Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Expedition Aral Sea to Darvaza
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About This Experience in Tashkent
Why Visit Tashkent?
Tashkent, Uzbekistan offers a wealth of attractions, cultural experiences, and activities for visitors. From historic landmarks to modern attractions, Tashkent provides an unforgettable travel experience with something to discover around every corner. Explore local cuisine, discover unique culture, and create lasting memories in this remarkable destination.
Getting to Tashkent
You can reach Tashkent, Uzbekistan by air, train, or road depending on your starting location. The city offers various transportation options including taxis, public transit, and private transfers to help you reach your destination. Many hotels can arrange airport transfers, and local transportation options vary by location.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- One way flight ticket (Tashkent-Nukus)
- WiFi on board
- Letter of Invitation to Turkmenistan
- All museum and heritage site entrance fees are included in the tour cost
- Air-conditioned vehicle
What's Not Included
- Any other meals not written in inclusion
- It is optional
- Turkmenistan Visa Fees
Cancellation Policy
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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Meeting and Pickup
Meeting Point
Upon arrival, our driver will be waiting at the meeting point (Airport exit) holding a sign with the lead traveler’s name to ensure an easy and smooth pickup.
End Point
Upon arrival, our driver will be waiting at the meeting point (Airport exit) holding a sign with the lead traveler’s name to ensure an easy and smooth pickup.
Pickup Information
Pickup Option: Pickup available or meet at start point
Pickup Time: 10 minutes before departure
Custom pickup locations may be available. Please contact the supplier for details.
Itinerary
Arrival in Tashkent
First steps into Central Asia Arrival in Tashkent, a...
First steps into Central Asia Arrival in Tashkent, a city where ancient Silk Road history collides with Soviet grandeur and modern Central Asian life. After airport pickup and hotel check-in, take time to recover from your journey or enjoy a gentle first walk through wide boulevards and leafy parks. Tonight marks the beginning of a journey that will take you far beyond ordinary tourist routes. Overnight in Tashkent
Tashkent: Faith, Empire & Everyday Life
A capital shaped by centuries of power and... 8 hours
A capital shaped by centuries of power and belief Today reveals why Tashkent is more than just a gateway city: 10:00 AM Start of the guided city tour by private minivan/car Khast Imam Complex — spiritual heart of Uzbekistan and home to one of the oldest Qurans in the world, linking the city to early Islamic history Chorsu Bazaar — a living Silk Road market where trade traditions continue as they have for centuries Independence Square — the political and symbolic center of modern Uzbekistan Plov Center — experience the national dish prepared on a monumental scale, exactly as it is for weddings and celebrations Romanov Palace — a rare reminder of Russian imperial ambitions in Central Asia Amir Timur Square — dedicated to the conqueror who reshaped half the known world
Tashkent → Nukus → Muynaq → Aral Sea Yurt Camp
07:00 AM, Morning flight to Nukus • Stop in... 10 hours
07:00 AM, Morning flight to Nukus • Stop in Nukus, capital of Karakalpakstan o Optional visit to the Savitsky Art Museum, housing avant-garde Soviet art and ethnographic treasures • Continue to Muynaq, once a thriving Aral Sea port o Visit the Ship Graveyard, a field of rusted boats now stranded in desert o Learn about the Aral Sea’s history at the Muynaq Local Museum • Cross the desolate, breathtaking Ustyurt Plateau — with canyon views, fossilized sea beds, and herder camps • Arrive at your yurt camp on the banks of the retreating Aral Sea • Enjoy a warm dinner under the stars around a bonfire • Overnight in traditional yurts, surrounded by the silence of th
Aral Sea → Lost Cities → Nukus → Khiva
Where history, nature, and abandonment collide Before dawn, wake... 10 hours
Where history, nature, and abandonment collide Before dawn, wake to witness sunrise over the Aral Sea — a haunting, unforgettable moment as light spreads across water, sand, and sky. Travel a different route back, uncovering layers of forgotten history: Kurgancha-Kala — ruins of a medieval Silk Road trading post, once vital for caravans crossing this harsh land Kubla-Ustyurt — a frozen-in-time Soviet settlement with an abandoned airstrip, revealing how humans once tried to conquer this wilderness Lake Sudochie & Urga village — a paradoxical landscape where abandoned fishing villages now sit beside thriving birdlife, including flamingos and pelicans Mizdakhan Necropolis — a sacred burial complex spanning over 2,000 years, blending Zoroastrian, Islamic, and local beliefs Giaur-Kala — a pre-Islamic Zoroastrian fortress from the 4th–3rd centuries BC This day ends in Old Khiva city
Khiva: A City Frozen in Time
A Silk Road city that never modernized Enter Khiva,... 8 hours
A Silk Road city that never modernized Enter Khiva, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the Islamic world. 10:00 AM - Guided exploration of Ichan-Kala, the UNESCO-listed old city: Kalta Minar — the iconic unfinished turquoise minaret Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah Kunya Ark Citadel — residence of Khiva’s rulers Tash-Khauli Palace — lavish royal chambers and courtyards Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum — sacred pilgrimage site Juma Mosque — supported by 218 carved wooden columns Islam Khoja Minaret — tallest structure in Khiva Optional Khorezm flatbread-making workshop. Free afternoon; optional visit to Nurillaboy Palace, an elegant 19th-century residence.
