Uzbekistan
🔒 Secure checkout with Stripe
Sleep in a former madrasa inside Khiva’s ancient walls. Roll bright green noodles in the kitchen of a family descended from the Khan’s secretary. Wake up in a mountain village where nearly every homestay is named for the woman who runs it, and bake your breakfast bread in a clay oven. Uzbekistan is the Silk Road before the crowds found it: turquoise domes, bazaars stacked with pomegranates and some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet. Book March and you’ll land in the middle of Navruz, the spring New Year, when families pack the old cities with music and dancing until late. Our last group got pulled right into it.
Inclusions
Handpicked stays
Boutique hotels in Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand, a former madrasa inside Khiva’s old walls and a night with a family in the Nuratau mountains.
15 meals
9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 5 dinners, including a green-noodle cooking class with a Khiva family, a folklore dinner in a madrasa courtyard and plov you cook yourself in the mountains.
All activities, included
- ✓A green-noodle cooking class with a Khiva family
- ✓A night in a former madrasa inside Khiva’s walls
- ✓Time with Bukhara’s women entrepreneurs
- ✓A folklore dinner at the Nodir Devonbegi madrasa
- ✓A night in a mountain homestay, with plov you cook yourself
- ✓Baking bread in a clay oven
- ✓Making silk paper in Konigil
- ✓A tasting at Uzbekistan’s oldest winery
- ✓Registan Square
- ✓Shah-i-Zinda
- ✓The Kalon Minaret
- ✓The high-speed train back to Tashkent
A local female guide
Nazira leads you from the welcome dinner to the farewell. She’s been guiding for over 15 years, and our travelers say she’s a big part of why they felt so at home.
All transport
Airport pickup when you land, a private air-conditioned minibus, the flight from Tashkent to Urgench and the high-speed train from Samarkand back to Tashkent.
A matched roommate
Our compatibility quiz pairs you with someone you’ll actually click with. Want your own space? Private rooms are available.
Most tips
Driver, porter, housekeeping and restaurant tips are all covered, so you’re not fumbling for som at every stop. Tipping your guide is up to you.
Highlights
Sleep in a mountain homestay
Cook plov with your hosts in Ukhum village, then bake your breakfast bread in their clay oven
Cook green noodles with a Khiva family
The Abdullayev family, descendants of the Khan’s secretary, teach you shivit oshi in their home inside the old walls
Sit down with Bukhara’s women entrepreneurs
An honest conversation about women’s lives in Uzbekistan, then the workshops they built
Make silk paper by hand
Lift the frame of mulberry pulp in Konigil village, the way it was done on the Silk Road
Taste wine at Uzbekistan’s oldest winery
Local wines, brandies and the famous Samarkand balsam at Khovrenko, making wine since 1868
Sleep in a mountain homestay
Cook plov with your hosts in Ukhum village, then bake your breakfast bread in their clay oven
Cook green noodles with a Khiva family
The Abdullayev family, descendants of the Khan’s secretary, teach you shivit oshi in their home inside the old walls
Sit down with Bukhara’s women entrepreneurs
An honest conversation about women’s lives in Uzbekistan, then the workshops they built
Make silk paper by hand
Lift the frame of mulberry pulp in Konigil village, the way it was done on the Silk Road
Taste wine at Uzbekistan’s oldest winery
Local wines, brandies and the famous Samarkand balsam at Khovrenko, making wine since 1868
Your Itinerary
Pick a day to see where you are and what you’ll do.
AFTERNOONLand at Tashkent (TAS) and look for the SoFe sign. Our representative is waiting just outside customs to take you to your hotel. Check in, shower off the flight and rest up.
EVENINGMeet the women you’ll spend the next 10 days with at 6pm, then sit down to your first Uzbek dinner: warm bread, fresh herbs and maybe your new favorite dumpling.
Dinner
MORNINGStart at the Khast Imam complex, home to what’s believed to be the world’s oldest Quran, then wander Chorsu Bazaar under its giant turquoise dome, past pyramids of spices and stacks of fresh bread.
AFTERNOONGrab a plov lunch at Beshqozon, see Independence Square and ride the Tashkent metro, where every station looks like a Soviet palace. Finish at the Museum of Applied Arts.
EVENINGSpend the evening your way. Your guide is happy to point you to dinner or an optional activity.
Breakfast
MORNINGCatch an early flight west to Urgench, then drive 35 minutes to Khiva, a walled city that looks pulled from an ancient epic. Drop your bags at your hotel, a former madrasa inside the old walls.
AFTERNOONExplore Ichon-Qala, the UNESCO-listed old town, with a local guide who brings its khans, scholars and silk traders back to life.
EVENINGStep into the historic home of the Abdullayev family, descendants of the Khan’s secretary, and roll up your sleeves. Shivit oshi, Khiva’s signature dish, gets its bright green color from fresh dill worked right into the dough. Knead it, roll it thin and cut the noodles by hand, then sit down with the family and eat them the local way, topped with a rich stew and a spoonful of yogurt.
Breakfast, dinner
MORNINGHit the old Silk Road trade route across the red sands of the Kyzyl-Kum, about 6 hours of desert, with a stop to stretch your legs at the Amudarya river.
