Best of Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan — 11 Days
This combined tour seamlessly weaves together the premier natural, historical, and architectural wonders of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Your journey begins in the white-marble splendor of Ashgabat before venturing through the Karakum desert to the flaming Darvaza crater. The adventure continues to ancient Merv—one of the most pivotal hubs of the Great Silk Road. Upon crossing the border, the route leads to Bukhara, adorned with its ancient mosques, madrasahs, mausoleums, and trading domes. You will then travel by high-speed train to Samarkand, where the Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, and monuments of the Amir Temur era await. The tour concludes in Tashkent—the modern capital of Uzbekistan, where historic quarters and Oriental bazaars meet diverse architectural eras and the famous metro.
Trip Highlights
- The white-marble architecture of Ashgabat
- The ancient Parthian fortress of Nisa
- Overnight stay near the Darvaza gas crater
- Journey across the Karakum desert
- Ancient Merv and the Mary Regional Museum
- The architectural heritage of Bukhara
- High-speed rail travel through Uzbekistan
- Registan Square and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis
- Historic and contemporary Tashkent
- Two Great Silk Road nations in one journey
Day-by-Day Itinerary
What's Included
- LOI and visa support for Turkmenistan
- Meet & Greet at Ashgabat International Airport
- Transfer to Tashkent International Airport
- Accommodation as per the program
- Daily breakfast at hotels
- Breakfast and dinner at the Darvaza camp
- Professional guides in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
- All ground transportation as per the program
- Internal flight Ashgabat — Mary
- Train ticket Bukhara — Samarkand
- Train ticket Samarkand — Tashkent
- Entrance fees to program sites
- Foreign tourist registration in Turkmenistan
- Bottled water during sightseeing days
Not Included
- International airfare
- Turkmenistan visa fees
- Migration and medical fees at the border
- Travel and medical insurance
- Lunches and dinners not specified in the program
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Photo/video fees at specific sites
- Single supplement
- Early check-in and late check-out at hotels
Accommodation
3★–5★ hotels in Ashgabat, Mary, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent, complemented by one night in a yurt-and-tent camp near the Darvaza crater. Hotels offer rooms with private en-suite facilities. The camp features a shared, equipped sanitary block.
Transport
Comfortable car, minivan, or bus depending on group size. Specialized desert-ready vehicles are used for the trip to Darvaza. The itinerary includes an internal flight from Ashgabat to Mary and train journeys between Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent as per the current schedule.
Good to Know
This itinerary includes an internal flight, two train transfers, a land border crossing, and several long drives. We recommend comfortable closed-toe shoes, sun protection, a small daypack, and warm layers for the evening at Darvaza. The sequence of certain excursions may be adjusted to align with flight, train, and border crossing timings.