Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Day 1 | Wednesday 13 May
Arrive Tashkent
Passengers will arrive into Tashkent International Airport at various times. Academy Travel will organise individual or group transfers from the airport to the hotel. After checking in and time to freshen up, a light dinner will be available in the hotel. Overnight Tashkent (D)

Day 2 | Thursday 14 May
Tashkent & Nukus
An important trading post in Central Asia, Tashkent has a chequered history of invasion, from Genghis Khan to the Russian occupation. Following a talk in our hotel this morning, our orientation of Tashkent begins with Amir Timur Square, dominated by a statue of the powerful Timurid military leader and statesman Amir Timur on horseback. The buildings around the square are all built in differing styles of architecture from the Samarkand style to the baroque. We pass by the modern Parliament building and see Independence Square, a favourite meeting place for the locals with its impressive monuments, fountains and gardens. We pause for a lunch of contemporary Uzbek cuisine, before continuing our sightseeing. This evening we have an early dinner before travelling to the airport for our flight to the outpost of Nukus, not far from the northern border of Turkmenistan. Overnight Nukus (B, L, D)

Day 3 | Friday 15 May
Nukus to Khiva
We begin the day with a visit to the Savitzky Art Museum, containing one of the world’s greatest collections of avant-garde art, rescued from Stalin’s clutches. Following lunch together, we then journey south to Khiva, our base for the next two nights. The first stop on our journey is Toprak Qala, an ancient fortress nestled in the heart of Karakalpakstan. Abandoned in the 6th century, it was the main temple complex of the Khorezm kings who ruled this area in the 3rd and 4th centuries. We explore the ruins, with many rooms of the main corner palace still in good condition. Our journey continues until we reach the ruins of Chilpik Dakhma, an ancient Zoroastrian Tower of Silence believed to be the earliest example of the traditional funerary practice from the 1st century BCE. Arriving in Khiva in the late afternoon, we check in and enjoy dinner in the hotel. Overnight Khiva (B, L, D)

Day 4 | Saturday 16 May
Khiva
Entering the walled city of Khiva, a trading post and minor fort since the 8th century, is like stepping into another era surrounded by history. Our sightseeing this morning includes the Kunya Ark, the citadel of the Khiva rulers complete with the Khan’s harem. Inside the city walls we visit the mosques, minarets and madrassas of the old town. Of particular note is the Pakhlavon Mahmud Mausoleum, the resting place of Khiva’s patron saint. Following lunch, we spend the afternoon at Kibla Tozabog – the summer palace of the Emirs of Khiva. Returning to the hotel, there is an evening lecture before dinner. Overnight Khiva (B, L, D)

Day 5 | Sunday 17 May
Khiva To Ashgabat
Today, after a free morning and lunch in Khiva, we cross into Turkmenistan, where we meet our Turkmen guide and coach driver after completing the lengthy border crossing process. Travelling to Dashoguz, here we visit the Museum of History and Local Lore (if time permits) before arriving at the airport for an evening flight to Ashgabat. We enjoy a lecture and dinner in our hotel on arrival. Overnight Ashgabat (B, L, D)

Day 6 | Monday 18 May
Nisa & Ashgabat
A short drive takes us to Nisa this morning, where we explore the ruins of the ancient Parthian kings dating from the 3rd century BCE. We then visit Gypjak, site of the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque – the largest in Central Asia with its four minarets soaring above the gold dome built as a monument to Turkmenistan’s first president. Following a lunch back in Ashgabat, our afternoon of touring commences at the Turkmen carpet museum, which boasts the world’s largest hand-woven rug, followed by a visit to the Ertogrul Ghazi Mosque, reminiscent in style to that of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Dinner tonight is in the hotel. Overnight Ashgabat (B, L, D)

Day 7 | Tuesday 19 May
Ashgabat
Today is spent exploring Turkmenistan’s captial, home to a record number of lavish marble palaces, with gleaming gold domes and vast expanses of manicured parkland. We begin at the National Museum of Turkmenistan – a sprawling complex surveying the country’s long history, with exceptional archaeological and ethnographic exhibits – before visiting the Neutrality Arch, Independence Park and the Rukhnama Monument. After lunch in a local restaurant, the afternoon is spent exploring the lively Russian Bazaar, built during the Soviet era and one of the largest covered markets in Turkmenistan. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant. Overnight Ashgabat (B, L, D)

