Day 1 : Dinner Party: Tashkent
Welcome to Uzbekistan! Arrive to Tashkent and meet your arrival transfer at the airport. Then join your Welcome Meeting at the hotel before you're off to your Dinner Party. Meet your hosts and learn about the local ingredients you'll use to make traditional Uzbek Laghman noodles. Alongside your new Solo-ish travellers, learn how to hand stretch the noodles, then sit down together to enjoy your delicious creation!
Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
1h
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Food is a universal language, and there's no better way to get to know a new friend, or a new community, than by breaking bread together and digging in to a delicious meal. Get to know your fellow Solo-ish travellers and the flavors of Uzbekistan! Sit down together and learn to make one of the most popular dishes of Uzbekistan, Laghman noodle soup. We'll hand roll and stretch our noodles, then sit down as a group and enjoy our homemade meal.
Day 2 : We Day: Tashkent
Explore Uzbekistan's capital city of Tashkent's rich history and interesting culture on a tour of the city led by your amazing CEO. Alongside your fellow Solo-sh travellers, admire the soviet-era landmarks, medieval buildings and Islamic architecture in central Tashkent. Visit the iconic Independence Square, the intricately designed metro stations and the famous Chorsu Bazaar. In the evening, join your crew for dinner in a garden together. A perfect day to get to know Tashkent and your new Solo-ish travel mates better!
Tashkent City Adventure
Tashkent
With your incredible CEO at the helm, get to know the local community and your Solo-ish travel mates on a day packed full of interesting and engaging adventures. Dive into the city of Tashkent today on a tour of the city's highlights. Start in central Tashkent and learn about the interesting history of Independence Square. Visit some of the most beautiful and unique metro stations, similar to Moscow's architecture. Then visit Chorsu Bazaar, exploring the narrow aisles of dry fruits, spices, souvenirs and local food.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Dinner
Day 3 : G Day: Tashkent
Enjoy another epic day in the city of Tashkent alongside your incredible CEO and awesome new Solo-ish mates. Start today at the Institute of the Sun and admire the architecture and reflections of the beautiful surroundings. Afterwards, get ready for lunch and a surprise! Then travel to the beautiful city of Nukus this evening.
Institute of Sun
Tashkent
With your Solo-ish travel mates and CEO, explore some of the worlds coolest activities alongside new friends. It's not just an epic day of fun, its chock full of incredible experiences and a surprise G element along the way to take your day to 11. Visit the famous Institute of Sun and admire the incredible architecture. See the blue sky and the mountains in the reflection of the giant mirrors covering the Solar Furnace. You won't want to forget your camera! Then head to a lunch accompanied by a special surprise.
Plane
Tashkent - Nukus 1h30m - 1h45m 500km
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch
Day 4 : Nukus/ Khiva
Take a guided tour of one of the most unique and interesting art museums in Uzbekistan, the Savitsky Museum. Igor Savitsky fled the Soviet Union in 1984 to Nukus with his anti-soviet art collection. The museum is now known as one of the best collections of avant-garde art in the world. Finish the tour and enjoy some free time in Nukus before driving to Khiva. Check into your hotel and join your CEO for an orientation walk of Khiva.
Savitsky Art Museum Visit
Nukus
Take a guided tour of the world famous Savitsky Art Museum. This very unique museum displays a collection of anti-soviet art collected by Igor Savitsky, originally from Russia. He escaped Russia during the Soviet Union and arrived to Uzbekistan with his collection of Russian-banned art in the 1950's.
Enjoy some free time in the beautiful city of Nukus.
Private Vehicle
Nukus - Khiva 3h30m 180km
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Orientation With CEO
0h30m - 1h
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch
Day 5 : Khiva
Before exploring this historic town on your own, enjoy a guided tour to learn about local life here. Wander through the narrow labyrinth mudbrick alleyways of old town, bargain with locals at the bazaar, admire the madrassas, mosques, and blue mosaic domes, climb up towering minarets, and venture into the dark dungeons Khiva was infamous for back in the 10th century. Explore the inner walls of Ichon-Qala, and enjoy spectacular sunset views on the sand-coloured buildings.
Khiva Ancient City Exploration
Khiva 4h
Khiva is currently almost a museum city, with well-preserved city walls and ancient monuments. Wander the city on a guided tour and learn about life here and its important place in history.
Continue exploring this historic town. Opt to join a cooking class and learn to make local green noodles.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 6 : Khiva/ Bukhara
Leave Khiva and drive to Bukhara through the beautiful Kyzylkum Desert. Known for its sweeping hills of red colored sand, keep an eye out for gazelles, sand cats and corsac foxes along the way. Arrive this evening to Bukhara and settle in with an orientation walk with your CEO.
Private Vehicle
Khiva - Bukhara 6h - 7h 465km
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Orientation With CEO
0h30m - 1h
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 7 : Bukhara
Explore Bukhara on a half-day guided walking tour around the beautifully restored mosques, madrassas, and covered markets, or trading domes, that make up the Old City. A centre for pottery, cloth, and carpets, Bukhara is centered around Lyabi-Hauz, a delightful pool of water surrounded by ancient mulberry trees. Wander the artisan shops and narrow twisting streets and alleyways, or sit at a café table and let the evening drift by. Opt to watch a local puppet show held in an old caravanserai, or indulge in a rejuvenating hammam bathhouse.
