Best of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Experience Overview
Cross two 'stans off your travel map with a 13-day tour through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. This well-rounded tour takes you through bustling bazaars and beautiful city mosques in Samarkand and Bukhara, as well as bucket-list natural landscapes like the Darvaza gas crater known affectionately as the Door to Hell. Destinations less-ventured can be challenging to visit on your own, but with a skilled Chief Experience Officer (CEO) leading the way, you'll have incredible experiences without sacrificing safety or your sense of adventure.
Highlights
- Bargain your way through traditional bazaars
- Stay overnight in a local yurt camp
- Visit the desert community of Erbent
- Marvel at the Darvaza crater (known as the "Door to Hell")
- See the city treasures of Ashgabat
Trip Details
Product Code: 1624
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Private vehicle, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: AUTA
Starts: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Finishes: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Duration: 13 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in a Yurt, Aydar Kŭl Camp
- Orientation walk (Samarkand)
- City tour including a Registan visit
- Nurata Shrine visit
- Alexander the Great fortress visit
- Guided walking tour (half-day, Bukhara)
- Walking tours (Khiva)
- Kunya Urgench visit
- Derweze crater visit
- City tour (Ashgabat)
- Transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Departure Transfer
Accommodation
- Hotels (10 nts), yurt (2 nts, multishare up to 4 people per yurt).
- 12 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
- Private vehicle, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,969 ($228 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Tashkent
Arrive at any time.
Welcome to the eclectic capital of Uzbekistan, where modern skyscrapers mix with Soviet-era architecture and mosaic mausoleums. There are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting, so get out there and explore.
Day 2: Tashkent/Samarkand
Travel on to Samarkand, known for intricately beautiful mosques and mausoleums, situated on the Silk Road. Take an orientation walk and opt to visit the Amir Timur Mausoleum, dedicated to the famous conqueror who once hoped to rebuild the empire of Genghis Khan.
Day 3: Samarkand
Embark on a city tour, visiting Ulugbek Observatory, Shaki Zinda complex, the bazaar, Bibi Khanum, and Registan Square. With a free afternoon, continue exploring the Samarkand sights, have a cuppa in a local tea house, or wander around the bazaar. Opt to explore the Tomb of Prophet Daniel, famous for the Biblical story of Daniel and the lions.
Day 4: Samarkand/Aydar Kŭl Camp
Travel out into the desert to visit Chashma Complex, a pilgrimage site in the territory of Nurata, dominated by ruins of Alexander the Great's fortress, Juma mosque, a bath-house, and the ancient Panjvakta mosque. All of this, hiding a holy spring believed to heal diseases. After exploring the complex, head to Aidarkul Lake and opt for a swim before continuing on for an overnight stay in a local yurt camp. Enjoy an authentic Uzbekistan dinner and an evening Kazakh singing show.
Day 5: Aydar Kŭl Camp/Bukhara
Travel to Bukhara, known as one of the most charming cities in the country, and get your bearings on an orientation walk. Opt to visit the old city bazaars, enjoy a traditional dinner cooked by a local family, visit a hammam (bathhouse), or just relax in the pleasant atmosphere of this Silk Road city.
Day 6: Bukhara
Explore Bukhara on a half-day guided walking tour around the beautifully restored mosques, madrassas, and covered markets, or trading domes, that make up the Old City. A centre for pottery, cloth, and carpets, Bukhara is centered around Lyabi-Hauz, a delightful pool of water surrounded by ancient mulberry trees. Wander the artisan shops and narrow twisting streets and alleyways, or sit at a café table and let the evening drift by. Opt to watch a local puppet show held in an old caravanserai, or indulge in a rejuvenating hammam bathhouse.
Day 7: Bukhara/Khiva
Enjoy a scenic drive through the desert on a full day's journey to reach UNESCO-listed Khiva, well worth the arduous drive. Get to know this peaceful, picturesque city on a late afternoon orientation walk, and pick your favourite spots to explore more in-depth tomorrow.
Day 8: Khiva
Before exploring this historic town on your own, enjoy a guided tour to learn about local life here. Wander through the narrow labyrinth mudbrick alleyways of old town, bargain with locals at the bazaar, admire the madrassas, mosques, and blue mosaic domes, climb up towering minarets, and venture into the dark dungeons Khiva was infamous for back in the 10th century. Explore the inner walls of Ichon-Qala, and enjoy spectacular sunset views on the sand-coloured buildings.
