Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan combination tour
Set out on an unforgettable 16-day journey across Central Asia, weaving the Silk Road treasures of Uzbekistan with the surreal deserts of Turkmenistan.
Begin in Tashkent's bazaars and Soviet-era metro, then fly to fairy-tale Khiva. Cross into Turkmenistan to camp beside the blazing Darvaza Gas Crater — the legendary "Gates of Hell" — before exploring Ashgabat's marble monuments, golden statues and the world's largest handmade carpet. Visit the dramatic Yangikala Canyons on the Caspian coast, wander the UNESCO ruins of Ancient Merv and Old Nisa, then cross back into Uzbekistan for the tiled madrasahs of Bukhara, Timurid palaces of Shakhrisabz, and the breathtaking Registan Square in Samarkand. A special side trip into Tajikistan reveals the turquoise Seven Lakes in the Fann Mountains.
With English-speaking guides, comfortable 4x4/minivan transport, full-board meals and all border logistics handled, this tour blends history, culture, desert adventure and Central Asian hospitality — ideal for small groups of curious travelers.
Number of participants: 4
Duration: 16 days / 15 nights
Itinerary: Tashkent – Khiva – Dashoguz – Darvaza – Ashgabat – Mary – Turkmenabat – Bukhara – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand – Penjikent – Tashkent
Tour Itinerary
Day 1. UZBEKISTAN, Tashkent – arrival
Arrival: Arrival at Tashkent International Airport at 13:55. Meet and transfer to the hotel for early check-in.
Free time at leisure.
Overnight: Tashkent
Meals: breakfast
Day 2. UZBEKISTAN, Tashkent – City tour
09:30 – Sightseeing tour of Tashkent: Visit the Old City, see Khast Imam Square where the Barak Khan Madrasah is located, and the archives of Tilla-Sheikh. Continue to Kukeldash Madrasah, Akbar’s pottery house, Friendship Square and the Museum of Applied Arts.
Evening: Attend a performance at the Navoi Theater (season September–May).
Overnight: Tashkent
Meals: breakfast
Day 3. Tashkent – Khiva (flight)
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. At 09:30 continue visiting religious sites: Catholic and Orthodox churches, and the city’s most beautiful metro stations. Walk through the largest and most dynamic market of Uzbekistan – Chorsu.
City tour: Independence Square, Opera and Ballet Theater Square and Amir Temur Square, followed by a visit to the Magic City amusement park.
Afternoon: Transfer to Tashkent airport for a domestic flight HY-057 to Urgench (20:40/22:10). Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel in Khiva.
Overnight: Khiva
Meals: breakfast
Day 4. Khiva
09:00 – Morning: Start your tour of Old Khiva with the Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah and the Kelte Minor Minaret. Explore Kunya Ark, a 12th-century fortress and residence of Khiva’s rulers, then continue to the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud, known for its intricate tilework.
Afternoon: Visit the Islam Khoja Madrasah and Minaret, as well as the Juma Mosque, known for its 213 wooden columns.
Overnight: Khiva
Meals: breakfast
Day 5. TURKMENISTAN, Khiva – Shavat/Dashoguz – Darvaza border (280 km, approximately 5.5 hours on the way)
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and check out, transfer to the land border at 07:30 am. Arrival at the Shavat/Dashoguz border no later than 09:00. After leaving the border of Uzbekistan, take a bus transfer to reach the border of Turkmenistan (fare $1 per person). Meet your Turkmen guide and go through the formalities upon arrival (visa, declaration, customs and PCR test). Board 4×4 SUVs and drive to Dashoguz for lunch.
Afternoon: Journey into the center of the Karakum Desert to see the Darvaza Gas Crater, also known online as the “Gates of Hell”. The road from Dashoguz to Darvaza is quite damaged, so be prepared for a road test. Stop along the way to stretch your legs and photograph the wandering camels in the desert. Arrive at Darvaza in the evening, before sunset.
