small group vegan trips across the globe
Vegan Tours · Uzbekistan
Silk Road.
A pioneering vegan journey through the heart of Central Asia.
September 5 – 12, 2026 · 8 Days · 4 Cities
Book Now“From the blue-domed splendor of Samarkand and the labyrinthine bazaars of Bukhara to the desert citadels of Khiva — trace centuries of trade, art, and spirituality on the fabled Silk Road.”
Uzbekistan has one of the most storied histories in Central Asia — rooted in millennia of cross-cultural exchange and exploding with architectural wonder at every turn. This isn’t a trip where plant-based dining is an afterthought. From a vegan food tour with a local in Tashkent to a hands-on green noodle cooking class in Khiva — eating consciously is woven into every day.
What Awaits You
Four cities.
Centuries of wonder.
Living Architecture
Stand before Registan Square’s three madrasahs sheathed in turquoise tiles that glow from within, duck through Khiva’s Ota-Darvaza gate into a walled city straight from the Arabian Nights, and climb past Shakhi-Zinda’s street of mausoleums covered in the finest tilework in the Islamic world.
Pioneering Plant-Based Dining
A vegan food tour of Tashkent with a local guide. A hands-on cooking class making Khiva’s signature vibrant green shivit oshi noodles. Creative vegan adaptations of Central Asia’s hearty cuisine — working with local chefs and hosts to craft new culinary experiences that honor tradition while embracing compassion.
The Afrosiyob Express
Glide between ancient cities at 250 km/h aboard the sleek Afrosiyob high-speed train. Watch desert blur past from your 1st-class seat — a 21st-century ride through a timeless landscape. From Bukhara to Samarkand, and Samarkand back to Tashkent — the journey is part of the magic.
The Kizil-Kum Desert Crossing
An overland adventure through 460 kilometers of Red Sand Desert — this is the fabled Silk Road in its rawest form. Stop at the ancient Amu Darya (Oxus) River where merchants crossed for millennia, watch shepherds and their flocks break the endless horizon, and roll into Bukhara as the sun descends.
“As one of the first fully vegan group tours to Uzbekistan, this adventure will be both rewarding and pioneering. Together, we’ll help plant the seeds of a more sustainable and inclusive future for travelers and communities alike.”
Day by Day
Your 8 days in Uzbekistan.
Tashkent · Khiva · Bukhara · Samarkand
The Capital’s Soul
Most flights land in Tashkent as the sun rises over Central Asia. Your local driver meets you at the airport and whisks you to the hotel — a room is ready so you can shower and rest before the day begins. Explore the Hasti Imam Complex and the ancient Osman Quran, one of the world’s oldest Korans. Lose yourself in the organized chaos of Chorsu Bazaar. Descend into Tashkent’s stunning Soviet-era metro stations — socialist palaces decorated with chandeliers and mosaics. Cap the evening with a guided vegan food tour of the city.
A City from the Arabian Nights
Catch an early flight to Urgench, then drive 35 kilometers across the desert to Khiva — a walled city that looks like it sprouted straight from the Arabian Nights. Step through the Ota-Darvaza gate and time travel. Marvel at the unfinished Kalta-Minor Minaret with its dazzling blue tiles, explore the Kunya-Ark fortress, and duck into the atmospheric Juma Mosque. Cap the day with a hands-on cooking class learning to make shivit oshi — the vibrant green noodles that are Khorezm’s signature dish.
Through the Red Sand Desert
Today’s the big desert push — 285 miles through the Kizil-Kum (Red Sand) Desert. This isn’t just a transfer; it’s part of the adventure. Watch the landscape shift from oasis to endless sand, with the occasional shepherd breaking the horizon. Stop at the legendary Amu Darya River — the ancient Oxus, one of Central Asia’s great waterways that merchants crossed for millennia along the Silk Road. Roll into Bukhara by late afternoon for an evening stroll around Labi Hauz.
A Thousand Years of Emirs
Spend the day getting wonderfully lost in Bukhara’s maze of mud-brick alleys. Start at the Samanids’ Mausoleum, Central Asia’s oldest Islamic building, then visit the Ark Fortress where emirs ruled for a thousand years. Stand beneath the towering Kalyan Minaret. Duck through the covered bazaars where merchants still haggle over silk, spices, and silver just like centuries ago. End with a traditional folk show featuring dancers, musicians, and acrobats performing in an ancient madrasah courtyard.
Bukhara’s Hidden Gems & the Afrosiyob
Your Bukhara deep dive continues: visit a family workshop where artisans craft traditional puppets by hand, see the quirky Chor Minor with its four minarets, and make a pilgrimage to the Bakhouddin Naqshbandi complex — Central Asia’s most important Sufi shrine. Mid-afternoon, board the sleek Afrosiyob high-speed train for Samarkand. Watch the desert blur past at 250 km/h — a 21st-century ride through a timeless landscape.
Alexander. Genghis. Tamerlane.
Today you’ll understand why Samarkand captivated Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane. Start at Registan Square — three madrasahs covered in turquoise tiles that seem to glow from within. Possibly the most beautiful square on earth. Walk the Street of Tombs at Shakhi-Zinda, visit Ulugbek’s medieval observatory, explore the ruins of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, and end at Gur-e-Amir, Tamerlane’s surprisingly modest tomb beneath a fluted turquoise dome.
Silk Paper & the Last Sunset
Your last morning in Samarkand reveals quieter wonders. Visit the Rukhabad Mausoleum and Khazrat Khizr Mosque, then the surprising Saint Daniel’s Mausoleum — evidence of Samarkand’s multicultural past. Head to Konigil village to see how silk paper is made using ancient techniques — the same paper Marco Polo marveled at. Board the evening Afrosiyob train back to Tashkent, watching the sun set over the Silk Road one last time.
Leave with History in Your Hands
After breakfast, your driver takes you to Tashkent Airport for your onward journey. Leave with silk paper, ceramic plates, and memories of a country where hospitality is sacred and history lives in every stone.
Photo Gallery
Uzbekistan in every frame.
Tour Highlights
8 days. 4 cities.
Zero compromise.
Every stop on this itinerary was chosen with care — from the first Soviet metro station to the last train into Tashkent. This is Uzbekistan at its most honest and most delicious.
Everything taken care of. Seriously.
Included
- 4-star hotel accommodation throughout (one night in Khiva more basic)
- Full board — breakfast, lunch & dinner daily
- Domestic flight Tashkent to Urgench
- High-speed train tickets 1st class: Bukhara → Samarkand → Tashkent
- All overland transport by van or minibus
- All entrance fees & sightseeing per itinerary
- English & Uzbek-speaking local guide
- Vegan food tour with a local in Tashkent
- Shivit oshi cooking class in Khiva
- Airport transfers on day 1 and day 8
- Bottled water throughout
Not Included
- International flights to / from Tashkent (TAS)
- Visa fees (currently none required for US & EU citizens)
- Tips for guide and drivers
- Personal expenses
- Video / photo fees at some sights
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Ready to Pioneer
The Silk Road as few have
traveled it — vegan, mindful,
deeply connected.
September 5 – 12, 2026 · 8 days · $3,900
Book Now