Compare Best of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan by G Adventures vs Classic Tanzania: Safari & Beach by Audley Travel

Day 1 Tashkent

Arrive at any time.

Welcome to the eclectic capital of Uzbekistan, where modern skyscrapers mix with Soviet-era architecture and mosaic mausoleums. There are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting, so get out there and explore.

Day 2 Tashkent/Samarkand

Travel on to Samarkand, known for intricately beautiful mosques and mausoleums, situated on the Silk Road. Take an orientation walk and opt to visit the Amir Timur Mausoleum, dedicated to the famous conqueror who once hoped to rebuild the empire of Genghis Khan.

Day 3 Samarkand

Embark on a city tour, visiting Ulugbek Observatory, Shaki Zinda complex, the bazaar, Bibi Khanum, and Registan Square. With a free afternoon, continue exploring the Samarkand sights, have a cuppa in a local tea house, or wander around the bazaar. Opt to explore the Tomb of Prophet Daniel, famous for the Biblical story of Daniel and the lions.

Day 4 Samarkand/Aydar Kŭl Camp

Travel out into the desert to visit Chashma Complex, a pilgrimage site in the territory of Nurata, dominated by ruins of Alexander the Great's fortress, Juma mosque, a bath-house, and the ancient Panjvakta mosque. All of this, hiding a holy spring believed to heal diseases. After exploring the complex, head to Aidarkul Lake and opt for a swim before continuing on for an overnight stay in a local yurt camp. Enjoy an authentic Uzbekistan dinner and an evening Kazakh singing show.

Day 5 Aydar Kŭl Camp/Bukhara

Travel to Bukhara, known as one of the most charming cities in the country, and get your bearings on an orientation walk. Opt to visit the old city bazaars, enjoy a traditional dinner cooked by a local family, visit a hammam (bathhouse), or just relax in the pleasant atmosphere of this Silk Road city.

Day 6 Bukhara

Explore Bukhara on a half-day guided walking tour around the beautifully restored mosques, madrassas, and covered markets, or trading domes, that make up the Old City. A centre for pottery, cloth, and carpets, Bukhara is centered around Lyabi-Hauz, a delightful pool of water surrounded by ancient mulberry trees. Wander the artisan shops and narrow twisting streets and alleyways, or sit at a café table and let the evening drift by. Opt to watch a local puppet show held in an old caravanserai, or indulge in a rejuvenating hammam bathhouse.

Day 7 Bukhara/Khiva

Enjoy a scenic drive through the desert on a full day's journey to reach UNESCO-listed Khiva, well worth the arduous drive. Get to know this peaceful, picturesque city on a late afternoon orientation walk, and pick your favourite spots to explore more in-depth tomorrow.

Day 8 Khiva

Before exploring this historic town on your own, enjoy a guided tour to learn about local life here. Wander through the narrow labyrinth mudbrick alleyways of old town, bargain with locals at the bazaar, admire the madrassas, mosques, and blue mosaic domes, climb up towering minarets, and venture into the dark dungeons Khiva was infamous for back in the 10th century. Explore the inner walls of Ichon-Qala, and enjoy spectacular sunset views on the sand-coloured buildings.

Day 9 Khiva/Dashoguz

Spend the morning in Khiva, enjoying your last moments here to experience anything you couldn't squeeze in yesterday, or do some last minute shopping. After lunch, drive to the Uzbek-Turkmen border and continue to Dashoguz. Take an orientation walk and opt for dinner in local café, or explore the city and it's Bai Market.

Day 10 Dashoguz/Darvaza

Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kunya Urgench to visit the ancient capital of the Khorezmian Empire. After lunch, continue to the Kara-Kum desert and witness the fiery Darvaza gas crater, also known as the "Gates of Hell." This evening, enjoy a delicious barbeque dinner and spend the night camping under the stars at a yurt camp.

Day 11 Darvaza/Ashgabat

After breakfast, begin the journey to the capital of Turkmenistan - Ashgabat. On the way, stop near the community of Erbent and admire its golden sand dunes that stretch out to the horizon. On arrival in Ashgabat, spend the evening at leisure. Opt to visit the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque, also known as Gypjak Mosque, and capture the sun setting on the symmetrical minarets and golden domes.