Overnight: Darvaza, in yurts
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 6. Darvaza – Ashgabat (270 km, approximately 4 hours on the way)
09:00 am: After breakfast, say goodbye to the gas crater and head to the capital, Ashgabat. On the way, stop to see the “bubbling water” and “sulfur-mud” craters, and stop in Erbent at the monument of victory over the Basmachi in Central Asia.
12:00 pm – Village Experience: Visit the village of Bokurdak, where you will experience traditional life. Explore the raw brick houses and authentic yurts, meet the locals, and observe traditional crafts such as embroidery and bread baking – sand-cooked Ishlekli & çörek. Lunch in Bokurdak.
03:00/03:30 pm: Arrival and check-in.
18:00 – Evening Walking Tour: Visit the historical districts of Ashgabat, starting with Ashgabat Park on Makhtumkuli Avenue; learn about the city’s history at Lenin Square and the lively “Russian Bazaar” (Gulistan). Also visit the impressive monument to the Akhal-Tekin horses.
Dinner at a local restaurant at your own expense. Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Meals: breakfast and lunch
Day 7. Ashgabat
09:30 – Turkmen Carpet Museum: Visit one of the world’s finest collections of handmade Turkmen carpets, home to the largest handmade carpet in the world, recognized by the Guinness Book of Records, along with rare antique carpets telling the story of Turkmen tribes.
Morning: Visit the Khalk Khakydasy Memorial Complex, dedicated to the heroes of Turkmenistan in the Great Patriotic War, the Battle of Gokdepa and the 1948 earthquake. Explore the hall with its impressive diorama of the Battle of Gokdepa and archival photos of the earthquake.
Afternoon Tour: Explore the iconic monuments of Ashgabat, starting with “Bagt Koshgi” – the hill of the Wedding Palace with a panoramic view of the city, popular with newlyweds who come here at night for photos with the glowing palace. Stop for photos at the Constitution Monument and the Alem Ferris Wheel (Guinness Book of Records). Visit Independence Park and the Independence Monument, a symbol of modern Turkmenistan. Continue toward the Kopetdag Mountains, with a photo stop at the famous Path of Health, before reaching Magtymguly Park with its giant 60-meter statue of the poet and philosopher Magtymguly Fragi. Return to the city center via the Monument of Neutrality, crowned by a 12-meter golden statue of the first President, finishing at the Monument to the Book of Ruhnama (“Book of the Soul”), written by the first President of Turkmenistan.
Evening: Dinner at one of the best restaurants in the city with panoramic views (La Casa).
Overnight: Ashgabat
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 8. Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi (1-hour flight) – Yangikala Canyons (170 km crossing, approximately 3 hours on the way) – Turkmenbashi (170 km, 3 hrs) – Ashgabat (1-hour flight)
Early morning: Transfer to the airport for a flight to Turkmenbashi T5-241 at 06:20 am – a port city on the Caspian Sea, once known as Krasnovodsk, boasting a cosmopolitan mix of Russian, Turkmen and Azeri cultures.
Morning: After breakfast, explore the Moorish-style railway station, pick up lunch boxes from a local restaurant, and drive to the Yangikala Canyons. Also known as the “Grand Canyons of Central Asia,” Yangikala means “fiery fortress,” featuring white, pink and orange limestone formations, stunning vistas and the fascinating “crocodile’s mouth” rock formations.
Evening: Drive back to Turkmenbashi for the return flight to Ashgabat T5-248 at 20:30. After arriving back in Ashgabat, stop at a good viewpoint near the airport to photograph the iconic falcon-shaped terminal, especially beautiful when illuminated at night.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Meals: breakfast and lunch
Day 9. Ashgabat – Mary (350 km crossing, approximately 3 hours on the way)
09:00 – Morning trip to a private horse farm in Gökdepe (50 km, 1 hr. on the way): Ride, feed and photograph the Akhal-Teke horses, unique animals known for their speed and ancient origins.
