Trip to Samarkand and Bukhara

Silkroad Rally 2025: Uzbekistan - Magical Samarkand & Bukhara

After the wild expanse of Turkmenistan, we enter the heart of the old Silk Road: Uzbekistan. With its fairytale towns, historic caravanserais and turquoise blue domes, this stage feels like a journey through time. Probably the two most impressive cities in the country - Samarkand and Bukhara - await us with a mix of oriental splendor and vibrant culture.

Samarkand: The pearl of the Silk Road

Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world and was once the center of Tamerlan's empire. Its impressive architecture and centuries of history make it one of the highlights of the entire rally.

Must-sees in Samarkand:

• Registan Square - the city's landmark with its three magnificent medreses

• Gur Emir Mausoleum - the final resting place of Tamerlan, one of the most beautiful mausoleums in Central Asia

• Bibi Chanum Mosque - once one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world

• Shah-i-Sinda necropolis - a fascinating street of mausoleums with intricate mosaics

• Siab Bazaar - a lively market, perfect for sampling spices, dried fruit and traditional bread

Bukhara: City of caravanserais

After Samarkand we continue to Bukharaa city that has been an important commercial and cultural center for more than 2,000 years. It is known for its over 140 preserved buildings from the Silk Road era and an atmosphere that immediately transports travelers back to centuries past.

Highlights in Bukhara:

• Poi-Kalon complex - with the imposing Kalon Minaret and the Kalon Mosque

• Ark Fortress - the former residence of the rulers of Bukhara

• Labi-Hauz - a beautiful square with medreses and a water basin as the center of city life

• Choir Minor - a small, charming building with four striking minarets

• The caravanserais - Old trading posts where traders from all over the world used to stay overnight

Setting off into the vastness of Central Asia

Uzbekistan has always been a crossroads on the Silk Road, and it also marks an important section of our rally. After Samarkand and Bukhara, we are drawn further east, deeper and deeper into the heart of Central Asia.

Join us on this epic adventure!