What's Actually Included in a Minzifa Tour — No Ambiguity

The worst version of this conversation happens after someone arrives in Uzbekistan and discovers that the tour they booked online is really just accommodation with a couple of guided visits tacked on, and transport between cities costs extra, and the entrance fees aren't included, and the airport pickup they assumed was part of the package wasn't. We've had guests come to us after exactly that experience with other agencies, and the frustration is completely reasonable because nobody should be surprised by what they paid for. So here is exactly what's in a Minzifa tour, and what isn't, with no small print. ** **What's included. Hotels at whatever tier you choose — budget guesthouse, mid-range boutique, or full luxury — all confirmed before you pay a deposit. Breakfast is included at most properties and we'll tell you which ones before you book. All transport between cities. The bullet train from Tashkent to Samarkand, the train from Samarkand to Bukhara, the flight or car from Bukhara to Khiva — whatever your itinerary requires, you won't be buying tickets at a station. Your guide has them. A private guide at every major destination. Not a shared group guide rotating between multiple travellers. Your own guide who's been briefed on your itinerary and your interests, who speaks English, and who has been working with international visitors long enough to know what you need without being told. If you want detailed historical context, they provide it. If you want to walk somewhere quietly and just absorb the place, they'll walk beside you. Airport transfers at the start and end of the trip. Your driver at arrivals, your driver to departures. All entrance fees to the sites on your itinerary. 24/7 contact with our team while you're in the country. ** **What's not included. International flights — you book those yourself. Lunches and dinners unless specifically noted in your itinerary. Most travellers prefer to find their own meals and it's one of the more enjoyable ways to interact with a place on your own terms. We'll give you specific recommendations everywhere you go. Travel insurance, which you need and should sort before departure. Tips for guides and drivers, which are appreciated but entirely your call, and any activities you decide to add on the ground that weren't in the itinerary. One thing worth saying: we deliberately build breathing room into itineraries. The free morning, the "wander the old town at your own pace" afternoon — those are intentional, not laziness. Some of the best moments our guests describe happened in the unscheduled time, and filling every hour doesn't leave room for that. If you have a specific question about what's in or out for your particular trip, ask before you book. We'd rather clear it up in advance than have any ambiguity after you've paid.