FROM MULBERRY LEAF TO SILK
Route: Tashkent – Kokand – Fergana / Margilan – Rishton – Khujand (Tajikistan) – Penjikent – Samarkand – Bukhara – Tashkent
A Journey Only May Can Offer
This exclusive itinerary invites you to witness something very few travellers ever experience: cocoon season in Uzbekistan. From mid-May to the end of the month, in the farms and shaded courtyards of the Fergana Valley, Uzbek families feed silkworms around the clock with fresh mulberry leaves, until the magical moment when the caterpillars — having multiplied their weight ten thousand times over — begin to spin a cocoon of silk thread: 1,500 metres of thread, produced in just 48 hours by a single worm.
This journey allows you to follow the entire age-old process: from the picking of mulberry leaves to the rearing of silkworms, from the harvesting of cocoons to the reeling of silk thread, from dyeing baths with natural pigments to weaving on hand looms. And not in a museum, but alongside the silk farmers themselves and in the workshops of Margilan, the world capital of Uzbek silk.
But this itinerary goes further than most: from the Fergana Valley, you will cross the border into Tajikistan to reach Khujand, the ancient Alexandria Eschate — "the farthest Alexandria", founded by Alexander the Great — and then Penjikent, the "Pompeii of Central Asia", a Sogdian city whose ancient frescoes bear witness to the splendour of Silk Road merchants. A border crossing that traces the exact route of the silk caravans from two thousand years ago.
Practical Information
🗓️ Why May? The cocoon season in Uzbekistan runs from mid-April to the end of May — the only time of year when you can witness silkworm rearing and cocoon formation on site. This 18 May departure is timed to coincide with the peak of the harvest.
🌍 Two countries, one journey. This tour crosses both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Two border crossings are included (Andarkhon and Jartepa/Sarazm), both smooth and well-organised with our assistance. Most European nationalities benefit from an e-visa or visa exemption for Tajikistan. Sezam Voyages handles all formalities on your behalf.
🏨 Comfort level. Carefully selected 3-4 star hotels in every city. The tour prioritises comfort and genuine encounters with local artisans.
🚶 Fitness level. Accessible to all travellers, with no particular physical demands. Some days involve sustained walking during visits.
☀️ Climate. May is one of the most pleasant months in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan (20-30 °C / 68-86 °F). Pack light clothing with a cardigan for the evenings. A hat and sunscreen are recommended.
📌 Please note. The order of visits may be adjusted according to local conditions and the cocoon harvest calendar, without altering the content of the programme.
