The Pearls of the East: Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Tour to Uzbekistan: The Main Attractions of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara & Khiva

 

Countries: UzbekistanTurkmenistan
Tour duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Itinerary: TashkentSamarkandGijduvanBukhara – Mary – Merv – Ashgabat – Darwaza crater – KunyaUrgenchKhivaTashkent

Tour to Uzbekistan

This combined Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan tour with stops at the must-see cities will guide you across two desert Central Asian republics where powerful states Bactria, Sogdiana, Margiana and Khwarezm were located in ancestry. The ruins of ancient fortresses of Merv, Khwarezm and Afrosiab are preserved till nowadays and remind of the bygone might of perished empires. Such ancient monuments as the Mausoleum of Tamerlane, the Registan Square, and the Kalyan Minaret harmoniously blend and even amplify the colour of the modern eastern cities.
Besides, this guided sightseeing tour will show you the most fascinating attraction in Karakum desert the “Doors to Hell”, or Darwaza burning gas crater that will amaze you.

You will feel a legendary babel of real oriental bazaars and discover the culture, original traditions and hospitality of the locals.
  • ITINERARY
    SERVICES & COST

  • Visa
  • USEFUL INFORMATION
    Route map

 

Tour itinerary 2025:
Day 1. Arrival in Tashkent. Tashkent (sightseeing).
Meet at the International airport and transfer to the hotel. Early check-in and rest.
Tashkent is the flavorful capital of Uzbekistan: it carries in itself both the modern infrastructure and the preserved cozy Old Town. Tashkent’s architecture is striking in its diversity and variety: archaeological monuments from the Zoroastrianism era that are more than 2200 years old, architectural masterpieces of the Middle Ages, monumental buildings of the late 19th century, the most beautiful underground subway in the world, and of course, the numerous contemporary buildings.
After breakfast start of the guided sightseeing tour around Tashkent. Visit the following sites: Khast-Imam Square, Barak-Khan Madrasah, Kafal-al-Shashi Mausoleum, Kukeldash Madrasah; after lunch: Museum of Applied Arts, Independence Square, Amir Timur Square, Minor Mosque.

Meals: breakfast.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2. Tashkent – Samarkand by morning train (2 hours).
Early breakfast at the hotel. Ride to Samarkand by premium service high-speed train “Afrosiab” (07:28-09:36).
Samarkand is as old as Rome, it is one of the most ancient cities in the world and former capital of the great Timur empire. It is a museum city, a city which was once the heart of the caravan trade in the midst of the Great Silk Road. Samarkand conserved its unique aura of the Oriental medieval age until this very day.
Guided sightseeing tour of Samarkand on arrival: Gur-e Amir Mausoleum (Tamerlane’s sepulcher), Registan Square (Ulugbek Madrasah, Sher-Dor Madrasah, and Tilla-Qori Madrasah), Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, and Ulugbek Observatory.

Meals: breakfast.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3. Samarkand – Gujduvan – Bukhara (road transfer, 280 km).
Breakfast at the hotel. Continuation of the sightseeing tour in Samarkand: visit Afrosiab museum and settlement.
Drive to Bukhara. En route stop in Gijduvan and visit local ceramist’s family. Gijduvan is one the centers of pottery in Uzbekistan, ceramic products in Gujduvan have its own painting style of green colors, which is not repeated in any other region of Uzbekistan.
Further transfer to Bukhara. Upon arrival accommodation at the hotel. Leisure time. Visiting the souvenir shops and workshops is recommended.

Meals: breakfast.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4. Bukhara.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Bukhara is another ancient city in Uzbekistan which also was part of the Great Silk Road. Medieval Bukhara used to be one of the main political, cultural, and religious hubs of the Middle East. Over 140 architectural monuments have been preserved here. The historical center of Bukhara is included in the list of World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO.
Start of the sightseeing program in Bukhara. Visit of the following sites: Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, local bazaar, Bolo Khauz Mosque, Ark Citadel with Zindan prison, Po-i-Kalyan Complex (Kalyan Minaret and others), Miri Arab madrassa, Magoki Attori mosque and Mosque Ulugbek Madrasah.
Return to the hotel.

