Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Begin with the Delhi–Tashkent flight, allowing roughly 6–9 hours door-to-door: arrive at Delhi airport well ahead of your booked departure, then budget for the flight, immigration, baggage collection, and the transfer into central Tashkent. A pre-arranged airport pickup is worthwhile, especially if you arrive late; otherwise use an official taxi or a reputable ride-hailing app rather than accepting unsolicited offers in the arrivals hall. Keep your hotel address in Russian or Uzbek, and allow extra time for check-in if your flight is delayed.
Once settled, take an easy orientation walk at Amir Timur Square, the city’s leafy central landmark, for about 45 minutes. From here, continue along Broadway Street (Sayilgoh), a pedestrian promenade lined with cafés, small stalls, street performers, and evening walkers. This is a good first taste of Tashkent without trying to cover too much; expect the short walk between the square and Broadway to take around 5–10 minutes. In November, bring a light jacket for the after-dark stroll.
For dinner, take a taxi to Plov Center, near the Minor Mosque—allow approximately 15–25 minutes from central Tashkent depending on traffic. Arrive before the main evening rush if possible, as the day’s plov can sell out and the atmosphere is busiest around mealtimes. A generous plate usually costs around US$5–10, with salads and tea extra. Afterward, walk to Minor Mosque, whose white-marble façade is particularly peaceful in the evening. Allow about 45 minutes, but treat entry as conditional around prayer times; dress modestly, remove shoes where requested, and follow staff guidance on visitor areas. The mosque and Plov Center are close enough to combine comfortably, though you may prefer a taxi back to the hotel afterward.
After arriving in Samarkand, leave your bags at your hotel and take a taxi to Registan; allow about 20–30 minutes from the railway station, depending on traffic. Give the square a relaxed two hours: enter the three madrasas, look closely at the restored blue tilework, and climb only where access is clearly permitted. Tickets and opening arrangements can change, so check the official local ticket office or your hotel before setting out; allow a little time for queues, particularly in the morning. Entry is generally inexpensive, but exact prices vary.
From Registan, walk roughly 15 minutes through the old centre toward Bibi-Khanym Mosque, allowing an hour to appreciate its enormous scale and the surviving Timurid masonry. Continue a few minutes to Siab Bazaar for lunch and local grazing: try the still-warm round bread, dried apricots, raisins, and spice stalls rather than planning a formal restaurant meal. The market is liveliest earlier in the day and commonly winds down by late afternoon; carry small Uzbek som notes and ask before photographing vendors.
After the bazaar, take a short taxi ride toward Shah-i-Zinda in the Afrosiyob area—usually 10–15 minutes, though traffic can stretch that. Spend around 90 minutes walking the necropolis slowly; the narrow passage of mausoleums is the day’s most intimate architectural experience. Wear clothing covering shoulders and knees, and verify the current entry rules at the gate, as access and photography policies can change. Keep some energy for the steps and uneven paving.
Finish with plov at a local Samarkand restaurant near the central market, ideally arriving before the evening rush because the best batches can sell out. Expect approximately US$5–12 per person for a substantial meal; portions are generous, so one shared plate plus salad and tea may be enough for two light eaters. A taxi back to your hotel is easiest after dinner—use a registered ride-hailing service or have the restaurant call one, and keep tomorrow’s early departure in mind if you are continuing to Bukhara.
After the morning train from Samarkand, allow roughly 45–60 minutes from Bukhara railway station into the historic centre by taxi, including finding your driver and hotel check-in or luggage drop. Yandex Go is usually the easiest option where available; agree on the destination rather than accepting inflated station offers. Start at Lyabi-Hauz, the atmospheric pool at the heart of the Old Town, where mulberry trees shade the terraces and madrasa façades. Give yourself about an hour to settle into Bukhara’s slower rhythm before walking through the lanes to Magoki-Attori Mosque, one of the city’s oldest surviving religious buildings. Entry and access can vary with restoration work and prayer times, so check locally and dress modestly.
