Uzbekistan – Tajikistan – Turkmenistan 12 days

Tour itinerary: Uzbekistan – Tajikistan – Turkmenistan

Season: March – October

Days: 12 | Nights: 11

3 Stan tour around Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan is a well-balanced package to explore the beautiful natural sights Marguzor lakes and Fann mountains, mysterious Darwaza crater and world-known historical sights of the Great Silk Road.

Discover Central Asia in 12 day tour visiting modern capitals - Tashkent and white-marbled Ashgabat and beautiful historical cities - legendary Samarkand, majectic Bukhara, ancient Khujand, Penjikent, and Merw.

The itinerary is a good base for a customized private trip, family vacation and group tour.

Day 1

Tashkent

Flight to Tashkent.

Arrival in Tashkent International Airport.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal, the driver meets with a sign “ANUR TOUR” .

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in 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 of the Amir Timur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi built in 1947 is one of the best opera theater of the world 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 life energy of Uzbek people, the Cabinet and the Senate, 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 earthquake in Tashkent on April 26, 1966, and is erected in the approximate place of earthquake epicenter. Residents still come to the monument to honor those people who took a part in the reconstruction of Tashkent;

- Khast Imam Square – a religious center of the city consisting of the Barakkhan madrasah; Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library of Islamic Literature with the Holy Koran Book of the VII century (original Quran Othman). Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts the visitors all over the world.

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

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

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Tashkent – Khujand

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Meet the driver in the hotel in Tashkent.

Transfer to the border post Oybek. After crossing the border, meet the guide-driver at the Tajik side of the border (ETA 10:00).

Transfer from the border post to Khujand.

Start sightseeing tour in Khudjand visiting

- Pushkin square with Kamoli Khudjandi Square;

- Timur Malik’s fortress and Sugd museum;

- Muslihiddin memorial complex;

- Panjshanbe bazaar (Khujand’s central market that has many shops offering different kind of goods and services. The name Panjshanbe comes from Persian language meaning “Thursday”. Panjshanbe is considered as one of the oldest markets in Tajikistan. The Silk Road which passes Khujand city, which had always made Panjshanbe to be crowded with traders and tourists).

- Arbob palace (Arbob palace had its particular significance in 1992, when it was the place for the meeting of the Tajik Soviet which officially declared independence from the Soviet Union. Also, it was the site where the Tajik flag was chosen.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4

Khujand – Penjikent

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Penjikent via Istaravshan town, 78 km southwest from Khujand.

Istaravshan is one of the most ancient cities of Tajikistan (more than 2500 years). Ancient name Cyropolis founded by Cyrus the Great in 544 BC as a boarding fort of the Achaemenid Empire.

Overview sightseeing in Istaravshan visiting:

- Mazori Sharif mausoleum;

- Kog Gumbaz madrasa (16th century);

- Kuhi Mug, the ruins of the ancient fortress.

Arrival in Penjikent, check-in the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5

Penjikent – 7 lakes – Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Marguzor, the famous seven lakes - seven wonderful water mirrors full of mountain riverside drops. Each lake looks different whenever the sun changes its position. Colors may vary from deep blue to indie color ripple. Most of them are cold to swim even in summer. These lakes belong to Fann Mountains system.

On the western edge of the Fan Mountains in the valley of the river Shing there are seven lakes, six of them are dammed origin, besides the lake Hazorchashma. Lakes are called Marguzor, but each lake has its own name: Nezhigon, Soybean, Gushor, Nofin, Hurdak, Marguzor, Hazorchashma. The difference in level between the upper and lower lake is 692 meters. Easy hike at the lakes.

Lunch in a guesthouse.

Transfer to BP Jartepa, en-route sightseeing:

-The Sarazm Important Bird Area (UNESCO World Heritage) lies downstream of the city on the tugay-vegetated floodplain of the river.

16:00 Afternoon transfer to border post Jartepa. Border crossing usually takes 30 min-1 hr.

16:30 Meet the driver at Uzbek part of the border. Transfer to the hotel in Samarkand.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby. Start sightseeing program in Samarkand (6 hours):

- Gur Emir Mausoleum – a burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants is decorated with gold ornaments and is considered as one of the most significant sights of the world;

- Continue to the famous Registan Square – heart of Samarkand and real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture, the ensemble of grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor and Madrassa Tilla Kori;

- Bibi Khanim Mosque – the biggest medieval building in the city was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in 15 Century;

- Shahi Zinda Necropolis – unique complex of Mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) of the Muslim saint Abbas ibn- Kussam;

- Ulugbek’s Observatory – the finest astronomical centers in medieval world was built by order of Ulugbek, an outstanding scholar and astronomer;

- Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the late afternoon/evening. Overnight.

Day 7

Samarkand – Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Bukhara, 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 the ceramic items of Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan.

Arrive in Bukhara in the afternoon, check in the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8

Bukhara

Breakfast in the hotel.

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

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

- Magoki Attari Mosque is one of the oldest mosques survived 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);

- There are three trading domes or so called covered bazaars Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon, and Toki Zargaron preserved from the XVI century and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry and even for money exchange. Today as well, one can enjoy and purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets;

- Visit Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so-called Kosh (pare) 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 impresses the imagination;

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

Optionally can be added by request:

Visit Samanids mausoleum (IX century), a monument of early medieval architecture.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight.

