Discover Uzbekistan – MEJDI Tours

A Journey through the Silk and Spice Road and the many Narratives of Uzbekistan

Global Leader in Socially Conscious Travel.

Discover Uzbekistan

Tour Dates:

October 9 - 18, 2025
Register by: June 9, 2025

May 14 - 23, 2026
Register by: January 14, 2026

Starting at $2,995 USD per person*

*Prices are based on double occupancy. Single room supplements are available. See itinerary for pricing details based on tour dates.

If the scheduled tour dates don’t work for you, reach out to us about planning a private tour—we’re happy to help you create a customized experience for any group size!

Embark on a captivating 10-day journey through Uzbekistan, discovering its rich cultural heritage and historical wonders. You will be introduced to multiple narrative intersections driven by the region’s rich history as one of the great centers of the Silk and Spice Roads where intellectuals of Sunni and Shia Islam came together for centuries and have alternately clashed and embraced each other, as well as the famous Jews of Bokhara, and the complex influences of the Kremlin to the north. Explore stunning UNESCO-listed ancient sites featuring well-preserved madrasas, vibrant bazaars, finely woven carpets, and delectable Central Asian cuisine. Delve into medieval Islamic architecture, participate in a cooking class, and learn about Jewish and Islamic heritage.

“MEJDI Exclusive” Socially Conscious Experiences:

Our socially conscious model focuses on the human element of destinations—the diversity of its people and their stories—in a way that benefits local communities around the world. We specially design our itineraries to immerse you in these cultures. So you don’t just visit new places; you become part of them. These human experiences and how we treat the people we meet are what sets MEJDI apart.

Hear a Russian Expat and a local Uzbek in dialogue about the complicated relationship between the two countries throughout history and during the current Ukraine war

Enjoy a local cooking class, visit spice markets and traditional tea houses

Have a lecture given by Jewish and Muslim experts, discussing these religious communities living in the area today / historically

Visit UNESCO-Heritage sites and meet with a Suni Scholar to dive deep into the Suni/Shia differences

Have a cultural excursion with a visit to a Yurt camp

TRIP INCLUDES

9 nights’ accommodation at the following hotels (double occupancy), or similar hotel as necessary: The Shahar, Tashkent Polvon Qoriy Boutique Hotel, Khiva Labi Rud Hotel Premium, Bukhara L'Argamak, Samarkand

1 Local English Speaking Guide for 10 days

2 MEJDI-Expert Tour Leaders for 10 days

9 days of private bus transportation, including 2 one-way train tickets (Bukhara-Samarkand & Samarkand-Tashkent)

1 One-way domestic flight Tashkent-Khiva

Meals listed in the itinerary

Entrances, sites, and honorariums for speakers

Water on bus throughout tour

Customary tips for drivers, guides, and hotel staff

Dedicated pre-trip customer service and on-ground support

Per person

$2,995

Interested but not ready to deposit? Click the “Request Info” we can keep you updated on the tour status.

TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE

International airfare

Travel Insurance-HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

Individual airport transfers outside of the group transfers

Anything not explicitly mentioned in the included section

Before you Register

Read through the Terms and Conditions

Do not book your flight until you receive the tour confirmation email from us. This tour requires a minimum number of travelers to run and we will send out the tour confirmation (and update this note on the webpage) as soon as we have met that number.

Check out travel insurance options.

Some plans and policies [Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) or coverage for pre-existing conditions] may only available for a limited time (approximately 2 weeks) following your date of deposit.

Tour Registration

Click to see all available tour dates. Select your preferred tour date to complete the registration process and pay the deposit.

About Your Group Leader

Dr. Randall McNamara

Dr. Randall McNamara is an educator, chef, and author specializing in culinary history, identity, and culture. He recently served as board chair of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Trained as a Sovietologist and historian, Randall worked in Moscow for seven years with _TIME Magazine_. He witnessed first-hand the fall of the Berlin Wall, the demise of the Soviet Union, and the student occupation of Tiananmen Square. His extensive travels along the Silk Road led to cooking and living in Central Asia. Chef McNamara studied the culinary arts in China, Italy, Russia, Uzbekistan, and the US, and has authored several articles and books on Central Asian cuisine. Additionally, Randall trained in hand-pulled noodles in China, prepared festive pilaf for hundreds at an Uzbek wedding, and explored tandoor cookery from China to Türkiye.

Gallery

All the trips we take are educational and geared towards cultural immersion, and that’s true of MEJDI. But none are so first hand and intentionally personal as the MEJDI tour guides are.

You come away hopeful because the tour guides can have such different backgrounds and experiences and opinions and still respect each other, And, they introduce you to groups that are working to spread that throughout the world.

Kim

Happy Customer

MEJDI was one of the first global tour companies to earn B Corp Certification back in 2014, long before B Corp became widely recognized beyond sustainability circles. For us, this certification is a transparent way to demonstrate that we stand by our values: we ensure local vendors are paid fair wages, prioritize small, locally-owned businesses, and treat our partners and staff with dignity and respect. This deep commitment to social change drives MEJDI’s mission: “We exist to create a more peaceful and interconnected world through travel.”