Crossing into Turkmenistan → Darvaza
From empire to fire 9:00 AM - Cross the... 10 hours
From empire to fire 9:00 AM - Cross the border into Turkmenistan — a country still largely closed to the outside world. Explore Kunya Urgench, once a capital of the Khorezm Empire and among the most important medieval cities of Central Asia. Then drive deep into the Karakum Desert to reach one of the planet’s most surreal sights: The Darvaza Gas Crater — a 70-meter-wide pit of fire burning continuously since 1971. As darkness falls, the flames intensify, creating an almost otherworldly scene.
Darvaza → Ashgabat
Nomads, warriors, and legendary horses Journey toward Ashgabat, stopping... 8 hours
Nomads, warriors, and legendary horses Journey toward Ashgabat, stopping at: Gokdepe Fortress — site of a decisive battle that shaped Turkmen identity Akhal-Teke horse farm — home to a legendary breed revered for over 5,000 years, once ridden by emperors and kings Arrive in Ashgabat — a city unlike any other.
Ashgabat: The Surreal Capital
A city built to impress the world Explore Ashgabat,... 7 hours
A city built to impress the world Explore Ashgabat, often called the strangest capital on Earth: Endless white marble buildings Monumental squares Ultra-modern architecture rising from the desert This city offers a glimpse into a unique political and cultural reality found nowhere else.
Ashgabat → Mary → Ancient Merv “The Queen of the World”
The city that rivaled Baghdad Visit Ancient Merv, once... 8 hours
The city that rivaled Baghdad Visit Ancient Merv, once known as “The Queen of the World” — a Silk Road megacity that shaped Islamic scholarship, trade, and science. Walk among vast ruins that tell stories of prosperity, conquest, and destruction.
Turkmenistan → Bukhara
Returning to the heart of Islamic civilization Cross the...
Returning to the heart of Islamic civilization Cross the Amu Darya River and return to Uzbekistan. Bukhara welcomes you with over 2,500 years of continuous history, untouched by time. Evening folklore show inside a historic madrasah brings the city’s past to life.
Bukhara: City of Scholars
Faith, learning, and trade Explore monumental ensembles, caravanserais, and... 6 hours
Faith, learning, and trade Explore monumental ensembles, caravanserais, and mosques that once hosted theologians, merchants, and travelers from across Asia. Bukhara feels deep, noble, and contemplative — a city that shaped Islamic thought. Guided sightseeing tour of Bukhara: • Poi-Kalon Architectural Ensemble • Miri-Arab Madrasah • Ark Citadel • Ulugh Beg Madrasah • Abdulaziz Khan Madrasah • Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble • Trading Domes and Caravanserai • Crafts Center
Gijduvan → Samarkand
10:00 AM, Drive to the Summer Palace of... 8 hours
10:00 AM, Drive to the Summer Palace of the Emir of Bukhara 12:00 PM, Transfer to Gijduvan to visit a family of hereditary ceramic masters Workshop tour and introduction to traditional pottery-making 3:00 PM, Drive to Samarkand (~3 hrs) 6:00 PM, Arrival and check-in at Sharistan Art Hotel* Evening free time, recommended visit: • Registan Square illuminated at night
Samarkand: Capital of Empires
10:00 AM, Guided sightseeing by minivan: • Gur-Emir Mausoleum •... 6 hours
10:00 AM, Guided sightseeing by minivan: • Gur-Emir Mausoleum • Registan Square • Bibi-Khanym Mosque • Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis • Authentic Paper Mill (using 8th-century techniques) 4:00 PM, Free time. Recommended visit: • Siab Bazaar, for local crafts and dried fruits
Samarkand to Tashkent
Morning Transfer to Tashkent • Transfer to Tashkent Airport 5 hours
Morning Transfer to Tashkent • Transfer to Tashkent Airport
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cancellation policy?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
How do I book this tour?
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Is this tour suitable for all ages?
Please check the age requirements and physical fitness level requirements listed in the tour details above. Some tours may have age restrictions or require a certain level of physical fitness.
