Uzbek & Turkmenistan Adventure Westbound - 15 days
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Overview
Highlights
- Tashkent - start your adventure in Uzbekistan's clean and modern Soviet-style capital city
- Samarkand - visit the jewel in Timur's empire to see highlights including the breathtaking Registan Square and the ruins of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Kyzylkhum Desert - camp in a traditional yurt in the remote desert and perhaps take a camel ride across the rolling sand dunes
- Bukhara - discover the gruesome past of the Silk Road city including the Kalyan Minaret which is known as "Death Tower" and opt to visit Zindon Prison
- Khiva - admire the striking city walls and take a guided tour of the Uzbek city including the turquoise Kalta Minor Minaret and the palace of Tash Khovli
- Kunye Urgench - explore the ruins of this Silk Road city in the Karakum Desert, which was spared by Genghis Khan during his invasion
- Darvaza Gas Crater - marvel at the flickering fires of this incredible flaming crater, nicknamed the "Door to Hell" by the locals
- Ashgabat - enjoy a guided tour of Turkmenistan's capital city which is known for its white marble architecture and bizarre buildings
What's this trip about?
Details
Destinations
Trip includes
- 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners
- 11 nights in hotels
- 2 nights camping without facilities
- 1 night in a traditional yurt camp
- All necessary camping equipment (excluding sleeping bags)
- Transportation in an overland expedition vehicle
- Services of two crew (drivers/tour leaders) and local guides along the way
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Guided tour of Khiva, Bukhara & Samarkand in Uzbekistan
- Guided tour of Ashgabat and visit to Kunye Urgench and the Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan
Popular Trips
Itinerary
Welcome to Uzbekistan! On arrival in the clean and modern city of Tashkent, you can make your own way to our joining hotel. There's a Welcome Meeting at 10:00am and the rest of the day is free to explore Tashkent as you please. Head out onto the Soviet-style streets and perhaps visit Hast Imam Square to see the worlds oldest surviving copy of the Koran.
Tashkent - Samarkand. Today we climb aboard our overland truck for the first time and head towards the jewel in Uzbekistan's crown - the incredible Silk Road city of Samarkand. On arrival, the evening is free to head out and explore.
We enjoy a guided tour of Samarkand on day 3, taking in the central Registan Square, the Ulug Beg Observatory and the ruins of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. The mosque was once the jewel in the empire of the warlord Timur, who was born here. The Registan is dominated by thr...
Samarkand - Nurata. Today we say goodbye to Samarkand and head into the striking Nurata Hills. Opt for a refreshing dip in Lake Ajdar Kul before we drive into the Kyzylkhum Desert. There’s an optional camel ride over the rolling dunes of the desert and we spend the ni...
Nurata - Bukhara. Today we head out of the desert to the beautiful Silk Road city of Bukhara, where we'll be staying for the next three nights. We'll make a quick stop in Nurata en route.
On day 7 we enjoy a guided tour of Bukhara, taking in highlights including the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Kalon Mosque and Ark Fortress. You’ll also get to see the Kalyan Minaret. This beautiful tower hides a sinister past - it’s nickname of “Death Tower” has been earne...
Bukhara - Khiva. On day 9 we say goodbye to Bukhara and embark on a long drive to the welcoming city of Khiva. The next day there’s a guided tour of the city, taking in highlights including the incredible city walls, the turquoise Kalta Minor Minaret and the blue pala...
Khiva - Kunye Urgench (Turkmenistan). Today we leave Uzbekistan behind and cross the border into the closed off country of Turkmenistan. Browse the markets in the border town of Dashoguz before we explore the Kunye Urgench ruins towards the end of the day. Once ...
Kunye Urgench - Darvaza Gas Crater. We continue our journey through the desert today, reaching the incredible Darvaza Gas Crater, known locally as the 'Door to Hell'. The crater was created by accident in 1971 when Soviet oil drillers released gas into the atmos...
Darvaza Gas Crater - Ashgabat. Today we board our overland truck for the final time as we make our way to the mind-boggling, bonkers capital of Turkmenistan - Ashgabat. The city holds the world record for the highest concentration of marble clad buildings anywhere in the world.
Today we embark on a minibus tour of this off the beaten track capital city. Look out for the bizarre marble architecture and some of the golden statues of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. The president has a fascination with collecting world records and some of the more unusual architecture you may spot includes the worlds largest indoor Ferris wheel.
Our tour comes to an end today and you are free to depart for your onward journey. If you wish, speak to our sales team about booking a few additional days accommodation in Ashgabat.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with On The Go Tours.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Escaping a cold London winter back in 1998, we followed the sun for a colourful adventure around the world. Discovering amazing history, interesting cultures and the jaw-dropping beauty of our planet, the friends we made along the way made our journey all the more special. Inspired to share our experiences, the seeds were sown and On The Go Tours was born.
Over the years we’ve grown into a small yet global company, with a purposeful local ethos. True to our own travels, authenticity is core to our holidays. We’d love you to experience a country the way it really is, with people who live there and know it inside out. We know this makes the difference between a great holiday and a truly memorable one. Our carefully sought out English-speaking local guides are passionate about sharing their country with you and we believe that they are amongst the best in the business.
We know too that adventure feels better with a chilled beer poolside or a soft pillow at the end of each day and we search out comfortable hotels and boutique properties for your stay. As we love to say - travel with us and adventure in style!
Unbeatable value: Combining authentic local experiences with an excellent range of 3-5 star hotels & boutique properties, our tours represent unbeatable value. Add in airport transfers, passionate tour guides and all transportation and you do get the best of adventure travel and creature comforts too.
Great group size: With an average of 15 and a maximum of 24, our group size really works well on tour, so you’re bound to meet like-minded travellers and make lasting friendships. Our festival tours do have larger group sizes due to their ‘one-off’ nature.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights and visas
- Items of a personal nature, additional meals and drinks
- Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
- Sleeping bag and roll mat - please bring your own for camping
- Local payment - $670pp, paid in USD
Accommodation
18 and over. No upper age limit but anyone over 70 needs to complete a tour suitability form.
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