Uzbekistan 8 Day Cultural Tour (3 Star Hotel Option)

Traveler Reviews

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  Peggy2.0•July 2026
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  Let’s start by saying that Uzbekistan is definitely worth visiting, that a city like Tashkent has everything you’d...
  Let’s start by saying that Uzbekistan is definitely worth visiting, that a city like Tashkent has everything you’d expect from a modern city, and that cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, and certainly Khiva offer a glimpse into life in that region hundreds of years ago. However, the tour operator greatly disappointed us—not only with the mistakes they made but also with how they handle complaints. A simple “sorry, that went wrong” isn’t in the cards; it turns into a huge back-and-forth where they pass the buck back to you. That’s just not what you want during your vacation. To give an example, they forgot to pick us up from the airport. We ended up having to take a taxi to the hotel, and then they claimed that their shuttle was there but that they couldn’t find us. One of their employees accidentally put us on the wrong train, and only because we were paying attention did we manage to get off in time—and for some reason, they even turned that into our own fault. The guides were nice, but in the end we weren’t allowed to visit almost anything because for nearly every place they said, “We don’t have tickets for this. You can only come back later if you want to see the inside”—which came across as very strange. If I were to show you Amsterdam, I certainly wouldn’t just walk past the landmarks—I’d go inside them too; after all, that’s why you’re there. In short, Uzbekistan is beautiful. I definitely recommend it. This tour operator will really have to do a better job of attracting tourists from the West.Show more
  Traveled in June 2026
  

  Reply from: Steppe Journeys

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. First of all, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed Uzbekistan and found Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva to be such worthwhile destinations. We are genuinely sorry that some aspects of your experience did not meet your expectations. We did apologize during your trip for the airport transfer issue and, as a gesture of goodwill, we arranged a complimentary traditional dinner with a cultural folk show in Bukhara. We are sorry that this positive gesture was not reflected in your review. Regarding the sightseeing, our itineraries clearly specify which entrance tickets are included in the tour price. Some attractions are intentionally left as optional visits to allow travelers greater flexibility and to keep the tour cost reasonable. Whenever guests wish to visit these sites, they are welcome to do so independently during their free time. We also regret the confusion regarding the train journey. Our team always strives to assist our guests, and we continually review our procedures to minimize the possibility of such situations occurring again. We appreciate your comments, as they help us improve our services. We wish you all the best and hope that, despite these issues, you will remember the many wonderful experiences and the rich culture and hospitality of Uzbekistan.

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  Gabor1.0•May 2026
  We enjoyed this tour in Uzbekistan. Thanks to our guides we learnt lot about history and life of Uzbekistan. It was a...
  We enjoyed this tour in Uzbekistan. Thanks to our guides we learnt lot about history and life of Uzbekistan. It was a good idea to start the tour in Tashkent and finish it in Khiva. Everyday we got more familiar with this fantastic country. Mohamed looked after us and helped in all issues during the tour. We liked this tour and if you want to visit Uzbekistan do not hesitate and book it.Show more
  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Steppe Journeys

  Dear Gabor Thank you very much for your kind words and for sharing your experience. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed Uzbekistan, learned a lot from our guides, and felt well looked after by Mohamed during the tour. We truly appreciate your recommendation to future travelers. At the same time, we noticed the 1-star rating, which surprised us a little since your comments about the organization and experience were very positive. If the low rating was given by mistake, we would be very grateful if you could kindly review it, as ratings are very important for small local companies like ours. Thank you once again, and we hope to welcome you back to Central Asia in the future. Odil

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• RH

  Rhondda4.0•May 2026
  The trip was good and not too long. The group was cohesive and diverse which helped make touring easy. The hotels...
  The trip was good and not too long. The group was cohesive and diverse which helped make touring easy. The hotels were good, however those who booked 2 star also stayed at the same hotel (so don’t pay the extra). All hotels were acceptable, some better than others such as the Inspire S in Istanbul and the hotel in Bukhara. Majority of the guides were excellent, (especially Samarkand and Khiva) (one just left without me in Bukhara ~ hence I missed half of the tour (I don’t think Zara (9guide)) realised I was gone), did the same with one other at the bazaar in Bukhara.Show more
  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Steppe Journeys

