Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and the villages between

Book Uzbekistan with the people who live there.

Guides, workshops and stays from 7 verified local hosts. You send a request, the host confirms it, and nothing is charged online.

Often booked: Bukhara Culinary Masterclass: Somsa & Shashlik, Khiva Ancient Walls Evening Walk, Tashkent Plov Center Tasting

Where to go

The regions our team suggests first, then every region on the map and places worth a stop.

All 8 regions

Samarkand

4 experiences · from 85,000 soʻm

The jewel of the Silk Road, home to the turquoise domes of Registan Square.

Bukhara
3 experiences · from 95,000 soʻm
A living museum-city of madrasas, minarets, and centuries-old trading domes.
Khiva
3 experiences · from 80,000 soʻm
A fortified desert city where the entire walled inner town is a UNESCO site.
Nurata & the Kyzylkum Desert
5 experiences · from 110,000 soʻm
Desert camps, camel treks, and the surprising blue of man-made Lake Aydarkul.

Every region on the map

Worth a stop

Parks, museums and places to eat. No booking needed.

All 35 places

Afrosiyob Museum
History and culture · Samarkand
Open: 9:00 - 17:00
Al Pari Terrace
Food · Bukhara
Entry: Based on preference
Anjirzor, Bog‘i Baland
Nature and outdoors · Samarkand
Open: 07:00–22:00Entry: Based on preference
Bright Gallery
Crafts · Tashkent
Open: Monday–Thursday: 10:00–23:00; Friday–Sunday: 10:00–00:00.Entry: 230,000 sum
Double-decker Bus
Entertainment · Tashkent
Open: 7:00 - 22:00 (Every 30 minutes)Entry: 200,000 sums (Tourists) 125,000 sums (above 12 years for locals) 75,000 sums (Senior for locals)
Buyuk Ipak Yo‘li Muzeyi
History and culture · Samarkand
Open: 09:00–17:00

What's on

Festivals, fairs and exhibitions in the months ahead.

All events

Festival · Boysun, Surkhandarya
Boysun Bahori Spring Festival
Sat 10 Oct – Mon 12 Oct
UNESCO-recognized folk festival in the mountains of Surkhandarya. Traditional dance, music, and rituals passed down for centuries.
Exhibition · Tashkent
Contemporary Art Week Tashkent
Sun 1 Nov – Sat 7 Nov
Tashkent's emerging contemporary art scene on display. Gallery openings, installations, and talks across the capital.
Fair · Rishtan, Fergana Valley
Rishtan Ceramics Fair
Sat 5 Dec – Mon 7 Dec
Annual gathering of Fergana Valley's finest ceramic artists. Watch live demonstrations and purchase unique handmade pieces.

Things to do with local hosts

Workshops, walks, meals and stays, each run by the host you will meet. Book a seat straight from their calendar.

All 27 experiences

Live · Chimgan, local time 15:24 · updated just now

Starting soon, with seats left

16:00
Chimgan Cable Car & Picnic
Chimgan, 3 h
90,000 soʻm≈ $7
Book
16:00
Guided Mountain Trekking
Chimgan, 4 h
220,000 soʻm≈ $17
Book
10:00Tomorrow
Guided Mountain Trekking
Chimgan, 4 h
220,000 soʻm≈ $17
Book
10:00Tomorrow
Chimgan Cable Car & Picnic
Chimgan, 3 h
90,000 soʻm≈ $7
Book

Seats come straight from each host's calendar.

All experiences

Our picks

Chosen by the Safron team and by guests' ratings.

