Uzbekistan: A Hands-On Artisan Trail

Day 1 – Welcome to Uzbekistan!

Say hello to Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent! You’ve officially arrived, and since most flights here land super early, it’s probably stupid o’clock in the morning. One of our friendly team will pick you up and whisk you straight to the hotel, where we’ve sorted out early check-in. Grab a nap, a shower, or just lie horizontal for a bit before things kick off properly at 11am.

Now, the real fun begins. You’ll meet your tour leader and Fencox crew, then head out to explore. First stop is the ceramic studio of Rahimov, a local master who first learned his craft from his father, who’ll guide you through making your own souvenir. Very wholesome, very cool.

You’ll round off the day with some sightseeing, swinging by Independence Square. Once, it was home to a massive statue of Lenin. Now, it’s a symbol of modern Uzbek identity, and your guide will share all the details on how Uzbekistan gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. 

Accommodation: Mirzo Hotel (or similar), Tashkent
Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 – Tashkent

Hope you’re hungry, because you’re kicking off today at the Chorsu Bazaar. You’ll wander through rows of melons stacked like art installations, chat to sellers in patterned skullcaps, and watch locals haggle like pros over fresh herbs and spices. It’s unfiltered Uzbekistan, in full swing, and it’s glorious.

Next up: the Museum of Applied Arts, and just wait until you feast your eyes on the building it’s housed in. It’s tucked inside a former tsarist diplomat’s mansion, and between the hand-carved wood, kaleidoscopic mosaics and glowing stained glass, even the building is showing off. Inside, it’s a treasure chest of ceramics, embroidery and every type of pattern imaginable.

After a bite to eat for dinner, the night is yours. If there’s a show on, you could always gather up a few of your fellow Fencoxers and swing by the opera. Why not? After all, when in Tashkent…

Accommodation: Mirzo Hotel (or similar), Tashkent
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3 – Fergana Valley

Rise and shine, because it’s an early one today. You’re catching the train to the Fergana Valley, one of the greenest parts of the country and an ancient name in the silk game. While China might’ve invented silk, Fergana was actually one of the first places outside it to give silkworm farming a proper go.

This afternoon, you’ll visit the Yodgorlik Silk Factory, where they still work the traditional way by steaming cocoons, unravelling the fibres and turning them into gorgeously dyed silk. It’s a craft passed down through generations, and you’ll see skilled men and women working side by side to keep the tradition alive.

Then, it’s your turn. You’ll join a dyeing workshop to create your own piece, but be warned, it might awaken something crafty in you. Keep an eye out for the mulberry trees as you go, too – their leaves are the silkworm’s favourite snack, and you’ll spot them everywhere around here!

Accommodation: Asia Fergana (or similar), Fergana
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4 – Village Life

You’re starting with a quick stop at Kumtepa Market, a proper wake-up call filled with the smell of fresh non (bread), the chatter of early-morning shoppers and enough colour to thoroughly wake you up without (almost) even needing a sip of coffee.

Then it’s off to the village of Rishtan. This place is known across the region for its out-of-this-world ceramics, especially the signature ishkor glaze, a dreamy blue made from mountain ash and local minerals. You’ll spend the morning with a local artist and his family, learning how they shape, fire, and finish their work. We care about taking our Fencoxers only to real-deal experiences, so rest assured this isn’t some “just for the tourists” nonsense – the family live here, work here, and have been doing this for generations.

After all that creative inspiration, you’ll sit down to a home-cooked lunch in their courtyard before cruising back to Fergana in the afternoon. 

Accommodation: Asia Fergana (or similar), Fergana
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5 – Travel Day

This morning, you wave goodbye to the soft green folds of the Fergana Valley and hit the road back to Tashkent. It’s a five-hour drive, but the scenery keeps things interesting… Wide plains, sleepy villages, dusty mountain backdrops and the occasional herd of sheep doing whatever they want in the middle of the road. Classic Uzbekistan.

