
From welcoming people to delicious cuisine, brightly-colored masterworks to untouched nature, this 13-day Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Group Tour has it all. Start in Turkmenistan, with modern Ashgabat and ancient Merv, once a center of trade and craftsmanship, before heading out to spend a night in the desert next to the Darvaza Gas Crater. Uzbekistan, famous for its several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a journey from the Ichan-Kala Fortress in Khiva to the Poi-Kalyan Ensemble in Bukhara, ending at Registan Square in Samarkand - and this is only the highlights. End in Tajikistan, with the ruins of Penjikent, once a bustling market town, and the Seven Lakes. Get the best value on your trip by choosing a group tour through Central Asia, which allows you to split costs with a group of like-minded travelers from around the world.
Tour itinerary:
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
In the afternoon drive to Darvaza gas crater located in the middle of Karakum desert (280 km, 4h.) Arrive at the crater, set up the camp. Enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner near the burning gas crater. Overnight in tents.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Visit a National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasah.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
After lunch drive to Penjikent. Sightseeing in Penjikent: Museum of Rudaki considered as the father of Persian Poetry; ancient Penjikent - ruins of old Sogdian town founded in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
- Transportation throughout the tour, including airports/train stations pick up and drop offs;
- Accommodation based on double room sharing throughout the tour, breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
- Entrance tickets to the museums, mausoleums and other sights;
- Economy class tickets for flights Ashgabat-Mary-Ashgabat, Urgench-Bukhara;
- Economy class ticket for train Bukhara-Samarkand (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
- Utensils and necessary equipment for staying in tents (sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pillows, dining table, chairs);
- Dinner with folklore show program at Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah in Bukhara, farewell lunch in Samarkand;
- English speaking tour leader in Tajikistan;
- Visa support letter for Uzbekistan visa;
- Visa support letter for Turkmenistan visa;
- Camp style dinner and breakfast at Darvaza crater (days 3-4);
- English speaking tour leader from Advantour to accompany the group of 8 persons and more;
- Full board in Tajikistan.
- Tour leader to accompany travellers for the whole period of the tour in Uzbekistan;
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
- Camera fees, charged separately by museums;
- Travel insurance;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour;
- Consular fees for tourist visas and Turkmenistan migration tax (14 USD).
Accommodation:
Ashgabat - 2 nights |
Ak Altyn, Grand Turkmen |
Darvaza - 1 night |
Tents (optional alternative: yurt shared with other group members) |
Khiva - 1 night |
Erkin Palace, Orient Star or similar |
Bukhara - 2 nights |
As-Salom, Minzifa Boutique, K.Komil or similar |
Samarkand - 3 nights |
East Star, Royal, Platan or similar |
Penjikent - 1 night |
Sugd, Umariyon |
Dushanbe - 2 nights |
Serena, the Rumi or similar |