SILK ROAD CULTURAL DISCOVERY: TURKMENISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN
Start:
ASHGABAT
- 04 May 2026
End:
TASHKENT
- 14 May 2026
Type tour:
11 DAYS // 10 NIGHTS
Payments:
By request
Group:
2
About tour
A tour combining Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan offers a journey through the heart of the ancient Silk Road, contrasting the grand, tiled madrasas of Uzbekistan with the futuristic "White Marble City" of Ashgabat and the Karakum Desert.
Itinerary
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Arrival to Ashgabat international airport. Driver will meet you with “Ak yol travel” signboard at meeting area and transfer to the hotel. Upon arrival check in and overnight is at the hotel. Rest and breakfast. A full day dedicated to exploring Ashgabat. The visit begins with the important archaeological site of Nissa, the Sanctuary of the Parthian Kings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. Nissa is described as one of the first capitals of the Parthian Empire. It was founded by Arsaces I in the 3rd century BC, serving as a royal residence and royal necropolis for the Parthian kings. In 2013, the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat the "White Marble City," where you can see the largest number of palaces in the world built from white marble. Our afternoon tour includes the Wedding Palace, the Ferris Wheel, the Constitution Monument, the Neutrality Arch, the Independence Monument and Park, the Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium, and the Earthquake and World War II Memorial. Overnight stay at the hotel.
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Breakfast is at the hotel. Transfer to Ashgabat airport for morning flight to Turkmenbashi. Upon arrival transfer and check in to the hotel. Free day at Caspian Sea. Overnight is at the hotel.
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Early departure for day trip to Yangikala Canyons via Balkan Mountains Impressive white, green and red limestone formations rise up from the desert sands. These cliffs are the remains of massive coastline and seabed of the pre-historical Parathetys Sea. This surreal landscape is impressive at any time of day, but sunset and sunrise offer particularly spectacular views. The area is reachable only by 4-wheel drive, passing through the Balkan Mountains and a vast highland area where camels, sheep and horse’s graze. Picnic lunch box in canyons. Discover the canyons by jeep and on foot. Returning to Turkmenbashi. Evening flight to Ashgabat, upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Overnight is at the hotel.
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Breakfast is at the hotel. Half-day tour including visits to Ahalteke horse stables - A variety of Ahalteke private horse farms and stables can be visited for those that want to observe these gorgeous horses from a safe distance. Carpet museum opened in 1994. It has a rich collection of Turkmen carpets from the medieval through to the 20th century, including over 1000 carpets from the 18th and 19th centuries and one of the biggest hand -made carpets in the world. Transfer to Darwaza in the Karakum desert, with visit of Erbent desert community on the way. Darwaza - The center of a gas-rich area in the heart of the Karakum desert attracts travelers from all over the world because of its unique burning crater that offers a particularly spectacular view in the dark. BBQ dinner. Return to Ashgabat after dark (slow driving). Overnight is at the hotel.
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Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Mary. En route, visit the ruins of the Seyitjemalledin Mosque in Anau. The mosque was built in 1456 during the reign of Abu ibn Kasim Baber Bahadurkhan in Khorasan (1446–1457). By the 19th century, subsidence had already severely damaged the building, and it was completely destroyed in the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake. Now, only the lower portions of the portal and some fragments of the walls remain. Along the way, visit Abiwerd, once an important trading city in northern Khorasan. It was a key link on the Great Silk Road between Nisa and Merv, and also enjoyed connections to Nishapur, across the Kopetdag Mountains to the south. Visiting the Mary Regional Library (also known as the Mary Library) is an important architectural and cultural landmark in the city of Mary, Turkmenistan. It is the largest regional library in the Mary region (Mary velayat). Here are some key facts about the library: Inauguration: The new, modern library building was officially inaugurated on October 20, 2011, replacing an older structure. Architecture: The building has a distinctive spherical shape and is supported by 62 columns. It is 42 meters high. Capacity and collection: The three-story structure is designed to hold up to three million books and can accommodate 600 readers at a time. A bookstore A museum on the history of Turkmen books, featuring rare copies and ancient manuscripts. Beneath the dome, shaped like the petals of a tulip, is an observatory equipped with a powerful telescope. Then visit the main mosque in Mary, Turkmenistan, a truly impressive sight. Architecture: It is a magnificent example of modern Islamic architecture, with brilliant white marble and a striking golden dome, flanked by four tall minarets (63 meters). Capacity: The prayer hall can accommodate 2,500 people. The most important church in Mary, Turkmenistan, is the Pokrovskaya Church, also known as the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. Russian Orthodox Church. Construction: Built around 1900 by Russian forces after establishing a military and administrative headquarters in Mary in 1884. Architecture: It features a red brick facade in traditional Russian style, a practical choice in the desert region where timber was scarce. The design uses alternating red and white brick colors for details such as arches and moldings. Overnight stay at a hotel.
