Mysteries of the Ancient East — Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan — 10 Days

Flying straight into Turkmenistan and skipping Samarkand and Bukhara would be a real shame. This extended version of “Mysterious Turkmenistan” adds Uzbekistan’s two biggest cities before the border crossing, so you get the full picture of the Silk Road in both countries, not just its Turkmen half.

Route

Samarkand → Gijduvan → Bukhara → Mary → Ancient Merv → Ashgabat → Darvaza gas crater → Khiva → Urgench.

Why this tour

• An extended version of our shorter Turkmenistan route — with Samarkand and Gijduvan at the start instead of starting directly in Bukhara.
• Ideal for first-time visitors to Turkmenistan who don’t want to give up Uzbekistan’s classics to get there.
• A night by the Darvaza crater midway through the route — an adventure that breaks up the architecture-heavy program.
• 10 days is a comfortable pace for two countries, with no sense of rushing through either.

Day by day

1. Arrival in Samarkand, check-in, free evening.
2. Samarkand: Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble.
3. Drive to Gijduvan — a masterclass with the ceramicists. On to Bukhara in the evening.
4. Bukhara: the Samanid mausoleum, the Ark fortress, the Poi-Kalyan ensemble, Lyab-i Hauz.
5. Cross the Uzbek-Turkmen border, drive to Mary via Turkmenabat.
6. Ancient Merv — the Erk-Kala citadel, the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar. Drive to Ashgabat.
7. Ashgabat: the Arch of Neutrality, the Nisa archaeological site. In the evening, on to the Darvaza crater, overnight in a yurt camp.
8. Cross the Turkmen-Uzbek border, drive to Khiva.
9. Khiva: Ichan-Kala, the Kunya-Ark fortress, the Tash-Khauli palace.
10. Transfer to Urgench airport, departure.

Included (placeholder — confirm before publishing)

• Comfortable transport in both countries
• Guide in each country, entrance tickets per itinerary
• Breakfasts, yurt-camp dinner 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.