Itinerary
- Day 1
Ashgabat
You'll land in Ashgabat and get settled at your hotel. If you arrive by midday, there's a welcome meeting followed by an afternoon city tour. You'll see Independence Park with its distinctive Independence Monument and the Turkmenistan National Museum of History. The airport's about 20 minutes from the city, and transfers are arranged.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Ashgabat highlights
- Visit Independence Park and Independence Monument
- Visit Turkmenistan National Museum of History
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer from Ashgabat International Airport (ASB)
Landmarks/POIs Independence Park Independence Monument Turkmenistan National Museum of History - Day 2
Nissa
Start at the lively Sunday market in the morning, then drive out to the fortress of Nissa on the city's outskirts. Dating back to the 3rd century BC, this Parthian capital once had 43 walls and towers surrounding royal palaces and Zoroastrian temples. After walking the ruins, you'll participate in a traditional Turkmen cooking class preparing gutaps and other dishes, followed by lunch at a local spot. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Turkmen lunch including gutaps with various fillings, dograma, and traditional local cuisine), Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sunday morning market in Ashgabat
- Visit fortress of Nissa
- Traditional Turkmen cooking class including preparation of gutaps and authentic dishes
- Lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Nissa Fortress - Day 3
Ashgabat to Mary
You're heading to Mary, which serves as the gateway to the ancient Merv ruins. On the way, you'll pass through the Kaka Oasis and stop to see Abiverd fortress, the remains of a medieval city that was once known for its crafts. Broken pottery shards still scatter across the site, giving a real sense of what once stood there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through Kaka Oasis
- Visit Abiverd fortress
Landmarks/POIs Kaka Oasis Abiverd Fortress - Day 4
Mary
Today covers the vast ruins of ancient Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sprawls across 100 square kilometres. This former Silk Road trading hub was called Marv-i-shah-jahan (Queen of the World) and competed with Baghdad during the 11th and 12th centuries before Mongol conquest. After lunch in Mary, you'll visit the Mary Museum of History to see artifacts from Merv and a collection of traditional Turkmen carpets and household objects spanning 5,000 years.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore ancient Merv ruins (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Mary Museum of History
- View collection of Turkmen carpets and historical household objects
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Merv Mary Museum of History - Day 5
Mary to Bukhara
You're driving to the Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan border at Farab to complete immigration procedures, which can take up to two hours. After clearing customs, you'll transfer via minibus between the border posts to connect with your Uzbek vehicle. From there, it's on to Bukhara, the 'Bastion of Islam.' If time allows, you can see the Taqi Telpak Furushon bathhouses, arcades, caravanserai, and the Lyab-I Hauz with its Kukeldash Madrassa.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Border crossing at Farab
- Visit Taqi Telpak Furushon (bathhouses, arcades, caravanserai)
- Visit Lyab-I Hauz architectural complex and Kukeldash Madrassa
Landmarks/POIs Taqi Telpak Furushon Lyab-I Hauz Kukeldash Madrassa - Day 6
Bukhara
You'll drive out to see the Emir's Palace, nicknamed the 'Palace of Moon-like Stars,' which features the White Hall constructed over two years by 30 architects. From there, check out the Royal Ark and the photogenic Char Minar Mosque. Next is the 9th-century Ismael Samani Mausoleum, a revered architectural landmark from when Bukhara was the Islamic world's intellectual hub. After lunch, explore the old town on foot with its 140+ unique monuments, including the blue-tiled Abdul Khan Madrasah, Mghoki Arrar Mosque, and the Kalyan Minaret, the tallest monument also called the 'Tower of Death.'