AFTERNOONRoll into Bukhara and check into a restored merchant’s house in the old town.
EVENINGSip tea under the mulberry trees at Lyabi-Hauz or wander the trading domes at your own pace. The evening is yours.
Breakfast
MORNINGFollow your guide through Bukhara’s old town to the Kalon Minaret, once nicknamed the Tower of Death, and the tilework of the Mir-i-Arab madrasa.
AFTERNOONExplore the Ark Fortress, the royal stronghold at the heart of the old city.
EVENINGFind a quiet courtyard for dinner as the city turns gold. The evening is yours.
Breakfast
MORNINGVisit shops and workshops run by local women, from jewelers at their benches to traditional fabrics made by hand, and hear how each of them got started.
AFTERNOONPull up a chair with members of the Women Entrepreneurs Union and ask them anything: how they built their businesses, what’s changed for women in Uzbekistan and what hasn’t. Feeling creative? Add a calligraphy and miniature painting class.
EVENINGTake your seat in the candlelit courtyard of the Nodir Devonbegi madrasa, built in 1622, for dinner and a show: live musicians and dancers in bright traditional costume. Afterward, walk back through the old town with the Kalon Minaret lit up against the night sky.
Breakfast, dinner
MORNINGLeave Bukhara behind for the Nuratau mountains, about 5 hours by road, as the flat desert gives way to green valleys and peaks.
AFTERNOONArrive in Ukhum, a village where nearly every homestay is named for the woman who runs it, and settle into Ulugbek’s family guesthouse. Eat a home-cooked lunch, then walk the village lanes, drink tea under the fruit trees and keep an eye out for horses running free in the hills.
EVENINGCook plov, Uzbekistan’s national dish, side by side with your hosts: rice slow-cooked with carrots and onions in a big cast-iron pot, with vegetables from their garden and wild herbs from the mountain. Then eat it together around their table.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
MORNINGJoin your hosts at the clay oven to make non, Uzbekistan’s round flatbread. Mix and shape the dough, press a pattern into the center with a bread stamp, then slap it onto the hot oven wall and pull it out crisp and steaming. Eat it straight away, then drive on to Samarkand.
AFTERNOONStand in Registan Square between its three tiled madrasas, then visit Gur-e-Amir, the resting place of Amir Timur, and the Bibi-Khanum mosque.
EVENINGBrowse Siyob Bazaar for spices and dried fruit before the evening is yours.
Breakfast
MORNINGWalk the avenue of blue-tiled tombs at Shah-i-Zinda, then visit Ulugbek’s 15th-century observatory, where an astronomer king mapped the stars with stunning accuracy.
AFTERNOONHead to Konigil village, where silk paper is still made the Silk Road way. Watch mulberry bark get boiled down to pulp, then lift a frame of it out of the water yourself, press your sheet and lay it out to dry. Then raise a glass at Khovrenko, Uzbekistan’s oldest winery. It traces back to 1868, when a Russian merchant named Filatov reportedly followed the Tsar’s troops into Central Asia with a camel caravan full of alcohol. Taste your way through local wines and brandies, with the winery’s gold medals on display, and finish with a shot of the dark, herbal Samarkand balsam. Afterward, board the high-speed train back to Tashkent, about 2 hours.
EVENINGToast the trip at the farewell dinner.
Breakfast, dinner
MORNINGLinger over one last breakfast and a lot of hugs. Checkout is at noon, and you can fly out of Tashkent (TAS) any time. Your guide can help you book an airport transfer.
Breakfast
From $3,500 · 10 days · Max 14 women · $550 holds your spot
Where you’ll stay
BUKHARA · 3 NIGHTS
Komil Boutique Hotel
A restored 19th-century Jewish merchant’s home in Bukhara’s old town, with carved wood, inner courtyards and the original details still in place. It’s now a boutique hotel run by a local entrepreneur, a few steps from the main sights.
NURATAU MOUNTAINS · 1 NIGHT
Ulugbek’s Homestay
A family guesthouse in Ukhum village. It’s technically a homestay, but it feels more like a private Airbnb: comfortable rooms, home-cooked meals and hosts who pull you up a seat at their table. Bring proper shoes for the mountain paths.
TASHKENT · 3 NIGHTS
Hotel Ichan Qala Premium
Your base at the start and end of the trip. Grand without being flashy, with tiled courtyards, big beds and a sauna for working out the jet lag.
Roommates, matched
Our compatibility quiz, built with a matchmaker and psychologist, pairs you with someone you’ll actually click with. Or upgrade to a private room.
Who you’ll travel with
Up to 13 other women, most of whom booked on their own. They range from 28 to 88, and it’s the bazaar haggling, plov debates and late-night walks through Bukhara that bond you. 92% of our travelers say they keep in touch after the trip ends.
✓Meet your group on WhatsApp before you fly
✓A welcome dinner on night one, with your guide making the introductions
✓Solo time built in, so you’re never forced to be “on”
“From the very first night, I knew this was going to be special.”
