Classic Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Suggested Itinerary

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 ...

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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.

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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.

Navruz Hotel
Breakfast

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.

Malika Kheivak Hotel
Breakfast

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.

Divan Hotel
Breakfast

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.

Divan Hotel
Breakfast

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.

Mary Hotel
Breakfast

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.

Mary Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

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.

Sasha & Son
Breakfast

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.

Sasha & Son
Breakfast

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.

Hotel Platan
Breakfast

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.

Hotel Platan
Breakfast

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.

Breakfast

SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

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.

GUIDELINE PRICE & WHAT’S INCLUDED

11 days from £3,670

MEALS

As specified in the itinerary, sampling some of the country's finest cuisine.

TRANSPORT

Private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced, dedicated drivers.

ENTRANCE FEES

Tours and admission fees, including tickets specified in the itinerary.

EXPERT TEAM

Licensed English-speaking guides and a support team available 24/7.

ACCOMMODATION

As specified in the itinerary, using some of our favourite local properties.

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 6518 Wild Miles

ACCOMMODATION

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Wild Miles Club

When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:

Blue More than 10,000 points 2.5% discount
Bronze More than 30,000 points 5% discount
Silver More than 45,000 points 7.5% discount
Gold More than 60,000 points 10% discount

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.

Positive Impact of this Trip

Tree
Ten trees are planted per passenger on this trip
Community
Supports Wild Frontiers Foundation community projects
Wind Turbine
A contribution to renewable energy projects

WHEN TO GO

START PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Our team of experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you plan your adventure of a lifetime.

WHY WILD FRONTIERS?

Meet the expert, Natalie

Natalie is our Central Asia expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.

Speak to Natalie by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258

Wild camping under the stars and alongside the spectacular Darvaza Gas Crater, aka the ‘Gate to Hell’, is a truly surreal but must do experience when visiting Turkmenistan.

OTHER ITINERARIES IN TURKMENISTAN