Continue on foot through the covered Trading Domes, roughly 10 minutes away. The route is compact and pedestrian-friendly, with stalls selling embroidered suzani textiles, carved wood, ceramics, and small spice gifts; bargain politely, but do not feel obliged to buy. Allow an hour here, preferably before the hottest part of the afternoon. Another 10-minute walk brings you to the Poi-Kalyan Complex, where the towering minaret, Kalyan Mosque, and Mir-i-Arab Madrasa form Bukhara’s most dramatic ensemble. Spend around 90 minutes viewing the tiled courtyards and surrounding lanes. Confirm mosque and madrasa access on arrival, since religious services, restoration, or local rules may restrict entry; typical monument tickets are often in the tens of thousands of UZS, but prices can change.
Return toward Lyabi-Hauz for dinner at Minzifa Restaurant, a short walk from the square. Its rooftop setting is particularly pleasant around sunset, with views across the old-town roofs; reserve or arrive early if you want a terrace table. Expect approximately US$10–20 per person for Uzbek dishes such as plov, manti, or shashlik, plus drinks. Keep the evening unhurried—Bukhara is at its best after the day-trippers leave—then walk back through the softly lit lanes to your hotel. If you are continuing to Khiva by overnight train, leave plenty of margin after dinner for collecting luggage and reaching the station; confirm the sleeper departure and station-transfer arrangements locally rather than relying on a tight connection.
After arriving early from Bukhara, leave your bags at your guesthouse inside or just outside Itchan Kala and start exploring while the lanes are still quiet. Allow about an hour to wander through the UNESCO-listed walled city, entering through the western gate near Kalta Minor Minaret and taking in the mud-brick walls, blue-tiled facades, wood-carved doors, and small craft stalls before tour groups arrive. A combined ticket for the main monuments is commonly sold at the western gate, but prices and inclusions can change; carry cash in Uzbek som and ask exactly what it covers.
Continue on foot to Kunya-Ark Citadel, roughly five minutes away. Give it about 90 minutes for the courtyards, former khan’s rooms, mosque, and climb to the viewpoint—this is one of the best places to understand how compact Khiva is. Wear shoes with a firm grip for the uneven steps, and check locally whether the viewpoint or any individual section is open that morning, as monument access can vary.
After a short walk through the lanes, visit Juma Mosque, allowing around 45 minutes. Its forest of carved wooden columns is particularly atmospheric in the softer midday light; dress modestly and keep your voice low, as it remains a functioning religious space. From here, continue through Itchan Kala to Tosh-Hovli Palace, about a 10-minute walk, for an hour among richly tiled courtyards and reception halls. The palace is best enjoyed slowly—look for the differences in tile patterns and carved woodwork rather than rushing between rooms. Most central sights operate roughly from morning until late afternoon, but confirm same-day hours at the ticket office, especially outside the main season.
Finish at Terrassa Café & Restaurant, near Kalta Minor Minaret, for a relaxed dinner and views across the rooftops of Itchan Kala. Budget approximately US$10–20 per person; the terrace is the reason to come, so request an outdoor table and arrive before sunset if you want the skyline changing from warm brick to evening blue. Khiva’s old town becomes wonderfully calm after the day-trippers leave—take one final unhurried loop around the western gate and the minaret before returning to your accommodation.
Treat this as a travel morning rather than another sightseeing block. Check out of your guesthouse in Itchan Kala with enough time to settle any cash balance, collect luggage, and arrange a pre-booked car to Urgench Airport. The road transfer itself is often around 40–60 minutes, but allow 1–1.5 hours door to door for checkout, loading bags, and possible city traffic. Leave at least three hours before your booked departure, especially if you are making an international connection. Confirm whether your bags are checked through to Delhi; if the itinerary uses separate tickets, you may need to collect and re-check them.
At Urgench Airport, expect a compact terminal but allow time for check-in, baggage procedures, security, and—where applicable—passport control. Facilities are limited, so bring water and a small snack after security rather than relying on a full meal. Keep your passport, boarding passes, accommodation details, and proof of onward travel accessible. The Urgench–Delhi journey commonly takes 8–12 or more hours door to door, depending on the connection and transfer time; verify the exact routing, baggage allowance, and whether you must change terminals or re-clear security before leaving Uzbekistan. If your connection is in another country, check its transit-visa rules in advance, particularly if you are travelling on separate tickets.
No packing list attached yet.