Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan – Tajikistan 14 days

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start sightseeing in Ashgabat visiting:

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that consider the highest building in the country),

- Neutrality Arch - a unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun;

- National Museum with exposition from Ancient Merv and Nissa. 

-Turkmenbashi Mosque – Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousands of people). There are beautiful fountains and garden near the mosque. 

- A trip to ancient Nissa (18km from Ashgabad) that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation of the I millennium BC).

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Start sightseeing in Ashgabat

- Ancient Nissa (18km from Ashgabat), UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation is 1st millennium BC - I millennium BC).

- Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousand people). There is a beautiful garden and fountains near the mosque.

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque,  with four minarets reminding of the Blue Mosque of Istanbul, was built in honor of Ertogrul, the father of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

- Independence Park with the Monument of Independence (it's a 118 m column that is considered the highest building in the country);

- Neutrality Arch - a unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun.

Afternoon transfer to the Darvaza crater and change from the asphalt road to the Karakum Desert track ( off-road).

In 1971, geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with natural gas. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn the gas. Geologists hoped the fire would go out in a few days, but it has been burning ever since. Locals have named the cavern The Gate - Darvaza. The views are impressive, especially at sunset and night, when the mild sunlight and burning crater evoke incredible and ambiguous feelings. 

Camp-style dinner and overnight stay in yurts.

Camp - style breakfast.

10:00 Transfer from Darvaza gas crater to Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan border post Hojeily ( about 5 hrs drive)

Border formalities  ( visa/ passport control) on both sides. 

The driver will meet at the Uzbekistan side of the land border.

Transfer to Nukus

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Meet the guide and driver. The transfer to the yurt camp near present shoreline of Aral sea (~7 hours, 400 km), en route visiting:

- Mizdakhan necropolis;

- Ship cemetery and Aral Sea museum in Muynak, once located on the shore of the Aral Sea that is now more than 200 kilometers from the present sea shore.

- Ustyurt Plateau - a huge plateau that is surrounded with canyons and rocks, the area is especially beautiful in the sunset.

Arrival in yurt camp near Aral Sea.

Camp-style dinner and overnight in a comfortable yurt camp. 

Camp – style breakfast.

Return transfer to Nukus ( approx. 8 hr drive).

Davlitgirey (Kurgancha qala) and abandoned caravan sarai (XIII);

Ustyurt Plateau is a great source of oil and gas; besides it is a gorgeous place full of Karakalpak legends.

-Photo stop at Sudochie lake.

Lunch in Kungrad. Continue to Nukus.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the driver in the lobby.

- Visit Savitsky Museum exhibiting a unique collection of antiques of Khorezm and Karakalpak, Uzbek fine arts, and second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde works after the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg.

The founder of the museum, Igor Savitsky devoted his life to piece-by-piece collecting of the finest works of modern artists of Uzbekistan and Russian avant-gardists. In the 70s it was quite risky to become an anti-Soviet propagandist. During perestroika and first years since Uzbekistan independence, the museum earned world recognition and rightfully deserved the must-see site status in Central Asia.

Transfer to Khiva  (180 km, ~ 3,5 hours) en-route photo stops at the ruins of fortresses of ancient Khorezm.

- Ayaz-kala and Toprak-kala, the fortresses of the Kushan period of Ancient Khorezm that used to be mighty border forts protecting the residents from raids of nomadic tribes.  The forts were built in ~4-7th century BCE, during the ages when Khorezm achieved its independence. The fortresses are located on the hills quite close to each other and visitors are welcome to have a short overview tour in the monumental forts that currently are drowning in sands.

Arrival in Khiva. Check in at the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby. Start the walking excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Ichan-Kala (translated as “Inner Town”) -  the largest Museum in the open air in Central Asia :

- Ata-Darvaza, Kunya- Ark;

- Madrassah of Muhammad Rahim Khan;

- Madrassah of Muhammad Aminhan;

- Kalta Minor, the Palace of the Allakulihan Khan of Khiva;

- Tash Hauli, where the harem of 40 concubines was;

- Caravanserai and Tim Allakulihan;

- Mausoleum of Seyd Allaudin,

- Islam-Khoja Madrassah - was built in 1908 by Islam-Khoja, the prime minister of the Khan. The minaret is a symbol of the country and is an early example of the architecture of the 14th century.

- Mosque and Jami Minaret.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Continue walking sightseeing in Khiva:

- Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum;

- Nurullabay palace.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to the border post Jartepa. Border crossing, visa/ passport

After crossing the border, meet the guide-driver at Tajik side of the border (ETA 09:30).

Transfer to Marguzor lakes or Haftkul (Seven lakes) in Fan Mountains.

Six lakes are of dammed origin, besides the lake Hazorchashma. Lakes are called Marguzor, but each lake has its own name: Nezhigon, Soybean, Gushor, Nofin, Hurdak, Marguzor, Hazorchashma. Each lake looks different whenever the sunlight changes the angles, colors may vary from deep blue to indie color. Most of them are cold to swim even in summer. Photo-stops with panoramic views.

Lunch at the guesthouse.

Transfer to the land border Jartepa. If time allows, possible visit

-Sarazm museum (UNESCO World Heritage).

16:00 Border post Jartepa crossing usually takes 30 min-1 hr.

17:00 Meet the driver at Uzbek part of the border. Transfer to Samarkand (1 hr drive). Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Continue the sightseeing tour in Samarkand (6 hours), visiting:

- Shahi Zinda Necropolis – a unique complex of mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) belonging to the Muslim person named Saint Abbas ibn Kussam;

16:30 Transfer to the railway station in Samarkand.

17:28 Departure for Tashkent by train "Afrosiyob"/ "Sharq".

19:44 Arrival in Tashkent.

The driver meets you at the terminal exit/ meeting zone with a sign " ANUR TOUR".

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby. Start sightseeing tour of Tashkent (5 hrs):

- Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square, was renamed on August 31, 1994, after Amir Timur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: The State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi, built in 1947, is one of the best opera theaters in the world that performs both classical and national repertoires. 

- Independence Square, the main square of Uzbekistan, reflects the past, present, and future of the country. There are fountains standing for the life energy of Uzbek people, the Cabinet and the Senate, and the “Eternal Flame" in honor of soldiers who died during the Second World War.
- Earthquake Memorial, the composition is devoted to the tragic date of the earthquake in Tashkent on April 26, 1966, and is erected in the approximate place of the earthquake epicenter. Residents still come to the monument to honor those people who took part in the reconstruction of Tashkent.

- Khast Imam Square – a religious center of the city consisting of the Barakkhan madrasah and Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum. Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts pilgrims and visitors from all over the world.

- Chorsu Bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four water”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of the old city in the bazaar where people come for trade. The bazaar's beautiful blue dome, built in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, is often depicted in postcards and international magazines and became one of the major sights of interest both for locals and guests – one can see the oriental tiled bazaar from different souvenir shops with ceramics, handicraft works, carpets, and jewelry, the whole pavilion full of delicious fruits to the finest textiles and colorful fabrics.

- Tashkent Metro (the first line was launched in 1977) with beautiful train stations, each decorated in a thematic style with traditional ornaments and special lighting.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport. 
Evening departure flight from Tashkent ( ETD 20:00). 
End of the tour.