Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan Adventure

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Carbon neutral

19 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

16 peopleMaximum group size

15 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Ends

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Highlights

Take an incredible journey through parts of Central Asia that few people can find on a map, let alone have considered travelling to!

Discover the history of the Silk Road – see the much-photographed Registan in Samarkand (one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture), spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara (a 6th-century city), visit the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva and explore the sprawling ruins of Mary.

Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, aka the 'Door to Hell' as you camp in isolated desert – this is one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth. Spend the evening warming yourself by the fire and sleeping in a yurt overlooking the crater.

Get to know the stories and people of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan while sharing home-cooked meals with local families, including a home stay in the remote Nuratau Mountains in Uzbekistan and a rare chance to stay with a Turkmen family in Nohur village.

Learn how Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and witness its often bizarre, but certainly memorable architecture on a city tour.

Itinerary

Travel into desert landscapes heavy with mysticism on this 19-day adventure through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Walk in the shadows of ancient, blue-tiled buildings in Samarkand, tap into the local way of living with home stays and yurt stays, watch the sun set over technicolour minarets in Khiva, toast to the eternal fire at Darvaza Crater and revel in the eastern-futurism of Ashgabat. Step off the beaten track and onto the ancient Silk Road in this revelatory tour through ancient lands.

day 1 - Tashkent

Welcome to Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital and Central Asia's main hub. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet you tour leader and fellow travellers. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place.

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

day 2 - Bukhara

Travel from Tashkent to Bukhara by train this morning (approx 4 hours). Located on the ancient Silk Road, Bukhara was an important regional and world hub for many, many years and has a long, fascinating history featuring invasions by both Genghis Khan and the Soviet Red Army. The majority of the town centre is filled with beautiful old buildings and, after checking into the hotel on arrival, you'll explore these on a guided tour. Visit the spectacular Ark building, a fortress that was occupied from the 5th century right up until its bombing in 1920, the Bolo - Hauz Mosque with its most elegant wooden carvings, and thousand - year old Ismail Samani Mausoleum. This shrine, built around the 10th century, was spared destruction during Genghis Khan's invasion as it's thought to have been buried as a result of flooding. It was discovered and excavated in the 20th century, and became a popular spot for pilgrims and local residents who considered it sacred.

included:Bukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Bukhara - Ark Fortress, Bukhara - Bolo Hauz Mosque

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 3 - Bukhara

With over 100 architectural monuments scattered throughout the city, there's plenty to be seeing in the well-preserved ancient town. Today, enjoy a full day city tour through sites and places that are steeped in history. Visit the iconic Kalon Mosque and Minaret, one of the most impressive with a view of the city. Stop at the Lyabi - Hauz Plaza, built about 400 years ago around a pool, still full of the old world feel with its picturesque backdrop. Chor Minor, the 4 cornered Minarets stand right behind it too. Don't miss Maghoki - Attar Mosque, which is the oldest mosque in Central Asia built in the 12th century, but was once a Buddhist and a Zoroastrian temple before that. And Ulugbek Madrasah, the first in the city.
If you are still energetic after a full day's exploration, perhaps take an optional visit to Hammam Bozori Kord, the oldest Turkish-style bathhouse in Bukhara, before a free evening in town. Your leader can help with suggestions on where to find some authentic Uzbek fare for dinner tonight.

included:Bukhara - Magoki Attori Mosque, Bukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque, Bukhara - Ulugbek Madrasa, Bukhara - Lyabi-Hauz Plaza

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 4 - Yurt Camp

Depart Bukhara and drive to Gijduvan. Here you'll visit a ceramic workshop, where sixth-generation ceramicists Abdulla and Alisher Narzullaev make some truly beautiful pieces. Spend an hour or so at the workshop then continue to Nurata, a drive of approximately 2.5 hours. The city proper was founded by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, though archaelogical remains date the first inhabitants of the area many thousands of years earlier, and the ruins of his fortress can still be seen today. From Nurata, the group will head into the Kyzylkum desert to spend the night sleeping in yurts. Perhaps choose to take an optional camel ride in the desert, and enjoy an evening campfire and local music with tonight's dinner underneath the desert stars.

