Classic Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Suggested Itinerary
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Overview
Steeped in the legacy of Tamerlane, the Parthians and the Seljuks, the great cities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are home to some of the Silk Road’s most evocative legacies. These are lands that still exude a little of the fabled glory of the great civilisations of Samarkand, Ashgabat, Merv and Bukhara, cities that once lay at the heart of this ancient trading route.
Travelling across Uzbekistan and into the more remote regions of Turkmenistan you will explore some of the greatest ...
Steeped in the legacy of Tamerlane, the Parthians and the Seljuks, the great cities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are home to some of the Silk Road’s most evocative legacies. These are lands that still exude a little of the fabled glory of the great civilisations of Samarkand, Ashgabat, Merv and Bukhara, cities that once lay at the heart of this ancient trading route.
Travelling across Uzbekistan and into the more remote regions of Turkmenistan you will explore some of the greatest cities of their age, beginning with Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. After a chance to explore the beautiful medieval city of Khiva, you then cross into Turkmenistan to visit Konye Urgench, home to the tallest minaret in Central Asia. Then it is on to the marbled splendour of Ashgabat and the ancient city of Nisa, the old Parthian capital.
After exploring the ancient ruins of Gonor Depe and Merv, you will head back into Uzbekistan to explore the Silk Road treasures of Bukhara, Shakhrisabz and finally Samarkand, the great city of Tamerlane himself.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Suggested Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.
DAY 1: ARRIVE TASHKENT (UZBEKISTAN): CITY TOUR
DAY 1: ARRIVE TASHKENT (UZBEKISTAN): CITY TOUR
Arriving in Tashkent you will be transferred to your hotel. After a chance to freshen up and settle in, this afternoon you can enjoy a guided city tour of Tashkent taking in the old city with its mosques and madrassahs dating back to the 16th and 17th century along with the bustling bazaar and the Museum of Applied Arts.
DAY 2: TASHKENT - KHIVA
DAY 2: TASHKENT - KHIVA
Fly to Urgench this morning where you will be met on arrival and transferred to the city of Khiva close by. Go on a walking tour of the walled medieval city with your local guide, wandering through the maze of twisting alleyways dotted with incredibly well-preserved mosques and minarets, and home to the emir's residence and harem.
DAY 3: KHIVA - KONYE URGENCH (TURKMENISTAN) - ASHGABAT
DAY 3: KHIVA - KONYE URGENCH (TURKMENISTAN) - ASHGABAT
Leaving Uzbekistan, head to the border to cross into Turkmenistan and on to the town of Konye Urgench. The various ruins are spread over a small area which you will explore with your guide. You can expect to tour the Turangeb Khanum Mausoleum, Kala Caravanserai, the Ak Kala Fortress and Kutlug Emir Minaret, the tallest in Central Asia in all of Central Asia. After the tour you will be taken to the airport to board your short evening flight to Ashgabat.
DAY 4: ASHGABAT: CITY TOUR
DAY 4: ASHGABAT: CITY TOUR
Today you will have the whole day to explore this wonderfully bizarre capital of fountains and lavish white marble buildings with its many monuments to the post-independence presidents. You will be able to visit the National Museum, statue of Lenin, Independence Park, Arch of Neutrality and the beautiful Ottoman-style mosque of Ertoghrul Gazie. Later, visit the ancient city of Old Nisa, the 3rd century BC capital of the Parthians and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many of the fine Hellenistic objects in the National Museum originate from this site.
DAY 5: ASHGABAT - ANAU - MARY
DAY 5: ASHGABAT - ANAU - MARY
Today drive to Mary, the nearest town to the immensely important, historical site of Merv. On the way you will stop to visit the archaeological excavations at Anau, a Bronze Age settlement which includes the remnants of the city wall and a ditch where the ancient remains of children’s skeletons, camels and painted ceramics were found. Continue overland passing through small villages to Mary, located in a large oasis basin of the Kara Kum desert in southeast Turkmenistan.
DAY 6: MARY: GONUR DEPE EXCURSION
DAY 6: MARY: GONUR DEPE EXCURSION
After breakfast travel three hours north of Mary for a full day's excursion to the impressive Bronze Age complex of Gonur Depe. As well as its age, the site’s location is wonderous, built atop a large natural plateau. Here, you and your guide will spend time exploring the remains of the mud brick walls of the fortress, palace, administrative buildings and temples. Gonur appears to have served as an administrative and religious centre for the region, and as a hub for long distance trade. Travel back to Mary for the evening.
DAY 7: MARY - MERV - BUKHARA (UZBEKISTAN)
DAY 7: MARY - MERV - BUKHARA (UZBEKISTAN)
Your final day in Turkmenistan and perhaps the best saved for last as today sees you reach the splendid archaeological site of Merv which covers an area of 125 square kilometres and contains the ruins of five ancient cities. With your guide you will spend time visiting all the main sights including Sultan Sanjar's Mausoleum and Kys Kala, an unusual windowless castle nicknamed "The House of Maidens Tears”. Before travelling back to Uzbekistan and on to the ancient Silk Road city of Bukhara.
