3 Days of Ferghana Valley Crafts Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Kokand: City of the Last Khan
2 stops
1
Khan Palace
A striking tiled entrance gate — turquoise, cobalt, and white majolica work with twin towers, usually the day's most-photographed moment Surviving courtyards — only part of the original palace remains; guides point out what once stood alongside what's still standing Carved wooden interiors — painted ceiling panels, carved columns, and wall decoration in the ornate late-19th-century royal style A small history museum inside part of the palace, covering the Kokand Khanate, regional archaeology, and Soviet-era history of the valley An uncrowded atmosphere — unlike Samarkand's Registan, this site is quiet enough for guests to actually linger and look closely rather than navigate tour-bus crowds
2 hours • Admission ticket included
2
Jome Mosque
A large arcaded outdoor gallery (aivan) — instead of the domed courtyards seen in Bukhara or Samarkand, this mosque spreads out across dozens of carved wooden columns Individually carved columns — no two quite alike, a detail guides often highlight A working mosque — still used for local prayer, so travelers should expect modest dress and a quieter, more respectful pace than at purely touristic sites A freestanding minaret nearby, sometimes climbable for views over Qoqon's old town (worth confirming current access) A calmer contrast to the palace's dense ornamentation, offering a more contemplative stop before the bazaar
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 2
Rishtan: Valley of Blue Clay
4 stops
3
A large, impressive showroom rather than a single artisan's workshop — visitors typically wear blue plastic overshoes before entering the huge display hall Silver Travel Advisor A different style than the individual masters — designs here tend to be more flamboyant and colorful, featuring golden eagles, birds, and other animals, a contrast to the classic blue-and-turquoise work at studios like Nazirov's or Usmanov's Silver Travel Advisor Serious commercial scale — the cluster was established with the explicit goal of exporting products worldwide, supporting talented craftsmen with real income, and it's landed international deals, including a $5 million purchase agreement with an American company Uzbekembassy Uzdaily Master classes on request — though it's primarily a showroom, you can request a hands-on masterclass here if guests want to try the process themselves
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
4
International Ceramic Center
A collective of independent workshops — the center is essentially a group of about 15 small, independent ceramic workshops and shops, each run by its own artist, giving a fuller overview of Rishtan's different styles in one visit An open-air, modern setting — opened in January 2021, it's the largest and most modern ceramics center in Rishtan, built specifically to house local masters' shops and workshops Variety of technique and style — meandering through the workshops shows a real range: some masters work in fine monochrome with piped designs, others in elaborately painted bowls and durable glazes A museum section — displays showing the difference between ancient and modern ceramics, alongside beautifully hand-painted dishes
1 hour • Admission ticket included
5
A working studio-school ("Usto-Shogird") — not just a shop, but a space where masters actively train students, so guests see both Nazirov's own pieces and work by his apprentices The ishkor glaze process — Nazirov is celebrated for reviving this ancient technique, made from the ash of a desert plant that turns glass-like at extreme firing temperatures Hands-on opportunities — guests can often join a masterclass covering every stage, from wheel-shaping to final hand-painting A distinctive color range — beyond Rishtan's classic turquoise and cobalt, Nazirov's work is known for natural beige and brown tones as well International credibility on display — his pieces sit in museum collections across Uzbekistan, Russia, and Japan, and his own story includes training under a master of Japan's Kutani ceramic school A quieter, personal feel — smaller and more intimate than the International Ceramic Center's showroom-style setup, making it a good contrast stop if you visit both
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
6
Margilan
Drive an hour to stay in Margilan. (Stay is not included in the price)
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Margilan: City of Silk
3 stops
7
Margilan Silk
The complete ikat process, start to finish — unlike a quick demo, this workshop walks through the entire sequence: silk thread preparation from raw cocoons, mathematical pattern calculation on paper, precise tying and binding of thread sections, multiple rounds of natural dyeing, and finally hand-weaving on a traditional loom — the full 35+ step process condensed into one visit Seeing the "impossible math" up close — the fascinating part of ikat is that the pattern only appears once the pre-dyed threads are stretched and woven together; a single miscalculation ruins the design, and guests get to see this precision firsthand A bonus batik tie-dyeing demonstration — beyond ikat, guests also see the batik method, where designs are hand-applied to finished silk, offering a different technique and a broader picture of Margilan's textile traditions in one stop Direct interaction with the artisan.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
8
Margilan Silk
A curated retail experience — this is the shopping stop that naturally follows the Yodgorlik factory visit, showing the finished results of the process guests just watched Genuinely helpful staff — known among visitors for knowledgeable guidance on fabric quality, weave type, and pricing rather than high-pressure sales Finished ikat textiles — khan-atlas and adras fabrics, scarves, and clothing made using the same tying-dyeing-weaving process seen at the factory A range of price points and pieces — from smaller souvenir-scale items to larger fabric lengths for those wanting to have something tailored A relaxed browsing pace — good for guests who want to handle and compare fabrics without haggling pressure, with time for fittings if trying on finished pieces
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
9
A genuinely local market, not a tourist stop — unlike other Uzbekistan bazaars, this is where locals actually shop for ikat fabric and clothing, in an overwhelming maze of shops and stalls Best visited on its two market days — it operates as a sprawling market only on Thursdays and Sundays, though Sunday is the busiest day, it also runs on Thursday The ikat shopping highlight of the region — rows of handmade khan-atlas and adras silk are available from around 5,000 som per meter, making it both a visual and shopping highlight A living slice of local culture — welcoming sellers in traditional dress invite passersby to their goods, with rows of fresh fruit, bread, spices, and dried fruit filling out the market atmosphere Easy to get lost in — the bazaar is large and can feel overwhelming to navigate, especially if you're after a specific section like textiles, produce, or handicrafts, which is exactly where having a local guide with you pays off
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Tags