Arrival at Tashkent International Airport by flight XXX at XXX. After immigration and customs meet guide outside of arrival hall. Transfer to hotel for check in, fresh up and transfer for dinner to local restaurant.  Overnight at hotel. Meals: no

Breakfast. Tashkent sightseeing:

Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world-famous holy book Quran of Caliph Uthman has been preserved.

Explore Chorsu Bazar, Tashkent Metro, visit Applied Art Museum. Walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur square.

Dinner in restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel. Meals: breakfast

Breakfast at hotel.

05:30 Transfer to airport for flight to Urgench at 07:00-08:40 (time is subject to change). Arrive and transfer to Khiva, 35 km 45min, an ancient capital of Khorezm. Tour in the splendid historical part Ichan-Kala:           

-          Muhammad Amin khan and Muhammad Rahim khan Madrasah;

-          Kalta Minar, Kunya Ark, and Museum of Zindan;

-          Mausoleum of Saint Pakhlavan Makhmud, and Shergazi khan Madrasah,

-          Minaret and Madrasah of Islam Khodja, and Djuma Mosque,

-          Allakuli khan Madrasah and Caravan Saray, and Tash Khauli Palace and Harem;

Free time. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel. Meals: breakfast

Breakfast. Drive to Uzbek/Turkmen border Shavat. Finish all immigration formalities, cross the border. Turkmenistan representative will meet you at Turkmen/Uzbek border “Shavat”.

Afternoon drive to Darwaza burning Gas Crater (6h, 300km) The Crater is also called as "The Door to Hell". The area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 60 m and 20 m deep. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today. In the evening, watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater. BBQ dinner & overnight at Gas Crater. Meals: breakfast, dinner

Breakfast at the camp. Morning drive to Ashgabat (4h, 270km).  Check in to the hotel. Free time. 

After you will have Ashgabat city tour. In 2013 the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat “white marbled city” – here you can see the biggest number of structures in the world made out of the white marble. You will see Presidential Palace, Ruhyyet Palace, Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferries Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat Sports and Housing facilities, the Earthquake and victims of WWII Monuments. Drive to visit Nissa fortress -the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings. UNESCO declared fortress a World Heritage Site in 2007. Nissa described as one of the first capitals of the Parthians. It was founded by Arsaces I (reigned c. 250 BC – 211BC), and reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian Kings, although it has neither been established that the fortress at Nissa was a royal residence or a mausoleum. Drive to visit Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque in Kipchak (the largest mosque in Central Asia). Overnight in Ashgabat.

Breakfast at the hotel. Then drive to Nokhur mountain village. The village itself fills a small depression valley in the mountains of the Kopet Dag Range, and the houses are built with local boulders cemented with mud. Apart from the main street through the middle of the town, the streets are so narrow that they only just fit a car between the high stone retaining walls on each side. The Nohkuri people who populate this remote mountain village are quite different to other Turkmen tribes. They live in a handful of villages in the mountainous border area spanning Turkmenistan and Iran. Nokhur is the largest village with just a thousand or maybe two thousand people.  After drive to Kowata underground lake which is located 107 km from Ashgabat. The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means "father of caves". This underground area seems like a magnificent auditorium: the overall length of the cave is 230 m, its height reaches 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm and gushing water is clear and emerald colored. The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. (You should swim in the lake). (Lunch yourself). Drive to Gokdepe fortress (45 km from Ashgabat) that was attacked in December 1880 by Russian Empire Army. The siege of Gokdepe lasted 23 days, after which the city was taken by storm. Visit Geokdepe Mosque (Saparmyrat Hajy) that was built in 1995 to commemorate the defeat and is noted for its mint-turquoise blue colored roof and white marble structure. Later drive to visit Horse Farm to see a national proud of Turkmen people - Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens begin breed Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such famous Emperors like Alexander the Great, Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are over 35 beautiful horses in the farm. According to superstition belief, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon. Drive to Ashgabat, overnight at hotel. Meals: breakfast

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to visit Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. The Turkmen carpet museum is one of the cultural centers of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 carpet exhibits, including rare ones, are exhibited. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet to wear keys, as well as the world's largest hand carpet with a total area of 301 m², which was woven in 2001, and in 2003 it was added to the Guinness Book of Records. Drive to Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque. Among the small number of Timurid-era monuments on the territory of Turkmenistan, the mosque of Seyit Jemaletdin in Anau city. According to inscriptions on its facades and interior, it was built when Khoresm was ruled by Abu Kasim Baber Bahadurhan (1446-1457). Its construction was financed by his vizir, Muhammed Khudaiot, who chose a site near the grave of his father, Jemaletdin. The ancient settlement Abiverd is one of eight historical reserves of Turkmenistan along with Kunya-Urgench, Nissa, Merv, Dakhistan etc. The ruins of Abiverd are located between Ashgabat and Mary. Then drive to Mary. If time permits, visit local green bazaar, Mary regional museum, Library for 6000 readers with Observatory on a top, also Old Russian Church, which build in 1900. Overnight at hotel. Meals: breakfast

Breakfast. Drive to Merv to explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum. After sightseeing, drive to Turkmen-Uzbek border Farap border (3h)

Transfer to Uzbek-Turkmen Boarder post "OLOT-FARAB". Border formalities on both sides. Cross the neutral zone1,5 km (transportation may not be available). Meet your driver and transfer to Bukhara (100 km 1,5 hrs.).

Check-in hotel in Bukhara. Dinner in traditional Uzbek restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel.

Meals: breakfast

Breakfast at hotel.

Tour in the old center of science and culture. Explore one of the gems of Islamic architecture, the center of Mediaeval Islamic Education. Tour includes visits to:

-          Samanid Mausoleum, and Mausoleum of Chashma-Ayub,

-          The Ark Citadel, and Bolo-Khauz Mosque,

-          Kalon Complex consisting of Minaret, Mir-Arab Madrasah, and Mosque,

-          Madrasah Of Ulugbek, and Madrasah of Abdul-Aziz khan,

-          Trade domes, and Magoki – Attor mosque,

-          Lyabi – Khauz complex: Nadir Divan Begi Madrasah and Khanaka; Kukeldash Madrasah; 

Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel. Meals: breakfast

Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane.

Arrive and Guided tour visiting the magnificent architectural sights of the Timurids period:

-          Entry Pylons of Ak Saray palace of Tamerlane,

-          Dorus Saodat complex, Mausoleum of Djehangir and Khazrat Imam Mosque;

-          Dorut Tilovat, Kok Gumbaz Mosque and Mausoleum of Sheikh Shamsuddin Kulal;

-          Mausoleum Gumbazi Saidon and Kunduzak Quarter Mosque

Continue driving to Samarkand. Upon arrival check in and some rest. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel. Meals: breakfast

Breakfast. 

Sightseeing in the Capital of Great Empire of Tamerlane, the place which attracted Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, and other visitors of the world.

Gur Emir mausoleum /15th cc and Ruhabad Mausoleum from outside

Registan Square with Ulugbek, Sherdor and Tilla Kari Madrasah/15th-17thcc

Bibi Khanum Mosque /15th cc/ and Mosque of Khazrat Khizr from outside;

Explore Colorful Siyab bazaar,

Shakhi Zinda Necropolis;

Museum of Ulugbek observatory, original part of sextant /15th cc

Konighil Crafts Center with Silk Paper and Oil Mills;

Gur Emir Mausoleum (the resting place of Timur)

Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel. Meals: breakfast

Breakfast.  Transfer to airport for flight back home. End of the tour. Meals: breakfast