included:Gijduvan - Ceramics workshop

accommodation:Yurt

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

day 5 - Nuratau Mountains

Drive into the Nuratau Mountains for our stay in a Tajik village (2-3 hours). These villages are serene, hidden away in the hills with paths shaded by greenery and buildings made of stone. The region is a desert oasis, with irrigation channels watering crops and giving life to trees. Spend the day hiking to waterfalls or petroglyph sites, possibly seeing the endemic mountain sheep called argali. Learn to bake traditional tandir bread and in the evening, learn how their beloved national dish - plov is cooked at the local family and enjoy a feast of home-cooked flavors. Spend the night in a homestay, learning about the local traditions and culture.

included:Nuratau - village visit, Nuratau Mountains - Plov cooking demonstration & dinner

accommodation:Homestay

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

day 6 - Samarkand

Marco Polo described Samarkand as a 'very large and splendid city,' and after a four hour drive you'll find out for yourself. This is a truly breathtaking place that conjures up images of ancient splendour, and there's perhaps no more well-known sight in Central Asia than the magnificent Registan in the heart of the city. This public square was once a gathering place for locals, where they would hear royal announcements and watch public executions among other things. Also visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the resting place of Timur who was the first ruler of the Timurid Dynasty. His crypt was opened in 1941 by a Soviet anthropologist, who found an inscription on Timur's gravestone essentially saying that 'He who opens this will be defeated by an enemy more fearsome than I'. On the following day, the Soviet Union was attacked by Hitler. After a day of sightseeing, overnight in a hotel in town and enjoy a free evening.

included:Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Samarkand - Registan Square

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 7 - Samarkand

Spend a full day in Samarkand continuing to take in the ancient sights and modern sounds. Don't miss Shah-i-Zinda, a stunning avenue of mausoleums decorated with beautiful blue tiles. Its holiest, most loved shrine is built around what's thought to be the grave of Quasam ibn-Abbas, cousin of the Prophet Mohammed and the man who brought Islam to the region many centuries ago. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque is an incredible example of Islamic architecture, built for Timur by Bibi Khanym, his Chinese wife, while he was away. As the story goes, the architect of the mosque fell deeply in love with her and his kiss left a trace on her cheek. Timur saw the kiss on his return and this, of course, led to the architect's execution. Enjoy some free time after touring the sites in this glorious Silk Road city.

included:Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda, Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 8 - Tashkent

Depart early this morning return to Tashkent by local train (approx 4 hours). Hop on local metro and enjoy a short city tour after arrival. Visit the Amir Timur Square in the center of the city, spend time wandering Chorsu Bazaar. The main building is topped by an impressive dome, and the market sells pretty much everything you could imagine, and plenty of things you couldn't. Then enjoy some free time. There maybe the option to catch a performance at the Navoi Ballet & Opera Theatre tonight.This theatre is just one of three that were given the status of 'Grand' within the Soviet Union, the other two being located in Moscow and Minsk. It's housed in a beautiful 20th-century building with a fountain at its entrace, and has played host to classic productions like Swan Lake and some incredible artists. Perhaps get your group together for a final dinner tonight before saying your farewells tomorrow morning.

included:Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent - City tour, Tashkent - Amir Timur Square

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 9 - Tashkent

Today is a free day in Tashkent to explore anything you didn't get a chance to yesterday. Tonight, you’ll have a second welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet the new travellers joining your group. After, why not head out to dinner together to get to know each other.

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 10 - Tashkent / Overnight Train

This morning, embark on a city tour to explore Tashkent. Visit the Amir Timur Square in the city’s centre and wander the bustling Chorsu Bazaar. An impressive dome tops the main building here and the market sells everything you could imagine. Explore the decorated metro stations, which were only allowed to be photographed from 2018, and the Khast Imom Complex, which houses one of the oldest copies of Qur'an. Have some free time in the afternoon and maybe stock some snacks for your overnight train tonight.

included:Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum, Tashkent - Amir Timur Square, Tashkent - City tour, Tashkent - Metro tour

accommodation:Overnight Train

meals:1 Breakfast

day 11 - Khiva

Arrive in Khiva mid-morning – many global powers have laid claim to this city over the centuries, from Khans to Silk Road traders and the Soviet Union. Get acquainted with Khiva on a city tour with your leader. See the incredible blue-tiled Kalta Minor Minaret and the Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassa. Explore the Kuhna Ark – the 'citadel within a citadel' that once housed the Khan and his family in the 17th century – then, get a view from above from the Ak-sheikh Baba Observatory. Visit the towering Islom Hoja Minaret – the tallest building in Khiva – and explore the Juma Mosque. Wander through the elaborately decorated courtyards connected by labyrinthian corridors at the Tosh-Hovli Palace and find a good spot to watch the sunset over this ancient city.

included:Khiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa, Khiva - Juma Mosque, Khiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace, Khiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum, Khiva - Kuhna Ark

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Lunch

day 12 - Khiva

After breakfast today, you’ll have a free day to explore Khiva at your own pace. Home to more than 60 cultural sites, medieval mosques and opulent palaces, there is plenty to see and do in this fascinatingly ancient city. Maybe head to one of the many museums, check out the souvenir shops or wander around one of the craft studios. If you’re not sure where to go and what to see, just ask your leader for tips!

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 13 - Border crossing / Darvaza

A long travel day today. This morning, say goodbye to Uzbekistan and cross the border into Turkmenistan. After border formalities, you’ll meet your new leader and head on to Dashoguz. When you arrive, visit a local bazaar and stretch your legs. Then, switch into 4WDs and drive on to Derweze – this village in the middle of the Karakum Desert is famous for ‘The Gates of Hell’ – this gas crater is an astounding 70-m-wide, 30-m-deep pit permanently aflame and formally known as the Darvaza Crater. Soviet oil prospectors started drilling in 1971 expecting to find oil, and the ground collapsed. Worried about the gas released into the air, they deliberately set the crater on fire to burn off the excess, expecting it to last a few weeks. As you’ll see today, they were wrong, and the crater has been burning ever since. When you arrive, take a walk around the crater and learn about the flora and fauna of the desert. Watch the sunset over the flames from your nearby yurt camp and enjoy a picnic dinner

included:Darvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater

accommodation:Yurt Camp

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

day 14 - Ashgabat / Nohur

Drive to Nohur Village via Ashgabat today, through the desert and into the Kopet Dag Mountains that separate Turkmenistan from Iran. On the way, you’ll stop to stretch your legs and take photos with visits to a mud crater, a water crater and the Yerbent Nomad Village. When you arrive in Ashgabat, stop for lunch and change to minibuses for the dusty winding roads to Nohur Village. When you arrive at your guesthouse in the afternoon, you’ll watch how the locals weave Keteni – a homespun silk fabric. Maybe take a walk to see the distinctive local graves, marked by the horns of mountain goats, and then along the shepherd’s trails that pass by waterfalls and swimming holes. Tonight, you’ll have a traditional dinner home-cooked by your hosts.

included:Yerbent - Village visit

accommodation:Guest House

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

day 15 - Ashgabat

Enjoy a traditional breakfast in the guesthouse this morning, then head out to learn more about the village lifestyle of local Turkmen tribes. You’ll meet with the residents here who are a part of the Nohur ethnic group, who consider themselves to be descendants of Alexander the Great. Wander around the tribes’ cemetery, overgrown and equipped with the mountain goat horns, and learn about the peoples’ customs, traditions and spirituality. After, visit Gyz Bibi Cave – a place of local pilgrimage. See an 800-year-old Cynar tree – more than 800 years old tree, then say goodbye to the village and head on to Ashgabat. Along the way, you’ll visit a local horse breeder’s farm for a cooking demonstration of Baursaki. Watch the process of frying the dough in oil, then maybe try it out for yourself! Watch how their bread is cooked in a tandoor (a mud oven), then sit down with your host to enjoy some of the treats as you learn about his family and his passion for Akhal-Teke horses – this breed of horse is specific to the region and have a reputation for their speed, endurance, intelligence and distinctive metallic sheen. Later, continue to Ashgabat, where you’ll spend the night.

included:Nohur - Village walking tour, Geokdepe - Horse breeder visit with bread & snack cooking demostration

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 16 - Ashgabat

Take a full day to wrap your head around this desert city on an immersive guided tour. First, visit the ancient settlement of Nisa, built in the 3rd century BC. See the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, built to honour those killed in the Battle of Geok Tepe in 1881, in World War II and in the 1948 earthquake. Then, head out of town to the ruins of Anau. The crumbling remains of the 15th century medieval mosque still attracts the devout, who come to pray and make offerings. Wander the Russian Bazaar to see locals doing their daily shopping and maybe taste some samosas, doner-kebabs and sweet melon! See the local Turkmen’s handmade souvenirs and maybe choose something special to bring home. This afternoon, take in the four-pointed martinets of the Ertugrul Gazi Mosque. You’ll then have some free time to relax and recharge before an evening visit to the monuments of Archabil Street, including the Neutrality Arch.

