Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Expedition Aral Sea to Darvaza

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Tashkent
1 stop
1
Tashkent
First steps into Central Asia Arrival in Tashkent, a city where ancient Silk Road history collides with Soviet grandeur and modern Central Asian life. After airport pickup and hotel check-in, take time to recover from your journey or enjoy a gentle first walk through wide boulevards and leafy parks. Tonight marks the beginning of a journey that will take you far beyond ordinary tourist routes. Overnight in Tashkent
Admission ticket free
Day 2
Tashkent: Faith, Empire & Everyday Life
1 stop
2
Tashkent
A capital shaped by centuries of power and belief Today reveals why Tashkent is more than just a gateway city: 10:00 AM Start of the guided city tour by private minivan/car Khast Imam Complex — spiritual heart of Uzbekistan and home to one of the oldest Qurans in the world, linking the city to early Islamic history Chorsu Bazaar — a living Silk Road market where trade traditions continue as they have for centuries Independence Square — the political and symbolic center of modern Uzbekistan Plov Center — experience the national dish prepared on a monumental scale, exactly as it is for weddings and celebrations Romanov Palace — a rare reminder of Russian imperial ambitions in Central Asia Amir Timur Square — dedicated to the conqueror who reshaped half the known world
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Tashkent → Nukus → Muynaq → Aral Sea Yurt Camp
1 stop
3
Muynak
07:00 AM, Morning flight to Nukus • Stop in Nukus, capital of Karakalpakstan o Optional visit to the Savitsky Art Museum, housing avant-garde Soviet art and ethnographic treasures • Continue to Muynaq, once a thriving Aral Sea port o Visit the Ship Graveyard, a field of rusted boats now stranded in desert o Learn about the Aral Sea’s history at the Muynaq Local Museum • Cross the desolate, breathtaking Ustyurt Plateau — with canyon views, fossilized sea beds, and herder camps • Arrive at your yurt camp on the banks of the retreating Aral Sea • Enjoy a warm dinner under the stars around a bonfire • Overnight in traditional yurts, surrounded by the silence of th
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Aral Sea → Lost Cities → Nukus → Khiva
1 stop
4
Nukus
Where history, nature, and abandonment collide Before dawn, wake to witness sunrise over the Aral Sea — a haunting, unforgettable moment as light spreads across water, sand, and sky. Travel a different route back, uncovering layers of forgotten history: Kurgancha-Kala — ruins of a medieval Silk Road trading post, once vital for caravans crossing this harsh land Kubla-Ustyurt — a frozen-in-time Soviet settlement with an abandoned airstrip, revealing how humans once tried to conquer this wilderness Lake Sudochie & Urga village — a paradoxical landscape where abandoned fishing villages now sit beside thriving birdlife, including flamingos and pelicans Mizdakhan Necropolis — a sacred burial complex spanning over 2,000 years, blending Zoroastrian, Islamic, and local beliefs Giaur-Kala — a pre-Islamic Zoroastrian fortress from the 4th–3rd centuries BC This day ends in Old Khiva city
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Khiva: A City Frozen in Time
1 stop
5
Khiva
A Silk Road city that never modernized Enter Khiva, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the Islamic world. 10:00 AM - Guided exploration of Ichan-Kala, the UNESCO-listed old city: Kalta Minar — the iconic unfinished turquoise minaret Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah Kunya Ark Citadel — residence of Khiva’s rulers Tash-Khauli Palace — lavish royal chambers and courtyards Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum — sacred pilgrimage site Juma Mosque — supported by 218 carved wooden columns Islam Khoja Minaret — tallest structure in Khiva Optional Khorezm flatbread-making workshop. Free afternoon; optional visit to Nurillaboy Palace, an elegant 19th-century residence.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Crossing into Turkmenistan → Darvaza
1 stop
6
Darvaza Gas Crater
From empire to fire 9:00 AM - Cross the border into Turkmenistan — a country still largely closed to the outside world. Explore Kunya Urgench, once a capital of the Khorezm Empire and among the most important medieval cities of Central Asia. Then drive deep into the Karakum Desert to reach one of the planet’s most surreal sights: The Darvaza Gas Crater — a 70-meter-wide pit of fire burning continuously since 1971. As darkness falls, the flames intensify, creating an almost otherworldly scene.
10 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 7
Darvaza → Ashgabat
1 stop
7
Ashgabat
Nomads, warriors, and legendary horses Journey toward Ashgabat, stopping at: Gokdepe Fortress — site of a decisive battle that shaped Turkmen identity Akhal-Teke horse farm — home to a legendary breed revered for over 5,000 years, once ridden by emperors and kings Arrive in Ashgabat — a city unlike any other.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Ashgabat: The Surreal Capital
1 stop
8
Ashgabat
A city built to impress the world Explore Ashgabat, often called the strangest capital on Earth: Endless white marble buildings Monumental squares Ultra-modern architecture rising from the desert This city offers a glimpse into a unique political and cultural reality found nowhere else.
7 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
Ashgabat → Mary → Ancient Merv “The Queen of the World”
1 stop
9
Mary
The city that rivaled Baghdad Visit Ancient Merv, once known as “The Queen of the World” — a Silk Road megacity that shaped Islamic scholarship, trade, and science. Walk among vast ruins that tell stories of prosperity, conquest, and destruction.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Turkmenistan → Bukhara
1 stop
10
Bukhara
Returning to the heart of Islamic civilization Cross the Amu Darya River and return to Uzbekistan. Bukhara welcomes you with over 2,500 years of continuous history, untouched by time. Evening folklore show inside a historic madrasah brings the city’s past to life.
Admission ticket free
Day 11
Bukhara: City of Scholars
1 stop
11
Bukhara
Faith, learning, and trade Explore monumental ensembles, caravanserais, and mosques that once hosted theologians, merchants, and travelers from across Asia. Bukhara feels deep, noble, and contemplative — a city that shaped Islamic thought. Guided sightseeing tour of Bukhara: • Poi-Kalon Architectural Ensemble • Miri-Arab Madrasah • Ark Citadel • Ulugh Beg Madrasah • Abdulaziz Khan Madrasah • Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble • Trading Domes and Caravanserai • Crafts Center
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 12
Gijduvan → Samarkand
1 stop
12
Samarkand
10:00 AM, Drive to the Summer Palace of the Emir of Bukhara 12:00 PM, Transfer to Gijduvan to visit a family of hereditary ceramic masters Workshop tour and introduction to traditional pottery-making 3:00 PM, Drive to Samarkand (~3 hrs) 6:00 PM, Arrival and check-in at Sharistan Art Hotel* Evening free time, recommended visit: • Registan Square illuminated at night
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 13
Samarkand: Capital of Empires
1 stop
13
Samarkand
10:00 AM, Guided sightseeing by minivan: • Gur-Emir Mausoleum • Registan Square • Bibi-Khanym Mosque • Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis • Authentic Paper Mill (using 8th-century techniques) 4:00 PM, Free time. Recommended visit: • Siab Bazaar, for local crafts and dried fruits
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 14
Samarkand to Tashkent
1 stop
14
Tashkent
Morning Transfer to Tashkent • Transfer to Tashkent Airport
5 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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