DAY 1. Tashkent, arrival
Arrive in Tashkent. Upon clearing immigration and customs, meet representative and transfer to the hotel. Check-in at 14:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2. Tashkent
Breakfast at the hotel. Start guided tour in Tashkent – city with a long 2200 years history. We will start from the Old City: Khast Imam Ensemble – a religious center of the city consisting of Barakkhan Madrasah, Tillya Shaykh Mosque, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library of Islamic Literature with original Uthman’s Quran of the VIII century.
Explore traditional Chor-Su Bazaar – oldest in Tashkent where you can buy souvenirs, watch Uzbek bread baking process in traditional oven, taste some local food. Visiting modern part of Tashkent: ride by arty Tashkent Metro to Mustakillik Square – symbol of Uzbek capital. We will stroll about local Broadway Street to get to Amir Temur Square – the heart of the city, established on the intersection of two ancient trade roads. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3. Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva
Breakfast box. Transfer to the airport for morning flight to Urgench (1.5 h), followed by a 40 min drive to Khiva.
Today we will explore ancient inner town Ichan Kala (UNESCO World Heritage site, XIV-XX CC) – big open-air museum home to Muhammad Amin Khan Madrassah, Kalta Minor Minaret, Kunya Ark, Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrassah, Juma Mosque of X century, Tash Hauli – main palace of Khiva rulers, Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrassah. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4. Khiva – Dashoguz – Darvaza
Transfer to Turkmenistan border, our representative will meet you at the Turkmen/Uzbek border “Shavat”.
Drive to Darvaza Burning Gas Crater (300km, 5h) The Crater is also called “The Door to Hell”. The area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 60 m and 20 m deep. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today. In the evening, watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater. BBQ dinner & overnight at Gas Crater.
DAY 5. Darvaza – Ashgabat
Picnic-style breakfast. Drive to Ashgabat (280km, 5h). Transfer to hotel. Drive to visit the Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. The Turkmen Carpet Museum is one of the cultural centres of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 carpet exhibits, including rare ones, are exhibited. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet to wear keys, as well as the world’s largest hand carpet with a total area of 301 m², which was woven in 2001, and in 2003 it was added to the Guinness Book of Records.
Afternoon you will have an Ashgabat city tour. In 2013 the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat a “white marbled city” – here you can see the biggest number of structures in the world made out of white marble. You will see the Presidential Palace, Ruhyyet Palace, Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferries Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and Park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat Sports and Housing facilities.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 6. Ashgabat – Mary
BF at the hotel. Morning drive to Mary (360km, 5h). You also see the ruins of Seyitjemalledin mosque in Anau. The mosque was built in 1456 when Abu-ibn-Kasim Baber Bahadurkhan ruled in Khorasan (1446-1457). Construction of the mosque was financed by Bahadurkhan’s vizier, Muhammed Hudaidot, who also selected a site of construction–near the grave of his father, sheikh Jemaleddin, a native of Anau. The square central hall (with the sides of 10.5 meters) was crowned with a dome. In later periods, the Seyit-Jemaleddin mosque was partially reconstructed. By the nineteenth century, the subsidence of land had already damaged the building heavily, and during the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake it was destroyed completely. Now, only the lower parts of the portal and some fragments of the walls are extant.
On the way visit Abiwerd which was once an important trading town of North Khorasan. It was a key link on the Great Silk Road between Nisa and Merv, and also enjoyed ties in Nishapur, across the Kopetdag Mountains to the south.
You will see all the major buildings of Mary in the downtown. Also, visit Mary Bazaar to see a variety of local products. and the Russian Orthodox church (one of the oldest in Turkmenistan). Overnight at hotel.
DAY 7. Mary – Merv – Farap - Bukhara
BF at the hotel. Drive to Merv to explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum. After sightseeing, drive to Turkmen – Uzbek border Farap (260km, 4h).
Meeting at Uzbekistan side and transfer to hotel.
DAY 8. Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we’ll explore Bukhara, Central Asia’s holiest city. Start from Samanids Mausoleum – Shrine of Ismail Samani and other members of the Samanid Dynasty, Bolo Hauz Mosque, Ark Fortress – residence of Bukhara khans.
Continue to Poi-Kalyan complex with Kalyan Minaret through orient bazaars with trade domes. Finish at Lyabi Hauz complex, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city containing several impressive Islamic monuments. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 9. Bukhara outside city tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we drive outside Bukhara for sightseeing: Sitorai Mokhi Khosa – summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, Chor Bakr Necropolis – city of the dead, Baghautdin Nakhshbandi Mausoleum – center of Sufism and most important pilgrimage site. Drive back to Bukhara and visit Chor Minor Mosque. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10. Bukhara – Samarkand
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Samarkand. On the road visit Gijduvan Museum of Ceramics. Gijduvan ceramics school has its deep roots. The skills have been passed from father to son from generation to generation. Today Gijduvan is home for the sixth generation of potters from Narzullayevs family which glorified Gijduvan school ceramics all over the world.
Photo stops at ancient Karavan sarai (motel for traders) Rabat Malik, along of the famous Silk Road. Arriving Samarkand.
Accommodation at hotel.
DAY 11. Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel. We will start sightseeing from Gur Emir Mausoleum (tomb of Tamerlane), continue with iconic Registan Square (which means “desert” in Persian) and three madrassas (religious study centers) surrounding the square: Ulugbek Madrasah, Sher-Dor Madrasah, and the gold-covered Tillya-Kari Madrasah.
Visit to Shakhi Zinda Necropolis – ensemble including mausoleums and other ritual buildings of IX-XIV and XIX CC, Ulugbek Observatory, built in XV century by Timurid ruler and astronomer, Bibi Khanym Mosque – built by Amir Timur for his favorite wife in XV century. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 12. Samarkand – Tashkent
DAY 13. Mary – Merv – Farap - Bukhara
Check out by 12:00. Transfer to the airport. End of services.
Service includes:
Letter of Invitation (Turkmenistan)
Double / Twin accommodation with breakfast
Yurt camp (Tent/Yurt) stay (Turkmenistan)
Guide service
Transport services all over tour
Local flight: Tashkent-Urgench (Uzbekistan)
Speed train: Samarkand – Tashkent (economy class)
Entrance fees to all sights
Meals: BF at hotel
BBQ dinner at Darvaza (Turkmenistan)
1.5 L water per person per day
Travel tax
Service does not include:
Visa costs and processing
COVID-19 PCR tests by arrival (Turkmenistan)
Early check in
Airfare due to the program (international)
All optional deviations from the main itinerary
Beverages and meals not included in main menu
Photo-and video charges
All personal expenses (extra luggage fee, room service, medical expenses/insurance, etc.)
Trip cancellation / accident insurance
Tips to the guides and drivers
Meals (lunches and dinners)
Services not shown in the program
Suggested accommodation: | |
Cities | 3* and boutique option |
Tashkent | Art Deluxe*** / Art Regency*** |
Samarkand | Ideal***/ Jahongir*** Or similar |
Bukhara | Atlas 3* / Lyabi house 3* |
Khiva(Urgench) | Arkanchi*** Or similar. |
Ashgabat | Ak Altyn *** or similar |
Mary | Merw *** or similar |