Stand in Samarkand’s Registan Square
Cities of the Silk Road
Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara & Khiva
Trace the exchange of ideas, faith, science and trade through Uzbekistan’s legendary cities.
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About this trip
Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara & Khiva
Uzbekistan’s great cities reveal how trade routes moved far more than goods. Students encounter architecture, astronomy, scholarship and beliefs shaped by centuries of exchange.
Rail journeys, bazaars, desert roads and walled cities connect local stories with wider themes of migration, empire, innovation and interdependence.
Why this journey?
A journey beyond the classroom
- Stand in Samarkand’s Registan Square
- Explore mosques, madrasahs and mausoleums
- Discover Ulugh Beg’s scientific legacy
- Walk through Bukhara’s trading domes
- Cross the Kyzylkum Desert
- Explore Khiva’s walled city
DID YOU KNOW?
The experience
Highlights of the journey
Meaningful places selected for their educational value and cultural significance.
Tashkent
01
Explore mosques, madrasahs and mausoleums
Samarkand
02
Discover Ulugh Beg’s scientific legacy
Bukhara
03
Walk through Bukhara’s trading domes
Khiva
04
8 days of discovery
Suggested itinerary
This itinerary can be adapted around your curriculum, group requirements and preferred travel dates.
Day 1
Welcome to Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent and explore the Khast Imam Complex, including historic mosques, madrasahs and mausoleums. Visit Chorsu Bazaar, Independence Square and the Earthquake Memorial to compare the city’s traditional and modern identities.
Day 2
Tashkent to Samarkand
Travel by high-speed train to Samarkand. Explore Registan Square, Siyob Bazaar, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Ulugh Beg Observatory, Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum and the beautifully decorated Shah-i-Zinda necropolis.
Day 3
Samarkand’s Cultural Heritage
Visit the Afrasiab Museum to see ancient murals reflecting connections between Persia, Central Asia and China. Continue to the Tomb of Saint Daniel before travelling onwards to Bukhara.
Day 4
Historic Bukhara
Walk through Bukhara’s historic centre, visiting the Kalyan Minaret and Mosque, ancient madrasahs, trading domes and the Lyabi-Hauz ensemble. Discover how commerce and scholarship made the city an important Silk Road centre.
Day 5
Palaces and Sacred Sites
Explore the Ark Fortress, Bolo Hauz Mosque, Samanid Mausoleum and Chashma Ayub. Continue to the former summer palace of Bukhara’s emirs and the memorial complex of Bahouddin Naqshbandi.
Day 6
Across the Kyzylkum Desert
Travel across the Kyzylkum Desert along a route once followed by Silk Road caravans. Observe the changing landscape before arriving within Khiva’s historic walled city, Ichan Kala.
Day 7
The Walled City of Khiva
Explore Khiva’s madrasahs, mosques, minarets, palaces and fortifications, including Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque and Kunya-Ark. Later, transfer to Urgench Airport for the return flight to Tashkent.
Day 8
Departure from Tashkent
Transfer to Tashkent International Airport for the journey home, concluding an exploration of the cities, scholars and trade routes that connected East and West.
This is a suggested itinerary. The order of activities may change according to flight schedules, local conditions and availability. Your Pathfinder specialist will confirm all timings and visits in the final programme.
TRIP AT A GLANCE
MADE FOR YOUR
SCHOOL
Stay
7 nights selected hotels
Transport
Coach, rail & flight
Guides
English-speaking
Programme
Fully adaptable
Uzbekistan
Trace the exchange of ideas, faith, science and trade through Uzbekistan’s legendary cities.
YOUR TRIP PACKAGE
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Return international flights, including taxes
- Carefully selected accommodation
- Breakfast and evening meals
- Private airport transfers and in-destination coach travel
- Experienced English-speaking local guides
- Guided visits and activities shown in the confirmed itinerary
- Pre-departure planning and a detailed information pack
- Free staff places based on the agreed group size
Not included: travel insurance, visas where required, personal spending, optional activities and tips. Your final quotation will clearly confirm all inclusions.
Learning beyond the classroom
Designed to support curriculum learning
Guided visits encourage students to question, reflect and connect places with classroom studies.
Investigate evidence, chronology and the ways the past shapes modern communities.
History
01
Explore landscapes, settlement, tourism and relationships between people and place.
Geography
02
Encounter sacred architecture, shared heritage and cultural identity.
Religious Studies
03
Develop respectful enquiry, independence and responsible global citizenship.
Citizenship
04
Students will return with…
Stronger subject knowledge
Improved confidence and teamwork
Greater cultural awareness and empathy
Memories that bring learning to life
Teacher reassurance
Planned with care. Supported throughout.
Student wellbeing sits at the heart of every Pathfinder journey. We work with school leaders and experienced local partners to create a safe and rewarding programme.
01
Risk-aware planning
Information and support for school risk assessments.
02
Trusted partners
Experienced guides, accommodation and transport.
03
Group requirements
Support with dietary, medical and accessibility needs.
04
Before you travel
Dedicated planning and detailed final information.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can the itinerary be adapted?
Yes. We can adjust the programme to suit your curriculum focus, preferred pace, group needs and available budget.
Are free teacher places available?
Free staff places are available according to the agreed pupil-to-staff ratio and will be confirmed in your quotation.
Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Most dietary requirements and allergies can be accommodated when provided to us well before departure.
When should we book?
We recommend enquiring as early as possible, particularly for larger groups or specific travel dates. This gives your school the best choice of flights and accommodation.
Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School
"Working with Hisham and the Pathfinder Trips team made organising our school trip incredibly straightforward. Every detail was carefully planned, communication was excellent throughout, and the itinerary was perfectly tailored to our students. Their professionalism and attention to detail gave us complete confidence, allowing both staff and students to enjoy an unforgettable educational experience from start to finish."
Tauheedul Islam Boys
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Ready to book?
Where will the classroom take you?
Tell us about your school, preferred dates and group size. Our educational travel specialists will create a tailored itinerary and quotation.
Explore Beyond The Classroom
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Address
41 Victoria Street, Blackburn, England, BB1 6DN
Connect
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- Tiktok
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