Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan tour in 13 days

Arrival in Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel. Free time. Night at the hotel.

• Day 2.

Meeting with your group in the morning and transfer to the domestic airport for the morning flight to Mary (40 minutes). Explore the ancient city of Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was a major center of international trade and crafts located on the Silk Road. Go back to Mary. Visit the Historical Museum of the region. Transfer to the airport for an evening flight to Ashgabat at 19:00. Scheduled arrival at 20:00. Transfer to the hotel for the night.

• Day 3.

Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, which was recently marked by the Guinness Book of Records as a city with more white marble buildings than any other city in the world. During the city tour you will get acquainted with the archaeological monument of Old Nisa, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the mosque-mausoleum of Turkmenbashi, one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. You will visit the National Historical Museum, the Neutrality Monument, the Ertugrul Ghazi Mosque, the newly built Independence Park and the (Sunday) Bazaar. A rich and interesting excursion also includes a stop at the Akhal-Teke stable. In the afternoon, transfer to the gas crater Darvaza, located in the middle of the Karakum desert (280 km, 4 hours). Arrive at the crater, set up camp. Enjoy delicious food cooked on fire for dinner near the burning gas crater. Overnight in tents.

• Day 4.

In the morning, exit from the Gas Crater and move to Kunya Urgench. Visit to the mausoleums of Turabek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmuddin-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Discover Kutlug Timur Minaret and Kyrk Mall Hill. After lunch, transfer to the Uzbek-Turkmen border point Shavat-Dashoguz. Pass border formalities at both checkpoints. Neutral zone 1.5 km long (transport may not be available) Meet the driver from Uzbekistan and head to Khiva (60 km, 1 hour). Transfer to the hotel

• Day 5.

After breakfast, a tour of Khiva. Visit Ichan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the fortress of Ichan-Kala visit Kunya-Arka, the mausoleum of Sayyid Alauddin, the madrasah of Arab-Muhamadhan, the mosque of Ok-Masjid, the madrasah of Khojan Berdi-biy, Shirgazikhan madrasah, Abdullahan madrasah, Juma mosque, Allakulikhan madrasah, the palace of Tosh-Khovli, Pahlavan Mahmud. Mausoleum, minaret of Islam-Khoja. At 19:00 transfer to the domestic airport, flight to Bukhara at 21:00, arrival in Bukhara at 22:00. Arrival in Bukhara, transfer to the hotel.

• Day 6.

After breakfast, the start of a walking sightseeing tour of Bukhara. Visit to the Lyabi House ensemble, Magoki-Attori mosque, Chor Minor madrasah, trading domes, Kalyan minaret, Kalyan mosque and Miri-Arab madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasah, Ark fortress, Bolo-Hauz mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Farewell dinner

• Day 7.

Breakfast. The second day starts with a visit to Sitorai Mohi-Khosa – the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, a unique place that combines Eastern and Russian architecture. Continuation of the path to the mausoleum of Bahuddin Naqshbandi and the necropolis of Chor-Bakr. In the afternoon, take the high-speed train Afrosiab 15:52-17:20 or ground transfer. Arrival in Samarkand, accommodation in the hotel.

• Day 8.

After breakfast a sightseeing tour of Samarkand. Visit the impressive Registan Square, the mausoleum of Gur-Emir – the mausoleum of Amir Timur, the ruins of the Bibi Khanum mosque, the Siab Bazaar, the Ulugbek Observatory. Free time in the afternoon.

• Day 9.

Breakfast. Continuation of the sightseeing tour of Samarkand. You will visit the necropolis of Shahi Zinda, the Afrasiab Museum and the tomb of St. Daniel. Then a trip to the village of Konigil to learn the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Farewell lunch in Samarkand. Free time in the afternoon. Night at the hotel.

• Day 10.

Early morning transfer to the Uzbek-Tajik border of Jartep (50 km, 1 hour). Customs and passport control on both sides, crossing the border, meeting with a Tajik local guide and driver to the Seven Lakes (80 km, 1.5-2 hours). The main place of the day is HafKul, which in Persian means “seven lakes”. These lakes in the mountains of Tajikistan are famous for their colorfulness: 1.Mijgon, 2.Soyovoe, 3.Khusher, 4.Nofin Lakes (2139 m above sea level), Khurdak, 6.Marguzor, 7.Khazorchashma Lakes (2400 m above sea level). Picnic on the lake. After lunch, move to Penjikent. Attractions of Penjikent: Museum of Rudaki, considered the father of Persian poetry; ancient Penjikent - the ruins of the old Sogdian city, founded in the V century and abandoned in the VIII century by the Arabs. The excavated ruins show the foundations of houses, a citadel with a pair of Zoroastrian fire temples and a city bazaar. Night at the hotel.

• Day 11.

A trip to Dushanbe through Lake Iskanderkul. According to legend, Lake Iskanderkul was named after Alexander the Great, known in the East as Iskander. It is said that Alexander the Great’s way to India passed through this lake. Lunch in a traditional family. After that, you will walk around the lake, explore the five springs and Lake Snake, walk to the waterfall 38 m high, which locals compare to Niagara and called Fan Niagara (Fan Niagara). A trip to Dushanbe. Night at the hotel.

• Day 12.

Start sightseeing from the capital of Tajikistan. Visit the Botanical Garden, a very beautiful garden with many old trees, and a favorite place of Tajiks, the National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan (closed on Mondays), which presents exhibits on history, natural history and art (Buddha in Nirvana is one of the most valuable exhibits of the museum), the Ismail Somoni Monument, the House of the National Spirit, Rudaki Avenue and the Main Mosque of Dushanbe. Night at the hotel.

• Day 13.

Our exciting tour ends with a transfer to the hotel.

• Transportation throughout the tour, including meeting at the airport / station and back;
• Accommodation in double rooms throughout the tour, breakfast included;
• Excursion program for each city with local guides;
• Entrance tickets to museums, mausoleums and other attractions;
• Economy class tickets for Ashgabat-Mary-Ashgabat, Urgench-Bukhara flights; Economy class ticket for Bukhara-Samarkand train (in rare cases when high-speed train is not available, we will replace it with the most comfortable class of conventional train);
• Tableware and necessary equipment for living in tents (sleepers, mats, pillows, dining table, chairs);
• Farewell dinner in Bukhara, farewell dinner in Samarkand;
• English-speaking tour manager in Tajikistan;
• Letter of visa support for a visa to Uzbekistan;
• Visa support letter for the visa of Turkmenistan;
• Tax of USD 2 per night in Turkmenistan, paid at the hotel on departure;
• Dinner and breakfast in hiking style in the crater of Darvaza (3-4 days);
• Full board in Tajikistan.