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

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 Madrasah, Mukhammad Rakhimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-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.
*Due to renovations at Savitsky Museum, some of the archeological and applied arts exhibitions remain closed indefinitely.

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 driver will be waiting for you with the sign with your name. 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. 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 Complex, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Mosque and Minaret and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Madrasah of Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Samani 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 Mosque, Ulugbek Observatory, Siab Bazaar, Shakhi-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 13-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;
• 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.

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;
• 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.