Eastern Trio — Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan — 14 Days

Three countries rarely combined into one trip — which is a shame, because they work beautifully together: the mountain lakes of the Fann range flow into the turquoise domes of Samarkand, and from there into desert Turkmenistan with its burning crater. The route is built so you don’t lose time on visa logistics between separate trips: one itinerary, three completely different worlds.

A reverse-direction version is also available — starting in Ashgabat and finishing in Dushanbe (13 days), with the same cities.

Route

Dushanbe → Margeb → Lake Iskanderkul → Penjikent → Sarazm → Margozor lakes → Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara → Mary → Ancient Merv → Ashgabat → Darvaza → Khiva → Urgench.

Why this tour

• Three countries other operators rarely combine into one trip — we handle all the border and visa complexity for you.
• Lake Iskanderkul and the Margozor lakes cascade prove Tajikistan is more than just Dushanbe.
• The Sarazm settlement predates the pyramids of Egypt — a site many travelers skip simply because they don’t know it exists.
• A night by the Darvaza crater closes out the Turkmenistan leg — the kind of finale that makes the whole trip memorable.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Dushanbe, check-in, free evening.
2. Dushanbe: the National Museum of Antiquities, the Hissar fortress, the Mehrgon bazaar.
3. Drive to Margeb, then on to Lake Iskanderkul (2,195 m) in the Fann Mountains — said by legend to be named after Alexander the Great.
4. Hike to the “Fann Niagara” waterfall, drive to Penjikent — an ancient Sogdian city.
5. The Sarazm settlement, over 5,500 years old, the Margozor lakes cascade, a picnic, a border crossing, on to Samarkand in the evening.
6. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble.
7. Drive to Gijduvan — a masterclass with the ceramicists. On to Bukhara in the evening.
8. Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
9. Cross the Uzbek-Turkmen border, drive to Mary.
10. Ancient Merv — the Erk-Kala citadel, the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar. Drive to Ashgabat.
11. Ashgabat: the Arch of Neutrality, the Nisa archaeological site. In the evening, on to the Darvaza crater, an overnight stay in a yurt camp under desert skies.
12. Cross the Turkmen-Uzbek border, drive to Khiva.
13. Khiva: Ichan-Kala, the Kunya-Ark fortress, the Tash-Khauli palace.
14. Transfer to Urgench airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Comfortable transport in all three countries
• Guide in each country, entrance tickets per itinerary
• Breakfasts, several lunches/dinners as per the itinerary, yurt camp at Darvaza
• Turkmenistan visa support

Not included

• International flights
• Turkmenistan visa and migration fee (paid at the border)
• Insurance, tips

Confirmed hotel categories, guaranteed departure dates and the final price are arranged with your travel consultant at booking.