Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan – Fergana to Ashgabat - 16 Days

Arrival in Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in a 4-star Hotel.

After breakfast at hotel we start our Tour in Tashkent. Tashkent, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan where the history of modern and old stands side by side is located in the northeast of Uzbekistan and with circa 3 million inhabitants the biggest city in Central Asia. Along with modern hotels, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, opera, disco, oriental bazaars, the city also offers a thousand years of history. Khazrati Imam Complex consisting of Barak Khan Madrasah (16^thc.), Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum (15^thC.), Muyi-Mubarak Mosque – storehouse of the well-known Koran of Khalif Osman and gold hair of Prophet Muhammad, Djuma Mosque of Khodja Akhrar Vali. Dinner at local city Restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star Hotel.

After Breakfast Transfer to the Railway Station and we will drive by train to Kokand. The city of Kokand, with 251 700 (2019) inhabitants, is the junction of the Great Silk Road. Kokand was once the capital of the eponymous Khanate in the 19th century. In Kokand we will visit the Palace of Khudayar Khan, built between 1833 and 1873, with it’s about seventy-meter-wide and infinitely colorful facades. We visit Juma Mosque (1809-1812) and the Madrasah Amin Beg.

We’re continuing on to Rishtan. In Rishtan almost 90% of ceramics offered in Uzbekistan are produced and the production of ceramics in Rishtan has been passed on from father to son for about 800 years. We visit a family enterprise, where ceramics are produced in a traditional way. We drive on to Margilan, dinner together in an Uzbek Teahouse. Overnight stay in a 2-star hotel.

After breakfast we visit Margilan, one of the oldest and industrial city of Uzbekistan. Margilan has always played an important role in the history of the Silk Road. In Margilan we visit historical-traditional Silk Factory named “Yodgorlik”, which continues centuries-old tradition. We will also visit the bazaar in Margilan. For lunch we will have lunch in a traditional teahouse in Margilan. In the afternoon we drive back by train to Tashkent. Dinner at the local restaurant and overnight at a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast we take the express train “Afrosiyob” to Samarkand (departure at 8.00 am; arrival at 10.05 am). We visit in Samarkand the three Medressen of the Registan – the Ulugbek-Medresse (built 1417-1420), the Sher-Dor-Medresse (1619 – 1636) and the Tillo-Kori-Medresse (1646 – 1660). The legendary Timurid mausoleum Guri Amir (XIV-XV century) enchants the viewer with its golden interior decoration. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast we drive to Shakhrisabz, to the City of birth Amir Temur (known in the West as Tamerlan). The city was already known to Alexander the Great as Nautaca. We visit the summer palace “Ak Saray” (White Palace, 1380-1405). “Ak Saray” was added to the list of World Heritage by UNESCO. We also visit Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Darus Soadat Complex and the Jahongir Mausoleum. Afternoon we will drive back to Samarkand. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

Breakfast at hotel. You will enjoy hearing some legends while visiting the Bibi-Chanum Mosque and the Medresse (XIV century). We visit the traditional oriental Siyab Bazaar. Near the Siyab bazaar there is an ensemble of Shohi-Zinda (the living king, “IX.-XIV century), one of the world’s most famous group of mausoleums, which fasinate you with its beautiful architecture. Next we will visit the famous Ulugbek Observatory (1428-1429 which was built on one of the hills of Chupanata). The observatory was a unique design in his time. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast at hotel we will drive to Imam Al Bukhari Complex. We will visit the Imam al-Bukhari Mausoleum, one of the most important places of the Muslims. Mausoleum is located 30 km far from Samarkand. In the afternoon we will drive to Mountain Village Sentyab. In Sentyab we get to know our host family and start to prepare our dinner with our host family. In the evening we have dinner together with the host family. After dinner walk in the mountain village. Overnight stay with the host family.

After breakfast with the host family, we drive to Lake Aydakkul, which is located in the Kyzylkum desert. At Lake Aidarkul you will be told the story of the origin of Lake Aidarkul, after that we have one hour free time. Afterwards we drive to the Yurt Camp in the Desert Kyzylkum. In the Yurt Camp we have time at our free disposal, so we can look at and enjoy the desert landscape with Saksoul trees. In the afternoon our camel riding (1 hour). Dinner at the campfire with live music from a Kazakh folk musician. Overnight stay in the Yurt.

After breakfast we will drive to Bukhara. We visit Poyi Kalon Ensemble consisting of Kalon Minaret (12^th c.), Kalon Mosque (12^th C.), Miri Arab Madrasah (16^th C.), domed bazaars Toqi Zargaron (15^th C.), Toqi Telpak-Furushon (16^th C.) and Toqi Zaroffon (16^th C.). Continue we visit Lyabi-Khauz Complex (14^th-17^th C.) and Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah. Dinner at a local restaurant and then live Folklore in the Medresse Nodir Devon Begi. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel.

After breakfast we visit Citadel Ark (4^th c. BC), Bolo-Khauz Mosque (beginning of the 20^th c.), Samanides Mausoleum (9^th-10^th c.), Chashmai Ayub (14^th c.). Lunch at local city restaurant in Bukhara. Afternoon we visit: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Complex, summer residence of the last Emir (ruler) of Bukhara, Bakhouddin Naqshbandiy Memorial Complex, Chor Bakr (19^th c.) and Chor Minor.

Lunch at a local Restaurant. After Lunch drive Bukhara → Khiva (480 km). During the drive through the desert Kysyl-Kum (red sand) you will experience the unique expanse of a desert landscape in Central Asia. The Kysyl-Kum desert is about 200 000 km² and belongs to the territories of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. There you will find the red sand from which the desert gets its name. Khiva, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. Khiva, with about 89 500 inhabitants (as of 2017), is located in the northwest of Uzbekistan, west of the Amudarya river, on the old Silk Road. Since 1967 Khiva is museum city and in 1997 Uzbekistan celebrated the 2500th anniversary of the city. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast we visit the historical City Ichan Kala. Dinner with live music in the historical city of Khiva. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast we drive to the border crossing Uzbekistan → Turkmenistan. After the border formalities we drive on to Kunya-Urgench. We visit the historical monuments like Ak Kala (15-17 c.), Gurganj (Gurgandsh), Gyaur Kala , Complex Ibn Khadjib (14-16 c.), Mausoleum il Arslan (12 c. ), Mausoleum Tyurabek Khanum (14th century), Minaret Kutlug Timur (11th century), Mausoleum Najmiddin Kubro (Nadshmiddin Kubro 14th century) and many other historical places. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we drive to Darvaza – Gate to Hell, a wonder of nature. Dinner and overnight in a tent at Darvaza.

After the breakfast at Darvaza we drive to Ashgabat. In Ashgabat we visit modern side of Ashgabat and ruined city Anau (archaeological excavations from V-III century B.C.). Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast we visit the historical Museum, Ahal-Tekin Horse Farm and ruined city of Nisa. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.