Is a Khiva Wood Carving Workshop Worth It? What to Know Before You Book

I was recently in Khiva and one of the first things I planned for the city was a wood carving workshop. I was so excited until I got an email saying that my Khiva wood carving workshop had been canceled.

Fortunately, I scoured around and found a replacement at an affordable price. In this guide, I will share my experience at a wood carving workshop in Khiva, including more about the history of the applied art, how to book the workshop I did, and some tips for your day.

Quick Khiva Travel Guide

If you’re traveling to Khiva at the last minute, be sure you have hotels and tours booked ahead of time. Below are some of my top picks:

🇺🇿 Best tours and activities from Khiva:

Wood carving workshop with a master (reviewed in full below!)
Guided walking tour of Khiva (a must for first-time visitors)
Half-day tour from Khiva to old fortresses (the BEST day trip option)

🛌 Top hotels and lodging in Khiva:

Polvon Qori Boutique Hotel (I loved this place; in an old madrasah)
Khiva Siyovush Hotel (affordable family-owned guesthouse; I also loved it)

I also share the pros and cons of the workshop I did, with some honest thoughts about the experience.

If you have any questions about wood carving in Khiva, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

History of Wood Carving in Khiva

Khiva has become famous for its wood carving, and it is one of the oldest places in Uzbekistan that masters in the craft. You will find intricately carved columns, furniture, doors, and a lot more donning the narrow alleys of the Itchan Kala and beyond.

a wooden, carved door with a sign over it that says shops — The beautiful wood doors of Khiva

While there is no exact date as to when wood carving arrived in Khiva, the art (and other applied arts) started to flourish in the city after Islam took over Central Asia in the 8th century.

You can see examples of some of Khiva’s most spectacular carvings at the Juma Mosque, a repurposed mosque that now serves as the city’s wood carving museum (and has since 1983). There are 213 wooden pillars inside, all with unique designs and all carved during different periods of history. Some are even newer!

inside an old mosque that is dark with a lot of wooden columns (carved) — Juma Mosque in Khiva

Wood carving has been a declining craft in Khiva in recent years, so it is fantastic seeing workshops where you can learn from the masters who are trying to keep this remarkable skill alive for generations to come!

Why I Signed Up for a Wood Carving Workshop in Khiva

Honestly, I have an obsession with the wood-carved doors in Uzbekistan. On my first trip, I found myself taking photo after photo of them, marveling at the details and precision. Apparently, I thought I could learn how to do an entire door myself during my 1-hour workshop (I’m kidding, but that would have been quite cool if it worked out like that).

But seriously, I wanted to see a master at work and learn a little bit more about how the carving is done.

a photo of a man in a tracksuit holding up a wood carving he made in uzbekistan — Umid is a 15-year wood carving master from Khiva

This workshop was fairly affordable if you are doing it in a group of 2 or more. It requires a minimum of 3 people to take place. The total cost to book the private workshop for 3 people is $72. Keep in mind that you can book this for 1 or 2, you just need to make the payment for 3.

The Khiva wood carving workshop provided me with an hour to get off my feet, learn a new skill, and admire a master at work.

Check Khiva wood carving workshop rates & availability

How to Book a Khiva Wood Carving Workshop

⏰ Duration: 1-1.5 hours
📍 Meeting Point: beside the Islam Khoja Minaret (look for the wood carving tables)
🌎 Language: it said English but it was more ‘hand gestures’
➡️ Check rates & availability here

I booked my Khiva wood-carving workshop through GetYourGuide, a platform I have used in so many countries all over the world. Honestly, I wouldn’t even know how to go about booking a workshop in Khiva without the platform, as English is not as widely spoken as in some other places in Uzbekistan.

Once you get to the workshop’s landing page, you will need to plug in your date and see which timeslots are available. On the day I booked, there were 11am, 4pm, and 5pm times available. We chose the 11am timeslot.

a woman and a man carving a small piece of wood — Let’s get to work!

We paid for the workshop and were excited to head there on the day! A day before it began, I received confirmation texts on WhatsApp from the company (Khiva Adventure) that operates the experience, and they also shared a photo of the master we would be learning from.

