Intrepid Travel
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan Adventure
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan Adventure
Travel into desert landscapes heavy with mysticism on this 19-day adventure through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Walk in the shadows of ancient, blue-tiled buildings in Samarkand, tap into the local way of living with home stays and yurt stays, watch the sun set over technicolour minarets in Khiva, toast to the eternal fire at Darvaza Crater 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.
Activities
- Bukhara – Ismail Samani Mausoleum
- Bukhara – Ark Fortress
- Bukhara – Bolo Hauz Mosque
- Bukhara – Magoki Attori Mosque
- Bukhara – Kalon Minaret & Mosque
- Bukhara – Ulugbek Madrasa
- Bukhara – Lyabi-Hauz Plaza
- Gijduvan – Ceramics workshop
- Nuratau – village visit
- Nuratau Mountains – Plov cooking demonstration & dinner
- Samarkand – Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
- Samarkand – Registan Square
- Samarkand – Shakh-I-Zinda
- Samarkand – Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Tashkent – Chorsu Bazaar
- Tashkent – City tour
- Tashkent – Amir Timur Square
- Tashkent – Chorsu Bazaar
- Tashkent – Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum
- Tashkent – Amir Timur Square
- Tashkent – City tour
- Tashkent – Metro tour
- Khiva – Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
- Khiva – Juma Mosque
- Khiva – Tosh-Hovli Palace
- Khiva – Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
- Khiva – Kuhna Ark
- Darvaza – “Door to Hell” Crater
- Yerbent – Village visit
- Nohur – Village walking tour
- Geokdepe – Horse breeder visit with bread & snack cooking demostration
- Ashgabat – Anau ruins
- Ashgabat – Neutrality Arch
- Ashgabat – Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
- Ashgabat – City tour
- Ashgabat – Nisa ruins
- Ashgabat – Russian Bazaar
- Merv – Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum
- Merv – Erk Kala & Gayur Kala
- Merv – Big & Small Kizkala
- Mary – City tour
Highlights
- Take an incredible journey through parts of Central Asia that few people can find on a map, let alone have considered travelling to!
- Discover the history of the Silk Road – see the much-photographed Registan in Samarkand (one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture), spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara (a 6th-century city), visit the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva and explore the sprawling ruins of Mary.
- Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, aka the ‘Door to Hell’ as you camp in isolated desert – this is one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth. Spend the evening warming yourself by the fire and sleeping in a yurt overlooking the crater.
- Get to know the stories and people of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan while sharing home-cooked meals with local families, including a home stay in the remote Nuratau Mountains in Uzbekistan and a rare chance to stay with a Turkmen family in Nohur village.
- Learn how Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and witness its often bizarre, but certainly memorable architecture on a city tour.
| Day 1 |
Captial of Uzberkistan and fourth largest city in the former Soviet Union. With a population of nearly 2 milion, it is the cultural and educational center of central Asia. |
| Day 2 |
Founded in the 1st century this old city with many ancient buildings is located northeast of Tehran. |
| Day 3 |
Founded in the 1st century this old city with many ancient buildings is located northeast of Tehran. |
| Day 4 |
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| Day 5 |
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| Day 6 |
One of the oldest cities in Central Asia dating back to the 4th century B.C., it is an important commercialcenter for the area, especially known for agricultural products. It has a university and many historical sites and museums. |
| Day 7 |
One of the oldest cities in Central Asia dating back to the 4th century B.C., it is an important commercialcenter for the area, especially known for agricultural products. It has a university and many historical sites and museums. |
| Day 8 |
Captial of Uzberkistan and fourth largest city in the former Soviet Union. With a population of nearly 2 milion, it is the cultural and educational center of central Asia. |
| Day 9 |
Captial of Uzberkistan and fourth largest city in the former Soviet Union. With a population of nearly 2 milion, it is the cultural and educational center of central Asia. |
| Day 10 |
Captial of Uzberkistan and fourth largest city in the former Soviet Union. With a population of nearly 2 milion, it is the cultural and educational center of central Asia. |
| Day 11 |
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| Day 12 |
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| Day 13 |
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| Day 14 |
Ashgabat (formerly Ashkhabad) is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. In Persian, the name means "city of love." Notable attractions include the Karakum Canal, the Trans-Caspian railway, and numerous monuments and museums to explore. |
| Day 15 |
Ashgabat (formerly Ashkhabad) is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. In Persian, the name means "city of love." Notable attractions include the Karakum Canal, the Trans-Caspian railway, and numerous monuments and museums to explore. |
