Welcome to Uzbekistan!

You’ll be greeted you at the airport and taken straight to your hotel to freshen up and rest a little.

In the afternoon we’ll take you to Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent’s central market and possibly the best way to get introduced to Uzbek culture.  You’ll have the chance to sample plov, somsa, lagman and so much more!

Once you’ve had the chance to explore and enjoy some authentic local food, we’ll take you around the old part of Tashkent to begin our journey of discovering Islam in Central Asia.

Today you’ll travel in style in a fast train to the Crown Jewel of Uzbekistan, where you’ll explore some of the most incredible Islamic architecture in the world. You’ll follow in the footsteps of Silk Road traders, Mongol raiders and martyrs. Our local guide will share stories about some of the legends who lived in Samarkand, including the Mufassir and connoisseur of Fiqh, Imam al Maturidi.

Once our local guide has taken you around Registan Square, the Shah i Zinda and Hazrat Khizr mosque, you’ll have the opportunity to experience an activity exclusively created upon the request of Halal Travel Guide.

You’ll have the chance to learn traditional Islamic calligraphy from a master craftsman inside the world-famous Ulug-Beg Madrasa, and even have a go yourself.

This day is dedicated to you. Wake up early and catch sunrise at Registan Square, or enjoy some well-earned rest and catch a lie-in. Buy souvenirs of Atlas silk jackets, suzane embroidered fabric, Islamic art to display at home on your walls…the list goes on. Uzbeks are renowned for their skilled craftsmanship and beautiful taste in artwork, so whether you’re buying a gift for a loved one or a memento for yourself, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

The best part? By purchasing from local businesses, every purchase you make supports local families and traditional arts.

We’ll stop at Gijduvon town to visit the madrasa dedicated to Sheikh Abdul Khaliq Ghijduvani, and learn more about the development of Sufism in Central Asia.

The Town of Gijduvon is famous for its pottery, and you’ll see why during lunch when you are invited to see how a master craftsman performs this art at an Uzbek pottery masterclass.

Before heading into Bukhara we’ll make one final stop to learn more about the role of Bahauddin Naqshabandi in the spread of Islam in Uzbekistan.

By now you’ll have noticed that the Uzbeks are incredibly talented artists and craftsmen and women, ranging from weaving and embroidery to pottery, calligraphy, painting and silk rug making. You’re invited to share in this heritage today by learning more about and trying on traditional dress in the 1500-year-old Ark Fortress.

Before this though, our local guide will walk you through the ancient streets of Bukhara, where you’ll visit some of the most important historical sites in the region’s Islamic history.

This morning our local guide will walk you through the oldest part of the city, where you’ll find some of the most beautiful jade-coloured domes and turquoise mosaics. Khiva is more than just a pretty face; it was here that legendary scholars including Al Khawarizmi, Al Biruni and Fakhr al Din al Razi (to name only a few) laid the foundations of Central Asia’s Golden Age.

This evening you’re invited to a farewell dinner during which you’ll be shown (and have the chance to make) plov, the most beloved dish in Uzbekistan, at our exclusive plov-making masterclass.

We’ll take you back to Tashkent from Khiva via a brief flight, after which we’ll take you on to the airport for your return flight home. Should you wish to extend your stay in Uzbekistan, let us know and we can assist you with accommodation, transport and anything else you require.

Thank you for travelling with us.