Original
Explorer
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan Adventure
18 Days | Step off the beaten track and onto the ancient Silk Road on this revelatory tour through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
4.8
Excellent
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location_on 18 days
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Start
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
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Finish
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
tour
Trip Code
KFSAC
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Min Age
15
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Trip Size
1 - 12
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Physical Rating
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Meals
16 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
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Transport
High speed train, Private vehicle, 4x4 vehicle, Overnight Train, Metro, Taxi
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Accommodation
Hotel (13 nights), Yurt Camp (1 night), Homestay (1 night), Camping (1 night), Overnight Train (1 night)
From £3,597(18 days)
Trip Informations
Travel into desert landscapes heavy with romance and mysticism on this adventure through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Walk in the shadows of ancient, blue-tiled buildings in Samarkand, sleep in a yurt under thousands of desert stars and spend an evening at a home stay with a family in the Nuratau Mountains. Watch the sun set over Technicolour minarets in Khiva, learn about life in a desert settlement in Yerbent and revel in the eastern-futurism of Ashgabat. Step off the beaten track and onto the ancient Silk Road in this revelatory tour through ancient lands.
Why you’ll love this trip
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This incredible journey takes you through parts of Central Asia that few people can find on a map, let alone have considered travelling to.
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The much-photographed Registan in Samarkand is one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture. You'll be wowed by the scale, grandeur and beauty of the monuments to iconic figures such as Tamerlane and the Persia-influenced madressas, mosques and mausoleums.
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Spend an evening in the isolated Kyzylkum Desert, warming yourself by the fire and sleeping in a yurt.
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Get to really know the stories and people of Uzbekistan while sharing home-cooked meals with local families, including a home stay in the remote Nuratau Mountains.
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Spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara, a 6th-century-BC city that's drenched in history and home to the formidable Ark of Bukhara.
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Steeped in Silk Road history and immortalised in many great tales, the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva is as photogenic as it is legendary.
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Explore the sprawling ruins of Mary, Merv and other ancient kingdoms and contemplate the remnants of empires that once ruled these vast lands.
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Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, aka the 'Door to Hell' as you camp nearby – one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth.
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Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and has enjoyed a surreal and futuristic makeover - witness its often bizarre, but certainly memorable architecture on a city tour.
Is this trip right for you?
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There are few places like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan on earth - isolated geographically and long secluded politically. It's probably unlike anywhere you have ever been, so be prepared to be surprised and for things to run a little differently to home. Here's some of what to expect:
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Central Asia is a remote destination, perfect for intrepid travellers in the true sense of the word! You will venture well away from cities, right off the beaten track and be able to immerse yourself in local food, life and culture.
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Accommodation may on occasion be more basic than what you are used to in homestays, guesthouses and yurt stay. Shower and toilet facilities will be limited in some places and non existent in others. While the comfort level won't always be high, the rewards of living in true local style in this far-out part of the world are immeasurable.
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Tourism is strictly controlled in Turkmenistan, with Letters of Invitation needed in advance in order to apply for your visa (which you can then get on arrival) and guides tending to be protective of what tourists see and fiercely proud of their nation and its leaders. Those used to more freedom of exploration and tour guides with a more global perspective may find their experience here different from in other destinations.
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As there are a number of long travel days, plenty of time spent on your feet and days can be hot and dusty you'll need excellent general health and fitness to get the most out if this trip.
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There is one night of basic camping included on this trip in the Karakum Desert. Sleeping bags, mattresses and tents are all provided, but there are no bathing or permanent toilet facilities at the campsite.
Itinerary
- DAY 1Tashkent
- DAY 2Bukhara
- DAY 3Bukhara
- DAY 4Yurt Camp
- DAY 5Nuratau Mountains
- DAY 6Samarkand
- DAY 7Samarkand
- DAY 8Tashkent
- DAY 9Tashkent
- DAY 10Tashkent/Overnight Train
- DAY 11Khiva
- DAY 12Darvaza
- DAY 13Yerbent – Ashgabat
- DAY 14Ashgabat
- DAY 15Mary
- DAY 16Merv – Mary
- DAY 17Ashgabat
- DAY 18Ashgabat
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
16 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
airport_shuttle Transport
High speed train, Private vehicle, 4x4 vehicle, Overnight Train, Metro, Taxi
bed Accommodation
Hotel (13 nights), Yurt Camp (1 night), Homestay (1 night), Camping (1 night), Overnight Train (1 night)
festival Activities
circleBukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
circleBukhara - Ark Fortress
circleBukhara - Bolo Hauz Mosque
circleBukhara - Magoki Attori Mosque
circleBukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque
circleBukhara - Ulugbek Madrasa
circleBukhara - Lyabi-Hauz Plaza
circleGijduvan - Ceramics workshop
circleNuratau - village visit
circleNuratau Mountains - Plov cooking demonstration & dinner
circleSamarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
circleSamarkand - Registan Square
circleSamarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
circleSamarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
circleTashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
circleTashkent - City tour
circleTashkent - Amir Timur Square
circleTashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum
circleTashkent - Metro tour
circleKhiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
circleKhiva - Juma Mosque
circleKhiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace
circleKhiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
circleKhiva - Kuhna Ark
circleDarvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater
circleYerbent - Village visit
circleAshgabat - National Museum of Turkmenistan
circleAshgabat - Nisa ruins
circleAshgabat - Anau ruins
circleAshgabat - Independence Monument
circleAshgabat - Neutrality Arch
circleAshgabat - Turkmenbashy Ruhi Mosque & Family Mausoleum of the First President of Turkmenistan
circleAshgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
circleAshgabat - Akhal-Teke horse Hippodrome
circleMary - Abiverd ruins
circleMerv - Big & Small Kizkala
circleMerv - Erk Kala & Gayur Kala
circleMerv - Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum
museum Add on activities
circleBukhara - Fayzulla Khojaev House - UZS20000
circleBukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace - UZS40000
circleBukhara - Hammam Bozori Kord - UZS400000
circleBukhara - Folklore & Fashion show - UZS70000
circleBukhara - Zindon - UZS20000
circleSamarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory - UZS30000
circleSamarkand - Tomb of Daniyar - UZS25000
circleSamarkand - Afrosiab Museum - UZS30000
circleSamarkand - Siob Bazaar - Free
circleTashkent - State Museum of History of Uzbekistan - UZS50000
circleTashkent - Museum of Applied Arts - UZS25000
circleTashkent - Art Gallery of Uzbekistan - UZS20000
circleTashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum - UZS40000
circleCarpet Museum - USD5
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Saturday Jun 07, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£4,059
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Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 11 spaces left
£3,746
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Saturday Aug 16, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£3,746
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Saturday Aug 23, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£3,746
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Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£3,894
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Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£4,043
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Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£4,384
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Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Saturday Sep 27, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£3,597
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Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Saturday Oct 04, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£3,597
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Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£4,043
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Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Sunday Oct 12, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£4,043
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Saturday Sep 27, 2025
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 10 spaces left
£4,043
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Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£3,746
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Saturday Oct 04, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 8 spaces left
£4,043
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Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£4,043
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Important notes
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1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (Yurt) / Day 5 (Homestay), Day 10 (Overnight train) and Day 12 (Camping) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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2. This trip is a combination of KFSA & KFSM our most popular itineraries. As such the make up of your group and your leader may change on day 9.
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3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
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4. Travel to Turkmenistan requires a Letter of Invitation. Please see Visa section in the Essential Trip Information for instructions.
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