KE Land Only package services begin with an early morning airport transfer to the hotel. Rooms are provided for a brief rest and the opportunity to wash and change. The group will meet over breakfast. Afterwards, there is time for sightseeing with our tour leader in the Uzbek capital, including the Tchorsu Bazaar and the Koukeldash Madrasah. Later in the afternoon we return to the airport and fly to Urgench, from where we take a short transfer to our hotel accommodation in the town of Khiva, close to the border with Turkmenistan.

Khiva is an ancient settlement, with a long and turbulent history. There may have been a city on this spot for more than 1500 years. More recently, Khiva was the capital of an important Khanate in the 17th century and was a major Silk Road trading centre. The Ichan Kala (historic centre) has more than 50 important monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums and madrasahs (schools of Koranic learning). On our sightseeing tour we will visit Tosh-Houli Palace and Juma (Friday) Mosque. Later in the day there will be some free time for independent exploration. The ancient city looks particularly magical in the late afternoon as the sun begins to set. This is best viewed from the minaret of the Juma Mosque. We spend a second night at the hotel in Khiva.

Today, we make a reasonably early departure for the drive back east. After the first hour, our road runs alongside the Oxus River, locally known as the Amu Darya. Here we are following in the traces of Alexander the Great, whose army passed this way in 329BC. Turning away from the river, we cut through the striking landscape of the Kizilkum Desert, stopping off for lunch at a roadside restaurant and reaching our guesthouse in Bukhara in the late afternoon. Journey-time will be around 6 - 7 hours.

Bukhara is another important Silk Road city. It is the most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia, with a structure that has remained largely intact. Bukhara was one of the largest cities of Central Asia, owing its prosperity due to its location on a rich oasis at the crossroads of ancient trade routes. It became a major cultural centre of the Caliphate of Baghdad in 709, and in 892 the capital of the independent Samanid Kingdom. It was destroyed in 1220 by the Mongol horde of Genghis Khan. Every stage of the city's history can be glimpsed today. The earliest monuments include the 10th century Ismail Samani Tomb, the decorated brick minaret of Poi-Kalyan from the 11th century, along with the Magok-i-Attari Mosque and the Chasma Ayub Shrine. The Timurid period is represented only by the Ulugbek Madrasah. The most celebrated buildings date from the Shebibanid period - the Poi-Kalyan group, the Lyabi-Khauz ensemble, the Kosh Madrasah, and the Gaukushon Madrasah. The historic part of the city is, in effect, an open-air museum and we will have a full guided tour today, the first of our 2 days in this city known as the 'Pearl of the Desert'. Of particular interest is the Ark Fortress, former home of the Bukhara Khans, where, in the 19th century the Emir of Bukhara had the English officers Stoddart and Connolly imprisoned and killed. Much of the "The Great Game", the battle between Imperial Britain and Tsarist Russia for control of the Central Asian states was played out in this part of the world. During the course of the day we will also visit the Tim Abdullah Khan (covered market), where we find beautiful hand woven silk Ikat, the ancient Zoroastrian temple, the Kukeldash Madrasa, the Nodir-Devon Begui and we will also take a walk in an old Jewish quarter and visit the synagogue. After a full day of sightseeing we return to our guesthouse for a second night.

After yesterday's guided sightseeing, we will have the opportunity today to do some exploring on our own. As well as its famous monuments, Bukhara has excellent bazaars and tranquil squares, such as Lyabi-Hauz, shaded by mulberry trees and a great place to take it easy. Watch the world go by as you sip a cup of green tea in one of the Chaikhanas (tea shops) or visit one of the city's hammomi (baths) for a hammam steam bath and massage. The hammomi in Bukhara are housed in ancient buildings and are amongst the most atmospheric in the country. Bukhara is an excellent place to shop for souvenirs, with a wide range of goods available from street vendors and the shops in the ancient bazaars. Overnight at our Bukhara guesthouse.

It's back into our bus today, for the drive north and east towards the lake of Aydarkul. Our first stop is at the ancient oasis of Nur, now known as Nurata, where the sacred 'Chasma' spring rises close to 2 mosques and flows through the town in a narrow canal. The spring waters are teeming with fish, which are considered sacred and grow to a good size. There is also the ruin of an Alexandrian fort on a low hill above the mosques and visiting it will both stretch our legs and give us great views over the town. Our overnight stop tonight is in a yurt camp at Yanghi-Gazgan, a short drive from Nurata.