  Dear Rhondda, Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your recent trip! We are glad to hear that you found the tour enjoyable and that the group dynamics contributed to a positive experience. We appreciate your comments about the accommodations. It's great to know that the hotels were generally acceptable, with particular praise for the Inspire S in Tashkent and the hotel in Bukhara. We will take note of your observation regarding the 2-star hotel bookings and ensure that this information is communicated to future travelers. We are also pleased to hear that the majority of the guides provided excellent service, especially in Samarkand and Khiva. However, we sincerely apologize for the oversight regarding your guide in Bukhara. We understand how important it is for our guides to ensure that all participants are accounted for during tours, and we will address this issue with our team to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Your feedback is invaluable to us as we strive to improve our services and provide the best possible experiences for our travelers. If you have any further comments or suggestions, please feel free to share. Thank you once again for your insights, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure in the future! Best regards, Odil Steppe Journeys

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• CR

  CATHERINE5.0•May 2026
  Loved Uzbekistan and Steppe Journeys made it fabulous. Bek was our tour manager and he was always available if we...
  Loved Uzbekistan and Steppe Journeys made it fabulous. Bek was our tour manager and he was always available if we had any concerns. Including the day I got sick and he arranged for some meds to be delivered to my hotel. The guides we had at each city were also amazing: Makhabo, Moona, Lola, and Mira. They were all very welcoming, adaptable and knowledgeable. Moona went the extra mile and helped my friend arrange a birthday dinner for me. I would definitely book again. Thank you to everyone.Show more
  Traveled in April 2026
  

  Reply from: Steppe Journeys

  Hi Catherine, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're absolutely delighted to hear that you loved Uzbekistan and that Bek and the team were able to make your trip so special. I’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Bek, Makhabo, Moona, Lola, and Mira — they’ll be thrilled to hear from you. It really means a lot that you’d book with us again. We’d love to welcome you back to Central Asia sometime! Warm regards, Odil & the Steppe Journeys team