| Day 16 |
Ashgabat (formerly Ashkhabad) is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. In Persian, the name means "city of love." Notable attractions include the Karakum Canal, the Trans-Caspian railway, and numerous monuments and museums to explore. |
| Day 17 |
Merv, located in the heart of Turkmenistan, is one of Central Asia's most captivating historical treasures. Once a major hub on the ancient Silk Road, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is renowned for its well-preserved ruins that echo the grandeur of a bygone era. Visitors can explore the remnants of ancient cities, including the grand Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, a striking 12th-century structure that stands as a testament to the region’s Islamic architectural prowess. Walking through the ruins of Merv is like stepping back in time, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of those who once thrived in this desert oasis. The city of Merv was not just a significant trading post but also a center of learning and culture during its peak in the medieval period. Known as "Marw al-Shahijan" or "Merv, the Great," it was one of the largest cities in the world during the 12th century, rivaling the likes of Baghdad and Constantinople. Today, the ancient city's ruins span several square miles, providing an extensive site for history enthusiasts to explore. The Great Kyz Kala, with its unique corrugated walls, and the smaller Lesser Kyz Kala, offer a glimpse into the defensive structures that once protected this thriving metropolis . Merv's allure is not just in its history but also in the serene beauty of its surroundings. The stark desert landscape, dotted with the ruins of this ancient city, creates a mystical atmosphere that captivates the imagination. Visitors are often struck by the contrast between the vast emptiness of the desert and the rich history that lies beneath the sands. It's a place where one can truly feel the weight of history while enjoying the peace and solitude of the Turkmen desert. Fun fact: Merv was once considered the "Eye of the World" due to its strategic location and immense wealth. At its height, it was one of the largest and most important cities on the Silk Road, serving as a crossroads for trade and culture between the East and West . |
| Day 18 |
Ashgabat (formerly Ashkhabad) is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. In Persian, the name means "city of love." Notable attractions include the Karakum Canal, the Trans-Caspian railway, and numerous monuments and museums to explore. |
| Day 19 |
Ashgabat (formerly Ashkhabad) is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan. In Persian, the name means "city of love." Notable attractions include the Karakum Canal, the Trans-Caspian railway, and numerous monuments and museums to explore. |
| Travel Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
05/10/25 - 05/28/25 |
Starting At $4,702 |
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|
05/17/25 - 06/04/25 |
Starting At $4,396 |
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|
05/24/25 - 06/11/25 |
Starting At $4,414 |
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|
06/18/25 - 07/06/25 |
Starting At $4,820 |
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|
08/16/25 - 09/03/25 |
Starting At $4,930 |
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|
08/27/25 - 09/14/25 |
Starting At $5,155 |
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|
09/02/25 - 09/20/25 |
Starting At $5,385 |
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|
09/24/25 - 10/12/25 |
Starting At $5,165 |
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|
09/27/25 - 10/15/25 |
Starting At $5,335 |
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|
10/01/25 - 10/19/25 |
Starting At $5,110 |
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|
10/04/25 - 10/22/25 |
Starting At $5,360 |
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|
10/08/25 - 10/26/25 |
Starting At $5,350 |
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|
10/11/25 - 10/29/25 |
Starting At $5,165 |
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|
10/18/25 - 11/05/25 |
Starting At $5,265 |
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|
04/04/26 - 04/22/26 |
Starting At $5,025 |
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|
04/11/26 - 04/29/26 |
Starting At $4,785 |
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|
04/18/26 - 04/25/26 |
Starting At $5,025 |
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|
05/09/26 - 05/23/26 |
Starting At $5,225 |
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|
06/17/26 - 08/22/26 |
Starting At $5,025 |
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|
08/26/26 - 09/13/26 |
Starting At $5,225 |
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|
09/02/26 - 09/20/26 |
Starting At $5,425 |
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|
09/30/26 - 10/18/26 |
Starting At $4,785 |
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|
10/03/26 - 10/10/26 |
Starting At $5,425 |
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|
10/17/26 - 11/04/26 |
Starting At $5,225 |
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|
04/03/27 - 10/16/27 |
Starting At $5,025 |
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