two persons traveling, specific BnB or 2-3* private hotels with breakfast, one double room shared. Tour services shall begin in the morning of Day 1 and be completed at the end of Day 12
INCLUDED
* Visa support if needed
* Hotel room with breakfast
* Transfers between cities and transport for all excursions from Day 1 to Day 12
NOT INCLUDED
* Intl. and/or local flights
* Accompanying tour guide
* Entrance tickets to museums and monuments, tour guide services
* Meals other than breakfast at hotels
Exploring two cultures along the ancient Silk Road that have a lot in common in terms of language, culture and traditions, yet feature a great deal of differences in lifestyle, political and economic attitudes.
You will explore the most interesting places in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and get acquainted with food, ethnic traditions and rich cultural environment.
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Archaeology, History, Islamic Heritage, Culture and Traditions, Gastronomic, Folklore and Ethnic, Handcrafts and Folk Art, Yurt Stay, Outdoor Activities, Ecotourism, Camping and Trekking, Mild Adventure
Best season:
October, May, June, July, August, September
Day 1
Arrival in Ashgabat, excursion. Night train to Turkmenbashi.
City tour with visits of National museum, Russian bazaar, Neutrality Arch, Independence Park, Nissa (UNESCO) and Turkmenbashi mosque-mausoleum. Transfer to the Railway station for the night train to Turkmenbashi.
Turkmenbashi-Yangikala. Stay in tents at Yangikala.
Arrival in the morning. Upon arrival visit to Russian-orthodox church and bazaar for food for camping (lunch items). Afterwards drive to Yangikala Canyons. Explore the canyons area. BBQ dinner. Overnight in tents near the canyons.
Drive to Darwaza. Arrival in Darwaza before sunset (~1800h). BBQ dinner, discover the burning gas crater by night time. Overnight in tents near the crater.
Drive to Shavat border post via Kunya-Urgench (UNESCO). Overnight in Khiva.
Visiting Kunya Urgench, the ancient capital of Khorezm. The exact period when Old Urgench (Kunya Urgench) was founded is unknown. The city is mentioned in Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrians. It is definitely much older than 2500 years old. At different times it has different names, such as Urva, Khangird, Gurganj, and Urgench.
All day for tour in Khiva. Visit Ichan Kala, the inner fortress, Muhammad Aminkhan Madrassah and its minaret, Kunya Ark and Juma mosque with 218 wooden pillars, the Harem of Khiva Khans, mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, a famous ancient wrestler and poet who patronized Khiva. Also, you will see Islam Khodja complex with a chance to climb up the 45m minaret and enjoy a breathtaking view of the evening Khiva at sunset from the top.
You take a long drive (480 km, 6-8 hours) through the desert along the course of the Amudarya River to the capital of ancient Khorezm, Urgench (Khiva). The rest of the day is devoted to checking in the hotel and leisure.
Visit the old city, Ark fortress, Bolo Hauz mosque, Ismail Samani mausoleum, Chashma Ayub, Kalyan minaret, Trading Domes with all kinds of handicrafts, where carpets and jewelry are sold. You take pleasure of a lunch arranged in the comfortable setting of a private house in the old part of Bukhara. After lunch, you visit Maggoki Attori mosque, Lyabi Hauz square, Kukeldash Madrassah, Nadir Divan Begi Madrassah, and the Indian style Chor Minor of 19th century.
Sightseeing Samarkand. Madrassah at Registan Square. Workshops in the Madrassah offer a variety of locally made handicrafts, of which musical instruments and carpets are made with exquisite taste. The artisans will tell you about Uzbek musical instruments and play charming old melodies.
Visit Guri Amir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane, and a nice gallery of modern Uzbek paintings. Then, explore the Observatory of Ulugbek, Afrosiab Museum, city bazaar and Bibi Khanum mosque, and Shahi Zindah.
Day tour in Tashkent, a city with two thousand years of history. You visit the old part of Tashkent and its medieval Kafal Shashi Mausoleum and Barak-khan Madrassa. You take a quick overlook of the modern city's most spectacular buildings, the complex of Oliy Majlis, People's Friendship Palace etc. Then you attend the Museum of Applied Arts.
End of tour after the excursion is finished.