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• DV

  Daphne5.0•May 2026
  From the moment we arrived at Tashkent International Airport where Bek was waiting for us to drive us to our hotel at...
  From the moment we arrived at Tashkent International Airport where Bek was waiting for us to drive us to our hotel at 0100 in the morning on April 14 2026, until he dropped us off at the airport at 0615 on April 23 2026, Steppe Journeys provided an excellent adventure experience. The Cultural Tours: Steppe Journeys curated a diverse combination of historical sites and modern structures, blending the old with the new seamlessly and providing context to current practices and architectural influences. We enjoyed visiting Masters in making paper from Mulberry tree bark in Samarkand; Masters in ceramic wares, knives, and rugs in Bukhara; and Masters in elm wood craft and spinning silk from silkworms into thread used to make rugs in Khiva. The Chorsu Market in Tashkent was enormous, offering everything from fresh-baked traditional non and somsas baked in the traditional clay tandyr (delicious!) to kebabs cooked over hibachi briquettes to fresh fruit, nuts, vegetables, kurt (dried cheese balls), clothing, ceramic wares, sheepswool slippers, hand-stitched bags and clothing, and hand woven rugs, there is nothing you cannot find at the market. The market in Samarkand, while smaller, was equally robust with all sorts of offerings. Bartering is encouraged and a great way to purchase quality goods for a reasonable price. We also visited many mosques and madrasas, some of which were still active. Learning about the architectural influences over centuries of cultural and religious changes was fascinating and we learned how to distinguish between Uzbek, Russian, Persian/Iranian designs, styles, and colour-schemes. While at first glance, the minarets and domes and walls may appear similar, upon closer inspection and with historical context, each tile or painting or physical structure was as unique as a snowflake. We visited archaelogical sites dating back to BC, particularly in Khiva, where the entire old city is a UNESCO protected site. It was great to learn that people still live there and that it is not just a tourist site. The rooftop restaurants in Khiva and in Bukhara were a treat when it came time to eat as we could dine al fresco while also looking out at the beautiful dome and minarets, and the people below shopping and milling about. The new Islamic Cultural Centre in Tashkent (opened in 2017) is a must-see. It takes one through the history of Uzbekistan from over two thousand years ago, through the introduction of Islam, and into the future. This was a separate tour from the Steppe Journey itinerary, but was highly recommended to us by our Tashkent guide and well worth the visit. Our Guides: Markhabo in Tashketn, Muna in Samarkand, Lola in Bukhara, and Mira in Khiva were excellent. Their knowledge, professionalism, and engagement were exceptional. We could not have asked for better guides. Markhabo took us for lunch at a local eatery where we enjoyed Tashkent non and kebabs. While the others had chicken, I had catfish and it was delicious! We also had a snack of somsa at the market, where we watched it being prepared in the traditional tandyr, as well as fresh non that we also watched being prepared from scratch and baked in the large bread tandyrs. In Samarkand, Muna took us for lunch at a local restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious meal of plof and a yummy fresh salad of tomatoes, cilantro, and a bit of vegetable oil. At the market, Muna brought us through the nut section where I discovered the most buttery macadamia nuts I've ever tasted. Turns out they're from Brazil, yet I'd never had any and it was remarkable to find them in Uzbekistan. in Bukhara, Lola recommended a rooftop restaurant, where I enjoyed the best eggplant dish I've ever had. And in Khiva, we were treated to an al fresco dinner and show in the heart of the old city. We tried the Khiva noodles that put my boxed noodles from my grocery store to shame. Tender, flavourful (I tasted spinach and a hint of mint), they were as good as everyone had told us they would be. Our drivers were lovely as well. Kind, thoughtful, and honestly, expert at navigating the roads and traffic that in lesser hands would have been quite challenging. They made driving look like a casual outing. I felt safe with them at the wheel. In fact, I felt safe everywhere we went. Night or day, I felt safe walking with my travel partner and by myself. This was true in the large metropolis of Tashkent and in the quieter city of Khiva, and in both other cities. The Uzbek people are kind, generous, and interesting. Their rich and sometimes complicated history begets a knowledge, understanding, and inclusiveness that underscores their internal cultural and religious diversity. Special Shout-outs: to Muna, who - when I told her it was my friend's birthday on the 17th - arranged dinner, cake, candles, and birthday hats for that evening. She started our day 0900 and gave us an excellent tour of the mosques, the observatory, the madrasas, and then remained with us so she could take us for a special birthday dinner. Also, my friend had a cold, so she took me to a pharmacy where I could pick up medicine for my friend's symptoms. She was exceptional. To our hotel concierges: in Tashkent: they were incredibly helpful with dining and shopping information in all the cities we were visiting. They also had a mama cat and her kitten who they all took care of. In Bukhara: two of my travel mates were quite ill one day and both Steppe Journeys and the hotel staff were extremely helpful in procuring and delivering electrolyte water to help my travel mates overcome their illness. Bek was available night and day to answer all questions we had about tour times, transfers between cities, and any other questions we had throughout our journey. From start to finish, Steppe Journeys excelled in every element of our Cultural Tour and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Thank you for a wonderful experience; I will definitely book with you again.Show more
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  Traveled in April 2026
  

  Reply from: Steppe Journeys

  Hi Daphne Wow — thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and detailed review. Reading your account of the trip honestly made our day. We're thrilled you loved the mix of old and new, and that the hands-on experiences with the masters in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva left an impression. Those moments — watching paper being made from mulberry bark or seeing silk spun from silkworms — are exactly the kind of authentic connections we hope travelers take home with them. Your kind words about Markhabo, Muna, Lola, and Mira mean the world to us. I'll make sure each of them sees this — especially Muna, who clearly went above and beyond for your friend's birthday! That's the kind of personal touch our team prides itself on, and it sounds like she nailed it. I'm also glad our drivers made you feel safe and comfortable on the roads — they really are unsung heroes of every tour. It was lovely to hear you felt safe everywhere you went, day or night. The warmth and generosity of the Uzbek people is something we never get tired of sharing with visitors. We're so happy the Chorsu Market, the rooftop dinners, the plov, the Khiva noodles, and even those unexpectedly buttery macadamia nuts all made the cut! And yes — that eggplant dish in Bukhara is something else, isn't it? Thank you again for choosing Steppe Journeys. We'd absolutely love to welcome you back someday, and until then, we hope the memories of those minarets, domes, and snowflake-unique tiles stay with you. Hope to see you again to explore more of Central Asia again ! Odil & the Steppe Journeys team

