Cultural tour of Uzbekistan from Paris

Silk RoadKhiva, Bukhara, Samarkand

In the footsteps of the caravans

A direct flight from Paris to Khiva, then east to Tashkent

An overnight direct flight to Khorezm, the train across the Kyzylkum to Bukhara, a night in a yurt near Lake Aydarkul, then Samarkand, the city of Tamerlane and Ulugh Beg. Shahrisabz, Tashkent and two lectures by historians, in Khiva and Samarkand, complete the journey.

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12 days: 10 nights in Uzbekistan
Direct: flight Paris – Urgench, about 6 h
≤ 20: travellers per group
1 night: in a yurt in the Kyzylkum

Next departure 19–30 Mar 2027 Reserve a seat

Route

From Khorezm to Tashkent, west to east

We land below the walls of Khiva and follow the Silk Road east: the domes of Bukhara, the desert and its yurts, Samarkand's Registan, then Tashkent. The long stretches are done by train.

Day 2Paris → Urgench → KhivaOvernight direct flight, arrive 05:05; Khiva is 30 minutes away
Day 4Khiva → BukharaTrain across the Kyzylkum, about 4.5 h
Days 7–8Bukhara → yurts → SamarkandVia Gijduvan and Nurata, a night by Lake Aydarkul
Day 11Samarkand → TashkentAfrosiyob high-speed train, about 2 h 15
Day 12Tashkent → ParisHY 251, depart 13:55, arrive 17:20

Direct flight Paris – UrgenchFrench-speaking guideA night in a yurt2 lectures by historiansAfrosiyob high-speed trains

Direct flights on Uzbekistan Airways

Day 1 (Friday): HY 252, Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) 19:50 → Urgench (UGC) 05:05 on Saturday. In the winter timetable the flight leaves Paris at 18:50.
Day 12 (Tuesday): HY 251, Tashkent (TAS) 13:55 → Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) 17:20 (winter timetable; in summer the arrival moves by one hour).

The Friday flight stops in Urgench, 30 minutes from Khiva, so the journey starts in the west and ends in Tashkent with no backtracking and no domestic flight. Both flights go on one ticket. Times are from the 2026 season; the 2027 flights are confirmed when you book. Uzbekistan is 4 hours ahead of France in winter and 3 hours in summer.

Programme

Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent

Days 2–4

Khiva

Itchan Kala, the museum city of Khorezm

Walls of Itchan KalaUNESCO World Heritage, 1990
Kalta MinorUnfinished tiled minaret, 19th c.
Juma MosqueOver 200 carved wooden columns
Pahlavon Mahmud MausoleumPoet, wrestler and patron saint of Khiva
Islam Khoja Minaret1910, 57 metres
Kunya Ark and Tash Hauli PalacePalaces of the Khans of Khiva

Lecture 1 · 45–55 minAl-Khwarizmi, father of algebra, and the scholars of Khorezm.

Days 4–7

Bukhara

Noble Bukhara, then the Kyzylkum desert

Poi Kalyan ensembleMinaret of 1127 and Kalyan mosque
Lyabi-Hauz and Nadir DivanbegiPool and madrasa, 17th c.
Samanid Mausoleum9th–10th c., a masterpiece in brick
The Ark citadelFortress of the Emirs of Bukhara
Trading domes and Chor MinorCovered bazaars, 16th c.
Yurt camp near Lake AydarkulA night in the Kyzylkum, camel ride

An evening in the desertA camel ride and songs by the fire at the yurt camp in the Kyzylkum.

Days 8–11

Samarkand

Tamerlane's capital, Ulugh Beg's city

Registan squareThree madrasas, 15th–17th c.
Gur-e AmirMausoleum of Tamerlane, 1404
Shah-i-ZindaAvenue of mausoleums, 11th–19th c.
Ulugh Beg Observatory1420s
Afrasiab MuseumAmbassadors' Painting, 7th c.
ShahrisabzTamerlane's birthplace, UNESCO

Lecture 2 · 45–55 minTamerlane and France: the 1402 letter to Charles VI and Europe seen from Samarkand.

Days 11–12

Tashkent

Modern capital and the Mushaf of Uthman

Hazrati Imam complex16th–21st c.
Muyi Muborak libraryMushaf of Uthman, 7th c.
Chorsu bazaarUnder its great green dome
Tashkent metroStations decorated with ceramics and marble

Farewell eveningA farewell dinner around a plov, and the direct flight to Paris the next day.

