Central Asia - 3 Stans

Welcome to Uzbekistan! Upon your arrival to Tashkent, you’ll be met by one of our guides and taken to your hotel, where you’ll have plenty of time to freshen up before our welcome dinner.

This welcome dinner is not only an opportunity to become acquainted with your fellow travelers, it will also be an introduction to Uzbekistan – one of the most economically developed states of Central Asia, accounting for more than 11% of its territory. Uzbekistan boasts a rich cultural history and thriving industries, including cotton farming, fruit and vegetable farming, silk production, and irrigation construction.

Overnight in Tashkent (D)

After breakfast at the hotel, today we’ll have a full day of sightseeing of Uzbekistan’s capital city Tashkent. While full day of sightseeing in Tashkent for many travelers seems as a necessary stopover en route to the dream destinations, this historical city holds many unexpected surprises. 

First half of the day we’ll visit to old part of the city: Khast Imam Complex which displays unique Osman Koran thought to be the world’s oldest Koran. Chorsu bazaar - is one of the oldest, biggest bazaars of Tashkent. Madrasah Kukeldash – is a significant architectural sight of the 16th century. 

After lunch we will continue on to modern part of the city: Independence Square called Mustakillik, the main square of Tashkent, flanked by largest public buildings and walls of fountains. A. Navoi theatre square built in 1947 by Japanese prisoners in World War II. Visits to museum of Amir Timur and museum of Handicraft Art will end our excursion of Tashkent, and we’ll have dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Overnight in Tashkent (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we’ll take a train to world famous Samarkand, located 190 mi. from Tashkent.  The road to Samarkand passes through the Syrdarya and Jizzakh provinces and takes approximately 3 hours.

We will arrive to Samarkand in the afternoon, then check into our hotel, where we’ll have lunch. After a brief rest in the afternoon, we’ll head out on our excursion, first visiting Paper Mills Factory, where we’ll learn about the art of making paper from mulberry trees.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll visit the Afrasiab Museum, one of the region’s most comprehensive collections of ancient archeological artifacts, as well as Ulugbek’s observatory, built in the 1420s and known as the largest and most advanced observatory in the East during the 15th century.

After dinner, we’ll spend the night in one of the finest hotels in Samarkand (B, L, D) 

After breakfast, we’ll have a full day sightseeing in Samarkand, beginning with Registan Square, the ancient heart of the city. Next, we’ll visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, which houses the males of the Timurid dynasty and is heralded as a masterpiece of Central Asian architecture. Be sure to take a close look at the intricate carvings and mosaics that decorate this sacred place, as its design is said to have influenced the design of the Taj Mahal. Afterward, we’ll visit Shakhi Zinda Necropolis on the northern outskirts of Samarkand, where legend has it the cousin of the Prophet Mohamad, Qutham ibn Abbas, is said to have been buried. In keeping with our theme of ancient holy places, we will visit the Bibi-Khanum Mosque, which Timur ordered the construction of in 1399. Before heading back to the hotel for dinner, we’ll visit the central bazaar of Samarkand, Siab, where we’ll taste famous round bread (non) made only in Samarkand. 

Overnight in Samarkand (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we’ll depart Samarkand for Bukhara, stopping along the way at the ruins of the Medieval Caravanserai Rabat-i-Malik, an ancient roadside inn that facilitated travel and commerce. From there we’ll continue on, driving to Bukhara via Gijduvan, where we’ll visit Abdulla’s Narzullaev’s pottery house and learn about the craft of traditional pottery making over a cup of tea. Upon arrival to Bukhara, we’ll decamp to our hotel before a final stop at Chor Minor Memorial.

Overnight in Bukhara (B, L, D)

After breakfast we’ll have a full day of sightseeing of this ancient city.  Bukhara is one of most historically rich cities on the Great Silk Road attracting attention of thousands of people with its unique heritage.  Today we’ll visit: Samanid dynasty mausoleum known to be one of the best architectural samples of the Samanid period (875 - 999).  Chashma Ayub Mausoleum – legend says of the Prophet Job.  Bolo – Khauz Mosque.  The Ark Fortress – Citadel is the most ancient memorial of Bukhara, on archeological matter dated to the 3rd century B.C.  Kalon Complex – consists of minaret, Mosque and Madrasah both of which are still active.  Magoki Attori Mosque.  Ulugbek and Abdulazizi Khan Madrasahs. 

