Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan Tour - 213 Days | Tashkent, Khiva, Nukus, Kunya-Urgench, Darvaza gas crater, Ashgabat, Mary, Gonur, Merv, Bukhara, Samarkand

Private Tour from US$ 2,390
  • Kunya-UrgenchKunya-Urgench
  • Itinerary MapItinerary Map
  • TashkentTashkent
  • TashkentTashkent
  • KhivaKhiva
  • KhivaKhiva
  • Toprak-kalaToprak-kala
  • Savitsky Art MuseumSavitsky Art Museum
  • Darvaza Gas CraterDarvaza Gas Crater
  • AshghabatAshghabat
  • AshgabatAshgabat
  • MervMerv
  • BukharaBukhara
  • BukharaBukhara
  • SamarkandSamarkand
  • SamarkandSamarkand
  • SamarkandSamarkand
  • Kunya-Urgench
  • Itinerary Map
  • Tashkent
  • Tashkent
  • Khiva
  • Khiva
  • Toprak-kala
  • Savitsky Art Museum
  • Darvaza Gas Crater
  • Ashghabat
  • Ashgabat
  • Merv
  • Bukhara
  • Bukhara
  • Samarkand
  • Samarkand
  • Samarkand

This 13-day tour will take you back in time to the height of the Silk Road, when caravans crossed the deserts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan laden with goods. From Tashkent, the modern capital of Uzbekistan, to Khiva, a complete medieval walled city, it’s easy to imagine how travelers would have walked through these same streets, or how people have developed Uzbekistan’s cities into the metropolises they are today. Nukus, though far from many other cities, is home to one of the world’s greatest museums, the Savitsky Museum, full of ethnographic material and avant-garde art. Turkmenistan has some interesting ruins of ancient cities, like Kunya-Urgench and Merv, alongside the newer white-marble buildings of the capital, Ashgabat. Head out into the desert to visit sites like the Darvaza Gas Crater, continuously burning for over 40 years, and Gonur Tepe, an archaeological excavation. Return to Uzbekistan with stops in Bukhara and Samarkand, home to some of the most monumental architecture on the Silk Road. For the best and most complete tour of these two countries, the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan Tour 2 is a great option.

Tour itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent
 
Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at noon. Meet your guide to start your Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan tour with sightseeing in the capital and the biggest city in Central Asia.
Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman – Ottoman has been preserved. In Khast-Imam visit Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Day 2: Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva
 
Early morning transfer for flight to Urgench (1093 km, 1 h. 40 min.). Arrival in Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 minutes’ drive). Later proceed for guided walking sightseeing tour. Spend a day in Ichan-Qala, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Mukhammad Aminkhan MadrasahMukhammad Rakhimkhan MadrasahKalta-MinorJuma MosqueTash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam Khoja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Day 3: Khiva – Nukus
 
After breakfast depart to Nukus (200 km, 3 h.). On the way visit archaeological monuments of ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk Zoroastrian dakhma, and Toprak-Kala – the capital of Khorezm dating back to the 3rd century A.D. Arrive in Nukus, check in to the hotel. Visit the Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum. The museum hosts the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and exposition of Karakalpak applied arts items. Have a short drive around center of Nukus: see statue of Karakalpak poet Berdakh, Nukus City Hall and Drama Theatre. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Nukus – Kunya-Urgench – Darvaza gas crater
 
In the morning drive to Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border point Xojayli. Upon arrival at the customs and passport control on both sides, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. At that point, our guide/driver will be waiting for you with the sign with your name. Cross the 1.5 km neutral zone (transportation may not be available). Meet your Turkmenistan guide and drive to Kunya-Urgench (20 min.). Visit Kunya-Urgench historical site: mausoleums of Tyurabek-Khanum, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmuddin-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Discover the Kutlug-Timur Minaret and Kyrk Molla Hill. Drive to Darvaza gas crater in the Karakum desert (270 km, 4 hours). Set up a camp. Enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner near the burning gas crater. Overnight in tents.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
Day 5: Darvaza gas crater – Ashgabat
 
After camp style breakfast depart to Ashgabat (280 km, 4 h.). Arrive in Ashgabat, free time.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Ashgabat
 
You will start the day with a sightseeing tour in 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 you will explore an archaeological site of Old Nisa (included in UNESCO World Heritage list) and Spiritual Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia. You will visit the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, Presidential Square, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque and newly built Independence Park. Intense and interesting excursion also includes a stopover at the Akhalteke horse and Lenin Monument. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6 hours
Day 7: Ashgabat – Mary – Gonur (Margush) – Mary
 
