Arrival and check-in: arrive at Tashkent International Airport with Turkish Airlines at 2:00 AM or other. You’ll be greeted and transferred to hotel for early check-in.

Sightseeing tour of Tashkent — we will visit Old Town, we’ll see Khast Imam Square where Barak Khan madrasah, Tilla Sheikh archives are located, which houses the oldest copy of the Quran of Uthman (VII century AD). Later we will go to the madrasah Kukeldesh, Akbar’s pottery house, on Friendship Square and in the Historical Museum. In the evening we will attend a performance at the Navoi Theater (season in September-May).

Accommodation: Hotel in Tashkent

Meals: B

After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, continue visits to religious sites: Catholic and Orthodox churches. Visit the most beautiful metro stations. A walk through the largest and most dynamic market in Uzbekistan – Chorsu. Sightseeing tour of Tashkent: Independence Square, Opera and Ballet Theater Square, Amir Temur Square. Visit to the amusement park Magic City.

Transfer to Tashkent airport for departure by domestic flight HY-057 to Urgench (20:25/21:55), arrival in Urgench. Transfer to the hotel in Khiva.

Accommodation: Hotel in Khiva

Meals: B

Morning: start the tour of Old Khiva, visiting such iconic places as the madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan and the minaret of Kelte Minor. Explore Kunya Ark, a 12th-century fortress and the residence of the rulers of Khiva. Continue on your way to the mausoleum of Mahmud Pahlavan, famous for its intricate tile work.

After lunch, visit the Islam Khoja madrasah and minaret, as well as the Juma Mosque, famous for its 213 wooden columns. Explore the city on your own for rest of the day.

Accommodation: Hotel in Khiva

Meals: B

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the Turkmen-Uzbek border no later than 11:00. After leaving the border of Uzbekistan, take a bus transfer to get to the border of Turkmenistan (the fare is $1 per person). Passing the formalities upon arrival (obtaining a visa, filling out a declaration, customs formalities and PCR test). Drive to Dashoguz for lunch.

After lunch, depart by comfortable 4×4 vehicles (max. 3 passengers per vehicle to ensure safety and comfort) toward the Darvaza also known as “The Gates of Hell“, a methane-belching fire pit in the Turkmenistan desert has been spewing fire for decades – but its origin is considered The USSR’s top-secret desert mystery. The journey includes uneven asphalt roads and a short off-road desert section. Arrive in Darvaza by early evening.

Settle into a traditional yurt camp and visit the legendary Darvaza Gas Crater, a massive natural gas crater burning continuously since the 1970s. As night falls, the glowing flames create an unforgettable desert atmosphere.

Distance: 280 km | Drive: ~5 hrs.
Accommodation: yurt in Darvaza

Meals: B, D

Morning: After breakfast at the camp we say goodbye to the gas crater and head to the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. On the way, stop in Yerbent at the monument of victory over Basmatism in Central Asia. Experience village life in Bokurdak, where tradition thrives. Explore homes built from unfired bricks and authentic yurts. Meet locals and see traditional crafts like embroidery and “pishme”-making. Enjoy a homemade lunch and learn about Turkmen culture. (96 km from Ashgabat, one-hour drive)

The rest of the day is free for rest.

Distance: 270 km | Drive: ~4 hrs.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat

Meals: B, L

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and take a 1-2 hour walk from Ashgabat Park along historic Magtymguly Avenue, to Lenin Square, home to The Monument of Lenin that survived the 1948 earthquake. Continue to the lively Gulistan Bazaar (Russian Bazaar), a Soviet-era landmark, where you can experience local life and browse stalls of dried fruits, famous Turkmen melons, carpets, and traditional souvenirs.

After lunch, visit the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, honoring national heroes and historic tragedies, before enjoying panoramic city views from the Palace of Happiness. Continue along Archabil Highway to see the Magtymguly monument, ending at Independence Park and the monumental buildings. Conclude the day with a welcome dinner overlooking the illuminated city skyline.

Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat

Meals: B, D

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Geokdepe stud-farm to see the legendary Ahalteke horses, famed for their speed, endurance, and shimmering coats, with opportunities to ride, feed, and photograph them. The area is also historically significant as the site of the fortress that was the site of a battle during the Great Game in 1881, as well as the Geokdepe Mosque, built in memory of those events.