Meals: breakfast.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5. Bukhara – "Farap" land border – Mary by road (385 km).
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Uzbek-Turkmen border “Farab” (2-hours drive from Bukhara). Border formalities.
Continue driving to Mary via visits of Ancient Merv en route. In ancient times Merv was considered to be an oasis city on the Silk Road and one of the most precious pearls of the Orient, which was shining against the background of the great empires of ancient dynasties for five centuries, permanently being either their capital or the biggest and the most favourite city of the shakhs. The site of ancient Merv has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Upon arrival in Mary city tour with visits of Juma Mosque and Russian orthodox church.
Mary is the third largest city of Turkmenistan. It is located in a great oasis amidst Karakum desert, in the delta of Murgab river. Nowadays Mary is a large centre of a wealthy cotton-growing region, a large transportation centre and major centre of gas industry, which is the main source of income of Turkmenistan.
Transfer to the hotel, overnight.

Meals: breakfast.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6. Mary – Ashgabat by morning flight. Ashgabat, day trip to Kov-Ata underground lake.
Morning transfer to the airport for further flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival we start exploring the capital city of Turkmenistan. We will visit today: Sunday bazaar, Ahalteke horse stables, Ertogrul Ghazi Mosque, Lenin monument, Independence Park, Rukhnama monument, Neutrality Arch, Ferris Wheel and Magtymguly Monument. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

Meals: breakfast.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7. Ashgabat – Darwaza gas crater (Karakum desert) by road (300 km).
After breakfast we continue exploring Ashgabat and visit Earthquake monument, Soviet War memorial complex.
After lunchtime, drive to Darwaza in the Karakum desert, via visits of Muddy crater and Water crater.  Arrival in Darwaza before sunset (at 18:00 approx.). Enjoy barbeque dinner on the open air; discover the burning gas crater by day and nighttime. Overnight in tents (field conditions).

Meals: breakfast, dinner.
Overnight in tents (field conditions).

Day 8. Darwaza crater – Kunya-Urgench – "Shavat" land border – Khiva by road (300 km).
After camp style breakfast drive to the ancient settlement of Kunya Urgench (UNESCO heritage site), sightseeing tour. Kunya-Urgench is the site of the ancient town of Urgench, the 12th-century capital of Khwarezm. Today it is both a tourist sight with impressive architectural monuments, such as mausoleums and a minaret, and Islamic place of pilgrimage. The ruins of Kunya-Urgench have been protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Continue driving to the land border with Uzbekistan. Cross the border before lunch break. Change driver and car on the border and further transfer to Khiva.
On arrival transfer to the hotel and check in. Overnight in Khiva.

Meals: breakfast.

Day 9. Khiva – Urgench by road (35 km).
Urgench – Tashkent by evening fligth
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour around Khiva: Ichan Kala (historical inner city), Pakhlavan Mahmud Complex, Kunya-Ark Fortress, Islam Hajji Madrasah & Minaret. After lunch: Tash Khauli Alakuli Khan Palace, Juma Mosque, Muhammad Aminkhan Minaret & Madrasah, and Avesta Museum.
Transfer to Urgench to take evening flight to Tashkent. Upon arrival check in to the hotel.

Meals: breakfast.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 10. Departure fromTashkent.
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out before 12:00.
Transfer to the International airport for departure.

Meals: breakfast.