Day 9: Khiva/Dashoguz
Spend the morning in Khiva, enjoying your last moments here to experience anything you couldn't squeeze in yesterday, or do some last minute shopping. After lunch, drive to the Uzbek-Turkmen border and continue to Dashoguz. Take an orientation walk and opt for dinner in local café, or explore the city and it's Bai Market.
Day 10: Dashoguz/Darvaza
Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kunya Urgench to visit the ancient capital of the Khorezmian Empire. After lunch, continue to the Kara-Kum desert and witness the fiery Darvaza gas crater, also known as the "Gates of Hell." This evening, enjoy a delicious barbeque dinner and spend the night camping under the stars at a yurt camp.
Day 11: Darvaza/Ashgabat
After breakfast, begin the journey to the capital of Turkmenistan - Ashgabat. On the way, stop near the community of Erbent and admire its golden sand dunes that stretch out to the horizon. On arrival in Ashgabat, spend the evening at leisure. Opt to visit the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque, also known as Gypjak Mosque, and capture the sun setting on the symmetrical minarets and golden domes.
Day 12: Ashgabat
Spend the day exploring bustling Ashgabat. Enjoy a tour of the city in the morning, visiting several city treasures such as the Monument of Independence and the National museum or Neutrality Arch. Afterward, opt to venture to the ancient ruins of Nisa, or continue exploring Ashgabat.
Day 13: Ashgabat
Depart at any time. Departure transfer is included.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Lee B. - Traveled, October 2023
Good balance of tour group time with a little free time. Guides were enthusiastic and keen to impart their knowledge of the culture and history of the countries visited. Schedule got us up and out early. Places to eat were decent and covered a lot of local food. Felt well organized.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/25/2023
Miranda J. - Traveled, October 2023
It was a great experience, but with slight reservations about group travel.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2023
Hsien H. - Traveled, September 2023
Small group size, expert local guides, packed itineraries
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/18/2023
Daniel A. - Traveled, September 2023
Driving time is underestimated in dossier. Meals are sometimes an afterthought, i.e. buying snacks at convenience store and eat on bus, sometimes there is no plans for group dinner so group disbands with smaller groups eating together, some alone, some skipping it. Airport Transit confusing,
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/11/2023
Kim S. - Traveled, November 2023
Professional CEOs to take care of logistics while offering interesting itineraries to learn more about the local people and places in a safe and socially responsible way.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/11/2023
Anne N. - Traveled, September 2023
I have been on 8 G Adventures trips by myself and every one has been excellent.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/11/2023
Ryan S. - Traveled, September 2023
I liked the tour overall, but with some areas that could be improved.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/07/2023
Ailsa C. - Traveled, September 2023
Great tour overall for like-minded travelers
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2023
Matthias G. - Traveled, August 2023
Well organized, great people and landscapes
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/20/2023
Angelo T. - Traveled, August 2023
Well organized trip with single rooms and excellent hotels. The were already assigned. Great off road car. The bus had plant of sets for us. I was accompanied in airport.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/20/2023
Ramona K. - Traveled, August 2023
More areas besides tourist spots covered
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/09/2023
Treasa N. - Traveled, August 2023
I like the travel style of G Adventures, small group, mixture of guided tours with time off to explore places yourself
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/09/2023
James B. - Traveled, July 2023
We have always enjoyed our holidays with G Adventures - good destinations, well designed itineraries and knowledgeable local guides.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/05/2023
Ngoc Huong Jade T. - Traveled, June 2023
I have been on 7 trips with G and always have had great things to say.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2023
Kerrylee M. - Traveled, June 2023
The variation in country of origin of guests, the variation in age ranges and experiences of the group plus the philosophy of G Adventures as a company
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/29/2023
Tuure H. - Traveled, June 2023
Great service, options for destinations and reputation
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/26/2023
Sydney B. - Traveled, June 2023
Mostly just loving the atmosphere on the trip, as well as the extremely competitive price
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/26/2023
Parisa M. - Traveled, June 2023
It is hassle free
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/26/2023
Edoardo P. - Traveled, June 2023
I loved the trip but it's not for everyone, thus I'm not going to suggest it to everyone.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/26/2023
Anwar K. - Traveled, June 2023
Well organized program but with enough flexibility as needed
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/26/2023
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