Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Tour - 3

Tour: UzTm-3, Request

Cities: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Mary, Turkmenabat, Koytendag, Koytendag, Merv, Ashgabat, Gas crater, Kunya Urgench, Khiva

Duration: 14 days

Tour Summary:

Day 1 : Arrival to Tashkent
Arrival to Tashkent , transfer to the hotel. Free time.

Day 2: Tashkent-Samarkand
In the first half of the day sightseeing Tashkent . Visit center of Tashkent, Amir Temur Square, Independence Square, Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imom Complex and Chor-Su bazaar, Applied Arts Museum. In the afternoon depart and drive to Samarkand . Arrival to Samarkand , check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Samarkand
Guided sightseeing tour in Samarkand , sightseeing tour will include visit to the famous Registan Square, Shakhi-Zinda Complex, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Shakhi-Zinda necropolis, Gur-Emir mausoleum, Ulugbek observatory, central bazaar in Samarkand . Overnight at the hotel.  

Day 4: Samarkand-Bukhara
In the morning depart Samarkand and drive to Bukhara . Arrival to Bukhara , check in to the hotel. In the afternoon sightseeing Bukhara . Visit, Kalon ensemble, medrese Miri-Arab, Magoki-Attori mosque, Chashma-Ayub, medrese Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, Kosh medrese, trade domes, Lyabi Hauz complex, medrese Chor-Minor. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Bukhara
Continue sightseeing Bukhara . Visit Samani dynasty mausoleum, Arc Fortress. Day trip to summer palace of Bukhara Emirs Sitorai-Mokhikhosa . Free time during the day. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Bukhara -Mary-Turkmenabat- Koytendag
In the morning transfer to Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border point. Border formalities on both sides. Meeting the Turkmenistan travel agency guide on Turkmenistan side of the border. Drive to Turkmenabat. Registr ati on & immediate transfer to Koytendag. All day drive by asphalt road through Lebap region & entering into Kuguitang mountains. Arrival to Koytendag. Check in tourist lodge “Lebap”. Overnight.

Day 7: Koytendag-Kuguitang
All day sight seeing in the Kuguitang mountains: Waterfall, Gorge, Kyrk Gyz cave, Dinosaur plateau - some decades ago the inner layer of the mountain appeared due to the surface rock displacement & opening the picture left by dinosaur family on the not yet turned to stone soil. Four footprint paths can be seen clearly – three left by adults & one probably baby dinosaur). Picnic lunch during the visits. Return to the tourist lodge. Overnight.

Day 8: Koytendag- Turkmenabat
Return in Turkmenabat. Visit on the route Kaynar Baba lake (having the hydrogen sulphide spring with a holy fish which can be seen in the lake). Continue to Turkmenabat crossing again on the route the Amudarya river. Arrival to Turkmenabad, check in to the hotel Turkmenabat. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Turkmenabat- Merv-Mary
After breakfast drive to Merv, 200 km through Kara Kum desert & visit the heritage of Ancient Merv – Alexandria , Antiochia, Sultan Kala, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Mukhammed ibn Zaid mausoleum, remains 6 th -7 th cent castles “Keshk”. Continue to Mary & visit History museum. Check in hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Mary- Ashgabat
Morning flight to Ashgabat. Arrival to Ashgabat, check in to the hotel. Sightseeing tour in Ashgabat. Visiting the National Museum of History & Ethnography of Turkmenistan & archeological site “Old Nisa”- Parthian period, Spiritual Mosque of Turkmenbashy. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: Ashgabat- Gas crater
In the morning depart Ashgabat and drive to the north through the desert. On the way visit Erbent village. Arriving in Darvaza area & changing the asphalt road on the desert track, continue 5 km deep inside till the gas crater. Camping. Discover the burning gas crater at night. Overnight in tents.

Day 12: Gas crater- Kunya Urgench – border point -Khiva
Continue drive to Kunya Urgench. Visit Kunya Urgench historical site (Mausoleums of Turebek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmad-din-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Discover the Kutlug Timur minaret and Kyrk Molla. Transfer to Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border point. Border formalities on both sides. On Uzbekistan side meet the driver and drive to Khiva. Arrival to Khiva, check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Khiva-Urgench-Tashkent
In the morning guided sightseeing of Khiva: Ichan Qala fortress - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where monuments Allakulikhan Madrassah, Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Islom Khoja Minaret, Juma Mosque, Toshhovli and other monuments are located. In the evening transfer to Urgench airport, flight to Tashkent . Arrival to Tashkent , check in to the hotel.

Day 14 : Tashkent - departure
Free time . Transfer to the airport, departure. End of the tour.

Accommodation:

Standard Uzbekistan tour price includes:
1. All transfers by car, starting from 4 persons on a van;
2. Accommodation based on double room sharing, breakfasts included;
3. Sightseeing tour program in each city;
4. Entrance tickets to the sights, museums, mausoleums;
5. Airplane tickets for domestic flight Urgench-Tashkent;
6. Visa support for Uzbekistan tourist visa;

Standard Uzbekistan tour price does not include:
1. Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour
2. Meals
3. Charges in hotels for additional services
4. Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa, US$ 50;
5. Personal insurance.

Standard Turkmenistan tour price includes:
1. All transfers by car, starting from 4 persons on a van;
2. Accommodation based on double room sharing, breakfasts included, (tents in the desert);
3. Full board;
4. Sightseeing tour program in each city;
5. Entrance tickets to the sights, museums, mausoleums;
6. Airplane tickets for domestic flights;
7. Visa support for Turkmenistan visa; Entry travel pass and registration with OVIR.

Standard Turkmenistan tour price does not include:
1. Immigration card at the border, US$ 10;
2. Consular fees for Turkmenistan visa, US$ 51
3. Charges in hotels for additional services