Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan - Tajikistan

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$3300.00

18 day(s)

from February to December

Tour countries:

UzbekistanTurkmenistanTajikistan

Type of tour:

General

TURKMENISTAN PART

Day 1    Ashgabat

Meeting at Ashgabat airport and transfer to hotel (AkAltyn Hotel or Grand Turkmen). Rest and free time. Overnight.

Day 2    Ashgabat

First half of the day will be spent sightseeing the major landmarks of Ashgabat - the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan. Ashgabat is a relatively young city, growing out of a village of the same name established by Russian officers in 1881 after the Battle of Geok Tepe. In 2013 the city was included into The Gunnies Book of records as the only white marbled city in the world. It is not far from the site of Nisa, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire.

Within this tour you will visit Ten Years of Independence Park, Turkmenbashy Square with marble-faced Ruhyyet Palace and gold-domed Turkmenbashy Palace, Wedding Palace, modern Yildyz Hotel, building of Constitution, Arch of Neutrality and other beauty sights of Ashgabat.  You will be also taken to grandious Square of Revival (Galkynysh) - a new administrative, business and cultural center of Ashgabat. Have a stroll along Ylham (Inspiration) Park.

After you will be taken for an excursion outside Ashgabat (15km west of capital) to visit Nissa fortress: the Parthian site of Old Nisa, known as Konye Nusay in Turkmen. Old Nisa has a striking geographical location, on top of a small hill on the southeast side of the village, offering splendid views towards the Kopet Dag Mountains to the south. Overnight

Day 3    Ashgabat - Kow Ata - Geok Tepe - Ashgabat

Breakfast. You will be driven to Kow-Ata underground lake which is located 90 km from Ashgabat. The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means "father of caves". At first glance, this underground area appears like a magnificent auditorium: the overall length of the cave is 230 m, its height reaches 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm and gushing water is clear and emerald colored. The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. Don't miss a chance to swim here, the experience is unforgettable.

On the way back after having lunch visit the Geok Tepe fortress (Siege of Geoktepe) that was attacked in December 1880 by 6,000 Russians under General Mikhail Skobelev against 25,000 defenders. The siege of Geok Tepe lasted twenty-three days, after which the city was taken by storm. Around 15,000 Turkmen soldiers and civilians were killed in the fight. Russian casualties were only 398 killed and 669 wounded. Geok Tepe (Gokdepe Mosque) was built to commemorate the defeat and is noted for its mint-turquoise blue coloured roof and white marble structure.

Visit Gokdepe Museum devoted to the Turkmen heroes. Overnight in a Hotel.

Day 4    Ashgabat - Dashoguz

Morning flight to Dashoguz. Drive (2 hours) to Konya-Urgench - one of the greatest cities on the Silk Road, which was formerly situated on the banks of Amu-Darya River. Its foundation date is uncertain, but the extant ruins of the Kyrkmolla fortress have been dated (rather ambitiously) to the Achaemenid period. The 12th and early 13th centuries were the golden age of Urgench, it became the capital of Khorezm Empire and it surpassed in population and fame all other Central Asian cities barring Bukhara. In 1221, Genghis Khan razed it to the ground in one of the bloodiest massacres in human history. The city was revived after Genghis's assault, but the sudden change of Amu-Darya's course to the north and the town's destruction again in the 1370s, this time by Timur, forced the inhabitants to leave the site forever. The area was later inhabited by Turkmen in 1831, but they built outside the old town, using it as a graveyard. Check local landmarks, visit the historical site (Mausoleums of Turebek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmad-din-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Discover the Kutlug Timur minaret & Kyrk Molla (40 Mullahs) hill.  

Drive to Hojeyli border post for crossing to Uzbekistan (Nukus). Meet at the border Uzbek guide and transfer to hotel for check-in. Night in Nukus.

UZBEKISTAN PART 

Day 5. Nukus - Kungrad - Usturt Plateau - Sudochie lake - Aral sea (450 km – 8 hrs)

Departure from Nukus at 8 a.m., to discover the Usturt Plateau and the Aral Sea life. Pass via Kungrad district, which used to be one of the trading centers on the Silk Road. Continue to the Usturt Plateau. Stop at the Lake Sudochie, have lunch at fishermen’s house. Continue the way to the Aral Sea. On the way visit the former Light House, see the settlement of the gas plant. Stop to take pictures of beautiful Canyons and the collapsed land. Arrive in the Aral Sea. Set up the tent. Dinner. Overnight in the tent.