Back in the city, you’ve got time to freshen up and grab dinner before you head for the airport. Next stop: Nukus. You might not know much about it yet, but that’s exactly why it hits so hard.

Yes, it’s a long travel day. But hey – if every day was hands-on and jam-packed, when would you get the chance to zone out and watch the country roll by? Enjoy it. Tomorrow’s a whole different pace.

Accommodation: Jipek Joly (or similar), Nukus
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 6 – Chimbay Village

You’re heading further into the wild west of Uzbekistan today, towards Chimbray, a village most people outside of Uzbekistan have never even heard of, let alone visited. The road out there is part of the adventure, carving your way through the stark, sun-baked landscape that was once fertile farmland… until the Aral Sea disaster turned things upside down, anyway.

Don’t be fooled by the dust and quiet. This place is all about connection, full of tight-knit families, strong community roots – despite the wide and empty land. You’ll spend the afternoon with local crafts folk who’ll show you the ropes of rug weaving or embroidery. Whichever option you choose, you’ll walk away with a brand new skill, and that’s got to count for something!

As the sun dips low, get comfy for a private folk music session that’ll raise some serious goosebumps. No stage, no microphones – just live music the way it’s existed here forever.

Accommodation: Jipek Joly (or similar), Nukus
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7 – Nukus

Once sealed off by the Soviets and swarming with KGB agents, the desert outpost of Nukus hid one of the 20th century’s most eyebrow-raising art collections, all thanks to a man named Savitsky. He secretly rescued thousands of banned avant-garde artworks and stashed them away. Now they are proudly displayed right here, in the Nukus Art Museum.

With Nukus explored, you’ll head out into the desert, with the land around you starting to flatten and blur until you spot the silhouette of a 2,000-year-old Zoroastrian Tower of Silence. It’s quiet out here, and eerie, and as you get closer, the scale of the thing sinks in.

Then: Khiva. The road rolls on for three to four hours, but when you arrive, it’s worth every bump. Your hotel is right across from the dazzling city walls – no big deal – and dinner tonight will be your first peek inside this Silk Road city. In a trip full of highlights, this stop is one of our favourites.

Accommodation: Isak Hoja (or similar), Khiva
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 8 – Khiva

Khiva’s old town looks too perfect to be real – sandy-brick walls, turquoise-tiled minarets, and more grand gates and courtyards than you can count. But it’s not just a pretty face – this place has been standing for centuries.

You’ll spend the day diving into its many mosques, palaces and fortresses, each with fancy-schmancy tilework and history that’ll impress even the most travel-tired of the bunch. At one of the city’s former madrassas, you’ll meet a family of traditional woodcarvers who’ve been keeping the art alive for generations. You’ll even get to have a go yourself, guided by a local master who somehow makes intricate floral patterns look effortless. Spoiler: they’re unfortunately not.

By the end of the day, you’ll probably be half in love with Khiva, and that’s before we even get to dinner.

Accommodation: Isak Hoja (or similar), Khiva
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 – Sleeper Train to Bukhara

This morning, you’ll join a local family to learn how to make dill-infused noodles, a local speciality in these parts that’re herby and totally moreish. You’ll knead, slice and simmer your way to a proper home-cooked lunch, then spend your afternoon soaking up Khiva one last time. There’s no such thing as too many photos of this place, trust us.

After dinner, it’s time to head for the station. Tonight’s train isn’t quite a full sleeper (it pulls into Bukhara just after midnight), but it is a great way to travel like a local. You’ve got your packed meal, the windows are full of dusty twilight scenes, and there’s something kind of magical about rumbling through the desert under a starry sky.

Once you roll into Bukhara, it’s straight to your hotel. Check-in might be bleary-eyed, but tomorrow’s breakfast room, complete with colourful hand-painted niches, will be the perfect place to wake up slowly.