Explore Bukhara City with a Local Guide
Bukhara 3h
Join a local guide to visit the the Samanid Mausoleum, the Ark Citadel, and the Poi-i-Kalon complex. Wander around beautifully restored mosques, madrassas, and covered markets that make up the Old City.
This is the perfect city for shopping or enjoying tea and snacks at a chaykhana.
Optional Activities - Day 7
Carpet Museum
Bukhara 0h30m
The Magok-i Attari Mosque (Museum of Carpets) offers information about the art of carpet making and some fine examples to boot. Perhaps more impressively, the building the museum is located in was once used for Jewish, Muslim, and Christian services, demonstrating the diversity and open-mindedness of this intriguing city.
Bukhara Hammam Visit
Bukhara 1h30m
There are a few hammam choices in the city and they are often gender specific - Hammam Kunjak for ladies and Bozori Kord Hammam for gentlemen. Depending on the day of the week and when you want to go, your CEO can advise you on some options.
Chor-Bakr Complex
Bukhara
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the burial site of Abu-Bakr-Said, one of the four descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. Wander around the necropolis of family tombs and enclosed courtyards while admiring the simple, yet intricate beauty.
Jewish Area and Synagogue Visit
Bukhara 1h
Bukhara has a fascinating Jewish history, with Bukharan Jews speaking a Turkic-Persian dialect with a Hebrew script. The city once was home to 40,000 Jews and now has a community of about 25-30 families. The synagogue is well worth a visit (donation expected) and houses a Torah that is roughly 1,000 years old. Please note that on Friday evenings and Saturday, the Synagogue is usually closed for Shabbat.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 8 : Me Day: Bukhara
Spend the day in Bukhara exactly how you wish on your Me Day adventure! Opt to join your CEO and other Solo-ish travel friends to explore the winding backstreets of Bukhara. Immerse yourself in this off the beaten path part of the city that feels like a historic labyrinth. If you'd rather strengthen your solo traveler skills, you can opt to explore on your own. Visit a hammam, a local steam bath, make paper mache doll at a local craft shop or enjoy a tea tasting.
Traveling solo alongside your new Solo-ish travel mates means there's always something fun to do and new friends to explore with. But the joy of travel can also be about taking time to yourself to recharge, refresh and reflect on the journey. Today, choose to join your CEO for an incredible activity, or take the time to yourself to enjoy your own company in one of the most incredible places on our planet.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 9 : Bukhara/ Samarkand
Drive from Bukhara to Samarkand this morning. Opt to enjoy a delicious lunch made by a local family, then join your CEO and follow Solo-ish friends to embark on a city tour. Visit Ulugbek Observatory, Shaki Zinda complex, the bazaar, Bibi Khanum, and Registan Square.
Private Vehicle
Bukhara - Samarkand
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Samarkand City Tour
Samarkand 4h
Visit the important sights of the city with an expert local guide. See the Ulugbek Observatory, Shaki Zinda complex, bazaar, Bibi Khanum, and Registan Square.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 10 : Samarkand
Start today with a visit to the Teshik Tash Stone, a large stone with a window through it, carved by nature over millenia. Continue on to a local Uzbek Village and hike to the top of Aman Kutan, through a walnut grove. Admire the rocky covered mountain and beautiful views from the Lion's Cave, another important archeological site where Neanderthal remains were found. After hiking back to the village, we'll gather for lunch at a local home. Return to Samarkand for a free afternoon to explore the Samarkand sights. Have a cuppa in a local tea house, or wander around the bazaar. Opt to explore the Tomb of Prophet Daniel, famous for the Biblical story of Daniel and the lions.
Teshik Tash Stone Visit
Samarkand
Visit the legendary Teshik Tash Stone, a geographical wonder. Admire the giant window through the stone that is surrounded by tiny white stones. According to the stories of old men, the stone has a healing effect. Mothers bring their sick children to climb through the hole of the stone. They say that the next day children are cured of their illnesses.
Aman Kutan Mountain Hike and Village Walk
Samarkand
Drive to a local village to visit Aman Kuta. Hike through a beautiful walnut grove to the Lion's Cave, an archeological cave where ancient tools and thousands of bones of different animal species and the remains of a young Neanderthal man were found. Hike back to the village and enjoy a delicious lunch at a local family's home.
Enjoy the afternoon to explore Samarkand how you'd like.
Optional Activities - Day 10
Tomb of the Old Testament Prophet Daniel Visit
Samarkand 1h
Enjoy a visit to the Tomb of the Old Testament Prophet Daniel, famous for the Biblical story of Daniel and the lions. A legend says that his body grows by half an inch every year!
Meals Included:
Breakfast | Lunch
Day 11 : Samarkand/ Tashkent
Take a morning train from Samarkand to Tashkent. Arrive in the early afternoon and enjoy one last free afternoon with your crew.
Train
Samarkand - Tashkent 4h - 4h9m 332km
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Enjoy a free afternoon in Tashkent.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Day 12 : Tashkent
You arrived a solo traveller and are leaving with many new friends. Say goodbye to your fellow Solo-ish travellers and depart at any time.
