11 Days | Step off the beaten track and on to the ancient Silk Road
Travel into desert landscapes heavy with mystery on this 11-day journey through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Watch the sunset over technicolour minarets in Khiva, learn about Turkmen rural life with a stay in a secluded mountain village and visit a local horse breeder at his farm to see how he prepares food and cares for his Akhal-Teke horses. Wander through the ancient ruins of the Silk Road in Merv, watch the sunset over ‘The Gates of Hell’ crater and revel in the eastern futurism of Ashgabat. On this trip far away from tourists, you’ll step off the beaten track and wander through ancient lands with local leaders who have all the fascinating insights.
Trip overview
- Start
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Finish
- Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- KFSM
- Explore the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva – steeped in Silk Road history and immortalised in many great tales, this town is as photogenic as it is legendary.
- Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, aka the 'Gates to Hell' as you camp nearby – one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth.
- Stay at a local guesthouse in a rural village in Turkmenistan – a rare opportunity to get up close to local people’s life – and visit a local horse breeder who preserves the precious breed that is the national treasure of Turkmenistan – Akhal-Teke horses.
- See the sprawling ruins of Mary, Merv and other ancient kingdoms and contemplate the remnants of empires that once ruled these vast lands.
- Learn how Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and has enjoyed a surreal and futuristic makeover since. Witness its often bizarre, but certainly memorable architecture on a city tour with a local leader who has all the insights.
- There are few places like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan on earth – isolated geographically and long secluded politically, t's probably unlike anywhere you have ever been, so be prepared for things to run a little differently to home. Here's some of what to expect: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-a-trip-to-turkmenistan/
- 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.
- 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.
- There are a couple of nights where rooms will be multi-share and facilities are outside and shared, in the yurt stay and the guesthouse in Nohur Village. The conditions may be modest, but it's a rewarding experience to be somewhere truly unique!
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Itinerary
Inclusions
9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Private vehicle, 4x4 vehicle, Metro, Taxi, Overnight Train
Hotel (7 nights), Yurt Camp (1 night), Overnight Train (1 night), Guest House (1 night)
- 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
- Tashkent - State Museum of History of Uzbekistan - UZS50000
- Tashkent - Art Gallery of Uzbekistan - UZS20000
- Tashkent - Museum of Applied Arts - UZS25000
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable on this trip, excluding Day 2, 5&6. The single supplement is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please note your leader will change at the Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan border
3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport). Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure.
4. Travel to Turkmenistan requires a Letter of Invitation for visa application. Please see Visa section in the Essential Trip Information for instructions.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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