Day 8 | Wednesday 20 May
Mary & Merv
An early start this morning takes us along the newly built high-speed road to the oasis city of Mary. We enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, before venturing to the ancient city of Merv. Occupied at various times by Persians, Arabs, Turks, Mongols and Uzbeks, it was once a major centre for religious study and an important commercial metropolis before being destroyed by Genghis Khan’s son and the Mongols in 1221 with an estimated 700,000 deaths. We begin our explorations at the imposing fortress of Gyaur Kala, a major eastern outpost of the Sasanian Empire. Inside the ruins of this square city surrounded by 2km of walls, we find the remains of an old mosque, a monastery and cisterns. When Gyaur Kala was gradually abandoned, a new city, Sultan Kala, grew up to the west. Making our way over to Sultan Kala, we visit the recently restored Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, under whom Merv reached the height of its prosperity throughout the 11th and 12th centuries. Returning to Mary for lunch, the afternoon is at leisure. We end the day with dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Mary (B, L, D)

Day 9 | Thursday 21 May
Gonur Depe
We begin today with a visit to the archaeological park of Gonur Depe, located a few kilometres from ancient Merv. Once a Bronze Age fortress town, it was discovered in 1972 by Greek-Russian archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi who worked at the site until his death in 2013. During the excavations, archaeologists were able to connect several areas of the town to Zoroastrianism with the strong belief that the town was home to Zoroaster himself. Located on a low hill near the bed of the Murghab River, Gonur Depe was far more than a sprawling settlement – complete with a royal palace, burial grounds, a complex aqueduct system and temples with fire altars. Our tour will also visit the necropolis where fabulous grave goods were found that are now housed in the National Museum. Following our site visit, we enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to Mary with the afternoon at leisure. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant. Overnight Mary (B, L, D)

Day 10 | Friday 22 May
Bukhara
We depart Turkmenistan today for Bukhara, a drive of 380km including a stop for lunch en route. Crossing the border back into Uzbekistan, we will complete the border procedures before continuing to our hotel, with time to freshen up on arrival before dinner. Overnight Bukhara (B, L, D)

Day 11 | Saturday 23 May
Bukhara
The city of Bukhara has long been a centre of trade, scholarship, culture and religion, and the historic centre is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our sightseeing today includes the 10th-century Ismail Samani Mausoleum, one of the most highly-regarded expressions of Central Asian architecture. We also visit the Ark Fortress with its bulging buttresses, once a royal palace and now converted to a museum; the vast Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, built on top of an ancient spring; and Madrasa Ulugbek, the oldest surviving madrasah in Central Asia. We pause for lunch together in Doston House, showcasing a variety of local dishes, before continuing our sightseeing in the beautiful townscape of the Old City. Uzbek dances are one of the best examples of this nation’s vibrant culture, and this evening we enjoy a folklore show in the courtyard of a 17th-century madrasah. Overnight Bukhara (B, L)

Day 12 | Sunday 24 May
Bukhara
Further exploration of Bukhara this morning takes us to Char Minar, built as a gatehouse to a madrasah. We also visit the Balyan and Kalon Mosques and the House of Faizullah Khodjaev, an infamous Bukhari personality who plotted with the Bolsheviks to overthrow the Emir and was rewarded with the presidency of the Bukhara People’s Republic. We finish sightseeing at the Lyabi Hauz Plaza, providing a glimpse into the local modern culture. The afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight Bukhara (B)

Day 13 | Monday 25 May
Bukhara to Samarkand
Today begins with an early departure from Bukhara, first stopping to view the spectacular 12th-century minaret in the city of Vobkent. We continue to the Rabat-i Malik Caravanserai, unusual in style as it resembles an early Abbasid palace rather than a traditional Seljuk inn house, before enjoying lunch in Samarkand on arrival. The afternoon is spent exploring the Bibi Khanum Mosque, the jewel in Timur’s empire, with dinner tonight in a local restaurant. Overnight Samarkand (B, L, D)

Day 14 | Tuesday 26 May
Samarkand
Our touring today begins in the very heart of this ancient city with a visit to Registan Square. Regarded as the hub of the Timurid Renaissance, this public square, framed by three imposing madrasahs, has today been carefully restored to its original glory. Our next stop is the Gur Emir Mausoleum – Timur’s resting place. After lunch we make our way to Shah-i-Zinda, an avenue of mausoleums that contain some of the richest tile work in the Muslim world, made famous for its sparkling blue colours. We end our day of touring at the Ulugbek Observatory, destroyed after Ulugbek’s death and only unearthed again by archaeologists in 1908. The evening is at leisure. Overnight Samarkand (B, L)

Day 15 | Wednesday 27 May
Samarkand to Tashkent
We depart Samarkand this morning and make the 300km journey by train to Tashkent, where we have lunch on arrival before checking into our hotel. There is time for some afternoon sightseeing before we meet this evening for our farewell dinner. Overnight Tashkent (B, L, D)

Day 16 | Thursday 28 May
Depart Tashkent
Our final morning is at leisure, with the option to visit the Chor-su Bazaar and the old town. Rooms are available until we transfer to the airport this evening, where the tour concludes. For those continuing their journey on the post tour extension, we take an afternoon flight from Tashkent to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan. (B)