Bukhara · 3 h

Bukhara Culinary Masterclass: Somsa & Shashlik

with Aziz Rahimov

250,000 soʻm≈ $19per guest

Tours · Khiva · 3 h
Ichan-Kala Old Town Guided Tour
with Bahodir Ergashev
130,000 soʻm≈ $10Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 33 reviews
Food · Tashkent · 1 h 30 min
Tashkent Plov Center Tasting
with Sevara Nishonova
70,000 soʻm≈ $5Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 34 reviews
Adventure · Nurata · 2 h
Desert Camel Riding Experience
with Dilshod Nazarov
300,000 soʻm≈ $23Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 27 reviews
Food · Samarkand · 2 h 30 min
Siyob Bazaar Food Tasting Tour
with Rustam Yusupov
100,000 soʻm≈ $8Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 29 reviews
Nature · Chimgan · 6 h
Chimgan Ridgeline Trek
with Malika Tursunova
280,000 soʻm≈ $22Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 21 reviews
Workshops · Rishtan · 2 h 30 min
Ceramic Workshop with a Master Potter
with Aziza Karimova
95,000 soʻm≈ $7Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 18 reviews
Workshops · Samarkand · 2 h
Traditional Tandir Bread Baking
with Rustam Yusupov
150,000 soʻm≈ $12Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 24 reviews
Bazaars · Bukhara · 2 h
Bukhara Trading Domes Bazaar Walk
with Aziz Rahimov
95,000 soʻm≈ $7Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 22 reviews

Meet some of the hosts

Photo needed: Malika Tursunova at work in Chimgan
Malika Tursunova
Adventure guide, Chimgan
Verified host
Photo needed: Aziz Rahimov at work in Bukhara
Aziz Rahimov
Cook, Bukhara
Verified host
Photo needed: Bahodir Ergashev at work in Khiva
Bahodir Ergashev
Guide, Khiva
Verified host
Photo needed: Dilshod Nazarov at work in Nurata
Dilshod Nazarov
Adventure guide, Nurata
Verified host

Multi-day trips by local agencies

Set routes with fixed departure dates. Pick a date with seats left and join the group.

All packages

A package by Sardor Yuldashev, a verified agency

Mountains & Monasteries, 5 Days

5days~420kmfrom 3,200,000 soʻm ≈ $249 per person

Next departure Thu 15 Oct, 8 of 12 seats left

See all 5 days

Nodira AliyevaVerified agency
Desert & Caravanserais, 6 Days
6 days · Nurata
Next departures
Sat 10 Oct, 8 of 8 seats left
Sat 14 Nov, 12 of 12 seats left
Sat 12 Dec, 6 of 6 seats left
from 3,800,001 soʻm≈ $296per guest
Gulnora RashidovaVerified agency
Culinary Uzbekistan, 4 Days
4 days · Samarkand → Fergana → Khiva
Next departures
Tue 20 Oct, 10 of 10 seats left
Wed 4 Nov, 12 of 12 seats left
Wed 2 Dec, 6 of 6 seats left
from 2,450,000 soʻm≈ $191per guest
Sardor YuldashevVerified agency
Fergana Valley Craft Route, 4 Days
4 days · Rishtan → Fergana
Next departures
Sat 24 Oct, 10 of 10 seats left
Sat 28 Nov, 6 of 6 seats left
Sat 26 Dec, 9 of 9 seats left
from 2,100,000 soʻm≈ $163per guest
Nodira AliyevaVerified agency
Classic Silk Road, 7 Days
7 days · Samarkand → Khiva
Next departures
Sat 7 Nov, 14 of 14 seats left
Sat 5 Dec, 8 of 8 seats left
from 4,500,000 soʻm≈ $350per guest

Want a different route? The Coordinator builds one from these hosts' calendars, free.

Before you go

Three things to sort out before you land.

Visa: Citizens of about 90 countries can stay 30 days without a visa. Everyone else applies for an e-visa online, usually ready in 3 working days. Check your country
Getting around: Afrosiyob fast trains link Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara in 2 to 4 hours. In October, book 2 to 3 weeks ahead. Village hosts can send a driver to the station.
Money: Cards work in hotels and city shops; bazaars and villages take cash.
1,285,000 soʻm
At about 12,850 soʻm to the dollar. Safron always shows soʻm first.