19 Days | Step off the beaten track and onto the ancient Silk Road on a revolutionary adventure
Travel into desert landscapes heavy with mysticism on this 19-day adventure through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Walk in the shadows of ancient, blue-tiled buildings in Samarkand, tap into the local way of living with home stays and yurt stays, watch the sun set over technicolour minarets in Khiva, toast to the eternal fire at Darvaza Crater and revel in the eastern-futurism of Ashgabat. Step off the beaten track and onto the ancient Silk Road in this revelatory tour through ancient lands.
Trip overview
- Start
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Finish
- Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- KFSAC
- Take an incredible journey through parts of Central Asia that few people can find on a map, let alone have considered travelling to!
- Discover the history of the Silk Road – see the much-photographed Registan in Samarkand (one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture), spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara (a 6th-century city), visit the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva and explore the sprawling ruins of Mary.
- Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, aka the 'Door to Hell' as you camp in isolated desert – this is one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth. Spend the evening warming yourself by the fire and sleeping in a yurt overlooking the crater.
- Get to know the stories and people of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan while sharing home-cooked meals with local families, including a home stay in the remote Nuratau Mountains in Uzbekistan and a rare chance to stay with a Turkmen family in Nohur village.
- Learn how Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and witness its often bizarre, but certainly memorable architecture on a city tour.
- There are few places like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan on earth - isolated geographically and long secluded politically. It's probably unlike anywhere you have ever been, so be prepared to be surprised and for things to run a little differently to home. Here's some of what to expect: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-a-trip-to-turkmenistan/
- Tourism is strictly controlled in Turkmenistan, with Letters of Invitation needed in advance in order to apply for your visa (which you can then get on arrival) and guides tending to be protective of what tourists see and fiercely proud of their nation and its leaders. Those used to more freedom of exploration and tour guides with a more global perspective may find their experience here different from in other destinations.
- Accommodation may on occasion be more basic than what you are used to in homestays, guesthouses and yurt stay. Shower and toilet facilities will be limited and shared in some places. While the comfort level won't always be high, the rewards of living in true local style in this far-out part of the world are immeasurable.
- As there are a number of long travel days, plenty of time spent on your feet and days can be hot and dusty you'll need excellent general health and fitness to get the most out if this trip.
- This trip is a combination of two trips. Please review the Itinerary for details of when your fellow travellers and leader will change.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
16 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners
High speed train, Private vehicle, 4x4 vehicle, Overnight Train, Metro, Taxi
Hotel (13 nights), Yurt Camp (2 night), Homestay (2 night), Overnight Train (1 night)
- Bukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
- Bukhara - Ark Fortress
- Bukhara - Bolo Hauz Mosque
- Bukhara - Magoki Attori Mosque
- Bukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque
- Bukhara - Ulugbek Madrasa
- Bukhara - Lyabi-Hauz Plaza
- Gijduvan - Ceramics workshop
- Nuratau - village visit
- Nuratau Mountains - Plov cooking demonstration & dinner
- Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
- Samarkand - Registan Square
- Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
- Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
- Tashkent - City tour
- Tashkent - Amir Timur Square
- Tashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum
- Tashkent - Metro tour
- Khiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
- Khiva - Juma Mosque
- Khiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace
- Khiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
- Khiva - Kuhna Ark
- Darvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater
- Yerbent - Village visit
- Nohur - Village walking tour
- Geokdepe - Horse breeder visit with bread & snack cooking demostration
- Ashgabat - Anau ruins
- Ashgabat - Neutrality Arch
- Ashgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
- Ashgabat - City tour
- Ashgabat - Nisa ruins
- Ashgabat - Russian Bazaar
- Merv - Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum
- Merv - Erk Kala & Gayur Kala
- Merv - Big & Small Kizkala
- Mary - City tour
- Bukhara - Fayzulla Khojaev House - UZS20000
- Bukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace - UZS40000
- Bukhara - Hammam Bozori Kord - UZS400000
- Bukhara - Folklore & Fashion show - UZS70000
- Bukhara - Zindon - UZS20000
- Samarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory - UZS30000
- Samarkand - Tomb of Daniyar - UZS25000
- Samarkand - Afrosiab Museum - UZS30000
- Samarkand - Siob Bazaar - Free
- Tashkent - State Museum of History of Uzbekistan - UZS50000
- Tashkent - Museum of Applied Arts - UZS25000
- Tashkent - Art Gallery of Uzbekistan - UZS20000
- Tashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum - UZS40000
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (Yurt) / Day 5 (Homestay), Day 10 (Overnight train), Day 13 (Yurt) & Day 14 (Guest house) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 60 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
3. Travel to Turkmenistan requires a Letter of Invitation. Please see Visa section in the Essential Trip Information for instructions.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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