Bestseller Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan

Evening flight to Tashkent.

Arrival at Tashkent International Airport, named after Islam Karimov, the first president of Uzbekistan.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal and meet the staff holding a sign “ANUR TOUR” or with your name on it.

Transfer to the hotel (20 – 40 minutes, depending on the hotel location).

Arrival at the hotel. Standard check-in after 14:00.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast lunchbox.

05:00 Transfer to the local airport.

07:00 Flight to Urgench by HY51.

08:20 Arrival at Urgench Airport.  

Come out of the terminal and meet with our driver.

Transfer to the Khiva (30 km) hotel to drop off the bags. Standard hotel check-in is at 14:00.

Meet the guide at the lobby.

Start walking excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Ichan-kala (translated as “Inner Town”). Ichan-kala - the largest Museum in the open air in Central Asia—consists of :

- Ata-Darvaza, Kunya- Ark;

- Madrassah of Muhammad Rahim Khan;

- Madrassah of Muhammed Aminhan;

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

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

- Caravanserai and Tim Allakulihan;

- Pahlavan Mahmud Gates, Mausoleum of Seyd Allaudin,

- Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum - one of the best works of Khivian architecture - mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud - done in the tradition of Khorezm architecture of the 18th-19th centuries  and Pahlavan Mahmud Gates,

- Islam-Khoja Madrassah - was built in 1908 by Islam-Hoja, the Prime Minister of 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 in the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to the Turkmen – Uzbek Border post Shavat/ Dashoguz.

Border-passing formalities (passport and visa control usually take 1.5 to 3 hours). Meet the guide and driver at the Turkmen side of the border. Transfer to Kunya – Urgench.

Start sightseeing tour in Kunya Urgench:

- the founder mausoleum of the Sufi sects "Kubra" Nadzhimetdin Kubra (12th-13th centuries);

- mausoleum of Mongolian princess Torebeg-Hanym ; minaret Mamun (10th-11th centuries);

- minaret Kutlug-Timur (12th-14th century, the highest minaret in Central Asia);

- Mausoleum Kyrkmolla (2nd century BC–3rd century AD);

- Mausoleum Arslan II (the oldest building in the city - date of its construction is roughly estimated to be the 11th century).

Transfer to the Darvaza crater and change from the asphalt road to the Karakum desert track, and continue 10 km deep inside.

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. 

Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.

Breakfast at the yurt camp.

Transfer to Ashgabat, on arrival in Ashgabat, start sightseeing:

- Anau mosque ruins of the 15th century and Anau culture remains of the Bronze Age in the suburban area of Ashgabat;

- Ahalteke horse stables, where you will have an opportunity to see the most beautiful horses in the world. Archeologists and historians proved that horses were handled on the territory of Turkmenistan a minimum of five thousand years ago. The specialists note that the foothill lands of Kopetdag made favorable ecological conditions for the birth of strapping and wanton horses.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast visit the local market, followed by city tour in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan that has recently been noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as having more white marble on its buildings than any other city in the world. You will visit Spiritual Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia, the National Museum of History, Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, and newly built Independence Park. Rich and interesting excursion also includes a stopover at the Akhalteke horses stables and Lenin Monument. Free time in late afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours

Takeaway breakfast
Transfer to the airport.
06:20 Departure for Mary by morning flight.

07:00 Arrival at Mary Airport. 

Transfer to the land border, Farab - Alat. Border crossing, migration formalities ( visa/ passport control). 
The driver meets at the Uzbekistan side of the border. Transfer to Bukhara.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby. Start the walking sightseeing program in Bukhara (5 hrs):

- Ensemble Lyabi Hauz (Nadir Divanbegi Madrassa, Khanaka, Kukeldash Madrassa, and the monument of Khodja Nasreddin);

- Magoki Attari Mosque is one of the oldest mosques to survive in Bukhara from the time before the Mongolian invasion.

- Abdullakhan’s Tim, with numerous handicraft shops of souvenirs, ceramics, national clothes, and carpets;

- Caravanserai Sayfuddin (the Center of Handicraft Development of Bukhara);

- Trading domes, or so-called covered bazaars, Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon, and Toki Zargaron, preserved from the 16th century, and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry, and money exchange. Nowadays, visitors can purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets.

- Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas, or so-called Kosh (pair) madrassas, opposite each other with the distinctive style of facade ornamental decoration;

- Poi Kalon Square with Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Mir Arab Madrassa – the heart of Bukhara, a monumental complex that impresses the imagination;

- Ark Fortress – the oldest citadel, dating back to the 1st century BC, where one can feel the history of the great fortress covered in beautiful legends and myths.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning at leisure in Bukhara, 

11:00 Transfer to Samarkand, en route visiting the famous Gijduvan pottery workshop where visitors are welcome for a tour around the workshop and observe the process of ceramic making and painting.

The owners demonstrate the stages of making ceramics, from turning the potter’s wheel to making paints from natural ingredients, decorating the ceramics in a distinctive style, drying, and firing.  Take a tour around the museum hall of ceramic masterpieces with a unique collection of ceramic items from Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan. 

By request ( as an extra), a ceramic painting master class.

Continue to Samarkand.

Arrival in Samarkand in the afternoon, check in at the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide and driver at the hotel's lobby. 

Start the sightseeing program in Samarkand (6 hours):

– Gur Emir Mausoleum – a burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants, decorated with gold ornaments and considered one of the most significant places in the world;

– Continue to the famous Registan Square – the heart of Samarkand and a real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture—which consists of three grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor, and Madrassa Tilla Kori.

– Bibi Khanum Mosque – the biggest medieval building in the city, which was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in the 15th century;

– 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;

– Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

16:30 Transfer to the railway station in Samarkand.

17:40 Departure for Tashkent by high-speed train "Afrosiyob".

20:07 Arrival in Tashkent. 

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver.

Transfer to the hotel. 
Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

Departure on the morning flight.

End of the tour.