A 700-km journey through Central Asia's Silk Road heartland, connecting the great trading cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva via high-speed rail and desert highways, past turquoise-tiled mosques, caravanserais and fortress ruins.
435 mi / 700 km
7 days
April to May, September to November
Easy
Right
Toll-free
Iconic stops
Tashkent
Uzbekistan's capital, mixing Soviet-era monuments with ornate metro stations and a massive bazaar.
Samarkand
The jewel of the Silk Road: the Registan, Shah-i-Zinda and Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
Bukhara
A living museum of medieval trade: the Kalyan Minaret, Ark Fortress and covered bazaars.
Khiva
A perfectly preserved walled city (Itchan Kala) of blue-tiled madrasas and minarets.
Stops on the map
Each numbered marker matches the list above, linked in driving order from 1 to 4. Hover or tap a marker to see the stop name, scroll to zoom, and download the map as an image.
Prefer turn-by-turn navigation? Open the full route in Google Maps with all 4 stops loaded as waypoints in driving order. It opens in a new browser tab.
Tolls & fees
No road tolls in Uzbekistan. The high-speed Afrosiyob train between Tashkent and Samarkand costs around $8 to $15 USD.
No tolls to estimate
Enjoy the drive. Budget instead for fuel, ferries, and parking.
Traffic & road alerts
The Afrosiyob high-speed trains connect Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara efficiently. For Bukhara to Khiva, shared taxis or a scenic desert drive (440 km) through the Kyzylkum Desert are the options. Roads are flat and well-signed but surfaces can be rough between cities.
Best maps & planning
Plan your drive and check the latest conditions with these trusted maps and official resources.
Driving tips
- Take the Afrosiyob bullet train from Tashkent to Samarkand. It is fast, comfortable and incredibly cheap.
- Hire a driver for the Bukhara-to-Khiva desert crossing. The route passes yurt camps and the ruined fortress of Ayaz-Kala.
- Visit in spring when temperatures are mild and the desert blooms briefly with wildflowers.
Distances, tolls, and seasons are curated planning references and can change. Always confirm current tolls, opening dates, and closures with the official sources linked above before you travel.