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After breakfast visit Ancient Merv. Continue to Merv to explore ancient Merv, the "Pearl of the Orient," "Queen of the World," one of the most important capitals of the Muslim world along with Baghdad, Cairo, and Damascus. Ancient Margiana, known as Margouch at the time of Alexander the Great, the capital of the Seljuk Turks, is one of the oldest oasis cities on the Silk Road. Visit two of Kyz Qala's Koshks (fortresses), the Qala Askhab complex, the Giaur Qala fortress, the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, the largest structure in medieval Central Asia, and the Muhammad Ibn Zeid Mausoleum. Afterwards, drive to Farap/Alat border. Crossing border. You will meet guide and driver. Visits to the ancient sacred and noble city of Bukhara, the homeland of Avicena (Ibn Sina), Known as a world-famous doctor, we'll begin our tour by walking through the city, which is filled with historical monuments (9th-19th centuries): the Lyabi Hovuz Complex – a pond and Madrasah of Nodir Devonbegi, Kukaldash; the ancient oriental markets covered with domes. Then we will visit Madrasa Ulugbek (16th century) – one of the oldest madrasas in Bukhara, Madrasa Abdulazizkhan (17th century) - luxuriously decorated; Commercial domes - Toki-Sarrafon (It was a currency exchange center in Central Asia), Telpak Furushon (He sold books, later caps), Tim Abdullakhan (sold carpets and fabrics), Toki-Zargaron (sold jewelry); Complejo Poi Kalon composed of: Minarete Kalon(12th century) - symbol of the city of Bukhara, intended to call Muslims to prayer five times a day, Kalon Mosque (15th century) - The layout of the Djuma Mosque (called Kalyan Mosque) is traditional: a rectangular courtyard with a tall, large maksura hall, Madrasa Miri-Arab (16th century) - one of the finest monuments of the Bukhara school of architecture. We will end the tour with the legendary Fortress of the Ark (4th century BC) - symbol of state power. It was the residence of the khans of Bukhara. Overnight in a hotel.
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Breakfast at the hotel. The tour continues with visits to: Madrasa Chor-Minor (1807) - "Four Minarets" - The decorative elements of the towers are believed to reflect the religious-philosophical understanding of the four world religions; Mausoleum of Ismail Samani (9th century) - It was erected as a family crypt immediately after the death of Ismail Samani's father; The Bolo-Khaus Mosque (1712) (from outside) - It is the only preserved monument in Reghistan Square. The complex consists of the cistern, the Friday Mosque, and the minaret. The oldest part of the complex is the pond (Khauz), which is called Bolo-Khauz.; Sitorai Mohi-Khosa - The summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, a unique place combining Eastern and Russian architecture. In the afternoon, we will transfer to the train station in Bukhara to take the high-speed train to Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand and transfer to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
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Breakfast at the hotel.Today we will visit the Mausoleum of Amir Temur (Tamerlane) and of the Temurides - One of the most significant architectural complexes of the medieval East is the Gur-e Amir (Gur-Emir) building. It was located in the southwestern part of Samarkand at the beginning of the 15th century.; Registan Square in Samarkand, a symbol of Uzbekistan and the "eighth wonder of the world." It is a complex consisting of three madrasas: Ulugbek (15th century), Sher Dor y Tillya Kari (17th century). Then we will visit the Bibi Khanim Mosque built in XIV-XV by order of Amir Temur and his favorite queen Bibi Khanim. We will walk through the Siab oriental bazaar, traditional in Samarkand and the Shahi Zinda Necropolis where Tamerlan's relatives are buried. Overnight at the hotel.
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Breakfast at the hotel. We begin today's excursion with a visit to the famous Ulugbek Astronomical Observatory (15th century) and then the ruins of Afrasiab - ancient Samarkand, an archaeological complex that was founded in the 8th-6th century BC and the Afrasiab Historical Museum, the artisanal paper and carpet factories that were and are famous all over the world. Today we will also make the visit a little different to the Orthodox Church 19th-century mansions built during the time of the Russian tsars. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Then you will return to the capital, Tashkent, by high-speed train. Overnight at the hotel.
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In the morning arrival in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, meeting with our colleague outside the airport named UZBEKISTAN DISCOVERY. We'll begin our tour in the capital: Khast-Imam Complex where the famous Quran of Caliph Usman is located. In the Khasti-Imam complex you will visit the Barak-Khan madrasa and Muyi Mubarak, and and The Mausoleum of and the mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi; Bazaar Chorsu - it is an oriental market that is more than a hundred years old, always found in the main square of Eski-Juva; Plaza Amir Temur - The history of the square in the center of Tashkent, named after Amir Timur, the commander and founder of a great medieval empire; Independence Square - is located at the center of Tashkent. The main state events and parades are held here on national holidays. We will end the tour with the Metro Station, the only one in Uzbekistan and the first in Central Asia.
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Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport. End of our services.
Included
- Accommodation in mentioned hotels on DBL/TWIN sharing
- Breakfasts at the hotels
- Services of A/C comfortable transport with professional driver as per the program
- English speaking local guide
- Domestic air tickets:Ashgabat-Turkmenbashy-Ashgabat
- Tickets for high-speed train for Bukhara-Samarkand and Samarkand-Tashkent and in economic classes:
- Daily 2 bottles of 0.5l water per person
- Half Board meals: 10 lunches in local/tourist restaurants (set menu).
- BBQ style dinner and breakfast at Darvaza crater
- Entrance fees to mentioned sights per program (excluding photo and video charges at sights)
- Visa support to Turkmenistan, registration and travel pass
- Porter services
- Handmade souvenir per person
Excluded
- Turkmenistan visa consular fees and processing expenses 80+15 USD per person, when obtained at land border (subject to change, nationality dependent)
- Turkmenistan migration tax 14 USD per person
- PCR nose test 33 USD
- Visa costs if it is needed -Uzbekistan
- Single supplement
- Dinners not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips for guide and drivers per person to pay at destination
- Photo and video charges at sights
- An early check-in hotel
- Beverages
- International air tickets to / out
- Travel Insurance
- Extras, not indicated in inclusions
Customer Support
We have a professional customer support team and always accompany you on every trip.