Accommodation: Sleeper Train/Kasvar Boutique (or similar), Bukhara
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 – Bukhara

So, what’s the difference between Bukhara and the other places you’ve been over the last few days? The crowds are a little bigger, the souvenir stalls a little fuller, and yep – you’ll see plenty of other tourists milling around. This is one of Uzbekistan’s best-known stops, but not one ounce of its hype isn’t well-deserved, and it still has plenty of old-world magic.

You’ll ease into things with a guided walk to get to grips with the city and tick off the big names along the way. The Poi Kalyan Complex is always a fan favourite with its towering minaret, but maybe you’ll prefer the fairytale-like Chor Minor with its four quirky towers, or even the Samanid Mausoleum, one of Central Asia’s oldest Muslim monuments, built in the 10th century and still standing to this day.

We think you’re gonna like it here…

Accommodation: Kasvar Boutique (or similar), Bukhara
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 – Bukhara for Locals

Yeah, we told you Bukhara is touristy, but there are still plenty of hidden, locals-only spots and experiences, and today is all about them. First up is a visit to a nearby university to meet some students and archaeologists who’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look into the research that connects both ancient and modern-day Bukhara. 

Then, we’ve got something super exciting up our sleeves. No spoilers, but let’s just say it involves a private home, some very talented musicians, and the kind of evening that tends to end with full bellies, hands sore from clapping and a massive ear-to-ear grin on your face. You’ll see!

Accommodation: Kasvar Boutique (or similar), Bukhara
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12 – Samarkand

It’s almost time to say goodbye to Bukhara, but not before a bit of magic. If you’re up for it, join an optional sunrise walk through the quiet streets and hidden courtyards. The light’s soft, the city’s still and the photo ops are absolutely unreal.

Then it’s all aboard the high-speed train to Samarkand. You’ll arrive in time to check in to Kind Boutique, a heart-warmingly lovely little family-run spot tucked away from the madness, in a local neighbourhood. Tonight, before you head to bed, grab your camera and head out. Seeing the iconic Registan Square lit up under the stars is one of those “this is why I travel” awesome moments. 

Accommodation: Amira Boutique Hotel (or similar), Samarkand
Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13 – Timur Tales

Time to tick off the big guns. Samarkand’s got history for days and today you’re hitting the highlights: the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-e-Amir, the final resting place of Tamerlane (aka Timur, the 14th-century ruler who decided Samarkand should be the centre of the universe, and then made it happen).

It’s all towering domes, turquoise tiles and seemingly never-ending tales of empire-building. Yes, there’s a lot to take in, but you’ve got your Fencox buddies with you, and that’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll be laughing and joking the whole day long, no matter what.

Accommodation: Amira Boutique Hotel (or similar), Samarkand
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 14 – Ohalik Mountains

Last full day, but no winding down just yet. You’re swapping the city for the countryside today, and if you’ve been devouring the yummy Uzbek bread all trip (let’s be real – you have), it’s time to earn your crust and bake some yourself. Then it’s onto block printing, where you’ll get hands-on with another traditional craft technique that’s as fun as it is fiddly.

Let’s just say: by this point, your bag’s going to be heavier with more than just laundry. You’ve slowly built your own little collection of Uzbek creations, and we’ve got one last treat ready for you…

Later, you’ll hop the train back to where it all began, Tashkent, and fire up for a proper farewell dinner with your Fencoxers. One last feast, one last toast, and maybe a few teary-eyed goodbyes (we won’t tell).

Accommodation: Mirzo Hotel (or similar), Tashkent
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 15 – Farewell Friends

And just like that, it’s your final morning in Uzbekistan. Two weeks have absolutely flown by, and it’s honestly wild to think your Fencox mates were once just strangers. After breakfast, our driver will swing by to take you to the airport for an easy-peasy departure.

Safe travels and xayr – that’s “goodbye” in Uzbek. Until next time!

Included: Breakfast