Central Asia Tour: Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Breakfast at the hotel. Around 12:00, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby to begin your city excursion.

Highlights include:

• Khasti Imam Complex, including the Quran Museum, Barak Khan Madrassa, and Kafal Shahi Mausoleum, one of Tashkent's most important spiritual monuments located in the heart of the Old City.
• Chorsu Bazaar – the main oriental market in Tashkent.
• Tashkent Subway (several stations) – the first subway system in Central Asia. Opened in 1977, each station features its own unique architectural style with marble, granite, and impressive rows of columns.
• Amir Temur Square – the central park featuring the equestrian statue of Amir Temur and the famous "Broadway."
• Independence Square – the most important square in Tashkent.
• Monument of Courage.

After the tour, transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight in Tashkent.

Meet the driver in the hotel lobby. Transfer to the railway station to board the high-speed Afrosiab Train (approx. 7:30–9:43 / 8:00–10:25 / 8:30–10:49).

The city of Samarkand was once invaded by Alexander the Great and later reduced to ashes by the armies of Genghis Khan. Despite this, it became the magnificent capital of Tamerlane during the 14th century.

Upon arrival, begin your sightseeing tour:

• Gur Amir Mausoleum – Timur's mausoleum, meaning "The King's Tomb" in Persian. It contains the tombs of Timur, his sons Shohruh and Miran Shah, grandsons Ulugbek and Muhammad Sultan, and Timur's tutor, Sayyid Baraka.
• Registan Square (15th–17th centuries), featuring:
  • Ulugbek Madrasa (1417–1420)
  • Sher-Dor Madrasa (1619–1636)
  • Tilla-Kari Madrasa (1647–1660)
• Bibi-Khanum Mosque (15th century), one of the largest monuments of the Tamerlane era.
• Shakhi Zinda (9th–14th & 19th centuries), an architectural complex of over 20 mausoleums containing 44 tombs, including the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad's cousin.
• Siab Bazaar – Samarkand's main market, located at the crossroads of ancient trade routes. Visiting Samarkand without experiencing Siab Bazaar means missing one of the city's most memorable adventures.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continue exploring Samarkand with visits to:

• Ulugbek Observatory – built in 1428–1429 by Ulugbek, grandson of Timur. During his reign, Samarkand became one of the world's leading scientific centers. The observatory housed a giant marble sextant used to calculate the positions of the sun, moon, and planets. Ulugbek also compiled the famous astronomical catalog, Tables of the Stars.
• Afrosiab Museum – discover the history of ancient Samarkand through archaeological treasures and Silk Road exhibits.
• Konigil – visit the traditional paper-making workshop where paper is still produced using ancient techniques.
• Khudjum Carpet Factory.
• Free time to explore the city independently.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time, transfer to the railway station to board the high-speed train to Bukhara (approx. 9:53–11:39 or 10:59–12:42).

Upon arrival, transfer to the Old City and begin the sightseeing tour.

Highlights include:

• Poikalon Complex (12th–16th centuries), including Masjidi Kalon, Miri Arab Madrasah, and the magnificent Kalon Minaret.
• Trading Domes, consisting of: Tok-i-Zargaron (Jeweler's Bazaar), Tok-i-Tilpak Furushon (Cap Maker's Bazaar), Tok-i-Sarrafon (Moneychanger's Bazaar)
• Magoki Attori Mosque, originally destroyed in the fire of 937 and rebuilt during the 12th century.
• Lyabi-Hauz Complex (16th–17th centuries), featuring Nodir Devon Begi Madrassah, Khanaka, and a beautiful pond surrounded by trees.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today's visits include:

• Ismail Samani Mausoleum – one of Central Asia's greatest masterpieces of early Islamic architecture.
• Bolo Khauz Mosque (1712), once used by the Emir of Bukhara for Friday prayers.
• ARK Fortress (6th–19th centuries), formerly a complete fortified city housing the Emir's palace, mosques, government offices, mint, prison, and public execution square.
• Traditional Folklore Show at Madrasah.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Bukhara.

Breakfast at hotel. Meet your guide at lobby to transfer to the boarder. Border crossing and formalities. Meet your guide and driver on the other side. Transfer to hotel in Mary.
Overnight in Mary.

Breakfast at hotel. Hotel Check out. Meet your guide at hotel lobby to start the excursion:

• Visit Old Merw ruins-UNESCO Worldwide Heritage site. Afterwards, we drive onward to Ashgabat by road (352 km).

Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Ashgabat.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide to begin today's sightseeing.

Visits include:

• Old Nisa – the residence of the Parthian Kings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• National Museum of History of Turkmenistan (closed on Tuesdays and national holidays).
• Arch of Neutrality.
• Monument of Independence.
• Memorial Complex dedicated to the victims of the 1948 earthquake.
• Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque and the family mausoleum of the first President of Turkmenistan.

Transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight in Ashgabat.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide and travel by 4WD Jeep to Darvaza (approximately 276 km, around 4 hours).

Upon arrival:

• Excursion around the famous Gas Crater.
• Transfer to the Yurt Camp.

Barbecue dinner in Darvaza.

Overnight in Darvaza.

Breakfast (Picnic).

• Meet your guide and drive approximately 300 km to the Dashoguz Border.
• Complete border crossing procedures.
• Meet your guide and driver on the Uzbekistan side and continue approximately 70 km to Khiva.
• Transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel. As you enter Ichan-Kala, the heart of Khiva, it feels as though you've stepped into the magical world of Scheherazade, surrounded by narrow cobbled streets, clay houses, stunning mosques, mausoleums, minarets, and colorful domes.

Begin the city tour:

• Kalta Minor Minaret & Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah
• Kunya Ark (17th century)
• Pakhlavan Mahmud Complex (14th–19th centuries)
• Islam Khodja Minaret & Madrasah (1908), the tallest structure in Khiva at 45 meters.
• Djuma Mosque (10th–17th centuries), famous for its 212 carved wooden columns.
• Mausoleum of Seyid Alaudin (14th century), renowned for its multicolored majolica gravestone.
• Tash Hovli Palace, the summer residence of the Khiva Khans.

Return to the hotel at the end of the excursion.

Overnight in Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your driver and transfer to Urgench International Airport for departure.