Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan: the great civilizations of Central Asia
Uzbekistan has the largest number of sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List - not only among the former Soviet republics, but in all of Central Asia. We will see many of the jewels of Islamic architecture that have survived to this day amid the desert sands! We will cross the endless deserts and steppes of Central Asia to reach the edge of the Aral Sea, just like the Silk Road merchants of old.
Uzbekistan has always been shrouded in the mystical aura of the East. Despite many years under the yoke of the Soviet Union, it is an open and hospitable country with incredible potential. Today it is being reborn, returning to its traditions and old customs. It is a country of magnificent monuments from the era of the khanates, but also of unusual achievements left behind by the Soviets.
Turkmenistan. A country as closed as North Korea. A dictatorship that at times takes on absurd forms. At the same time, a country where desert covers almost 80% of the territory and life is concentrated in a few surreal urban centers, made possible by huge gas reserves. We will visit the crater known as the Gates of Hell, which has been burning continuously since the 1970s, and travel to Ashgabat, a city with air-conditioned bus stops. Nor will we miss out on great history – we will explore the ruins of Merv, a city that was once the largest in the world as a center of trade on the Silk Road.
These mysterious Silk Road countries are waiting to be discovered!
| Number | Difficulty | Date | Days | Price | Notes | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27TM/0201 | 1 | to | 16 | 3210 EUR | BOOK NOW! |
*due to the deadline for Turkmenistan visa applications, we accept bookings for this trip until September 24
ITINERARY:
DAY 1
Flight from Warsaw. Arrival in Tashkent, one of the largest cities in Central Asia, with a history going back almost 3000 years. Hotel check-in.
DAY 2
We will set out to explore Tashkent and see how it has changed from the traces of its first settlement to today's modern city. We will go shopping and have lunch at the Chorsu Bazaar, a huge market bustling with folklore and full of traders from different parts of the country. From there we will walk toward the former old town, which is currently being transformed into a modern center. We will go to the Hazrati Imam complex and find the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, the tomb of an eminent philosopher, poet and teacher of Islam. We will discover magnificent UNESCO-listed monuments. Finally, we will see the modern face of the city, Independence Square, Amir Timur Square and huge modernist government buildings.
DAY 3
We will fly to Nukus. We will get into 4x4 vehicles to drive across the endless Ustyurt Plateau to the Aral Sea. The water level keeps dropping, so reaching the shore will take us almost the whole day. In the evening we will reach a yurt camp, where we will have dinner and rest after the journey.
DAY 4
We will start the day with a magnificent sunrise over a desert that was once a sea. We continue exploring the area devastated by the ruinous Soviet economy around the Aral Sea. We will reach the town of Moynaq, a former port that has now become a ship graveyard. At the Museum of Regional History and the Aral Sea we will trace the town's fate, from its dynamic growth to ecological disaster. In the evening we will drive to Nukus.
DAY 5
In the autonomous province of Karakalpakstan, we will visit the remarkable Igor Savitsky Museum of Avant-garde Art, where in Soviet times works by artists banned by the regime were kept. Then our caravan will head south. On the way we will see cotton plantations and visit the fortresses of ancient Khorezm: Kyzyl Kala, Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala. Afternoon drive to one of the oldest and best-preserved cities of the Silk Road - Khiva.
DAY 6
Located between the Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts, Khiva was one of the main trading posts of Central Asia in the 6th - 7th centuries. The old town, known as Itchan Kala (UNESCO), is surrounded by a ten-meter defensive wall. A visit to the stunning Juma Mosque and the Alla-Kulli-Khan Palace. A walk past the tallest unfinished minaret in the world. We will get lost in the narrow streets of the old town, and in the evening gaze at the sky while sipping tea on the roof of one of the restaurants.
DAY 7
On this day we will cross into Turkmenistan. We will reach Dashoguz, where we will cross the border. Then we will head toward Kunya-Urgench, where we will see the Mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh in the Kyrk Molla fortress. After lunch, drive to Darvaza, a region rich in gas deposits. In the early 1970s, as a result of a mistake by Soviet geologists, the gas was set alight, and it is still burning today, creating the famous crater known as the Gates of Hell. We will spend the night near the crater, in tents or a yurt.
DAY 8
After breakfast, drive to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. It is a city full of modern architecture, set in a remarkable way into the landscape of the desert and the hills surrounding the city. Among other sights, we will see the golden statue of Turkmenbashi - the Arch of Neutrality, the Presidential Palace, the Ruhy Mosque, the Wedding Palace, the Independence Monument and Park, the World War II memorial and the city's sports and residential buildings. Overnight stay in a hotel in Ashgabat.
DAY 9
A day devoted to Ashgabat and its surroundings. We will drive to the mountain village of Nokhur, where the houses are built of boulders cemented with mud, and the people who live there differ from other Turkmen tribes. Then we will descend to the underground lake of Kow Ata, hidden in a beautiful cave. On this day we will also see the national pride of the Turkmen - Akhal-Teke horses. This breed, unique in the world, has never been crossed with other breeds. Another night in Ashgabat.