This was crucial as we had to locate him on the day of the workshop in a somewhat busy part of the old city.

Inside My Wood-Carving Workshop

We arrived around 15 minutes before the workshop was scheduled to begin. The meeting point was at the Islam Khoja Minaret, a famous landmark in the Itchan Kala.

I had a photo of Umid, our instructor, but it was not easy to find him in the sun and chaos of the old town. Fortunately, he saw us wandering about, looking confused, and asked if we were there for the wood carving. Whew!

a wooden, carved small cutting board on a messy table — What we worked on during the workshop

Once we introduced ourselves (he is 35, has been a master for 15 years, and is actually the first in his family to work with wood, which is pretty cool!), we moved to a small table with two chairs behind suzanis draping over a table. He laid out all the tools we were going to use (there were many different sizes) and we got to work.

The wooden board, which we later found out is a mini cutting board, was already cut in its shape and just needed to be chiselled to match the example he showed us.

a man chiseling away at a wooden mini cutting board — Umid showing us how it’s done

Turns out, wood carving is harder than it looks (no pomegranate wooden-carved doors for me). He helped us through the entire process and then sanded it down at the end of our hour-long workshop.

The entire experience was fun, beginner-friendly, and one I’ll remember for a long time! And truthfully, it was one of my favorite things to do in Khiva because it combined culture with getting off my feet for a while!

Pros & Cons of My Workshop

Pros

Umid had everything ready, including all the tools we needed to work. He was patient, but not hesitant to help when we needed it (which was quite often for me).

Communication with Khiva Adventure was also really efficient.

a woman holding up a wooden carving in front of her face to show scale — The scale of the carving – it easily fits into suitcases to take home (and is light)

This was also such a cool souvenir to bring home with me. I have done a lot of workshops in Uzbekistan and this is by far one of my favorite things I am toting home in my luggage! I may even look to stain the wood one day so it looks a little more refined.

Cons

Having to find the master at one of the busiest areas of the Itchan Kala was no fun task. We had a photo of him, but it only helped so much. Fortunately, he saw us looking a little confused and realized we were his students for the day!

It was also extremely hot at the workshop. The area sits behind hanging suzanis in a corner near the minaret. It is entirely outside and in the sun. While Umid constantly asked if I was okay sitting in the sun, I still wish it had been in a different location. On the other hand, a lot of people stopped to watch and say hi, which I thought was cool (but some people may not).

a man working in front of a minaret carving wood — When the sun popped out, it was pretty hot!

Umid’s English was very beginner. This didn’t bother me from an instruction standpoint at all, as we were able to navigate the instructions with gestures and what little dialog we could manage. However, I would have loved to have gotten to know his story and history with carving a little bit more.

Khiva Wood-Carving FAQ

Is the wood carving workshop in Khiva beginner-friendly?

I have no wood carving knowledge or skills and it was my first time doing it. So, yes, wood carving in Khiva is a beginner-friendly activity.

How long does a traditional Uzbek wood carving workshop last?

The wood carving workshop I took in Khiva was around 1-1.5 hours in total.

What can you make during the workshop?

You can make several items in a wood carving workshop, but we made a small cutting board in ours.

Is this workshop suitable for children?

I would say no. Probably 16+ would be the ideal ages, as the craft requires some hammering of tools and requires a lot of wrist work. It also takes place in the sun and may not be best suited for children.

a woman and man chiseling a piece of wood on a messy table — Chiseling away…

Do you need an Itchan Kala ticket to get to the workshop?

You don’t technically need a ticket to walk around the Itchan Kala but it is easier to plan this on a day when you are inside with a valid ticket to visit the sites. A two-day ticket is 250,000 UZS (about $20).

What do you wear for a workshop?

Since the workshop is in the sun, definitely dress accordingly. It was very hot and sunny when I was there, and I regretted not wearing a hat. It may be worth bringing a bottle of water, as well.

Do you need to tip?

I think tipping at least 10% (if you enjoyed the workshop) is an appreciated courtesy, and I encourage you to do so.

Do you have any questions about taking a wood carving workshop in Khiva, Uzbekistan? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

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