am), the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous inner state of the Uzbekistan Republic. After check-in and breakfast at Jipek Joli Hotel, we will visit the Savitsky Museum and the National History Museum of Karakalpakstan. Deniz Coşkun will give a speech about the Karakalpak Turkic people. We will have our lunch at Sofram, the Turkish Restaurant. Then, a 1-hour drive to Shimbay, the old village where we will meet and see Yurt-Okuy/qorouy builders. Return to the hotel for a break, and our dinner will take place at Terasse Garden Restaurant, overnight at Jipek Joli.
Krakalpak National Dress, Savitsky Museum
Karakalpak Yurt Tent maker, Nukus, photo courtesy David Richardson
Karakalpak Yurt, photo courtesy David Richardson
Day 8- April 15, Wednesday, Khiva
After checking out from Jipek Joli, we will make a morning visit to the largest cemetery in Central Asia, called MIZDAK KHAN, with a 30-minute drive. We will listen to stories of amazing, interesting types of Tombs from ancient ages to the present day. We will visit the shrine of Prophet Shimun, one of the biblical prophets. continue to drive to KHIVA in the KHOREZM Area, which will take 4 hours in the desert. Lunch in mid-way. We will arrive at mid-afternoon and rest in the hotel before walking around in OLD town, which is a UNESCO heritage site. Dinner in at Ayvon restaurant and Overnight at ZARAFSHAN Hotel.
Khiva City at night
Ichan Kala Citadel, Khiva
Kalta Minaret of Khiva
Day 9- April 16, Thursday, Khiva
This day is dedicated to the historical sites of the Old Khiva, the UNESCO-PROTECTED medieval city. We will visit the historical monuments of Kalta Minaret, and Juma mosque, have an appointment in Madrahim Silk Carpet Weaving Center, and visit Tash Hovlu Palace. We will have lunch at Birgunbaz restaurant, and continue our tour wth Mahmud Pahlavan shrine, where we will talk about old Turkic religious practices and shamanism. Qozi Kalon Madrassah – Museum of Musical Art, Shir Gazi Khan madrasa, and Islam khoja madrasah will be other sites to see. Dinner at Zarafshon, overnight at Zarafshon hotel.
Day 10- April 17, Friday, Bukhara
We will check out from Zarafshon to depart for Bukhara with a drive of 6 hours in the desert. Our lunch will be in a restaurant in the desert. Stop by near the Amu Darya River dividing Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan territories. We will check in at the Hotel Mercure, rest a little bit, and have a happy hour at the hotel (maybe a local jewelry producer visit). Dinner at Mercure Hotel.
Bolo Haus Mosque, early 18th century, Bukhara
Bukhara suzani detail with chain stitch
Silk carpet in the weaving stage
Bukhara Synagogue
Day 11-April 18, Saturday, Bukhara
Our first visit of the day will be to Ismail Samani Mausoleum, one of the oldest Muslim mausoleums in the area. Then we will see the prophet Job’s fountain, where it is believed that he was healed from his heavy disease. We will have lunch at Aladdin’s Lamp, a local cafe. In the afternoon, we will visit the Bolo Hause Mosque, and the Ark Palace, the ruling palace of Bukhara Khans for centuries. We will visit Rushan’s house, where his family makes incredibly beautiful suzanis. Dinner at Zaitoon, overnight in Mercure Hotel.
Day 12-April 19, Sunday, Bukhara
We begin our day with a visit to the Sitorai Mahi Palace, with a 20-minute drive. The palace has exquisite collections of suzanis, Adrass, plates, and clothing/accessories. Then we will come back to the city center and visit the Minar Kalon Mosque and Square. Trade Domes that we will see are attraction centers of traditional crafts, and also we will visit the Bukhara Synagogue and talk about Judaism in Central Asia. We will have lunch in Andara before we pass by Nadir, a young Tajik carpet/textile collector/reseller. A visit to Akbar’s house and art gallery is a very special occasion, the best textile art gallery in the country. W Dinner at Ayvon, overnight at Mercure.
Kalon Minar Square, Bukhara
A Textile Art Gallery, Bukhara
Day 13- April 20, Monday, Samarqand
After the Check-out from the Mercure, we will begin our journey to Samarkand with a drive of 6 hours. After arriving at Samarqand, the second biggest city in the country, we will have lunch at Oasis Garden and visit Registon Square with 3 famous madrasas: Ulugh Beg, Tilla Kari, and Sherdor Madrasas constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries, which are very attractive points for local and Uzbek national handcrafts, like Suzani, mosaic-ceramic art. A little local musical performance will be waiting for us, then we will see Bibi Khanom Mosque, constructed in the 15th century. Bibi Khanom is Tamerlane’s Chinese-originated wife. Check in at Kosh House Hotel, Dinner at Emirhan, overnight at Kosh House.
Tillakari Madrasah, constructed in the 17th century, Samarqand
Ulugh Bek Observatory constructed in the 15th century, Samarqand
A scene from the National Culture Museum, Samarqand
Day 14- April 21, Tuesday, Samarqand
For today, we will begin our excursion with a visit to the Amir Timur (Tamerlane) Mausoleum, constructed in the 15th century. After Tamerlane, we will have lunch at Oasis Garden. One of the important points to be seen on that day is the National Museum of Cultural Heritage, with a very special collection of garments, jewelry, tents, and accessories. We will have a resting time at the hotel. Dinner at Kohinur, overnight at Kosh House.
Day 15- April 22, Wednesday, Samarqand, Tashkent
We will check out of Kosh House Hotel and visit Konigul paper village, where the traditional and medieval paper production method is still applied in a guest house. Ulug Bek Observatory is one of the other ancient sites to see. We will talk about Ulugh Bek and understand his work in the history of astronomy. We will visit the Afrasiyab History Museum, The Museum director will give a speech about Sogdians and their artifacts. We will have lunch at Kerimbek and visit Shahi Zinda Cemetery, where many family members and court members of Tamerlane’s reign are buried. We will take High high-speed train to Tashkent, which will take approximately 3 hours. Dinner at Cafe 1991. Overnight at our hotel in Tashkent.
Shahi Zinda Cemetery Mausoleums, constructed in the 14th century
Detail of a ceramic ornament in Shahi Zinda cemetery, similar to a carpet pattern
Day 16- April 23, Thursday, Tashkent
Private transfer to Tashkent Airport for the return flight to the guests’ Countries.
PRICE:
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∼ $ 5,500.00 for 6 to 9 people
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∼ $ 4,900.00 for 10 to 12 people
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∼ $ 4,500.00 for 13 to 16 people
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+$ 850.00 for hotel single supplement
Services included in the price:
*Accommodation in the stated hotels
*All meals (one starter and one main course with alcoholic/nonalcoholic beverage in each meal)
*Entrance fees to the monuments/museums
*Bottled drinking water in the van
*Comfortable AC transport within the country:
*Coaster for 6-10 pax (18 seater);
*Coach for 11+ pax (35-45 seater)
*Tashkent-Qoqand train tickets
*Fergana Tashkent van transfer
*Tashkent-Nukus Airfare
*Samarqand-Tashkent train tickets
*Professional English-speaking escort guide service
*Uzbekistan visa support letter
Services NOT included in the price:
*International flight tickets
*Uzbekistan visa fees ( to be paid at the embassy)
*Tips for guides and drivers
*All alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages
*Phone calls, laundry, and room service at the hotels
We are going to contact you very soon via beyondeniz@gmail.com