This morning we will drive north for an hour or so to Lake Aydar. Amazingly, this 200 kilometre-long lake is a recent development, having arisen as an accidental bi-product of the damming of the Syr Darya River in the late 1960's. This flooded former salt flat now appears to be a permanent feature of the landscape and has been stocked with fish, which thrive in the slightly salty water. We will have a picnic lunch at the lake, meet the local fishermen and maybe even have a swim. Returning to our transport, we drive to the village of Ukhum in the Nurata Mountains. Here we will check in at our comfortable homestay accommodation and take an out-and-back walk to the nearby village of Hayat where we can visit the breeding enclosures of the highly endangered Severtzov's wild sheep. Overnight at Ukhum.

To gain a better appreciation of this culturally rich region, we go for a walk in the Nurata Mountains which form a 200 kilometre-long chain, rising to just over 2000 metres, on the south side of Lake Aydar. Our walk takes us through a picturesque valley and nature reserve which is home to shepherding communities. Arriving at a 1500 metre pass, we have tremendous views of the highest peaks of the range, including Hayotboshi (2169m). Returning to Ukhum, we make the 3-hour drive south via Samarkand to the Uzbek village of Tersak in the Zarafshan Mountains, where we ovenight in a local Uzbek homestay.

This morning we enjoy a walk into the Zarafshan Mountains, the western extension of the Pamir-Alay Range that reaches greater prominence in neighbouring Tajikistan. After breakfast we slowly climb up a valley that leads us to a set of interesting rock formations where we see 'statues' of gorillas, snakes and other animals carved by nature into the mountainside. From 'Kichik Kurgan Tov' (Small Mountain Fortress) we continue on to a ridge to reach the high point of the valley 'Katta Kurgane Tov' (Big Mountain Fortress) at 1780 metres for impressive views over the valley. We descend to the village and after lunch, we drive to the Omonqutan Valley where we overnight at a comfortable mountain resort with a swimming pool.

This morning's hike gives us a final chance to discover everyday life of the Uzbeks. We start walking through a flat area dominated by large rock features, the path zig zags between these beautiful formations before reaching the Langar Pass (1850m) and the high summer pastures favoured by the local shepherds with their herds of goats and sheep. After lunch back at the village, we drive to the ancient city of Shakhrisabz, formerly known as Kesh. This is a pleasant place, set within a green landscape of orchards and vineyards and was the summer home of Tamerlane. It has a number of important architectural landmarks linked to Tamerlane, including the ruins of the incredible Ak-Saray Palace, the Jahangir Mausoleum, which dates from the late 14th century and is the resting place of Tamerlane's eldest son. We'll also be able to visit the impressive Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, built by Ulugbek, Tamerlane's son and successor and the mausoleum of Sheikh Shamseddin Kulyal, spiritual guide to Tamerlane and his father. Shakhrisabz is a traditional centre of handicrafts, especially embroidery, and is a good place for souvenir hunting. After our visit, we make the drive to the Silk Road City of Samarkand, where we will overnight in a hotel.

Capital of the ancient Timur / Tamerlan Empire, this ancient city is located at the crossroads of the main trade routes from China, Siberia, Perisa and the West, making it an important stopping point along the Silk Road. Today we embark on a full day guided city tour. Our tour will include the Registan, one of the most magnificent squares in the Islamic World.The 3 Madrassahs (Islamic Colleges); Uleg Beg, Tillya-Kari and Shir Dor, that border the square have been restored to their former glory. We also visit Gur Emir, where the tomb of Tamerlane lies beneath an enormous slab of dark green jade. The interior of the mausoleum is ornately decorate with blue and gold panels. Other highlights will be a visit to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built for Tamerlane by his favourite wife, and the atmospheric Shah-i-Zinda Mausoleum.

This morning we will continue our tour of this ancient Silk Road City. We visit the astronomer King Ulugbek's observatory before visiting the Silk Papar Centre of 'Meros' to see the traditional process of paper making. We also visit the colourful farmer's market of Siab Bazaar. The afternoon is free for you to explore at leisure, return to your favourite sites and choose from Samarkand's impressive range of souvenirs. Before meeting the group for a final dinner this evening.

We make an early morning transfer to Samarkand Airport, where your holiday ends.