Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan Adventure

Intrepid Travel · 15 days

4.6

4 Reviews

Duration

15 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Average

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Travel into desert landscapes heavy with mysticism on this 19-day adventure through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (14), Lunch (1), Dinner (2)
Accommodation: Hotel (11 nights), Yurt Camp (2 night), Guest House (1 night)

Highlights

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 'Gates of Hell' as you camp within an isolated desert – this is one of the most mesmerising geological oddities on earth.
Get to know the stories and people of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan while sharing home-cooked meals with local families, including making plov with an Uzbek family and a rare chance to stay with a Turkmen family in Nohur.
Learn how Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and witness the best of its architecture on an in-depth city tour – Ashgabat holds the Guinness World Record for the highest density of white marble buildings in the world.
Rub shoulders with locals in bazaars, on trains and along winding roads – in the true spirit of a Silk Road traveller, the journey matters as much as the destination.

Trip Details

Duration

15 days

Transportation

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

Guide Language

English

Starts

Tashkent, Turkmenistan

Finishes

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

Explorer, Budget

Physical Rating

Average

Itinerary

Day 1: Tashkent

Salom! Welcome to Uzbekistan. Your adventure begins in Tashkent, the nation’s capital and Central Asia’s main hub, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Tonight, maybe get to know your group over dinner in the city – ask your leader for the best restaurant recommendations!

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Samarkand

Leave for Samarkand this morning on the bullet train. When you arrive in the afternoon, head out to explore your first Silk Road town – Samarkand. Visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the resting place of Timur – the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty. The story goes that this crypt was opened in 1941 by a Soviet anthropologist, who found an inscription on Timur’s gravestone essentially saying, ‘He who opens this will be defeated by an enemy more fearsome than I.’ Then, it’s on to the magnificent Registan – there’s perhaps no more well-known site in Central Asia than this grand city square. This was once a gathering place where locals would hear royal announcements and watch public executions. Stop by the Bibi-Khanym Mosque for an impressive example of Islamic architecture, built for Timur by his wife, Bibi Khanym. The evening is free to do as you wish.

Included Activities:

Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
Samarkand - Registan Square
Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Samarkand

Continue to soak in the ancient sites and modern buzz of Samarkand today. You’ll visit Shah-i-Zinda, an avenue of mausoleums decorated with blue tiles – its most sacred shrine is built around what’s thought to be the grave of Qusam Ibn Abbas, cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. Then, you’ll have some free time to uncover more of this Silk Road city at your own pace. Maybe head to Ulugbek’s Observatory, the Tomb of Daniyar or the Afrosiab Museum, or wander the Siyob Bazaar where you’ll find fresh local produce and regional handicrafts.

Included Activities:

Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Kyzylkum Desert

Drive to Nurata today, which archaeological remains suggest was inhabited thousands of years ago. This is where Alexander the Great built the Nur Fortress in the 4th century BC, the ruins of which can still be seen today. Visit the Chashma Complex, an incredible and much revered Islamic pilgrimage site that has inspired many legends and tales. Centred around a sacred, mineral-rich spring that maintains a constant temperature of about 20° C, the site is also home to the massive Juma Mosque and schools of sacred, protected fish. Then, enjoy a homecooked lunch with an Uzbek family and learn how their national dish of plov is made. After, travel into the Kyzylkum Desert to spend the night sleeping in yurts. Maybe take a dip into Lake Aydarkul and spend the evening by the campfire, stargazing under a desert sky glittering with thousands of stars.

Included Activities:

Nurata - Chashma Complex
Nurata - Plov making & home-cooked lunch

Accommodation:

Yurt Camp (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Bukhara

Continue to Bukhara today. Located on the ancient Silk Road, Bukhara was historically an important regional and global hub and has a long history of invasions by both Genghis Khan and the Soviet Red Army. After checking into your hotel, you’ll go on a guided walking tour to explore the historic buildings that fill the town centre. Visit the Ark of Bukhara, a fortress that was occupied from the 5th century until it was bombed by the Red Army in 1920, the Bolo Hauz Mosque, with its elegantly carved wooden pillars, and the Ismail Samani Mausoleum – a shrine built around the 10th century and thought to have survived Genghis Khan’s invasion because it had been buried in a flood. It was discovered and excavated in the 20th century and has become a popular spot for pilgrims and local residents, who regard it as sacred.