Day by day

Dates appear here when you choose a departure. Meals: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner.

Day 1
Paris – Urgench
Meet at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Overnight direct flight on Uzbekistan Airways HY 252 to Urgench, in the Khorezm region.
Day 2
Arrival in Khiva
Land in Urgench at 05:05, meet your French-speaking guide and transfer to Khiva (30 minutes). Breakfast and rest at the hotel. In the afternoon, a first walk in Itchan Kala: Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark and the Muhammad Amin Khan madrasa. Welcome dinner.
B L D
Day 3
Khiva, the museum city
Juma Mosque and its forest of columns, Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum, Islam Khoja Minaret and Tash Hauli Palace. In the afternoon, lecture 1 (45–55 minutes), then a visit to a woodcarving workshop. Sunset on the city walls.
B L D
Day 4
Across the Kyzylkum to Bukhara
The 09:55 train to Bukhara (about 4.5 hours), along the Amu Darya and across the desert. Check in, then a first walk around the Lyabi-Hauz pool and the Nadir Divanbegi madrasa.
B L D
Day 5
Noble Bukhara
Samanid Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub, Bolo Hauz mosque and the Ark. In the afternoon, the Poi Kalyan ensemble, Mir-i Arab madrasa and the trading domes. Dinner with a show of traditional dance and costume.
B L D
Day 6
Summer palace and the Sufis of Bukhara
Sitorai Mokhi Khosa, summer residence of the last Emir, then the Bahauddin Naqshband complex. In the afternoon, Chor Minor, then free time in the old lanes.
B L D
Day 7
Gijduvan, Nurata and the yurt
A family ceramics workshop in Gijduvan, then Nurata, its fortress attributed to Alexander the Great and its sacred spring. Arrive at the yurt camp near Lake Aydarkul for a camel ride and an evening by the fire with a traditional singer.
B L D
Day 8
Lake Aydarkul and Samarkand
Sunrise over the desert and a walk along Lake Aydarkul. Drive to Samarkand (about 4 hours). In the evening, the Registan as the madrasas light up.
B L D
Day 9
Samarkand, Tamerlane's city
Gur-e Amir, the interiors of the Registan madrasas, Bibi-Khanym mosque and Siab bazaar. In the afternoon, Shah-i-Zinda, the Ulugh Beg Observatory, the Afrasiab Museum and the tomb of Daniel. Lecture 2 in the evening (45–55 minutes).
B L D
Day 10
Day trip to Shahrisabz
Over the Takhtakaracha pass (about 2 hours) to Shahrisabz, Tamerlane's birthplace: the ruins of the Ak-Saray palace, the Dorut Tilovat ensemble and the Kok Gumbaz mosque. Lunch with a local family. Back to Samarkand.
B L D
Day 11
Silk paper and Tashkent
The Konigil paper mill, where mulberry paper is still made by hand. Afrosiyob high-speed train to Tashkent (about 2 h 15). Hazrati Imam and the Mushaf of Uthman, Chorsu bazaar and a few metro stations. Farewell dinner.
B L D
Day 12
Tashkent – Paris
Depending on the flight time, a visit to the Museum of Applied Arts. Transfer to the airport. Direct flight HY 251 at 13:55, landing at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 17:20.
B

Learning on the road

Two lectures, two cities

Each lecture lasts 45 to 55 minutes. It is given by an Uzbek historian, in French or interpreted by your guide, with time for questions. Venues are named in your final programme.

Khiva Day 3 · Sunday afternoon · 45–55 min

Al-Khwarizmi and the scholars of Khorezm

The Khorezm of al-Khwarizmi, whose name gave us the word algorithm, and of al-Biruni, who measured the Earth in the 11th century. After the lecture, a workshop where doors and columns like those of the Juma Mosque are still carved by hand.

Al-KhwarizmiAl-BiruniWoodcarvingJuma Mosque

Samarkand Day 9 · Saturday evening · 45–55 min

Tamerlane and France

In 1402 Tamerlane wrote to King Charles VI proposing trade between their realms, and the king replied the next year. A historian tells the story of these letters, the account of the Castilian envoy Clavijo and the astronomy of Ulugh Beg, Tamerlane's grandson.

TamerlaneCharles VIClavijoUlugh Beg

Travel notebook

Pictures from the road

The tiles of Samarkand, the minarets of Khiva, the gardens of Bukhara: every stop keeps some free time to look, sketch or take photographs.