Stop at an impressive complex in Kipchak village to see the biggest mosque in Turkmenistan, “the Spiritual Mosque of Turkmenbashi,” and “the family mausoleum of the first president.”
Old Nisa Fortress: Travel to the village of Bagir to explore the ruins of Old Nisa – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire.
Late Afternoon: Excursion to the State Museum of History and Ethnography to see ancient artifacts and treasures of Turkmenistan’s rich historical heritage.
4:30 pm: Transfer to Mary (350 km, about 3–3.5 hours). Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Overnight: Mary
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 10. UZBEKISTAN, Mary – Bayramali/Ancient Merv – Turkmenabat – Farap/Alat border (285 km, approximately 5 hours on the way to the border) – Bukhara
Morning: After breakfast, drive 40 minutes to the village of Bayramali to explore Ancient Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as “the Queen of the World.”
Tour Highlights:
- Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (the last sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire)
- Yusuf Hamadani Mosque (Yusuf Hamadani was one of the most influential Sufi masters, whose teachings spread throughout Central Asia)
- Erk Gala (founded in the 6th century BC; in the 3rd century BC it became the citadel of the larger Hellenistic city of Antioch/Margiana)
- Big and Small Gyz Kala (7th–12th centuries), known as the “Women’s Fortress” – one of the best preserved fortresses built of adobe bricks
After lunch at the local restaurant “Ancient Turkmen Hearth,” drive to the Farap/Alat border, about 5 hours on the way. Your Turkmen guide will help with crossing into the neutral zone, then continue to the Uzbek border on your own (3 shuttle transfers on old buses, $1 each). After crossing, meet the driver who will take you to Bukhara, 1.5 hours away. Upon arrival, check into the hotel.
Overnight: Bukhara
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 11. Bukhara
Morning and noon: After breakfast, explore the ancient city of Bukhara. Start with the Poi Kalon Ensemble, which includes the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah and the Kalon Minaret, a symbol of the city for 875 years.
Visit the 3 remaining domed bazaars – Taki Zargaron (1570), or the Goldsmiths’ Bazaar, Taki Telpak Furushon, or the Hat-Making Bazaar, and the Taki Sarrafon, or Money Changers’ Bazaar, among the dozens of specialized bazaars once found in the city.
Explore the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, built around 1620, and its nearby madrasahs.
After lunch: Visit the Ark Fortress, Bolo Hauz Mosque, Ismoil Samani Mausoleum and Chashma Ayub (Job’s Spring).
Evening: Enjoy dinner and a traditional folklore show at Nadir Devon Begi Madrasah, with music, dance and local cuisine.
Overnight: Bukhara
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 12. Bukhara – Shakhrisabz (270 km, about 5 hr. drive) – Samarkand (ca. 90 km, about 2 hr. drive)
Morning, 09:00 am: After breakfast, drive to Shakhrisabz (270 km). On arrival, transfer to the local restaurant “Kish Mish” for lunch.
Afternoon: Visit Ak Saray (White Palace) – the summer residence of Tamerlane (14th c.), Kok Gumbaz (Blue Dome) – a Friday mosque (15th c.) built by Ulugbek in honor of his father, and Dorut Tilyavat (House of Meditation) – the burial complex of Timur’s ancestors, including the Crypt of Timur, an underground room discovered in 1963.
Drive to Samarkand (90 km, 2 hours), the historical heart of Tamerlane’s empire. Arrive at 07:00/08:00 pm.
Note: an English-speaking driver and minivan carry 4 passengers and 4 suitcases/bags.
Overnight: Samarkand
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 13. Samarkand
Morning and afternoon: Spend the day exploring Samarkand, one of the most beautiful cities in Central Asia. Visit Gur-Emir (in Tajik – Tomb of the Emir), the mausoleum of Timur and the Timurids (15th c.), and Registan Square (Sandy Place) – an ensemble of majestic madrasahs (15th–17th cc.) ranking among the greatest and most magnificent works of the Islamic world.
Note: Registan national costume photoshoot available.
