Routes · Asia

Delhi to Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva

Delhi → Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva

Silk Road Best season (general guide): Apr–May, Sep–Oct

Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities can be visited in order from east to west, with fast trains doing most of the work. This route spends ten nights on the ground. From Delhi the flight to Tashkent is short by long-haul standards, which makes this an easy trip to start.

Tashkent is a Soviet-era capital with a grand metro, where each station has its own design. Chorsu bazaar, under its blue dome, is the best place to try non bread, dried fruit and plov. The Afrosiyob high-speed train then takes you to Samarkand, where the Registan's three madrasas glow at dusk. Gur-e-Amir is the tomb of Timur, and Shah-i-Zinda is a street of tiled mausoleums climbing a hill.

Bukhara is quieter and lower. The town is built around the Lyab-i Hauz pool, the Kalon minaret and old covered markets that still sell carpets and knives. From there, the long road through the Kyzylkum desert reaches Khiva, whose inner walled town, Itchan Kala, is small enough to walk around in an evening.

The best months are April to May and September to October, when temperatures are mild. July and August are very hot in Bukhara and Khiva. UNESCO lists the historic centres of Samarkand, Bukhara and Itchan Kala as World Heritage sites.

Pacing: book Afrosiyob seats ahead, as the fast trains sell out in spring and autumn. The Bukhara to Khiva stretch is a long day whether you take the road or the slower train, so carry water and snacks. In mosques and madrasas that are still in use, cover shoulders and knees.

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