On the road

A journey planned around you

The programme is built for French-speaking travellers: a balanced pace, trains instead of long drives, and someone to talk to at every stop.

French-speaking guide

The same guide travels with you from Khiva to Tashkent.

Hotels with character

Guesthouses and 3–4★ hotels in the old towns.

Train, not road

Khiva – Bukhara and Samarkand – Tashkent by train.

Uzbek cuisine

Varied meals; vegetarian menus on request.

Support 24/7

A manager on WhatsApp before and during the trip.

The Mitra Travel standard

Care in the details

Your agency sells a ready product. Your clients get a complete journey.

≤ 20: travellers per group
3★/4★: hotels on the route
2: train journeys
2 × 50 min: lectures by historians
FR: French-speaking guide
B2B: net rates for agencies

Tour package

What the price covers

No hidden conditions: you know in advance what is included.

Included

10 nights: 2 in Khiva, 3 in Bukhara, 1 in a yurt camp, 3 in Samarkand, 1 in Tashkent, double rooms
Full board from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on day 12
Khiva – Bukhara train and Afrosiyob high-speed train Samarkand – Tashkent
Transfers and touring in an air-conditioned vehicle
Entrance fees to the sites and museums in the programme
2 lectures by historians, 45–55 minutes each, in Khiva and Samarkand
Dinner show in Bukhara and camel ride
French-speaking guide from day 2 to day 12

Paid separately

Flights Paris – Urgench and Tashkent – Paris (group fares on request)
Travel and repatriation insurance
Single room supplement
Drinks, tips for guide and driver
Camera fees at some sites and personal expenses

The exact price and inclusions are fixed in the quote your manager sends after your request.

Online booking · 2027

Choose your departure

Eight departures from March to October 2027, each for up to 20 travellers. Pick a date, tell us how many are travelling, and your manager confirms the seats and sends a quote.

March 2027

Departure from Paris (Friday) Selected Tour days

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On the Mitra Travel B2B platform you see live seat availability, book at net rates, upload passenger lists and download vouchers.

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About Mitra Travel

Opening Uzbekistan since 2011

For more than 15 years Mitra Travel has organised journeys that introduce guests to the culture, history and hospitality of Uzbekistan.

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Questions and answers

Before you travel

Do French citizens need a visa?

No. French citizens can stay in Uzbekistan for up to 30 days without a visa, as can Belgian and Swiss citizens. We recommend a passport valid for at least 6 months after your return date. Hotels handle your local registration, and your manager confirms the entry rules when you book.

Why fly into Urgench and home from Tashkent?

The Friday direct flight stops in Urgench, 30 minutes from Khiva. Starting in the west and finishing in Tashkent saves a domestic flight and any backtracking. The outbound flight takes about 6 h 15 and the return about 7 h 30; both go on one ticket.

What is the time difference and the currency?

Uzbekistan is 4 hours ahead of France in winter and 3 hours in summer. The currency is the Uzbek som (UZS). Hotels and large shops take Visa and Mastercard; for bazaars it is easy to change euros locally.

What is the night in a yurt like?

The camp is near Lake Aydarkul, on the edge of the Kyzylkum. Yurts sleep 2 to 4 people, with beds and blankets; showers and toilets are in a shared building. If you prefer, the night can be spent in a guesthouse in Nurata.

What is the food like? Can you cater for special diets?

Uzbek cooking is generous: plov, soups, kebabs, bread from the tandyr oven, vegetables and seasonal fruit. Vegetarian menus and allergies are catered for if you tell us when you book. Uzbek wine and beer are served in most restaurants.

What is the weather like, and what should I wear?

April, May, September and October are mild, 15–28 °C in the daytime. March and late October are cooler, 5–18 °C, so bring a jacket. Desert nights are cool in every season. In mosques and mausoleums shoulders and knees are covered; good walking shoes are essential.

Do I need vaccinations?

No vaccinations are required for Uzbekistan. Routine vaccinations should be up to date; ask your doctor for advice. Travel insurance with repatriation cover is strongly recommended.

How big is a group? Can we travel on other dates?

Each departure takes up to 20 travellers. Private groups and dates are possible: tell us the month you have in mind and we will plan around the flight days.

Do you work with travel agencies?

Yes. Agencies book at net rates on the Mitra Travel B2B platform, or choose “Travel agency” in the form below and we will send access.

Mausoleum of Imam al-Maturidi, Samarkand

Uzbekistan awaits your travellers

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Travel agents: book net rates on the Mitra Travel B2B platform.