Day 6. Aral sea - Muynak - Mizdakhan of 14th cent. - Gaur kala - Nukus

Early wake up to take pictures of sun rise. Have breakfast. Transfer to Muynak village (250 km – 4 hrs) which is known as "cemetery of ships” nowadays. Drive on the dried bottom of the sea, pass the gas towers, arrive in Uchsai, the Gas Plant. Lunch. On the way to Nukus stop at Mizdak-khan architectural complex of the 14th century and Gaur kala that was destroyed by Genghis-khan. Arrive in Nukus. Transfer to hotel for check-in. Night in hotel.

Day 7: Nukus - Khiva 

If time allows make a sightseeing tour around Nukus and pay a visit to the State Art Museum named after I.V. Savitsky. It hosts the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and one of the largest collections of applied art items of Central Asia. Then leave for Khiva. Along the way visit Kyzyl Qala, Toprak Qala, Ayaz Qala, Janbas Qala and Guldursan Qala. Arrival to Khiva and hotel check-in. Night in Khiva.

Day 8: Khiva                                                           

Full day for sightseeing of Khiva - including visits to the inner town of Ichan Kala (XIV-XX CC) with Muhamad Amin khan Madrassah, Kalta Minor Minaret, Kunya Ark, Muhamad Rahim khan Madrassah, Djuma Mosque and Minaret, Tash Hauli Palace. Lunch in so called restaurant-Madrassah of the XIX century. PM sightseeing for 2 hrs: Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrassah, Shirgazi khan Madrassah, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum. Night in Khiva.

Day 9: Khiva – Bukhara                                                                                        

Breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Bukhara via the Kizilkum desert (460 km, 7-8 hrs). Stop en route near the Amu Darya River. Arrive Bukhara and hotel check-in, free time. Night in Bukhara.

Day 10: Bukhara

Breakfast in the hotel. Full day in Bukhara. AM portion of city tour for 4 hrs with visits to the Ark Fortress (I-XX CC), Bolo Hauz Mosque (XVIII C), Samanids Mausoleum (IX-X CC), Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum (XII-XVI CC). Lunch. PM portion of s/s tour on foot along the old town of Bukhara from Poi-Kalyan complex with Kalyan Minaret (XII C) through orient bazaars with three trade domes of Toki Zargaron (XV C), Toki Sarrafon (XVI C), Toki Telpak Furushon (XVI C), Ulugbek Madrassah (XV C), Abdulazizkhan Madrassah (XVII C) to the Lyabi Hauz complex (XVI -XVII CC). Night in Bukhara.

Day 11: Bukhara-Tashkent

Breakfast in the hotel. Today we drive outside Bukhara for sightseeing: Bagautdin Nakhshbandi Complex - a center of Sufism (XIV-XVI CC, 14 km outside the town), Sitorai Mokhi Khosa - summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara (XIX-XX, 4 km outside the town). Afternoon visit to the Chor Bakr Necropolis (XVI-XX CC, 10 km outside the town), back to Bukhara and a visit to the Chor - Minor (Four Minarets, XIX C). Transfer to the airport and catch an evening flight to Tashkent. Arrive Tashkent and hotel check-in. Night in Tashkent. 

Day 12: Tashkent

Full day sightseeing tour of the modern Tashkent: a visit to the Amir Timur Square, Earthquake Memorial, People's Friendship Palace with Abdul Kasim Madrassah and Alisher Navoi National Park, Independence Square. Afternoon visit to the older part of the city at Hast-Imam Plaza: Barak-Khan Medressa (16th c) - headquarter of the Sunni Mufti of ex-Sogdian Central Asia & Kazakhstan. It is interesting with its mosaic and Arabic calligraphy dated late 16 century. Barakhan Madrassah, which accommodates the Clerical Board of Central Asian Moslems, and its famous Library, with over 30.000 books, 3500 manuscripts and the precious sample of the Holy Koran, written by the fourth Caliph Osman and bearing stains of his blood on its pages. Brick facade and the intricately carved doors made by Samarqand craftsmen, Tilla Sheikh Mosque & Library (if Library is open you can see Original Koran!), then visit to Tashkent Metro and Chorsu oriental bazaar. Night in Tashkent.