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• AG

  Alexander5.0•April 2026
  My tour in Uzbekistan was well organized and my Mother and I really enjoyed our visit to Uzbekistan! Muhammad who...
  My tour in Uzbekistan was well organized and my Mother and I really enjoyed our visit to Uzbekistan! Muhammad who oversaw our tour was so kind and took good care of us. All the guides were good and taught us so much about each site we visited. Our favorite guide was Farzin, who guided us through Samarkand, he was very fun to be around and treated us like family. Uzbekistan is truly a hidden gem!Show more
  Traveled in April 2026
  

  Reply from: Steppe Journeys

  Dear Alexander, Thank you so much for your kind words — it truly means a lot to us. We are delighted to hear that you and your mother enjoyed your journey through Uzbekistan and that everything was well organized. It’s especially wonderful to know that Muhammad took great care of you throughout the trip — I will be sure to pass along your appreciation to him. I’m also very happy to hear your kind feedback about our guides, and especially Farzin in Samarkand. Creating a welcoming, family-like atmosphere is exactly what we strive for, so it’s great to know he made your experience so memorable. Uzbekistan really is a hidden gem, and we’re glad you had the chance to experience its beauty, history, and hospitality. We would be honored to welcome you again in the future — perhaps to explore more of Central Asia next time! Warm regards, Odil Akhmedov Steppe Journeys

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  Douglas5.0•March 2026
  I will write more details later, but well organized, punctual, comfortable travel and hotels.
  Traveled in March 2026
• UZ

  Ulrich5.0•March 2026
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  The Uzbekistan tour by Steppe Journeys in a small group was very well organized and highly interesting. Direct and...
  The Uzbekistan tour by Steppe Journeys in a small group was very well organized and highly interesting. Direct and fast customer service around the clock. Uzbekistan itself is rich in culture and history. The local people are open, friendly and helpful. The country is very safe in every respect.Show more
  Traveled in March 2026
  

  Reply from: Steppe Journeys

  Dear Ulrich Thank you very much for your kind words and for traveling with Steppe Journeys. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Uzbekistan tour and that everything met your expectations. It means a lot to us that you appreciated the organization of the trip and our customer service. We always aim to provide smooth, well-coordinated experiences and be available whenever our guests need us. We are especially happy that you enjoyed Uzbekistan’s rich culture and history, as well as the warmth and hospitality of our local people—this is exactly what makes our region so special. Thank you once again for your trust. We would be honored to welcome you back for another journey in Central Asia in the future. Warm regards, Odil Steppe Journeys

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• JW

  Janine5.0•December 2025
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  Uzbekistan - Worth the trip! Communication, organization during the trip and our tour guide were very, very good....
  Uzbekistan - Worth the trip! Communication, organization during the trip and our tour guide were very, very good. Many thanks to the team (Mohamed, Ibordat, Muna, Lola and our driver). The accommodations were all in excellent locations, close to the old towns and attractions and were clean and comfortable. Transport by car, train and plane was very well organized. I felt very safe at all times. It was a very nice and interesting trip with incredible impressions and great people.Show more
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  Traveled in November 2025
  

  Reply from: Steppe Journeys

  Dear Janine Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re really happy you enjoyed your trip to Uzbekistan and felt well taken care of. Mohamed, Ibordat, Muna, Lola and our driver will love hearing your kind words. Great to know the hotels, transport and overall organization worked well for you — and that you felt safe the whole time. It was a pleasure to have you with us. Hope to see you again one day for more adventures in Central Asia ! Odil Akhmedov Steppe Journeys and team.

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• LS

  Lumen5.0•November 2025
  The guides were excellent and provided wealth of knowledge and experience. I was particularly worried being solo...
  The guides were excellent and provided wealth of knowledge and experience. I was particularly worried being solo female tourist with dietary needs (vegetarian/pestcatarian). I felt safe and well catered for and had such an amazing holiday. Thank you for the wonderful experience 👏🏽Show more
  Traveled in November 2025