Day 12 Ashgabat

Spend the day exploring bustling Ashgabat. Enjoy a tour of the city in the morning, visiting several city treasures such as the Monument of Independence and the National museum or Neutrality Arch. Afterward, opt to venture to the ancient ruins of Nisa, or continue exploring Ashgabat.

Day 13 Ashgabat

Depart at any time. Departure transfer is included.

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Dar es Salaam International Airport.

Day 2 : Selous Game Reserve

Arriving at the airport, your safari starts with a light aircraft flight into the heart of the Selous Game Reserve, just 45 minutes from Dar es Salaam. You get some great views of the Rufiji River and tall borassus palms as you fly in over the reserve. After settling into your camp, head out on a guided boat safari, gliding over the water as you watch out for hippo and crocodiles and admire the sunset. Tonight in camp you can enjoy a bush dinner by lamplight, and choose what you'd like to do tomorrow.

Day 3 : Selous Game Reserve

On your first full day of safari in Selous, whether you've chosen to do a bush walk, game drive or boat safari, you'll be in for some close wildlife encounters. You could see lion, elephant, wild dogs, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala and eland, as well as the elusive leopard. Each game activity is led by an expert guide and with a small group of guests from the camp. Building a camaraderie with your fellow safari-goers, you can recall tales from your day's adventure while gathered around the campfire this evening.

Day 4 : Selous Game Reserve

During your stay we recommend taking a guided bush walk, accompanied by a ranger who'll share their knowledge and passion for the reserve's wildlife as well as ensuring your safety. Being on foot gives you a completely different perspective to being in a vehicle, allowing you to appreciate the smaller details, from the wonderful birdlife to paw prints in the dirt. You feel far more immersed in the landscape, and your proximity to the wildlife provides you with many stories to take home with you.

Day 5 : Selous Game Reserve

Enjoy another day of exploring the reserve. The Selous is one of the few places in Tanzania where you might see the incredibly rare wild dogs, otherwise known as the painted wolf. They've become a cult sighting for wildlife lovers, and the guides and trackers of the camp will give you the best possible chance of finding them.

Day 6 : Zanzibar Island

You've a final chance to spot wildlife on the drive to the airstrip this morning, before catching a light aircraft flight to Zanzibar. After the hour-long flight you're met by your driver for a private transfer across the island to the beautiful palm-fringed east coast. The hour-long journey takes you through vibrant villages and past spice plantations on the way. You could spend the rest of today relaxing in your hotel's spa, lazing on the beach or cycling out to explore the local fishing villages of Bwejuu and Paje.

Day 7 : Zanzibar Island

You can spend the day taking in your beautiful beachside surroundings, reading a book under the shade of a palm tree and swimming in the warm Indian Ocean. If you're feeling more active, you can easily arrange diving or snorkeling, try a spot of kite surfing or head out on a pedalo.

Day 8 : Zanzibar Island

Today we suggest visiting one of the small-scale spice farms on the island - you get a really hands-on experience tasting and smelling the spices for which the island is famous, which include cinnamon, tumeric, nutmeg and vanilla. Alternatively, guided spice tours lead you through rural villages and Zanzibar's countryside as your guide picks leaves, fruits and twigs for you to smell or taste before guessing what spices they are. Afterwards, you can relax back on the beach or at your hotel.

Day 9 : Zanzibar Island

Explore another area of Zanzibar today - the enchanting Jozani Forest in the south of the island. Within this tropical forest you can see the rare Kirk's red colobus monkeys, which are endemic to the island and really entertaining to watch leap and play in the trees. Several other monkey species can be found here, as well as a variety of birdlife. There are many walking trails you can follow through the forest, while the nearby Zanzibar Butterfly Centre allows you to walk through a tropical garden filled with hundreds of butterfly species.

Day 10 : Zanzibar Island

You could head into Stone Town for a day trip today. The historic town is located on the west coast, around an hour and a half from your hotel - we can arrange for a private transfer. The hub of the spice trade for centuries, Stone Town has an interesting past and you'll stumble across ornate carved doorways and market stalls as you walk around. We can arrange for a local guide to show you around and tell you about the town's history. There are also dozens of restaurants and food stalls lining the streets, making this the best place on the island to try the local cuisine, which combines Arab, Portuguese, Bantu, Indian and British influences, as well as using the spices grown on the island.

Day 11 : International return flight

Today your private driver transfers you to Zanzibar Airport for your onward flights.

Day 12 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.