TAJIKISTAN PART

Day 13: Tashkent – Uzbek border Oybek - Khujand (Tajikistan)

Breakfast. Early transfer to Oybek border point (100 km) to cross Uzbek-Tajikistan border. Border formalites and meeting with Tajik guide and driver. Tajik guide will meet you on the border and you will drive Hujand city. It is the second largest city of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley. The population of the city is 149,000. It is also the capital of the northernmost province of Tajikistan, now called Sughd. You will visit in the afternoon a Cultural Palace of Khujant. At this place the first president of Tajikistan was chosen. Also we will go to see Central Mosque that is situated in the city centre. Night in a hotel.

Day 14: Khujant – Penjakent

In the morning we will drive to Penjakent via pass Shahriston (3 378 m). The city of Penjakent ("five villages") is located in Khujand area of Tajikistan in a picturesque Zeravshan river valley. Quite possibly the five villages started the history of this remarkable city which originated in the 5th-8th centuries AD. Penjikent of that time was one of the most important cultural and crafts centers of Sogd. It was even named "Central Asian Pompeii". It was a superbly fortified well-organized city with a ruler's palace, two temples, markets, rich dwelling houses decorated with numerous paintings, wooden and clay statues of ancient gods. The ruins of this ancient city were found only in the last century. Today the tourists can see the remains of dwelling houses and office buildings, the citadel with the palace, the house of craftsmen, and fire worshipers church. Night is in a home stay. 

Day 15: Penjakent – Iskanderkul Lake

Our trip today is to high Mountain lake – Iskandarkul lake (2 255 m. a. s. l.). It is situated in the famous Fann Mountains. This fabulous area is one of the best places of Central Asia. According to one legend, Alexander created the lake by damming the river in order to annihilate a village which has opposed him. After arrival to the lake you will go for a walk along it beaches. Also we will hike 40 minutes and will see along the way 5 springs, Zmeinoe lake and a 38m-high waterfall known as "Fan Niagara". Tajikistan takes the second place among the CIS countries for volume of water resources: it has the highest water reserves of all Central Asian countries with more than 1 000 rivers, 2 000 lakes and 8000 glaciers. Dinner will be at 7 pm. Night at homestay.

Day 16: Iskanderkul – Dushnabe

In the morning drive to Dushanbe via Anzob pass (3 372 m) and tunnel of Isticlol. The road will go over a mountain passes and you will have many photo stops.

The second half of the day is dedicated to a guided city tour. First of we will visit Rudaki Park, National library, White House, National state seal, House of parliament and Jomi theatre. After it we will walk in National park to make photos of Ministry of Inner Affairs and the biggest National Flag in the world – 165 m high pole, 30 m wide, 60 m long. After excursion in Central Museum you will have lunch. Then you will visit to Gurminj Museum of traditional musical instruments. Dinner will be in a traditional restaurant where you try Tajik food. Night is in a hotel.

Day 17: Dushanbe-Gissar-Dushanbe

In the morning we will drive 35 km to visit Hissar fortress (VII- XVII centuries). This historical site has fortified areas and citadel. The fortress used to be the residence of the delegate of the Emir of Bukhara; it was located on a high hill and was well defended with 1 m thick walls and loopholes for guns and cannons. Apart from the entrance gate with its two imposing towers, not much has survived of the fortress. Other interesting sites in Hisar include: the recently restored monuments of “Madrasa I Kuhna” (new school of 16th-17th centuries), mosque; the mausoleum of “MahdumiAzam” (16th century). After coming back to Dushanbe you will have lunch. Then we will visit Botanical garden and Victory Park with a panorama view on the city. Night is in a hotel.

Day 18: Dushanbe 

In the morning is transfer to the airport and fly home. 

Tour schedule