Signature: Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Signature: Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

• Trip code: 4M1X013
• Dauer: 11
• Stil: National Geographic Signature

Follow the caravans of the Silk Road through the heart of Central Asia. From the blue-tiled domes of Samarkand to the marble monuments of Ashgabat, traverse two nations defined by ancient empires. Guided by experts, explore the ruins of Parthian Nisa, unlock the secrets of Sufi heritage, and master the art of Uzbek cuisine.

Übersicht

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nights)

Checklist

Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)

Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Headphones (Noice-cancelling recommended)
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)

Group Leader

National Geographic Expedition Leader and National Geographic Expedition Expert throughout

Group Size Notes

Max 22, avg. 18

Highlights

Enter Tamerlane’s mausoleum after hours for a private talk on the Timurid legacy, Walk the ruins of the Parthian capital with a specialist to uncover its ancient power, Learn the history of Uzbekistan’s national dish in a hands-on workshop with a chef, Bake bread and samsas with a local family before sharing a home-cooked meal, Stand in the centre of the Silk Road, surrounded by the colossal madrasahs of Samarkand

Introduction

Follow the caravans of the Silk Road through the heart of Central Asia. From the blue-tiled domes of Samarkand to the marble monuments of Ashgabat, traverse two nations defined by ancient empires. Guided by experts, explore the ruins of Parthian Nisa, unlock the secrets of Sufi heritage, and master the art of Uzbek cuisine

Meals Included

10 Frühstück, 6 Mittagessen, 7 Abendessen

Meal Budget

Plane USD115-150 für nicht inbegriffene Mahlzeiten ein

Optional Activities

Tashkent
- Museum der bildenden Kunst in Taschkent (8000UZS pro Person)

Samarkand
- Optional Light Show Visit to Registan Square

Khiva
- Islam Khoja Minaret
- Besuch von Ichаn Qаlʼа (Itchan-Kala)

Ashgabat
- Carpet Museum

Start / Finish

Tashkent nach Ashgabat

Transport

Private Vehicle, Walking, Plane, Train

What's Included

Dein Welcome-Moment: Welcome Moment and Dinner - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Tashkent
Signature Moment: After-Hours at the Guri Emir Mausoleum, Samarkand
Dein Local-Living-Moment: Pilaw kochen und Abendessen, Samarkand. Arrival and Departure Transfer. Historic Tashkent City tour & Sacred Sites Visit. Chorsu Bazaar Visit. Rakhimov Family Art Studio Visit. Free time in Tashkent. Guided Tour of Samarkand. Architectural Wonders of Samarkand. Tersak Village Visit. Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand Visit. Guided Exploration of Bukhara's Icons. Naqshnabdi Mausoleum Visit. Sitorai Mohi-Khosa Visit. Free Time in Bukhara. Bukhara Old Town visit. Caravanserai dinner. Old Town Exploration in Khiva. Guided Tour of Khiva. Free Time in Khiva. Khorezmian Music and Dance Show. Dashoguz Local Market. Ancient Settlement of Nisa. Free Time in Ashgabat. City Tour of Ashgabat. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Internationale Flüge

Check-in-Zeiten und Freigepäck/Einschränkungen können je nach Fluggesellschaft variieren und sich jederzeit ändern. Für die aktuellsten Informationen zu deinem Flug wende dich bitte an deine Fluggesellschaft. Wir empfehlen Online-Check-in, um mögliche Verzögerungen am Flughafen zu vermeiden

Minimum Age

Um ohne Begleitperson mit G Adventures zu reisen, musst du mindestens 18 Jahre alt sein. Das Mindestalter für Kinder in Begleitung eines Erziehungsberechtigten (über 21) beträgt 12 Jahre

Itinerary

Day 1 Tashkent

Welcome to Uzbekistan. Your expedition begins as you touch down in Tashkent, a city where modern boulevards intersect with ancient history. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers. An engaging presentation sets the historical stage for the expedition ahead, followed by a welcome reception and a three-course dinner, blending traditional flavors with modern flair

Day 2 Tashkent

Dive into the historic soul of Tashkent at the Hasti Imam complex, the spiritual center of the city. Stand in the quiet library to view the Uthman Quran, one of the oldest in the world, stained with the blood of the third Caliph. Then, immerse yourself in the lively Chorsu Bazaar. Wander beneath its massive blue-tiled dome, inhaling the scent of cumin and freshly baked non bread as you navigate stalls piled high with dried apricots and almonds. In the afternoon, visit the Rakhimov Family Art Studio. Meet a multigenerational family of ceramic masters, and learn about their use of natural dyes and the revival of ancient glazing techniques. Watch as they transform raw clay into intricate works of art, preserving a heritage that dates back centuries

Day 3 Tashkent/Samarkand

Board a high-speed train, watching the landscape shift to the fertile plains of Samarkand, the jewel of the Silk Road. Stand in awe at Registan Square, a symphony of majolica and azure mosaics. Feel dwarfed by the colossal madrasahs that frame the plaza, their facades shimmering in the sun. Walk the avenue of mausoleums at the Shahi Zinda necropolis, where every surface is covered in turquoise tilework. The evening is free to rest or head out to catch the Registan Square light show