Drive back to Ashgabat to visit the State Museum of History and Ethnography to explore ancient artifacts, then travel to the UNESCO-listed ruins of Old Nisa, the former capital of the Parthian Empire, set against the scenic Kopetdag Mountains. Then transfer to Mary on a newly-built highway. Upon arrival, check in at hotel and farewell dinner in Turkmenistan at the restaurant.

Distance: 350 km | Drive: ~4 hrs.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mary

Meals: B, D

After breakfast, check out at hotel and drive to Bayramali (25 km, 40 mins). Today we will have the unforgettable opportunity of visiting Ancient Merv Historical Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Merv is by far Turkmenistan’s most recognized heritage site. It impresses with its vast size of over 2,000 ha and comprises of 5 different city-sites from 3 millenniums.

Ancient Merv Historical Park includes ancient cities Erk-Kala and Gyaur-Kala, medieval cities Sultan Kala, Abdullakhan-Kala and Bayramalikhan-Kala, the oldest of still standing corrugated mud-brick palaces – Great and Little Gyz Kalas, mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammad ibn Zaid, and tombs of Profet’s companions, Askhabs, and others.

After sightseeing, we will have lunch and then drive (285 km, 5 hours) to the Turkmen-Uzbek border (3 transfers on old buses in the neutral zone, the cost of each move is $ 1). After passing the border, drive to Bukhara (1.5 hours) and check in at hotel upon arrival.

Distance: 350 km | Drive: ~8 hrs.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bukhara

Meals: B, D

After breakfast, explore the ancient city of Bukhara. Begin with the Poi Kalon Ensemble, featuring the Mir-I-Arab Madrassah and the Kalon Minaret, a symbol of the city for 875 years. Visit 3 domed bazaars, which were among dozens of specialized bazaars in the town. Explore the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, and its nearby madrasahs.

Afternoon: visit Ark Fortress, Bolo Hauz Mosque, the Ismoil Samani Mausoleum, and Chashma Ayub (Spring of Job). In the evening, enjoy dinner with a traditional folk show at Nadir Devon Begi Madrasah, showcasing music, dance, and local cuisine.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bukhara

Meals: B, D

After breakfast, transfer to Shahrisabz (270 km, 4,5-hour drive). Arrival and transfer to the local restaurant “Kish Mish” for lunch. After lunch, visit Ak Sarai (White Palace) — Tamerlane’s summer residence, Kok Gumbaz (Blue Dome) — the Friday mosque, built by Ulugbek in honor of his father and Dorut Tilyavat (House of Meditation) — the burial complex of Timur’s ancestors. Explore Timur’s crypt is an underground room that was discovered in 1963.

Drive to Samarkand (90 km, 1,5-hour drive), the historic hear of Tamerlane’s empire. Dinner upon arrival and check in at hotel.

Distance: 360 km | Drive: ~6 hrs.

Accommodation: Hotel in Samarkand

Meals: B, D

Spend the day exploring Samarkand, one of the most beautiful cities of Central Asia. Visit Gur Emir – mausoleum of Timur and the Timurids, Reghistan Square – ensemble of majestic madrasahs, Bibi Khanym Mosque – the gigantic congregational mosque, once one of the Islamic world’s biggest mosque, and Siab Market – colorful main farmers’ market.

After lunch, explore to Shakhi Zinda – necropolis of Samarkand rulers and nobles. Visit to Ulugbek Observatory – the remains of an immense astrolabe for observing star position, part of three-storey observatory.

Accommodation: Hotel in Samarkand

Meals: B, D

After breakfast at the hotel, attend a suzana master class, where, under the guidance of an experienced craftsman, you will learn how to handle threads and fabric yourself. Uzbek suzane is a national ornamental embroidery on fabric, created manually from threads of different colors. Visit to the Konigil Meros paper mill.

In the afternoon, transfer to Samarkand Railway Station and take the Afrosiab high-speed train (17:00-19:10). Arrival in Tashkent and accommodation at the hotel. The rest of the day is free for rest before the international flight.

Distance: 300 km | Train: ~2 hrs

Accommodation: Hotel in Tashkent

Meals: B, D

Morning: transfer to Tashkent International Airport for your international departure.

Note: late check-out is not included.

Meals: B

NOTE: B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner.

Tour price information

Important Accommodation Policy

In the event of government-level events or official delegations requiring priority accommodation, our company reserves the right to substitute the originally confirmed hotel with an alternative property of the same category and comparable standard.