NEW YEAR IN SAMARKAND
The Silk Road in Winter: Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand
Three legendary cities, three faces of the Silk Road, and a night like no other. This journey takes you from Khiva, the museum-city enclosed within its earthen walls, to Bukhara, the holy city of a thousand domes, crossing the Kyzylkum desert. It ends in Samarkand, where you will welcome the new year in front of the three madrasas of the Registan.
In Uzbekistan, New Year is a big, joyful family celebration: illuminated fir trees on the squares, Qorbobo (the Uzbek Father Christmas) and his granddaughter Qorqiz, generous tables and music late into the night. Yet the "real" traditional new year, Navruz, is celebrated at the spring equinox: your guide will tell you about both traditions.
Route: Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva – Bukhara – Samarkand
📅 Dates: 26 December 2026 – 3 January 2027
✈️ Flights: arrival in Tashkent, departure from Samarkand (flights via Istanbul); domestic flight Tashkent – Urgench included
💶 Price: €1,282 per person in a double room, excluding international flights
Good to know
🛂 Formalities. No visa required for French, Belgian and Swiss nationals for stays of less than 30 days; passport valid for at least 3 months after return.
❄️ Climate. Days are often sunny and crisp, nights are cold, especially in Khiva and in the desert. Bring warm clothes, a hat, gloves and good walking shoes.
📷 Photography. Winter light is ideal in the morning and late afternoon; the programme leaves free time at those hours.
🎆 New Year's Eve. The festivities on Registan Square depend on the official programme of the city of Samarkand, announced in December.
📌 Booking. Places for the New Year's Eve dinner are limited. Booking recommended before 15 November.