Take a morning flight to Mary (370 km, 40 min.). Arrive in Mary, drive through the desert to archeological camp Gonur Depe (110 km, 3 h.). Discover the excavations of the ancient Margush country capital – Gonur which consists of the Palace of the city, Fire and Water Temples, Royal Necropolis. Return to Mary. Visit History Museum of Merv region. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4 hours
Day 8: Mary – Merv – Bukhara
 
Drive to Merv (40 km, 30 min), an ancient city that was a major center of international trade and crafts located on the Silk Road. Discover historical park with Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, Large and Small Gyz Gala, Erk Gala, Gyaur Gala, Keshk Fortress, and others. In the afternoon depart to Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border point (45 km, 1 h). Upon arrival at the customs and passport control on both sides, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. At that point, our guide/driver will be waiting for you with the sign with your name. Cross the 1.5 km neutral zone (transportation may not be available). Meet your driver and continue to Bukhara (100 km, 1 h 30 min). Arrival in Bukhara, check in to the hotel. Free time in Old City. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Day 9: Bukhara
 
Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz ComplexMagoki-Attori MosqueChor-Minor Madrasahtrade domesKalyan Mosque and Minaret and Miri-Arab MadrasahMadrasah of Ulugbek and AbdulazizkhanArk Fortress, Bolo-Khauz MosqueSamani dynasty Mausoleum and Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Day 10: Bukhara – Samarkand
 
Continue sightseeing tour with a guide. Drive out of the city to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir. Head to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. In the afternoon depart to Samarkand (280 km, 4 h.). Stop on the way at Caravanserai Rabat-i-Malik, dating back to 11th century. Arrive in Samarkand late in the afternoon, check in to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2-3 hours
Day 11: Samarkand
 
Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum MosqueUlugbek ObservatorySiab BazaarShakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum – the Mausoleum of Amir Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Day 12: Samarkand – Tashkent
 
Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. At 16:00 transfer to railway station. Take the high-speed train, Afrosiyob, departing to Tashkent at 17:00 (300 km). Scheduled arrival time is 19:10. Pick-up and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Day 13: Tashkent – departure
 
Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. End of the tour.
  • All transfers: 1-2 pax by sedan type car, 3-7 pax by minivan car;
  • Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
  • English speaking tour leader in Turkmenistan;
  • Sightseeing tour program in each country;
  • Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
  • Economy class tickets for flights Tashkent-Urgench, Ashgabat-Mary;
  • Ticket for train Samarkand-Tashkent (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 at Darwaza crater (sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pillows, dining table, chairs) with camp style dinner and breakfast;
  • Visa support letter for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan tourist visas.
  • Tour leader to accompany the 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;
  • Consular fees for tourist visas and Turkmenistan migration tax (14 USD);
  • Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
  • Personal travel insurance.

Prices per person

 
 
Economy
Comfort
1 person
US$ 4,680
US$ 4,880
2 persons
US$ 2,920
US$ 3,060
3 persons
US$ 2,720
US$ 2,870
4 persons
US$ 2,390
US$ 2,530
Single supplement
US$ 420
US$ 520
Prices are for 2024 in US$ per person, with discounted prices for larger groups available on request.

Accommodation

Tashkent - 2 nights
Economy:
Ateca / Milan / Ramada Encore / Aster / Europe / Praga / Navruz / Moderno
Comfort:
Hampton by Hilton / Wyndham Tashkent / Courtyard by Marriot / Mercure Tashkent / Panarams
Khiva - 1 night
Economy:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Minor Boutique / Bankir / Muso Tura / Orient Star
Comfort:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Minor Boutique / Bankir / Muso Tura / Orient Star
Nukus - 1 night
Economy:
Jipek Joli or similar
Comfort:
Jipek Joli or similar
Darvaza - 1 night
Economy:
Shared yurts / optional single accommodation in tents upon request.
Comfort:
Shared yurts / optional single accommodation in tents upon request.
Ashgabat - 2 nights
Economy:
Sport
Comfort:
Archabil
Mary - 1 night
Economy:
Mary
Comfort:
Mary
Bukhara - 2 nights
Samarkand - 2 nights
Economy:
Wellfort / Gur Emir Palace / Jakhongir Premium / Bibikhanum / Shohjahon Palace / Silk Road Empire
Comfort:
Platan / Royal / Dilimah / Grand Samarkand Superior / Arka Boutique / Emirhan

Tour Request

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Travel Info

UzTm-2 Reviews

Author: Rob Fitz-Gerald +Party   |   Rating: 511 June 2015
Difficult to answer-loved all the monuments and sites. Enjoyed seeing + leaving more culture, life today + history. People very friendly, hospitable, welcoming + open. Excellent guide and drivers. In summary, we loved it!!!

Visited April 2015

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