Next we’ll visit the most popular place of Bukhara – reservoir Lyabi Khauz, complex built in 1620 by khans’ dignitary Nodir Devan Begi.  We’ll end the day with a dinner at the local restaurant followed by a show program. 

Today we’ll overnight in Bukhara (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we’ll continue with half a day of sightseeing in Bukhara, visiting the former summer palace of Emir Said Olimkhan, the last Emir of Bukhara Sitora. Then, we’ll head to the Museum of Applied and Decorative Art. After a brief lunch, we’ll say goodbye to Uzbekistan, as we will be traveling to Turkmenistan. The trip will take approximately an ho

ur and half, and upon arrival to the border point we’ll go through custom procedures. After completing your passport check, you will find a minibus (subject to be available), which will take you ~800 meters to Turkmenistan Customs. Then, we’ll transfer to another minibus (subject to be available), which will direct you ~600 meters to the last checkpoint. There you will find your Turkmenistan guide & transportation to your hotel. After the last checkpoint at the border zone, you will drive ~280km (about 4 hours) to Mary via Turkmenabat, crossing one of the biggest deserts in the world, Garagum Desert, the name of which means “black sand”. En route, we’ll stop to visit some amazing sand dunes before heading to our hotel in Mary for dinner.

Overnight in Mary (B, L, D)

This morning, we’ll take a scenic drive ~35 km (35 minutes) to Bayramaly, where we’ll see Old Merv, which used to be as Mary Shahu Jahan-King of the World. For a period of 300 years, Mary was one of the biggest cities in the World and for 8 years was the site of Islamic Khalifat. Today’s excursion at Old Merv will include: Gyz Gala &  Oglan Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Erk Gala (VI BC), Soltan Gala  (XI), and the Shrine & Pilgrimage Complex of Yusup Hemadani, the famous scholar who founded a strain of Sufism and whose tomb became a popular pilgrimage

There we’ll visit the Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum (XII) and the Ibn Zeid Mausoleum (XII), before heading back to Mary. After lunch, we’ll consider the local United Museum of History, the Flora & Fauna of Mary, and an Orthodox Church built by Russians at the end of the XIX century. We will also visit the Regional Mosque of Mary Province, the Central Theater of Mary, and the convention & conference Center, “Ruhiyet Koshgi”, where important state events are still held today. We’ll stop at Central Park and the Monument of Mollanepes, a poet who lived in Mary from XVIII-XIX. Later that afternoon, we’ll board a flight to Ashgabat. Dep: 18.55 & Arr: at 19.35 (subject to change). Upon arrival, we’ll check into our hotel before a sumptuous dinner of local cuisine.

Overnight in Ashgabat (B, L, D)

Note: Passports & 2 colored photos required to be left at hotel reception for registration at the City Tourist Board (CTB) in Ashgabat. 

A full day of sightseeing in/around Ashgabat awaits you! Today’s sights include: the Memorial Complex with Monuments for Victims of World War II and the Patriotic Wars of XIX, as well as a monument dedicated to the victims of the 1948 earthquake. We’ll visit Turkmenbashynyn Ruhy Metjidi, the largest mosque in Central Asia, which also holds the tombs of Turkmenbashy (first President of Turkmenistan S. Nyyazow), his parents, and his brothers. Before lunch, we’ll have just one more item on the itinerary, the Old Nissa and the sanctuary of Parhian Kings. After lunch and a short break, you will continue with a half day of sightseeing in Ashgabat, including: the Museum of Turkmen Carpets, the park dedicated to Turkmen, and Gulistan Bazar, which is known as “Russian Bazaar.” We will also see a monument Lenin erected in 1927. It, thankfully, also survived the earthquake of 1948, making it one of the oldest standing monuments in Ashgabat. After our final stop for the day at Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, it will be time for dinner at a local restaurant. Then we’ll take a leisurely drive through the main avenues/streets of Ashgabat, including one stop near the Palace of Happiness, where we can view the lights of Ashgabat at night. 

