History Tour
Bukhara Tours
Uzbekistan
Bukhara has the most complete old town in Central Asia: more than 140 listed monuments in a centre you can walk across, from the 10th-century Samanid mausoleum to 19th-century madrasahs, around the Lyabi-Hauz pool where the town gathers in the evening.
Plan two days to see it unhurried, three with the summer palace of the last emirs and the craft workshops. Bukhara is an hour and a half from Samarkand by train and six to seven hours across the desert from Khiva.
What to see in Bukhara
Po-i-Kalyan
The Kalyan Minaret of 1127, the great mosque and the Mir-i-Arab madrasah; the minaret is said to have been spared by Genghis Khan.
Ark Fortress
The walled citadel of the rulers of Bukhara for more than a thousand years.
Lyabi-Hauz
A pool shaded by mulberry trees, with the Nadir Divan-Begi madrasah and teahouses around it.
Samanid Mausoleum
A small brick tomb from the 10th century, one of the oldest buildings in Central Asia.
Trade domes
Covered bazaars from the 16th century, still selling carpets, suzani embroidery, knives and spices.
Sitorai Mohi-Hosa
The summer palace of the last emir, a mix of Russian and Uzbek styles, just outside town.
Day trips and short tours: Bukhara
History Tour
City Tour
Hiking TourSamarkand – Asraf – Uhum – Bukhara, Uzbekistan
NewNuratau Hiking: 2 Days
2 Days / 1 Night
from $135/ person
History TourBukhara, Uzbekistan
NewAround Bukhara: Palace & Shrines
Half day (4–5 hours)
from $35/ person
Hiking & Desert TourSamarkand – Nuratau – Aydarkul – Bukhara, Uzbekistan
NewNuratau & Aydarkul: 3 Days
3 Days / 2 Nights
from $200/ person
Hiking & Desert TourSamarkand – Nuratau – Aydarkul – Bukhara, Uzbekistan
NewNuratau & Aydarkul: 4 Days
4 Days / 3 Nights
from $275/ person
Multi-day tours through Bukhara
Classic TourTashkent – Khiva – Bukhara – Samarkand, Uzbekistan
NewClassic Uzbekistan: 8 Days
8 Days / 7 Nights
from $1,050/ person
Family TourTashkent – Bukhara – Samarkand, Uzbekistan
NewFamily Tour: 6 Days
6 Days / 5 Nights
from $975/ person
Culture & Desert TourTashkent – Samarkand – Aydarkul – Bukhara, Uzbekistan
NewSilk Road & Yurt Camp: 7 Days
7 Days / 6 Nights
from $999/ person
Expedition TourTashkent – Nukus – Khiva – Bukhara – Samarkand, Uzbekistan
NewAral Sea & Silk Road: 9 Days
9 Days / 8 Nights
from $1,495/ person
Culture & Desert TourTashkent – Samarkand – Nuratau – Bukhara – Khiva, Uzbekistan
NewSilk Road & Nuratau: 10 Days
10 Days / 9 Nights
from $1,275/ person
Grand TourTashkent – Samarkand – Seven Lakes – Nuratau – Bukhara – Khiva, Uzbekistan & Tajikistan
NewUzbekistan & Tajikistan: 14 Days
14 Days / 13 Nights
from $1,795/ person
Upcoming group departures
Join a small group on a fixed date, with a local guide in every city.
- Mon 30 Nov – Mon 7 Dec 2026Classic Uzbekistan: 8 Days8 Days / 7 Nights 12 seats left$1,190 / personBook a seat
- Mon 14 Dec – Mon 21 Dec 2026Classic Uzbekistan: 8 Days8 Days / 7 Nights 12 seats left$1,190 / personBook a seat
- Mon 28 Dec – Mon 4 Jan 2027Classic Uzbekistan: 8 Days8 Days / 7 Nights 12 seats left$1,190 / personBook a seat
Read more about Bukhara
Where to eat
Where to Eat in Bukhara: 9 Restaurants in and Around the Old Town
Dinner in a caravanserai, plov by the Lyabi-Hauz pond and sunset terraces facing the Kalon Minaret: where to eat in Bukhara.
3 min read
Food & culture
Shopping in Bukhara: Crafts, Textiles and Meaningful Souvenirs
Discover what to shop for in Bukhara and how to choose authentic, useful and responsible Uzbek souvenirs.
1 min read
Destinations
Samarkand to Bukhara: How to Plan the Journey
A practical guide to traveling between two of Uzbekistan's most important historic cities and making the most of the route.
1 min read
Destinations
Bukhara: A 2,000+ Year-Old Silk Road City
Why the historic center feels like an open-air history book.
1 min read
Frequently asked questions
›How many days do I need in Bukhara?
Two days for the old town at an easy pace; a third for the summer palace, the Chor-Minor and a craft workshop.
›How do I get from Samarkand to Bukhara?
By the Afrosiyob train in about an hour and a half, or by car in about four hours, with stops on the way.
›Can I walk around Bukhara?
Yes. Almost all the sights are within twenty minutes' walk of Lyabi-Hauz.
›Can I combine Bukhara with Khiva?
Yes, by car across the Kyzylkum desert (six to seven hours) or by train; many of our multi-day tours do.