Overview
The Naqshbandi order, one of the most widespread Sufi paths in the Muslim world, was born in the villages around Bukhara. This eight-day private journey follows its chain of masters, the Seven Pirs, from Gijduvan to the tomb of Bahauddin Naqshband himself, and adds the great shrines of Samarkand and Tashkent.
The pace is unhurried, with time set aside for prayer and reflection at each site. Halal lunches are included every touring day, and your guide is used to accompanying ziyarat groups.
Your trip is planned and run by Khikmatilla, a licensed Uzbek tour guide and founder of Tashkentguide DMC, with licensed local guides in every city.
Highlights
- All Seven Pirs of the Naqshbandi order around Bukhara
- Memorial complex of Imam al-Bukhari near Samarkand
- The Uthman Quran at the Khast Imam complex
- Shrines of Khoja Akhrar Vali and Imam al-Maturidi
- Halal lunches and time for prayer every day
Prices are per person, private tour, and fall as your group grows. Choose Comfort (3*), Standard (4*) or Premium (5*) hotels. Single room supplement: US$190 / US$295 / US$515.
What's included
- 7 nights in hotels of your chosen category (DBL/TWIN) with breakfast
- Afrosiyob economy train tickets Tashkent–Bukhara and Samarkand–Tashkent
- 6 halal lunches
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
- Licensed English-speaking local guide on sightseeing days (other languages on request)
- Entrance fees to the sights listed in the itinerary
- 0.5 L bottled water per person per day
- 24/7 support from our Tashkent team
- International flights and visa fees (many nationalities enter Uzbekistan visa-free)
- Lunches and dinners not listed in the itinerary
- Drinks, personal expenses and tips
- Camera fees at some monuments
- Early check-in and late check-out (standard check-in from 14:00)
- Travel insurance
Meeting and pickup
Tashkent airport or your hotel in Tashkent
Tashkent airport
Itinerary
-
1
Day 1 · Arrival in Tashkent
Airport pickup and hotel check-in. Your guide takes you to the Khast Imam complex, where the Uthman Quran is kept, the tomb of the scholar Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Barakhan madrasah. Drive out to Zangiata, the shrine of Sheikh Ai-Khoja, a disciple in the line of Ahmad Yasawi, and finish at the Chorsu bazaar. Halal lunch included. Overnight in Tashkent.
-
2
Day 2 · Train to Bukhara – Gijduvan and Shafirkan
Afrosiyob train to Bukhara (08:04–12:21). After lunch, drive 45 km to Gijduvan to the shrine of Abdulkhaliq Gijduvani, first of the Seven Pirs and author of the eight principles of the order, then to Shafirkan for the tomb of Khoja Arif Revgari. Overnight in Bukhara.
-
3
Day 3 · The Seven Pirs
A day among the villages around Bukhara: the shrines of Mahmud Anjir Fagnavi, Ali Ramitani in Ramitan, Muhammad Baba Samasi and Sayyid Amir Kulal, teacher of Bahauddin. End at the Bahauddin Naqshband memorial complex in Kasri Orifon for the afternoon prayer. Halal lunch included. Overnight in Bukhara.
-
4
Day 4 · Bukhara the Noble
Walk the old city with your guide: the Kalon mosque and minaret, Mir-i-Arab madrasah, still a working school of Islamic learning, the Ark fortress, the Bolo-Hauz mosque and the Samanid mausoleum. In the afternoon visit Chor-Bakr, the family necropolis of the Juybari sheikhs. Halal lunch included. Overnight in Bukhara.
-
5
Day 5 · Bukhara – Dahbed – Samarkand (approx. 280 km)
Drive east to Samarkand. Near the city, stop at Dahbed for the shrine of Makhdumi Azam, a 16th-century Naqshbandi master, then continue to the memorial complex of Imam al-Bukhari, compiler of the Sahih, for ziyarat and prayer. Halal lunch on the way. Overnight in Samarkand.
-
6
Day 6 · Samarkand
Morning at the complex of Khoja Akhrar Vali, the Naqshbandi master who guided Timurid rulers, and the mausoleum of Imam al-Maturidi, founder of the Maturidi school. Visit the Hazrat Khizr mosque and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, linked to Qusam ibn Abbas, cousin of the Prophet (pbuh). In the afternoon see the Registan and Gur-e-Amir. Halal lunch included. Overnight in Samarkand.
-
7
Day 7 · Samarkand – train to Tashkent
A free day to return to a favourite shrine or visit the Siab bazaar. Your driver is available for transfers. Evening Afrosiyob train to Tashkent (18:10–20:31) and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Tashkent.
-
8
Day 8 · Departure
Breakfast and transfer to Tashkent airport.
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 720 hours before departure: 100% refund.
- Cancel at least 168 hours before departure: 50% refund.
- Less notice than that, or a no-show: 0% refund.
Full refund up to 30 days before arrival, 50% up to 7 days before, no refund after that.
Times are local Tashkent time (UTC+5).