DAY 10
After breakfast, drive to Mary, from where we will make an excursion to the “Ancient Merv” Historical and Cultural Park, the former capital of powerful empires. Alongside Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus, it was one of the most important capitals of Islam. Among the remains of Antiochia Margiana we will see, among others, the ruins of Gyz Galla and the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar. Overnight stay in Mary.
DAY 11
Return to Uzbekistan via the border crossing at Farap. We need to be patient - border and customs formalities can take up to several hours. Once they are done, we will move on to another pearl of the Uzbek Silk Road - Bukhara. In the evening, to stretch our legs after the long journey, we will take a walk around the old town, which takes on a particularly romantic atmosphere at this time of day.
DAY 12
In Bukhara we will see Central Asia's oldest Samanid Mausoleum and impressive 17th-century buildings - among them the Abdulah Khan Madrasa and the Magoki Kurns Mosque. We will visit Plan Kolon, a place that seems to come straight out of an Islamic fairy tale, home to the pinnacle of architectural mastery, the Kalyan Minaret, spared even by Genghis Khan. We will look for traces of Jewish culture, which flourished in this city for many years and has left its mark to this day. Those interested can take part in a ceremony at a traditional bathhouse (hammam). Overnight stay in Bukhara.
DAY 13
In the morning, free time in Bukhara – the perfect opportunity to buy souvenirs, take a leisurely walk and recover from the previous days of travel. Then we will head to Timur's city - Samarkand.
DAY 14
We will delve into the mysteries of Samarkand, one of the longest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the capital of Timur's empire. A walk around the city is like a journey into the past, during which we will learn about old customs, the most important principles of Islam and the secrets of Timur's former empire. Sightseeing of Registan Square, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the Timurid mausoleums in the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, and Gur-e-Amir - the resting place of the legendary ruler. We will see the 15th-century astronomical observatory and the madrasa founded by Ulugh Beg, astronomer and grandson of Timur.
DAY 15
Morning sightseeing in Samarkand. After lunch, train to Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel, dinner and a farewell evening in Uzbekistan.
DAY 16
Transfer to the airport and early-morning return to Poland.
PRICE INCLUDES:
• round-trip airfare including all fees
• checked and carry-on baggage according to the airline's weight limits
• a Polish-speaking tour leader
• local guides in the historic Silk Road cities
• a mandatory accompanying guide in Turkmenistan
• letter of invitation required to obtain a visa
• train ticket Samarkand - Tashkent (the train journey depends on ticket availability and the railway timetable)
• domestic flight Tashkent - Nukus
• transport by air-conditioned minibus
• accommodation in *** hotels or guesthouses
• partial board (breakfasts) + dinner at the camp by the Aral Sea and in the yurt by the crater
• information packs
• mandatory insurance guarantee of the travel agency
• accident (NNW) and medical expenses (KL) insurance plus luggage insurance
• mandatory contribution to the state Tourist Guarantee Fund (TFG) per person
• mandatory contribution to the state Tourist Assistance Fund (TFP) per person
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• Turkmenistan visa, approx. 90-125 USD (depending on nationality; the amount may change)
• Turkmenistan entry fee, 14 USD (the amount may change)
• mandatory Covid-19 test at the Turkmen border, approx. 35 USD
OPTIONAL EXPENSES:
• seat selection on the plane (seats are assigned randomly at online check-in; you can choose a preferred seat for an extra fee)
• admission tickets and tips: approx. 150 USD
• single room supplement for the whole trip: 290 USD (the guarantee does not apply to the 2 nights in yurts)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
FOOD:
Breakfasts are included; other meals are on your own. Prices are lower than in Poland.
ACCOMMODATION:
Overnight stays in *** hotels or guesthouses, in double and triple rooms. Two nights in a shared multi-person yurt.
TRANSPORT:
During the trip we will travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus. However, there are two exceptions. In Turkmenistan, due to the difficult terrain and the nature of the route (including the drive to the Darvaza crater), we will cover some sections in off-road vehicles. In Uzbekistan, on the Samarkand – Tashkent route, we would like to take the high-speed train. We will do so if it is available in the booking system and fits our schedule. If no tickets are available, we will cover this section in our minibus.
GROUP:
We travel in small groups. The minimum number of participants is 8, the maximum is 15/16.
WEATHER:
Uzbekistan lies in the temperate continental climate zone - in its warm, dry variant. Summers are dry and hot, with average temperatures of 26°C in the north and 32°C in the south. In the fall, daytime temperatures are around 25°C, and at night the temperature can drop to 10-15°C.
DEPARTURE AIRPORT:
The tour starts in Warsaw.
OTHER:
• The days and points of the itinerary may change depending on the departure date or the situation on site.
• Learn how to sign up for a tour and read the general conditions of participation.
• The tour is organized by Barents.pl - Active Travel Agency.
• Attention! If restrictions are introduced that prevent the tour from taking place, we will refund 100% of the money paid within 7 days of the tour's cancellation.
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