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Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
From £6,575
Summary
The Silk Road has long captured our imaginations and this tour offers the best of two Khanate states whose vast wealth was ploughed into splendid architecture. We will explore shimmering monuments in Khiva and Bukhara, as well as deserted, once splendid sites, such as those in Merv and Kunya-Urgench.
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Your Departure date
Today's Price
£6,575
Deposit: £500 Single supplement: £655
Includes flights
Enhance your experience
Whether you want to add extra nights on either side of your tour, you want to upgrade your flight or hotel room, or you are hoping to enjoy a door-to-door airport transfer, we can help.
To add special extras to your tour, call our Specialist Sales Executives to discuss your needs on 01722 713800.
Meet your Experts
Dr Gai Jorayev
Andante Guide Lecturer
Raised in Turkmenistan, but now living in London, Gai works at the UCL Institute of Archaeology.
Your itinerary
Day 1 & 2 - London - Ashgabat
After an overnight flight to Ashgabat we transfer to our hotel. After some rest and lunch, we visit the Museum of Fine Arts with its impressive collection of archaeological finds from Turkmenistan.
| Hotel | Yyldyz Hotel, Ashgabat |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Dinner |
Day 3 - Ashgabat & Nissa
Today we visit a farm that breeds the famous Akhal Teke horses, before exploring the UNESCO-listed site of Nissa, the capital of the Parthian Empire that boasts exceptional fortresses. After lunch, we visit the National Archaeological Museum in Ashgabat with its unique collection of drinking cups known as rhytons.
| Hotel | Yyldyz Hotel, Ashgabat |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 4 - Ashgabat - Mary
This morning, we explore the Turkmen Carpet Museum to appreciate the importance of handicrafts to the region, as well as the lively bazaar, in particular, the Russian Bazaar and Textiles Shop. Later, we travel to Mary.
| Hotel | Hotel Mary |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 5 - Mary & Merv
Our first port of call today is Mary Regional Museum and then, in the afternoon, we begin our exploration of the remarkable site of Merv, the capital of the Parthian province of Margiana. Highlights include the Gäwürgala, with its stunning defensive structures, and Erk-Gala, the oldest fortress.
| Hotel | Hotel Mary |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 6 - Merv - Ashgabat
We continue our exploration of Merv, where we explore the Soltangala, the Abbasid core of the medieval city where we see the Sultan Sanjar and kushks, such as the Greater Guzgala. We also explore Seljuk remains such as an ice house, Sanjar’s Palace and the kepderihana, a dovecote. Later, we transfer to the airport for our return flight to Ashgabat.
| Hotel | Yyldyz Hotel, Ashgabat |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 7 - Ashgabat - Nukus
This morning, we fly to Dasoguz and then drive on to Kunya-Urgench, capital of Khorezm and abandoned in the 17th century. In this vast site, we see the striking Kutlug Timur Minaret, as well as the Turabeg Khanym Mausoleum. We cross the border into Uzbekistan and proceed to Nukus.
| Meals included | All meals included |
|---|
Day 8 - Nukus - Khiva
We visit the Savitsky Museum, which has a unique collection including Khorezm antiquities and Karakalpak folk art. After lunch, we visit Chilpik Dakhma, a 1st century BC tower which might be the earliest dakhma constructed for Zoroastrian excarnation funerary rites. We proceed to Khiva.
| Hotel | Hotel Asia Khiva |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 9 - Khiva
We start our day by exploring the newer parts of the UNESCO-listed site of Khiva. Among the most prominent monuments seen is the Khovli Palace, with its 18th century harem. Next, we visit Ichan-Kala, the old part of the city which includes 54 archaeological monuments, of which 16 operate as museums. Among the host of sites to visit, the most famous is the 9th century Djuma Mosque with its unusual wooden ceiling.
| Hotel | Hotel Asia Khiva |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 10 - Ayaz Kala & Toprak Kala
The day takes us to amazing abandoned cities in Karakalpakstan, starting with Ayaz Kala, whose 4th century fortress dominates the landscape. It was inhabited for more than a millennium on different mounds in the area. We continue to Toprak Kala with an extended line of crumbling walls that is visible for miles around.
| Hotel | Hotel Asia Khiva |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 11 - Khiva - Bukhara
Time permitting, we have free time in Khiva before travelling to Bukhara.
| Hotel | Hotel Zargaron, Bukhara |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 12 - Bukhara
This morning we tour the historic centre of Bukhara, including the Ark Citadel and the Samanid Mausoleum. The visits include the Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, the Kalyan Minaret/Mosque as well as the Bala-Hauz Mosque. In the afternoon, we explore the Po-i-Kalyan and, in particular, the 12th century Kalan minaret and the Lyabi-Hauz Fountain before having some free time.
| Hotel | Hotel Zargaron, Bukhara |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 13 - Poykent & Bukhara
We continue to Poykent, an amazing archaeological city which flourished in the Silk Trade and which contains remains of a mosque and a Zoroastrian temple. On our return to Bukhara, we visit the shrine of Baha-ud-Din Naqshband, the 14th century founder of the ancient Sufic order of the Naqshbandis.
| Hotel | Hotel Zargaron, Bukhara |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 14 - Bukhara - Samarkand
This morning, we travel to the much awaited Samarkand. After arriving in the city, we pay a visit to Timur’s tomb, the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum. We continue to Registan Square, the heart of Timurid Samarkand.
| Hotel | Hotel Konstantin, Samarkand |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 15 - Shahrisabz & Samarkand
Today we venture to the UNESCO site of Shahrisabz, the ancient Silk Road city where Timur built the fabulous Ak-Sarai Palace to celebrate his victory against Khorezm. We also visit the Dorus Saodat Complex, the funerary monument that Timur built for his dynasty.
| Hotel | Hotel Konstantin, Samarkand |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 16 - Samarkand - Tashkent
The day starts with the Afrasiab Archaeological Site and Museum located in the site of the ancient part of the city. We continue to the Timurid Ulugh-Beg Observatory. After lunch, we visit the necropolis Shah-i-Zhinda, shaped between the 11th-19th centuries and including more than 20 buildings. After a visit to the Timurid Bibi-Khanym Mosque, we travel to Tashkent.
| Hotel | International Hotel Tashkent |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 17 - Tashkent
We acquaint ourselves with Tashkent with a visit to the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, which contains a number of important Buddhist artefacts. In the afternoon, there will be a walking tour during which we see the Barak Khana Madrassa, the Kukeldash Madrassa and the Chorsu Bazaar.
| Hotel | International Hotel Tashkent |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day18 - Tashkent - London
We transfer to the airport this morning for our return journey to London.
| Meals included | Breakfast |
|---|
Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Professional Tour Manager
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Meals as per the itinerary, tea or coffee with dinner
- Accommodation
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- All taxes & gratuities
- Field notes
- Internal flights
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single supplement | Offer | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 September 2022 | ATUZ220902 | 2 September 2022 (Friday) | 19 September 2022 (Monday) | Dr Gai Jorayev | £6,575 (inc. flights) |
£500 | £655 | Book your trip | |
| 1 September 2023 | ATUZ230901 | 1 September 2023 (Friday) | 18 September 2023 (Monday) | Dr Iain Shearer FRAS | £6,630 (inc. flights) |
£1,000 | £655 |
£6,180 save £450 |
Book your trip |
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