included:Ashgabat - Anau ruins, Ashgabat - Neutrality Arch, Ashgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, Ashgabat - City tour, Ashgabat - Nisa ruins, Ashgabat - Russian Bazaar

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 17 - Merv / Mary

Rise and shine for the drive to Mary (pronounced ‘Mah-rih’) – the somewhat ostentatious displays of wealth in this city can be traced to the long-running gas and cotton industries. When you arrive, settle into your hotel, then head out to wander through the lively bazaar with your leader. Take drive out to Merv, also known as Margiana or Margush, and enjoy some time exploring Turkmenistan's most recognised site. This sprawling UNESCO World Heritage site is home to numerous walled structures from various periods spread across a 1200-hectare area. See impressive columns smoothed by wind and time at the Greater Kizkala and walk hills that were once the fortress walls of Erk Kala. While not the most impressive visually, Gyaur Kala dates to 400 BC and has a fascinating history. Spend some time exploring these relics of grand empires, then return to Mary for some free time. Maybe visit the Mary Regional Museum. Housed in a palace of white marble, the museum features archaeological displays and exhibitions on traditional Turkmen life and culture.

included:Merv - Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, Merv - Erk Kala & Gayur Kala, Merv - Big & Small Kizkala

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 18 - Ashgabat

This morning after breakfast, head out to see the local Orthodox Church and take some more time wandering around Mary’s city center, before returning to Ashgabat – the City of White Marble. Arrive late afternoon and head out again as the sun goes down to walk along the promenade with your group. Maybe find somewhere for dinner and celebrate your final night on this incredible adventure.

included:Mary - City tour

accommodation:Hotel (1 night)

meals:1 Breakfast

day 19 - Ashgabat

With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. If you need help with organising a transfer to the airport, just speak to your leader.

meals:1 Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

Hotel (13 nights), Yurt Camp (2 night), Homestay (2 night), Overnight Train (1 night)

Meals

17 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Dinners

Transport

High speed train, Private vehicle, 4x4 vehicle, Overnight Train, Metro, Taxi

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Bukhara - Ismail Samani MausoleumBukhara - Ark FortressBukhara - Bolo Hauz MosqueBukhara - Magoki Attori MosqueBukhara - Kalon Minaret & MosqueBukhara - Ulugbek MadrasaBukhara - Lyabi-Hauz PlazaGijduvan - Ceramics workshopNuratau - village visitNuratau Mountains - Plov cooking demonstration & dinnerSamarkand - Gur-e-Amir MausoleumSamarkand - Registan SquareSamarkand - Shakh-I-ZindaSamarkand - Bibi-Khanym MosqueTashkent - Chorsu BazaarTashkent - City tourTashkent - Amir Timur SquareTashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library MuseumTashkent - Metro tourKhiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & MedressaKhiva - Juma MosqueKhiva - Tosh-Hovli PalaceKhiva - Pahlavon Mahmud MausoleumKhiva - Kuhna ArkDarvaza - "Door to Hell" CraterYerbent - Village visitNohur - Village walking tourGeokdepe - Horse breeder visit with bread & snack cooking demostrationAshgabat - Anau ruinsAshgabat - Neutrality ArchAshgabat - Ertugrul Gazi MosqueAshgabat - City tourAshgabat - Nisa ruinsAshgabat - Russian BazaarMerv - Sultan Sanjar MausoleumMerv - Erk Kala & Gayur KalaMerv - Big & Small KizkalaMary - City tour

What's Excluded

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Highlights

Itinerary

day 1 - Tashkent

day 2 - Bukhara

day 3 - Bukhara

day 4 - Yurt Camp

day 5 - Nuratau Mountains

day 6 - Samarkand

day 7 - Samarkand

day 8 - Tashkent

day 9 - Tashkent

day 10 - Tashkent / Overnight Train

day 11 - Khiva

day 12 - Khiva

day 13 - Border crossing / Darvaza

day 14 - Ashgabat / Nohur

day 15 - Ashgabat

day 16 - Ashgabat

day 17 - Merv / Mary

day 18 - Ashgabat

day 19 - Ashgabat

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