Day 9

Bukhara – Mary – Ashgabat

Breakfast in the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to the border post "Olot – Farab". Border passing formalities (passport and visa control might take 1 to 2 hrs depending on the customs formalities). Meet the guide and driver at Turkmen side of the border.

Transfer to Ancient Merv (UNESCO) visiting:

- Historical park with Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum;

- Mohammed bin Said Mausoleum,

- Medieval castles – “Kesk” fortresses (6-7 centuries) and others.

- Visit the History Museum of Merv region.

Transfer to the airport.
Departure for Ashagbat by evening flight (40 min).

Arrival in Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight.

Day 10

Ashgabat – Darwaza

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Ashgabat city tour with visiting:

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

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

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

- National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique expositions from Ancient Merv and Nissa.

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

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

- In the afternoon transfer to Darwaza crater and change from the asphalt road to the Karakum desert track, 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 in sunset and night when the mild sunlight and burning crater evoke incredible and ambiguous feelings.

BBQ dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.

Day 11

Darwaza – Ashgabat

Camp- style breakfast

09:00 Transfer to Ashgabat with short stops en-route:

- mud and water craters.

Arrival in Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time before the return flight. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12

Ashgabat

Breakfast at the hotel,

Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport.

Morning departure flight from Ashgabat.

End of the tour.

Tour Price (PER PERSON):

Person in group	Standart	Comfort hotels
1	$4225	$4495
2-3	$2655	$2785
4-5	$2265	$2395
6-12	$2025	$2155
Single supplement	$345	$470

Book it!

- Turkmenistan Visa support (Letter of Invitation, State Registration, Travel Pass);

- Accommodation based on shared yurt in Darwaza camp (incl. sleeping mat, sleeping bag and pillow);

- Accommodation in standard double/twin rooms;

- All transfers as per program by comfortable tourist class/SUV transport as per road conditions including transfers to-from train stations /borders;

- Uzbekistan: English-speaking local guides (3 standard excursions); Tajikistan: English-speaking escorting guide (D 3 – D 5); Turkmenistan: English-speaking local guide/s (D 09 – D11);

- Meals: breakfast at hotels; lunch in a guesthouse in 7 lakes trip ( traditional meals, fixed menu, alcohol excluding), camp-style breakfast and BBQ dinner in Darwaza yurt camp (camp-style fixed menu, alcohol excluding);

- Single entry tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums as per program;

- Internal flight Mary –Ashgabat (economy class);

- Touristic tax.

- International flights to Tashkent, from Ashgabat;

- E-visa to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan visa (if required); Turkmenistan tourist visa from 85+4 USD per person (subject to change; nationality dependent); PCR test and migration tax 10+4 USD per person (subject to change; nationality dependent);

- Photo/video fees (professional camera);

- Transport and guide service for free days and free time after the standard city tours; transport for walking tour in Bukhara, guides for guideless trips;

- Meals: lunches and dinners except those specified in the included section;

- Personal/travel insurance; portage, tips, personal expenses, and other services not specified under “Tour Price Includes”.

The tour is published on November 05, 2024 and the rates as per program and conditions specified are actual for 180 days ( 6 month) from the date of publication.

All the rates will be subject to change if the request is after 180 days from date of publication because any changes in the seasonal tariffs for hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may cause the increase of rates.

- Any changes in the basic itinerary and service content may cause the change of the tour prices.

- If the hotels, noted in the program are fully booked or not available for the dates or in case of late / last-minute booking, the tour company reserves the right to book the other hotels of the same category and similar service as per room availability.

- Please note that during the national holidays, during the big summits, fairs, festivals, major sport and cultural events, some parts of the roads can be temporarily blocked for delegations and events as per government decrees.

- Check-in 14.00, check-out time 11.00. No early check-in/ late check-out is included unless indicated;

- Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English;

- Please note yurt camps, guesthouses, and homestays offer homemade/camp-style traditional meals; there are quite basic toilet and shower conditions.

- All the changes in the basic itinerary, the timing for transfers depending on the international flight departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed;

- Please note that the train trip/s can be replaced for transfer/s by car depending on train tickets availability and trains schedule;

- After the date of publication, any changes in the hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may influence the tour prices;

- Anur Tour is not responsible for the force majeure occasions (weather conditions during the tour, repairing-reconstructing works at some parts of roads, government restrictions).

ACCOMMODATION

CITY	STANDARD HOTELS	COMFORT HOTELS
TASHKENT	Milan/ Marwa/ Gabrielle / Uzbekistan	Inspira-S / Ichan Qala / Ateca / Mirzo Boutique
KHUJAND	Parliament / Sugdiyon
PENJIKENT	Panjakent Plaza
SAMARKAND	Shaxzoda Elite/ Shahdil/ Zilol Baxt	East Star/ Kosh Hovuz/ Dilimah
BUKHARA	An-Nur/ Malika Bukhara/ Devon Begi / Devon/ Safiya
ASHGABAT	Ak Altyn	Sport
DARWAZA	Yurt camp
Or other hotels of the same category depending on room availability