11-day Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan Tour-311 Days | Private | Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Darvaza, Ashgabat, Mary, Merv

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 14:00. Your tour will start with meeting your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. You begin with a visit to the Courage Monument, one of the key symbols of Tashkent’s 20th-century history. Next, you will explore the Old City part of Tashkent, with the Khast-Imam Complex, where the world-famous Quran of Caliph Uthman is preserved. You will then continue with a drive to the Rishtan Ceramics Center, located in the restored Kallakhona madrasah near Chorsu Bazaar. Next, immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Chorsu Bazaar, a true eastern marketplace. Continue your journey with a ride on Tashkent's Metro, renowned as one of the most beautiful metro systems in the world, to the city center. Visit the Applied Arts Museum and stroll through Navoi Theater to reach Amir Timur Square, where your captivating Tashkent City Tour comes to an end. Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch break: 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 2: Tashkent – Samarkand

 

After breakfast transfer from your hotel to the railway station. The high-speed Afrosiyob train departs Tashkent and arrives in Samarkand in two hours (300 km). Your guide and driver will meet you at train station to begin the city tour in Samarkand. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum – the mausoleum of Amir Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch break: 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 3: Samarkand

 

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. Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch break: 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 4: Samarkand – Bukhara

 

In the morning depart Samarkand and drive to Bukhara (280 km, 4 h.*). Stop on the way at Rabat-i-Malik Caravanserai. Continue driving to Bukhara. Arrive in Bukhara, check in to the hotel. Spend your afternoon in fascinating Old Bukhara which is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Explore Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Magoki-Attori Mosque, madrasahs of Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, trade domes, Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Chor-Minor Madrasah. Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch break: 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.

Day 5: Bukhara

 

Start the second day in Bukhara discovering Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Samani dynasty and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Then visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch break: 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 6: Bukhara – Khiva

 

In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to Khiva (480 km, 7-8 h.*). The Great Silk Road once routed through Bukhara and Khiva ran through the Kyzyl Kum Desert, as the present road does nowadays**. Stop en-route to enjoy views of the desert and Amu Darya River. Arrive in Khiva late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest. Overnight at the hotel.
*As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.

Day 7: Khiva

 

Today you will visit Ichan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour features visits to Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum and Islam-Khoja minaret, the highest minaret in Uzbekistan. Free time in the afternoon.
Lunch break 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours

Day 8: Khiva – Darvaza Gas Crater

 

In the morning drive to Turkmenistan border point Shavat-Dashoguz (60 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 driver will be waiting for you with the sign with your name. Meet your Turkmenistan guide and drive to Darvaza gas crater located in the middle of Karakum desert (270 km, 4 h.). Set up the camp. Enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner near the burning gas crater. Overnight in yurts.
Meals: camp style dinner
Note: We'll travel in 4x4 vehicles across the rugged Karakum Desert. The route is unpaved, so expect a bumpy and thrilling ride – it's the only way to get to this incredible, remote location.
At the camp, we'll enjoy an authentic stay in yurts with basic, shared outdoor washing and toilet facilities, putting us right in the heart of the desert landscape.

Day 9: Darvaza Gas Crater – Ashgabat

 

After camp style breakfast depart to Ashgabat (280 km, 4 h.). Upon arrival check in to the hotel. Start 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 stables and Lenin Monument. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6 hours

Day 10: Ashgabat – Mary – Merv – Ashgabat

 

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to take a morning flight to Mary (370 km, 40 min.). Upon arrival 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. Merv blossomed during the Persian Empire of the Achaemenids and later under the Parthian, Sasanian, Arab, and Seljuk Turk rule. Return to Mary. Visit History Museum of Merv region. Take the return flight to Ashgabat (370 km, 40 min.). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Lunch break 13:00-14:00
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 11: Ashgabat – departure

 

Check out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Ashgabat International Airport. End of the 11-day Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan Tour.

Price includes:

• 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;
• Ticket for train Tashkent-Samarkand (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
• Economy class tickets for flights Ashgabat-Mary-Ashgabat;
• Visa support letter for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan tourist visas.

Price doesn't include:

• 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;
• Comfort car supplement in Uzbekistan total – 620USD;
• Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa;
• Consular fees for Turkmenistan tourist visa (approx. 80 USD), migration tax (14 USD) and express PCR test (33 USD);
• A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
• Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
• Personal travel insurance.