Included Activities:

Bukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
Bukhara - Ark Fortress
Bukhara - Bolo Hauz Complex

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Bukhara

With more than 100 monuments scattered throughout Bukhara, there’s plenty more to explore today. Set out on a full-day guided tour through the best of this well-preserved ancient city. Visit the iconic Kalon Mosque and Minaret, the Lyabi-Hauz Plaza (built about 400 years ago, surrounding a pool) and the Chor Minor gatehouse. You’ll also stop at Ulugbek Madrasah (the oldest madrasah in Central Asia) and Maghoki-Attar – Central Asia’s oldest surviving mosque, built in the 12th century on the ruins of a former Buddhist monastery and Zorostrian temple. If you’ve still got the energy after a full day of exploring, maybe go on an optional visit to Bozori Kord Hamam – the oldest Turkish-style bathhouse in Bukhara. Then, enjoy a free evening – your leader can help with suggestions on where to find some authentic Uzbek dishes for dinner tonight.

Included Activities:

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Khiva

Get an early start today to catch a local train to Urgench, then transfer to Khiva. 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 short orientation walk with your leader, then maybe find a good spot to watch the sunset over this ancient city.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Khiva

This morning, join your local guide to explore more of this ancient city. See the incredible blue-tiled Kalta Minor Minaret and the Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah. 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 winding corridors at the Tosh-Hovli Palace. This evening, you’ll have a briefing with your new trip leader in preparation for travelling to Turkmenistan tomorrow.

Included Activities:

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 9: Tashkent

Today is a long travel day – this morning, say goodbye to Uzbekistan and cross the border into Turkmenistan. After border formalities, you’ll meet your new leader and continue to Dashoguz. When you arrive, visit a local bazaar and stretch your legs. Then, hop into 4WDs and drive to Darvaza. This village in the middle of the Karakum Desert is famous for the ‘Gates of Hell’ – this gas crater, formally known as the Darvaza Crater, is an astounding 70-m-wide, 30-m-deep pit that’s permanently aflame. 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 tuck into a picnic dinner.

Included Activities:

Darvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 10: Tashkent

Drive to the village of Nohur via Ashgabat today, passing 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 village of Yerbent. When you arrive in Ashgabat, stop for lunch and change to minibuses for the dusty winding roads to Nohur. When you arrive at your guesthouse in the afternoon, you’ll watch how the locals weave keteni – a spun 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 home-cooked dinner prepared by your hosts.

Included Activities:

Yerbent - Village visit

Accommodation:

Guest House (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 11: Ashgabat

Have 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 local cemetery, distinctly marked by 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, then say goodbye to the village and head to Ashgabat. Along the way, you’ll visit a local horse breeder’s farm for a cooking demonstration where you’ll see how to prepare baursaki (fried bread). Watch the process of frying the dough in oil, then maybe try it out for yourself! Watch bread being 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 Activities:

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 12: 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 WWII and in the 1948 earthquake. Then, head out of town to the ruins of Anau. The crumbling remains of the 15th-century 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 minarets 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 Avenue, including the Neutrality Arch.

Included Activities:

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 13: 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. Drive out to Merv, also known as Margiana or Margush, and spend 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 Great Kyz Kala 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 Activities:

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 14: Ashgabat

This morning after breakfast, head out to see the local Orthodox Church and spend some more time wandering around Mary’s city centre before returning to Ashgabat – the ‘City of White Marble’. Arrive in the 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 Activities:

Mary - City tour

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 15: 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.

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $5,620

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 15 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Average

Travel into desert landscapes heavy with mysticism on this 19-day adventure through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 07 Apr 2027

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

5.0

Ghazala

Traveled, August 2023

09/17/2023

A wonderful trip, so much to see and do. Locals were truly welcoming and inclusive, leaving with us a lasting memory.

5.0

Yee

Traveled, August 2023

09/10/2023

It took 3 years to finally bring this trip to fruition for me. Thank you to Intrepid Travel for helping me move this trip from 2020 to 2021 to 2022 and then to 2023. It was well worth the wait and the fact I did not give up on hoping this trip would run. Both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will have a special place in my heart It was more than I had ever expected from these countries. Lochin, you are an amazing leader. Go before it gets super popular.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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