Overnight in Ashgabat (B, L, D)

Today is another full day of sightseeing in Ashgabat, which will include: the Complex of Monuments of Oguz Han & sons, which is surrounded by the largest fountain complex in the world. The complex includes 27 computerized fountains. Next, we’ll visit Ashgabat’s famous “Altyn Asyr” Oriental Bazaar, Jygyldyk , located  ~16km to the north of Ashgabat in its new location/complex built in 2011. After our visit to the Bazaar, we’ll drive to the Hippodrome of Ashgabat to watch the Horse Race, which is free to enter for all and gives everyone the chance to see the best horses of Turkmenistan compete: We’ll have lunch at one of the local restaurants in Ashgabat, before continuing our expedition. We’ll visit the National Museum of History and, then, the Monuments of Archabil Shayoly (Berzengi). Today we’ll also see the modern buildings, monuments, and parks of the new part of the city: the Monument of the Constitution, the “Alem” Culture & Recreation Center, and the Arch of Neutrality, the last of which is famous for its monuments that resemble tripods and rockets and symbolizing the neutral status of Turkmenistan. In the late afternoon, we’ll transfer to the airport of Ashgabat and catch a flight to Dashoguz, Dep: 18.55 & Arr: at 19.45. (subject to change). 

Overnight in Dashoguz (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we’ll take a morning drive (~110 km, which will take 1,5 hrs”) to Koneurgench, the capital of Khorezmshahs (III-XVI cc). The sightseeing of the Old City will include: the Turabek Hanum Mausoleum (XIV), the Kutlug Timur Minaret (XIV), which is one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia, the Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum (XIII), the Academy of Horezm (III-XIII), Il Arslan Mausoleum (XII), and the Mausoleums of Najm Ed Din (XIII) & Soltan Ali (XVI), which are both located near Dash Metjit/Medrese (XIX).

After sightseeing in Koneurgench, we’ll drive back to Dashoguz and stop for lunch. Then, we’ll break for lunch, before obtaining boarding passes at “Dashoguz-Shavat,” located about ~15km from Dashoguz. Upon arrival, proceed through passport control & customs procedures.  After you come out from Turkmenistan Customs building, you will walk ~100 meters to the next checkpoint there will be a minibus (subject to be available) shuttling for ~1000 meters from Turkmenistan Customs to the Real Wire Border located between Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan. After you cross the border and move through passport check, you’ll be free to continue. Now, when you’re back in Uzbekistan, you’ll want to walk about 100 meters behind the customs’s building to get to the last checkpoint. Also, when you arrive, you will find a guide welcoming you back. We’ll have dinner at a local restaurant followed by a show. 

Overnight in Khiva (B, L, D)

Today is a full day of sightseeing in Khiva: we’ll visit Ichan Kala, the madrasah of Muhammad Rakhimkhan. We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrasah, Djuma Mosque and Minaret, and Tash Hovli Palace. After dinner, we’ll head back to the airport for our flight to Tashkent, where we’ll check in to our hotel and have dinner.

Overnight in Tashkent (B, L, D)

After early breakfast at the hotel in Tashkent, we’ll head on to a one-day excursion of Tajikistan. We’ll drive to the Oybek border check, then continue on to the city of Khujand. Today, we’ll visit Khujand, the country's second largest city, situated in the north of Tajikistan. Khujand is also one Uzbekistan’s oldest cities, founded about 2300 years ago during the time of Alexander the Great. Located in the Ferghana valley, Khujand prospered for a long time, building palaces, mosques, and citadels. However, in the 13th century, the city was conquered and destroyed by Genghis Khan's army. 

Today is the last day of the tour. We’ll have breakfast at the hotel, and your transfer to the airport will be arranged for you. Thank you!