Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

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Tour of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Experience 15 days trip.

This fully escorted small group educational tour to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is designed for the adventurous traveller. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are enthralling countries offering archaeological treasures, a rich and traditional culture, vibrant cities, bustling bazaars and welcoming locals.

This tour to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is packed with history. Throughout our journey we will learn about the power and conquests of bygone rulers. At times, we will travel along ancient trade routes that were once part of the Silk Road.

Top 5

A visit to Samarkand’s awe-inspiring Registan Square.
Learn about Ulugbek and visit the remnants of his ancient observatory.
A visit to Muynak’s ‘cemetery of ships’.
Wander the cobbled 10th century streets of the walled city of Bukhara.
Explore the ultra-modern buildings and golden monuments that define Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.

Tour Program

Day 1

Tashkent

Upon arrival we will transfer to the hotel. A group meeting and tour introduction will be held in the hotel lobby and this will be followed by dinner. (D)
Accommodation: Hotel Nice or similar.

Day 2

Tashkent

Today we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Our first stop will be the Museum of History followed by Mustakillik Square (formerly ‘Red Square’). Here we will view monument to victims of WWII and see Navoi Theatre, completed by Japanese prisoners of war in 1947. Following lunch we visit Chorsu bazaar, the main market in Tashkent, Kukeldash Madrassah and Tashkent’s spectacular Metro stations. Our tour ends with a visit to Amir Temur Square. Dinner will be at our hotel. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Hotel Nice or similar.

Day 3

Samarkand

We transfer to the railway station and board the high speed train “Afrosiab” for a three hour journey to Samarkand. Highlights of our day in Samarkand include: the excavated quadrant of Ulugbek Observatory, Afrasiab Hill and museum, Bibi Khanum mosque and Shahi Zinda (City of the Dead) mausoleums. We will also have the opportunity to wander Siab Bazaar. Dinner is at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Ideal Hotel or similar.

Day 4

Samarkand

We continue our sightseeing of Samarkand visiting Gur Amir mausoleum and the awe-inspiring Registan, a square lined on three sides by Madrassahs in distinctive Islamic architecture. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Later we visit paper and carpet factories. In the evening we will walk to view the flood-lit Registan by night – a truly magnificent sight. (B, L, D).
Accommodation: Ideal Hotel or similar.

Day 5

Bukhara

Today we depart Samarkand and journey to Bukhara (300km – 5 hours travel). In the afternoon we start our sightseeing, most of which is in the inner city of Bukhara, a World Heritage Site. Visits include: Samanid’s mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum and the Bolo Khauz Mosque. We will also explore the Ark Fortress with its emir’s house, mosques and mint. We have dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Lyabi House or similar.

Day 6

Bukhara

Today we visit the Poikalon ensemble in the center of old Bukhara. Our visit includes ancient mosques, madrassahs and the impressive Kalyan minaret. We also wander through the trading domes. Lunch will be at a local restaurant, and the afternoon is at leisure to rest or explore the city on your own. The group meets for dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Lyabi House or similar.

Day 7

During the morning we will visit the Summer palace of the Emir. Near the hotel is a Jewish Synagogue. We will walk there during the afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest or explore the city on your own. The group meets for dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Lyabi House or similar.

Day 8

Khiva

Today we depart Bukhara and travel to Khiva (450km – 7 hours travel). Lunch will be at a café en route. On arrival in Khiva we have dinner at our hotel. Khiva was a trading post on a minor branch of the Silk Road. The inner city is packed with historic buildings and there will be time to wander in the evening. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Khiva Yogut or similar.

Day 9

Khiva

In the morning we visit the sights of Khiva including Kalta Minor Minaret, the Kunya ark fortress, the Pakhlavan Makhmud complex and Ak-Sheikh Baba Observation platform. There will be an opportunity to explore Khiva’s cobbled streets. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Khiva Yogut or similar.

Day 10

Nukus

Today we drive to Nukus (180 km – 4 hours). On arrival we check in at our hotel. During the afternoon we visit Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum which houses the world’s second largest collection of Russian avant-guard art. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Jipek Joli hotel or similar.

Day 11

Muynak – Nukus

Today we drive 1.5 hours to Muynak. Muynak is the city that once supplied much of Central Asia with fish products and was located on the shore of the Aral Sea. Now it is a deserted ghost town with the Aral Sea shores 150 kilometres away. We will see the ‘Cemetery of Ships,’ reminding us that Muynak was one of the biggest ports in Uzbekistan and that people travelled to and from here by river. We have lunch in Muynak before returning to Nukus. Dinner will be at the hotel. (B, L, D)
The Aral Sea is considered the greatest man-made environmental disaster on Earth. Water that once fed the sea has been drained away and used for irrigation. This disaster began when Uzbekistan was part of the Soviet Union, but the problem continues. Today the Aral Sea is just a fragment of what it once was.
Accommodation: Jipek Joli hotel or similar.

Day 12

Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)

Today we drive to the border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and cross it via Hojeyli/Koneurgench Border Pass. After border formalities we take a short drive to visit old Urgench with its ancient caravanserai, mausoleums and minarets. We then visit the local Museum of History and drive back to Dashoguz for a 19:50 pm flight to Ashgabat (flight times subject to change), arriving there at 20:40 pm for transfer to our hotel. Lunch and dinner today will be provided in local restaurants. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Ak-Altyn Hotel or similar.

Day 13

Darvaza Gas Crater

We start the day with a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan that has recently been noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as having more white marble buildings than any other city in the world. During the city tour we will explore the archaeological site of Old Nisa and the Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum complex. This is one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia and commemorates Sararmurat Niyazov (the ‘Great Turkmenbashi’) leader of Turkmenistan until his death in 2006. We also visit the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, Independence Park and the bazaar. In the afternoon we drive to Darvaza gas crater located in the Karakum desert (280km, 4hr). At the crater we set up camp and enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner near the burning gas crater. The flaming crater is a spectacular sight at night. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Overnight in tents.

Day 14

Ashgabat

In the morning we depart the Gas crater and return to Ashgabat. We then have free time to explore this spectacular city with its golden statues and elaborate buildings. (B, L, D)
Accommodation: Ak Altyn Hotel or similar.

Day 15

Ashgabat

Free time then check-out from the hotel and transfer to Ashgabat International Airport. End of the tour.

Inclusions / Exclusions

What’s included in our Tour:

Services of a Tour Leader.
Full board while on tour.
All internal flights and taxes.
14 nights of accommodation.
Utensils and necessary equipment for staying in tents at Darwaza crater (sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pillows, dining table, chairs)
14 breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Applicable entry fees and services of local guides.
Service charges and gratuities.
Detailed tour information booklet.