11-day Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan Group Tour 202511 days | Ashgabat, Mary, Darvaza, Kunya-Urgench, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent

Day 1, We: Ashgabat – arrival

 

Arrive in Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel. Check in from 14:00. Free time before the beginning of Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan Group Tour. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2, Th: Ashgabat – Mary – Ashgabat

 

Meet with your group in the morning and transfer to domestic airport for the morning flight Mary (40 min). Explore ancient city of Merv, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site that was a major center of international trade and crafts located on the Silk Road. Return to Mary. Visit History museum of the region. Transfer to the airport for evening flight to Ashgabat. Scheduled arrival. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 3, Fr: Ashgabat – Darvaza gas crater

 

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 Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia. You will visit the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, newly built Independence Park and (Sunday) bazaar. Intense and interesting excursion also includes a stopover at the Akhalteke horse stables.
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.

Note: At Darvaza camp you will be provided with sleeping bags, pillows, and 1- or 2-person tents. There is also an option to share a yurt with 3-5 other group members. In both cases, toilets and basic washing facilities (which include a shower with hot water) are outside.

Day 4, Sa: Darvaza – Kunya-Urgench – Shavat border point – Khiva

 

In the morning depart Gas crater and drive to Kunya-Urgench. Visit mausoleums of Turabek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmuddin-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Discover the Kutlug Timur Minaret and Kyrk Molla Hill. After lunch drive to Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border point Shavat-Dashoguz. Upon arrival border formalities. After the customs and passport control at both checkpoints, 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 Uzbekistan driver and drive to Khiva (60 km, 1 h). Transfer to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours

Day 5, Su: Khiva – Urgench – Bukhara

 

After breakfast sightseeing tour in Khiva. Visit Ichan-Qala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Ichan-Qala fortress visit Sayeed Alauddin Mausoleum, Arab-Mukhamadkhan Madrasah, Oq-Masjid Mosque, Madrasah of Hodjan Berdi-biya, Shirgazikhan Madrasah, Abdullakhan Madrasah, Juma Mosque, Allakulikhan Madrasah, Tosh-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islom-Khoja. In the evening transfer to domestic airport flight* to Bukhara. Arrival in Bukhara, transfer to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
*subject to availability and maybe substituted to transfer by train

Day 6, Mo: Bukhara

 

After breakfast start walking sightseeing tour in Bukhara.
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. Dinner and a National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasah.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 7, Tu: Bukhara – Samarkand

 

Breakfast. Start the second day with a visit to 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 and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. In the afternoon depart Bukhara and drive to Samarkand (470 km, 4-5 hrs.). Upon arrival at Samarkand check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 8, We: Samarkand

 

After breakfast, Samarkand sightseeing tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum – the mausoleum of Amir Timur, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory. Free time in the afternoon.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 9, Th: Samarkand – Tashkent

 

Breakfast. Continue sightseeing tour in Samarkand. You will visit Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Farewell lunch in Samarkand.
At 16:30 transfer to the railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing at 17:30 (300 km, 2 h 10 m) and arriving in Tashkent at 19:40. Pick-up and transfer to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 10, Fr: Tashkent

 

Guided sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. You will start with exploring the Old City. Visit Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran, holy book, of Caliph Uthman has been preserved. The complex consists of Barak-Khan Madrasah, Tillya Sheykh Mosque, Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Continue to 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. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 11, Sa: Tashkent – departure

 

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to the airport. End of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan Group Tour

Price includes:

• Accommodation based on double room sharing, breakfasts included;
• Transportation throughout the tour, including airports/train stations pick up and drop offs;
• Sightseeing tour program with a local guide in Turkmenistan; different local guides in each city in Uzbekistan;
• Entrance tickets to the sights as per itinerary;
• Economy class tickets for flights Ashgabat-Mary-Ashgabat, Urgench-Bukhara;
• Economy class tickets for trains Samarkand-Tashkent (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
• Visa support letter for Uzbekistan visa;
• Visa support letter for Turkmenistan visa;
• Tour leader to escort groups of 8 and more travelers in each country;
• 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;
• Camp style dinner and breakfast at Darvaza crater (days 3-4).

Price doesn't include:

• 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;
• Full board (lunches and dinners);
• Consular fees for tourist visas and Turkmenistan migration tax (14 USD).

100% guaranteed departures – even if there is only 1 traveler.

Group size: 1-16 persons

Please note that itinerary and prices are subject to change due to airline and train schedule changes, currency fluctuations and other unforeseeable events.