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Emir's Palace (Palace of Moon-like Stars) and White Hall
- Visit Royal Ark
- Visit Char Minar Mosque
- Visit Ismael Samani Mausoleum
- Walking tour of old town
- Visit Abdul Khan Madrasah
- Visit Mghoki Arrar Mosque
- Visit Kalyan Minaret
Optional Activities
- Stop at a chaikhana (local tea house)
Landmarks/POIs Emir's Palace Royal Ark Char Minar Mosque Ismael Samani Mausoleum Abdul Khan Madrasah Mghoki Arrar Mosque Kalyan Minaret - Day 7
Bukhara
This is your free day to wander Bukhara at whatever pace works for you. Discover the medieval streets, visit additional monuments you might have missed, or find a quiet spot to take in the local atmosphere and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Bukhara independently
- Visit additional sites not covered in previous tour
- Relax at local venues
- Day 8
Bukhara to Khiva
You're driving to Khiva, an remarkable ancient city positioned on the Silk Route's Volga branch. The old citadel remains largely intact behind towering brick walls with 40 bastions enclosing historic monuments and 18th and 19th century houses. Originally a 12th-century fortress, it expanded when the Khan added a second outer wall with palaces, harems, barracks and mosques. Expect a long drive of around nine hours due to rough road conditions, but you'll have several breaks along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Khiva Old City - Day 9
Khiva to Urgench
You'll start exploring the ancient city of Khiva. Visit the Kunya Ark and Tah-Khauli Palace, then climb the Dzhuma Minaret steps for panoramic views over the maze of streets below. Later in the afternoon, you're driving to Urgench to catch the overnight train to Samarkand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kunya Ark
- Visit Tah-Khauli Palace
- Climb Dzhuma Minaret for panoramic views
Landmarks/POIs Kunya Ark Tah-Khauli Palace Dzhuma Minaret - Day 10
Samarkand
The overnight train brings you to Samarkand early in the morning. After transferring to your hotel for breakfast, you'll explore the city's main sights. The Registan stands out as one of Central Asia's most significant settings with three blue-tiled madrasahs. You'll also see the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, once one of Islam's grandest structures with a 35-metre gateway, and the Gur Emir Mausoleum where Tamerlane is buried. The afternoon is free to rest or explore independently.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to hotel
- Visit Registan
- Visit Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Visit Gur Emir Mausoleum
Landmarks/POIs Registan Bibi-Khanym Mosque Gur Emir Mausoleum - Day 11
Samarkand
Your morning tour covers the Ulug-Beg Observatory and Shah-i-Zinda, one of the city's oldest and most sacred buildings with jewel-like mausoleums said to hold the grave of Prophet Mohammed's cousin. You'll see remnants of Ulug-Beg's 15th-century astrolabe, which was 30 metres tall and helped him calculate a year within 10 seconds. The rest of the day is unscheduled, so you can return to Registan, explore Afrosiab and Marakanda excavations, wander the bazaar, or settle in with traditional green tea.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ulug-Beg Observatory
- Visit Shah-i-Zinda
Optional Activities
- Revisit Registan Square
- Excursion to Afrosiab and Marakanda archaeological sites
- Explore the bazaar
- Wander old town alleys
- Relax with traditional green tea (kokchai)
Landmarks/POIs Ulug-Beg Observatory Shah-i-Zinda Afrosiab Marakanda - Day 12
Samarkand to Tashkent
You're heading to Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital and one of Central Asia's most vibrant cities. Visit the Chor-Su handicraft bazaar, then explore modern landmarks including Mustakillik Square (Independence Square), the Navoi Theatre, and the Earthquake Monument. Ride the Tashkent Metro to see its flamboyantly decorated stations throughout the system.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chor-Su handicraft bazaar
- Visit Mustakillik Square (Independence Square)
- Visit Navoi Theatre
- Visit Earthquake Monument
- Ride Tashkent Metro
Landmarks/POIs Chor-Su Mustakillik Square Navoi Theatre Earthquake Monument Tashkent Metro - Day 13
Tashkent
The trip wraps up after breakfast at your hotel. You're free to leave whenever your schedule allows. Luggage storage is available if your flight departs later, and airport transfers are arranged to Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport, about 20 minutes from the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer from Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (TAS)