Inside the Tillya-Kari Mosque watch local women hand-weave silk carpets and fabrics. After lunch, visit the Bibi Khanym Mosque (15th c.) – once one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world, Shahi Zinda (Living King) – the necropolis of Samarkand’s rulers and nobles, and the Siab Market – the colorful main farmers’ market.
Also visit the Observatory of Ulugbek (1420) – the remains of a huge (30 m high) astrolabe for observing the stars, part of a three-story observatory.
Overnight: Samarkand
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 14. Samarkand – TAJIKISTAN, Seven Lakes – Samarkand (270 km round-trip, about 5–6 hrs. total driving)
Morning: After an early breakfast, drive westward from Samarkand to the Jartepa Uzbek–Tajik border checkpoint. Complete border customs and immigration formalities on foot, cross the frontier, and meet your Tajik mountain guide and driver.
Bypassing the standard clay mounds of Penjikent town, drive directly into the rugged, spectacular Fann Mountains along the Shing River valley to explore the beautiful Seven Lakes (Haft Kul), famed for their unique, rapidly shifting colors from brilliant turquoise to deep purple depending on the sun’s angle and mineral content. Travel past the lower lakes, stopping to explore traditional villages and admire the sheer rock canyon walls.
Afternoon: Following a picnic or local lunch in the mountains, retrace your route down the valley, return to the border, re-enter Uzbekistan, and transfer back to your Samarkand hotel for the evening.
- Activity Level: Moderate (walking on unpaved mountain roads and near lake shorelines)
- What to carry: Passport, printed Tajikistan e-visa (if required for your nationality), comfortable sturdy shoes, and a warm jacket or fleece (mountain altitudes are significantly cooler)
- Notes: Border processing times can vary. Road conditions in the Fann Mountains are unpaved and bumpy, but the stunning natural scenery is well worth the drive
Overnight: Samarkand
Meals: breakfast and lunch
Day 15. Samarkand – Tashkent (high-speed train)
Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, attend a suzane master class, learning to handle threads and fabric under the guidance of an experienced craftsman. Uzbek suzane is a national ornamental embroidery created by hand from colored threads, prized worldwide for its exquisite craftsmanship and the ancient magical knowledge encoded in its patterns.
Visit to Konigil Meros Paper Mill.
Afternoon: After lunch, transfer to Samarkand railway station and board the high-speed train “Afrosiyob” (16:56–19:17) — schedule and train type subject to change depending on ticket availability. Arrival in Tashkent and accommodation at the hotel. The rest of the day is free for rest before international departure.
Overnight: Tashkent
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 16. Tashkent – departure
Morning: After breakfast, transfer to the international airport to take your departure flight.
End of services!
Meals: breakfast
- Invitation letter (for a visa to Turkmenistan)
- Hotel accommodation
- Convenient transport (sedan, minivan, SUVs), depending on the route
- English-speaking guide – Turkmenistan: 1 guide from border to border; Uzbekistan: assorted city guides
- Entrance fees to museums, etc.
- Drinking water during the tour
- All breakfasts
- Breakfast and dinner in Darvaza
- Lunch in the village of Bokurdak
- Registration of tourists (staying in the country for more than 3 days) – Turkmenistan
- Tourist taxes – Uzbekistan
- Domestic flight in Uzbekistan: Tashkent – Urgench (economy class); Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi – Ashgabat
- Samarkand – Tashkent train
- Navoi Theatre – entrance tickets
- The cost of a Turkmenistan visa at the borders or at the airport, from $55–$155 (depends on citizenship)
- Mandatory PCR test at the border of Turkmenistan – $33
- Turkmenistan Migration and Bank Border Visa Fee – $14 + $8
- Visa to Uzbekistan (U.S. citizens over 50 years of age do not need a visa)
- Additional services in hotels
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guides/drivers (welcome)
- Fees for video/photo shooting in museums/reserves
- Spirits
- Meals not listed in the “Included” section
- International flights
