Bukhara Tours: Old City Walks with a Local Guide

Side by side

The table compares the two tours by price, length, group size and what each leaves out, from their own listing terms. Both are rated 4.9: the small-group walk from 680 reviews, the private tour from 105.

The small-group walk suits a short stay or a tight budget, in English. The private tour suits families and couples who want a flexible pace, in English, Russian, French or German, with coffee breaks included. Both walk the Historic Centre of Bukhara, a UNESCO site since 1993.

The two rated walks

The Bukhara Old City Small-Group Walking Tour costs $18 per person and holds a 4.9 rating from 680 reviews. It takes up to 10 people from spring to autumn and 2 to 8 in late autumn and winter. The Best of Bukhara Private All-Day Tour costs $68 per person and holds a 4.9 rating from 105 reviews.

Tip-based free walks also run in Bukhara. Some last about 4 hours and are paid with a tip rather than a set price.

The old city is listed heritage: the Historic Centre of Bukhara was inscribed by UNESCO in 1993, and its history is said to exceed 2,500 years.

The small-group route in order

The small-group walk starts at Nadir Divan Begi Madrasah and passes Kukaldosh Madrasah and the Lyabi-Hauz ensemble. It continues through Sayfuddin Caravanserai, the trading dome Toki Sarrafon and Magoki-Attori Mosque. Then come Toki Telpakfurushon, Abdullakhan Tim, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs and Toki Zargaron. The Poi Kalyan group follows: Miri Arab Madrasah, the Kalyan Minaret and the Kalyan Mosque. The walk ends past the Ark exterior, Bolo-Hauz Mosque, Chashma-Ayyub and the Ismail Samani Mausoleum.

The Poi Kalyan ensemble was built in the 12th to 16th centuries. The Ark of Bukhara is called the oldest archaeological monument in the area and was the home of Bukhara's rulers.

The private route with time at each stop

The private tour spends set times at each stop, from its own itinerary. Stops marked extra fee charge an entrance ticket that the $68 price does not cover.

Inside and outside the price

The Bukhara Old City Small-Group Walking Tour at $18 per person is guide only. Entry fees are paid at each site, and meals, drinks, pickup and drop-off are not included. The Best of Bukhara Private All-Day Tour at $68 per person includes a private guide, hotel pickup from central hotels and coffee breaks. Entrance fees at the Ark of Bukhara, Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah, Abdul Aziz Khan Madrasah and the Bukhara Synagogue are extra.

Pay entrance fees in som at each monument. The som cannot be bought outside Uzbekistan, and ATMs are scarce outside major cities, so carry cash. On free walks the tip is the whole payment, and no set amount is published.

The trade-offs

A free walk costs only a tip and runs about 4 hours. The guide and group size vary by listing.

A paid small-group walk fixes the price in advance: $18 per person for 3.5 to 4 hours with up to 10 people, meeting at Nadir Divan Begi Madrasah.

A private tour buys control. At $68 per person for 6 hours, the Best of Bukhara Private All-Day Tour picks you up at a central hotel, runs in four languages and lets you stay longer where you like.

Free, small group or private

The table lines up the three ways to see the old city with a guide, by cost, length and who each suits, from the tour listings.

Why travellers keep coming

The Historic Centre of Bukhara was inscribed by UNESCO in 1993, and the city's history is said to exceed 2,500 years. The Poi Kalyan ensemble, with the Kalyan Minaret and Miri-Arab Madrasah, dates from the 12th to 16th centuries. The Ark is called the oldest archaeological monument in the area.

A guide adds the context the signs leave out. The Bukhara Old City Small-Group Walking Tour covers 19 stops in 3.5 to 4 hours for $18 per person. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for sightseeing.

How to split the days

Give the first day to the old city core. The Best of Bukhara Private All-Day Tour covers Lyabi-Hauz, the Kalyan Minaret, the Ark and the trading domes in 6 hours. The second day can go to outlying sites such as Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace and Chor-Bakr Necropolis, which most travellers fit into 2 to 3 days.

A third day can be a desert night. The 2-Day Aydarkul Lake and Yurt Camp Tour picks up in Bukhara for $179 per person, with a yurt night, three meals and a short camel ride included. Arriving from Khiva, the Khiva to Bukhara Transfer via Desert Fortresses costs $160 per group up to 3 and drops you at any Bukhara address, with guide and fortress tickets extra.

Three questions to ask

First, how long do you have? With half a day, book the Bukhara Old City Small-Group Walking Tour, 3.5 to 4 hours for $18 per person. With a full day, the Best of Bukhara Private All-Day Tour runs 6 hours for $68 per person.

Second, who are you travelling with? The private tour takes just your group, up to 15 people, with hotel pickup. The small-group walk suits solo travellers, with up to 10 people.

Third, which language? The small-group walk runs in English. The private tour offers English, Russian, French and German.

For Bukhara as part of a longer trip, the 2-Day Samarkand and Bukhara Tour by Train costs $499 per person from Tashkent, with train tickets, monument tickets and one hotel night included. Trains from Tashkent reach Bukhara, so a city walk fits a rail route.

Meeting points and start times

The Bukhara Old City Small-Group Walking Tour meets at Nadir Divan Begi Madrasah on Bakhowuddin Nakshbandi Street. Arrive 5 minutes before the start. The Best of Bukhara Private All-Day Tour meets you at central hotels in Bukhara. Start times are shown when you check availability.

In summer, the heat peaks from late June to early August, so pick a morning slot and carry a hat and water. Both tours cancel free up to 24 hours ahead. Women entering a mosque cover their heads, so carry a scarf.