DAY 8: BUKHARA: CITY TOUR
DAY 8: BUKHARA: CITY TOUR
A full day's tour through the narrow streets of old Bukhara allows you plenty of time to see all its central attractions including the Ark Citadel and the Zindan Prison, in which two British officers were kept during the "Great Game" in the 19th century before being executed in Samarkand’s Registan Square. There will also be the opportunity to stop at a typical tea house for a break, lesson in its history and a demonstration.
DAY 9: BUKHARA - SAMARKAND
DAY 9: BUKHARA - SAMARKAND
After a morning at leisure, you will be picked up and taken to visit the Kagan White Palace, borne from the expansion of the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 19th century, before boarding your one-and-a-half-hour train to Samarkand. The rest of the evening will be free to get a first introductory look at this historic city.
DAY 10: SAMARKAND: CITY TOUR
DAY 10: SAMARKAND: CITY TOUR
With a history dating back 2,700 years, Samarkand became famous as the capital of the vast state created by Tamerlane and later ruled by his grandson Ulugbek in the 14th-15th centuries. Enjoy a full day tour of Samarkand including the star-attraction that is Registan Square, surrounded on three sides by breathtaking blue tiled madrassahs; the nearby Bibi Khanum Mosque, built in honour of Tamerlaine's wife; and Tamerlaine’s tomb. After lunch, continue to explore the city’s history with a tour of the Shah-i-Zinada necropolis and then driving to Ulugbek's observatory to conclude the day’s sightseeing.
DAY 11: SAMARKAND - TASHKENT: DEPART
DAY 11: SAMARKAND - TASHKENT: DEPART
After checking out of your hotel, you will be driven through cotton plantations and countryside back to Tashkent International Airport in time for your onward flight, where your tour ends.
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION
Nusay Hotel, Ashgabat
A modern five-star hotel built in 1996 which has recently been renovated, the Nusay is one of the few hotels located within the city, near the Independence Monument and Government buildings. The hotel has 128 rooms, all with air-conditioning, colour TV and private bathrooms. The hotel also has a restaurant, lobby bar, business centre and other amenities including a health club with sauna, swimming pool and tennis courts. Other restaurants and cafes can be found within a 20-minute walk.
Sasha & Son, Bukhara
Constructed in the national style, Sasha & Sons was a 16th century Jewish merchant’s house renovated and converted into a boutique hotel. Located in the heart of Bukhara and within walking distance from ancient Labi-Hauz complex, the family-run hotel is decorated with art pieces and wall paintings reminiscent of the 18th century, hand-made by well-known craftsmen and painters from Uzbekistan. Walk through the quiet, inner courtyard and up the ornate stairs to your room. There are 20 comfortable guest rooms in total. Each room has an individual interior design brimming with local character and comes with standard amenities including air-conditioning, a mini bar and satellite television. As well as an onsite restaurant and bar, refreshments can be served in the property’s small garden and central courtyard.
Mary Hotel, Mary
Mary Hotel is a three-star hotel located in the heart of Mary, ideally situated opposite the town's bazaar. The hotel is made up of 175 spacious rooms decorated in luxurious colours of beige, cream and gold. Each room is fitted with ensuite bathroom facilities and an air conditioning system. The six-floor building has an onsite restaurant that offers a variety of traditional dishes, a fitness centre, a swimming pool and a sauna for guests to enjoy at their own leisure. Additionally, the hotel has an onsite hairdresser and chemist. The pool is only open during the height of the peak season and services become limited towards the end and just before the summer season. Although services and facilities at the Mary hotel are not what they once were, it remains the best option in the city. It is recommended that you purchase water before arriving to the hotel as there currently isn't the option to do so at the hotel.
Hotel Platan, Samarkand
The Platan is set on a quiet street, slightly away from the city centre. The hotel has a free shuttle from and to the railway station which should be arranged ahead of your arrival. Throughout the interiors, golden colours and tree patterns are featured to reflect the airy atmosphere of the courtyard gardens. The twelve rooms are spacious and comfortable and feature free wireless internet and air-conditioning. Some rooms face the courtyard and lovely garden. The restaurant serves Uzbek cuisine and a variety of drinks, as well as a buffet breakfast.
Navruz Hotel, Tashkent
The three-star Navruz Hotel, located within a 20-minute drive of the city's main sites, opened in 2018. Great value for money, this property offers quality service and clean, 38 spacious rooms with all the necessary amenities. Every room is air-conditioned with a seating area, private bathroom and mod cons such as a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi and a kettle. Rooms are light and airy with pretty, cosy decor and come with orthopaedic mattresses and walk-in showers, apart from some suites. This is a simple yet comfortable base from which to explore the capital. In addition to breakfast at the property, there are a number of restaurants around the area for dinner and lunch. During the summer months guests can also make use of the rooftop terrace.
Malika Kheivak Hotel, Khiva
The Malika Kheivak, formerly known as the Lolita Hotel, was bought and fully renovated in 2008 by the reputable Malika Hotel Chain. Enjoying a faultless location within the walls of Ichan Qala, the medieval citadel in the heart of Khiva, and next to the Islam Khoja Minaret, the hotel is only a short walk from the city's mosques, madrassas, palaces and hammams. Built in traditional local style, the hotel features 22 ensuite rooms simply decorated but well-equipped with satellite TV, fridge and air conditioning. The restaurant and bar offer Uzbek meals and good local wine.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
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This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
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Natalie is our Central Asia expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
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