Cost of the tour in USD per person, season 2025:

Group 1 pax 2-3 pax 4-5 pax 6-7 pax 8-9 pax 10-11 pax Supplement for single accommodation
Hotel 3* 3219 2010 1603 1519 1518 1494 +250 USD
Hotel 4* 3554 2270 1869 1786 1784 1761 +310 USD

Tour price includes:

  • Accommodation at the hotels, mentioned above, or in similar, but of the same category in double/twin rooms with breakfasts, including early check in on day 1 in Tashkent; check-in at other hotels - at 14:00; check-out - at 12:00;
  • Accommodation at the yurt camp in Darwaza (3-4 persons in 1 yurt, single accommodation is not possible);
  • Meals - breakfasts at the hotels and 1 camp-style dinner in Darwaza;
  • Services of English-speaking local guides for sightseeing;
  • Comfortable air-conditioned transportation throughout the tour, including ‘airport-hotel-airport” transfers;
  • Railway transfer from Tashkent to Samarkand on a high-speed train (economy class);
  • Local flight from Mary to Ashgabat (economy class);
  • Bottled mineral water per day/per person;
  • Turkmenistan visa invitation.

Tour price does not include:

  • The cost of international flights
  • The cost of local flight from Urgench to Tashkent - about 80 USD per person (economy class ticket);
  • Entrance fees to the monuments and museums - about 70 USD per person (can be paid on the spot);
  • Meals not mentioned above;
  • Medical expenses and insurance;
  • Porters at the hotels, railway stations and airports
  • Tips;
  • Visa fees (Turkmenstan visa - 100-120 USD per peson);
  • Other expences (tourist fee at the hotels in Turkmenistan - 2 USD per person per night).

Hotels
The tour comes with the following accommodation:

Location Hotels 3* Hotels 4*
Tashkent Sato Hotel 3*  or similar Inspira-S Hotel 4*  or similar
Samarkand Arba Hotel 3* or similar Zarafshon Parkside Hotel 4* or similar
Bukhara Devon Hotel 3* or similar Paradise Plaza Hotel 4* or similar
Mary Mary Hotel 4* or similar Mary Hotel 4* or similar
Ashbabat Sport Hotel 4* or similar Sport Hotel 4* or similar
Darwaza Yurt camp Yurt camp
Khiva Arkanchi Hotel 3* or similar Asia Khiva Hotel 4* or similar

Information on the vehicles
Depending on the size of a group the following means of transportation are used during the tour:

Uzbekistan and other countries Vehicle
Group of 1–2 people "Chevrolet Lacetti"
Group of 4 people "Hyundai Starex minivan for 6 seats "
Group of 6–8 people "King Long minivan for 10 seats "
Group of 9–15 people "Eurise minivan for 18 seats"

 

Visa to Uzbekistan:

Visa-free regime for up to 60 days has been established  for citizens of countries below:

  • Azerbaijan
  • Armenia
  • Belarus
  • Georgia
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Moldova
  • Russia
  • Ukraine

Visa-free regime for up to 30 days has been established  for citizens of countries below:

  • Andorra
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • The Republic of Korea
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Romania
  • San Marino
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkey
  • Singapore
  • the Vatican
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

A great number of other countries can obtain an e-visa to Uzbekistan by simply visiting the governmental portal e-visa.gov.uz.

Read more about visa to Uzbekistan here »»

Visa to Turkmenistan:

Citizens of all foreign countries, intending to enter Turkmenistan, are obliged to have visa. Visa to Turkmenistan can issued only on the basis of preliminary issued visa invitation. The visa invitation is being issued by our company on the basis of the following documents of yours:
- filled-in application form (sample of the application form is being send beforehand);
- scanned copy of your passport of good quality;
- a photo of good quality (size 3:4).

After receiving these documents we apply to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan for visa invitation issuance for our tourists. The process of visa invitation issuance takes 7-10 working days. On the basis of the visa invitation a tourist can get Turkmenistan visa at the embassy of in any country, where there is Turkmenistan Embassy, in Ashgabat airport or at the consular department on the border.

Read more about visa to Turkmenistan here »»

 

Useful Information on Traveling to Uzbekistan


Useful Information on Traveling to Turkmenistan

Route Map

Photos of the tour:

Bibi-Khanym Mosque (XV c). Samarkand, Uzbekistan Tomb of Ahmed Sanjar (XII с). Merv, Turkmenistan Turkmen girls Darwaza gas crater (Karakum)

view all photos »»

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