Tomoko S. · Uzbekistan
The people behind your trip
Your guide
Nazira
Nazira has been guiding for over 15 years and has a gift for connecting the Silk Road’s past to everyday life now, with a great sense of humor along the way. Off the clock, you’ll find her horseback riding, hiking in the mountains, reading or studying another language. Her motto: “Traveling is learning, exploring and discovering yourself.”
Founder
Amanda Black
After getting robbed as a backpacker, Amanda vowed no woman traveling alone should ever feel that stranded. Since 2018 and hundreds of group trips, she’s still keeping that promise.
Behind the scenes
Our operations team
You’ll see Nazira and our local guides. Behind them, our team follows every day of your trip to keep you safe and on track.
What women say about SoFe
★★★★★ 4.7 on Trustpilot · Read all reviews
★★★★★
“I have never been in a country where I felt safer.”
Sophie M.
Uzbekistan
★★★★★
“The whole trip has been my favorite of the three I’ve taken with SoFe.”
Crystal B.
Uzbekistan
★★★★★
“Celebrating Nowruz there is magical and should not be missed.”
Jamie W.
Uzbekistan
Your Safety on tour
Never on your own, unless you want to be
“From the moment I met our awesome guide, Nazira, I knew we were all going to be in good hands.”
Faye H. · Uzbekistan
A local female guide, every day
We meet you at the airport
Private transport, vetted routes
Pre-trip guides, so you land prepared
Guides who handle the hassle so you don’t have to
One guide in front, a whole team behind her
“From the moment I met our awesome guide, Nazira, I knew we were all going to be in good hands.”
Faye H. · Uzbekistan
Choose your departure
$550 holds your spot
It comes off your total.
Pay at your pace
As much and as often as you like. Balance due 90 days out.
Plans change? Transfer for free
Move your spot to another date or trip with 90+ days’ notice.
Per person, USD · Other currencies at checkout · 🔒 Secure checkout with Stripe
Loading trips...
Uzbekistan March 16 - 25, 2027
Uzbekistan Sept 10 - 19, 2027
Questions women ask before booking
Is this trip right for me?
Long days, long drives. Two days have 5 to 6 hours on the road, and some mornings start early. Our travelers say it’s worth every minute, but if you get car sick, bring meds.
Culture-heavy, in the best way. Mosques, madrasas, bazaars and time with locals. If you want a beach and a cocktail, this isn’t that trip.
Modest dress. No need to cover your hair, but keep shoulders, cleavage and knees covered in the old cities and the village. A light scarf comes in handy.
March means Navruz. You’ll celebrate the spring New Year with locals, though a few workshops close for the holiday.
How active is this trip?
Easy. You’ll be on your feet for hours in the old cities, with plenty of breaks. The paths around the mountain village are uneven, so bring proper walking shoes.
You travel by private air-conditioned minibus, one short flight and a high-speed train, so there’s no hauling bags around.
Where do I arrive and leave from?
Arrive: Tashkent (TAS), any time on day one. Our representative meets you just outside customs with a SoFe sign. We recommend landing by 3pm so you’re settled for the welcome meeting at 6pm.
Leave: Tashkent (TAS), any time on the last day. Checkout is at noon. You fly in and out of the same airport, so a round-trip ticket works.
Do I have to share a room?
Only if you want to. Twin-share rooms are included in the price, or you can upgrade to a private room. If you share, you’ll take our roommate compatibility quiz, built with a professional matchmaker and psychologist, and we pair you with someone who fits how you travel: early riser or night owl, social butterfly or quiet recharger.
Will we stay in the places shown on this page?
Usually, yes. These are the places we book. Now and then one is unavailable, and we swap it for a stay of the same standard or better.
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your passport. US and UK citizens can visit visa-free for up to 30 days. Other nationalities, including Canada and Australia, should check the latest rules, since some need an e-visa.
Once you book, we’ll walk you through exactly what you need, step by step, until you land in Tashkent.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, travel insurance is required for every traveler. When you book your spot, you can add a plan from our preferred insurance partner in a couple of clicks, or choose your own provider and add your policy details any time before departure.
What’s not included?
International flights.
Travel insurance, which is required.
Visa fees, if your passport needs one.
Tips for your guide.
Your airport drop-off on the last day.
Lunches, other than the one at the homestay.
Drinks, other than the wine tasting and one at the welcome and farewell dinners.
Optional extras, like the calligraphy and miniature painting class.
What if I need to cancel?
90 or more days before departure: we’ll transfer your deposit to another SoFe trip, any date or any destination. Or we’ll hold it for up to a year until you’re ready to choose.
Fewer than 90 days before departure: payments are non-refundable, so you’d claim through your travel insurance. That’s exactly what it’s there for.
How much luggage can I bring?
One checked bag and a carry-on. The flight from Tashkent to Urgench allows 23 kg (50 lbs) checked and 8 kg (17 lbs) carry-on, and anything over that is charged at the airport.
You’ll also lift your bag onto the train, so pack something you can manage on your own.
Everything you need before you go
Visas, money and tipping, what to wear in the old cities, and what to expect at the homestay.
Your spot is waiting.
From $3,500 · 10 days · Max 14 women · $550 holds your spot
🔒 Secure checkout with Stripe