Day 4 Samarkand

Leave the city for the rolling hills of Tersak Village to connect with the heart of Uzbekistan. Join a local family in their courtyard kitchen to knead dough and bake savory samsas in a traditional clay tandoor oven. As the scent of baking bread fills the air, share the warm, home-cooked lunch you helped prepare, exchanging stories of daily life. Return to the city to visit the Afrasiab Museum, located on the site of ancient Samarkand. View rare 7th-century murals that survived the Mongol conquest, revealing a pre-Islamic world of Zoroastrian rituals and royal procession, gaining archaeological context for the empire you are exploring. The day ends with after-hours access to the Guri Emir Mausoleum–step beneath the gold-leafed dome to stand before Tamerlane’s jade tomb. A local professor leads a discussion on the legacy of the conqueror who built this empire, bringing the history to life in the hush of the sanctuary

Day 5 Samarkand/Bukhara

Take the high-speed train across the Kyzylkum Desert to Bukhara, a city that feels like an open-air museum frozen in time. Walk the dust-swept streets to the Ark Fortress, the massive citadel that once housed the Emirs. Stand beneath the intricate brickwork of the Ismail Samanid Mausoleum and gaze up at the towering Kalyan Minaret, a structure so beautiful that Genghis Khan spared it from destruction. In the evening, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on masterclass with a local chef. Learn the precise rhythm of chopping carrots and layering rice to create plov, Uzbekistan’s beloved national dish. Savor the fruits of your labor for dinner, tasting the rich history of the Silk Road in every bite

Day 6 Bukhara

Begin at the sacred Naqshbandiy Mausoleum, a serene pilgrimage site for the Sufi order. Walk the peaceful courtyards, learning about the spiritual teachings of ‘heart with God, hands in work’ that define the region's faith. Continue to Sitorai Mohi-Khosa, the Emir's Summer Palace, to admire its eclectic blend of Russian mirrors and Oriental plasterwork. Wander the labyrinthine streets of the Old Jewish Quarter and the architectural gems of the old city as the sun begins to lower. Conclude the day with dinner in a restored caravanserai, dining under stone arches where merchants and their camels once rested after crossing the desert

Day 7 Bukhara/Khiva

Travel west by train, as the landscape shifts toward the stark beauty of the Khorezm region. Arrive in Khiva, the most intact of the Silk Road cities. Step inside the Ichan Qala, the walled inner city, where time seems to have stopped in the 10th century. Wander past the unfinished turquoise tower of the Kalta Minor minaret and through heavy carved wooden doors. As the sun sets, the mud-brick walls glow with a golden hue. Enjoy dinner with a view of the historic skyline, watching the silhouette of minarets against the darkening desert sky

Day 8 Khiva

Delve deeper into the Ichan Qala with an in-depth guided tour. Step into the cool shadows of the Juma Mosque, a forest of 213 wooden pillars, each uniquely carved. Explore the Tash-Khauli Palace, with its intricate blue tiles and labyrinthine corridors that once housed the Khan’s harem. Spend the afternoon at leisure on your own — choose to climb the city walls for a panoramic view of the endless desert beyond or sipping green tea in a traditional chaikhana. The day concludes with a festive dinner featuring the vibrant rhythms of Khorezmian music and dance, a colorful celebration of the cultural legacy of this desert oasis

Day 9 Khiva/Ashgabat

Cross the border at Shavat, transitioning from the history of Uzbekistan into the mysterious nation of Turkmenistan. Drive to Dashoguz to visit a local market before boarding a flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival, witness the surreal contrast of this modern capital, recognized by Guinness World Records for its density of white marble buildings. The evening and dinner are on your own to relax or explore more on your own

Day 10 Ashgabat

Drive to the foot of the Kopet Dag mountains to explore Old Nisa, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire. Walk among the UNESCO-listed mud-brick ruins of a civilization that once rivaled Rome, uncovering 2,000 years of history in the fortress walls. Return to Ashgabat to tour the grandiose monuments, including the Arch of Neutrality topped by a gold statue, gaining insight into the unique identity of this reclusive nation. It is a futuristic vision rising from the ancient sands. The expedition concludes with a farewell dinner and wrap-up presentation. Reflect on the empires, cultures, and landscapes you have traversed — from the tiled domes of Samarkand to the marble avenues of Ashgabat —toasting to the end of an epic expedition

Day 11 Ashgabat

Your expedition to Central Asia concludes today. Transfers to the airport are provided at any time during the day

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Tashkent

Day 2 Tashkent

Day 3 Tashkent/Samarkand

Day 4 Samarkand

Day 5 Samarkand/Bukhara

Day 6 Bukhara

Day 7 Bukhara/Khiva

Day 8 Khiva

Day 9 Khiva/Ashgabat

Day 10 Ashgabat

Day 11 Ashgabat