Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Day 1 | Wednesday 9 September
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 10 September
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 Timurid 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 resting 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 11 September
Muynak
This morning we drive to the former seaport of Muynak. Once a bustling fishing community, Muynak’s population declined precipitously with the rapidly receding shoreline of the Aral Sea, thought to be the victim of overfishing, the diversion of water for cotton crops and agricultural runoff. Some characterise the drying up of the Aral Sea as one of the biggest human-caused natural catastrophes. On arrival we enjoy a traditional lunch in a local guesthouse before touring the evocative Aral Sea ship graveyard known as the “Cemetery of Ships.” We conclude our visit at the local museum containing art exhibits of Aral Sea history. In the afternoon we’ll return to Nukus, with dinner in the hotel this evening. Overnight Nukus (B, L, D)

Day 4 | Saturday 12 September
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 5 | Sunday 13 September
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 6 | Monday 14 September
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 7 | Tuesday 15 September
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 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 of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Dinner tonight is in the hotel. Overnight Ashgabat (B, L, D)

Day 8 | Wednesday 16 September
Ashgabat
Today is devoted to the city of Ashgabat, meaning “the city of love” in Arabic. Our first destination is the National Museum of Turkmenistan – a sprawling complex surveying the country’s long history with exceptional archaeological and ethnographic exhibits. After time spent exploring the museum’s seven permanent galleries, we enjoy lunch together in a local restaurant. Our afternoon is then spent in the company of the famous Turkmen Akhalteke horses. This unique breed is no less than 3,000 years old, with their name orginating from the Teke tribe that inhabited the Akhal oasis along the northern Kopet Dag Mountains. Nearly threatened into extinction by the Soviet Union, our visit to the Akhal-Teke Equestrian Complex allows us to learn more about the fascinating history of this rare breed. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant. Overnight Ashgabat (B, L, D)

Day 9 | Thursday 17 September
Merv & Mary
An early morning departure by coach takes us along the new highway to the oasis city of Mary. Enroute we stop at the ancient city of Merv, occupied at various times by Persians, Arabs, Turks, Mongols and Uzbeks. Once a major centre for religious study and an important commercial metropolis, today its ancient monuments are some of the best-preserved on the Silk Road. We begin our visit 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 Gyuaur Kala was gradually abandoned, a new city, Sultan Kala, grew up to the west. Making our way over, we visit the recently restored Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, under whom Merv reached the height of its prosperity throughout the 11th and 12th centuries. Continuing to Mary for lunch, the afternoon is at leisure to explore the bustling bazaar. We end the day with a lecture and dinner in the hotel. Overnight Mary (B, L, D)

Day 10 | Friday 18 September
To 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 once again undergo the lengthy border procedures before continuing to our hotel, with time to freshen up on arrival before dinner. Overnight Bukhara (B, L, D)

Day 11 | Saturday 19 September
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 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 20 September
Bukhara
Further exploration of Bukhara this morning takes us to Char Minar, built as a gatehouse to a madrassa. 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 21 September
Bukhara to Samarkand
Today we depart Bukahra for Samarkand, 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 the mordern city of Navoi. Arriving in Samarkand in the afternoon, we spend time exploring the Bibi Khanum Mosque, the jewel in Tamerlane’s empire. Tonight we have dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Samarkand (B, L, D)

Day 14 | Tuesday 22 September
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 – Tamerlane’s resting place. We then visit the Afrasiab Museum, located at the archaeological site of Afrosiab, once capital of the ancient nation of Sogdiana. The museum contains a 7th-century fresco of King Varkouman receiving foreign dignitaries, as well as various terracotta and bronze artefacts. 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. Returning to the hotel, there is a lecture before an evening at leisure. Overnight Samarkand (B, L)

Day 15 | Wednesday 23 September
Shahrisabz
This morning we drive south to the city of Shahrisabz, the birthplace of the great warrior Amir Temur in the 14th century. Most of the monuments we’ll see date from the time of his rule and our sightseeing today includes the ruins of Ak Saray Palace, once part of Timur’s majestic residence; the Dor-us Siyodat (repository of power) memorial complex, founded after the untimely death of Timur’s eldest son; and the majestic Kok-Gumbaz Mosque in the Dor-ut Tilovat Ensemble, crowned by a huge blue dome. Following lunch, we return to Samarkand with the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight Samarkand (B, L)

Day 16 | Thursday 24 September
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 17 | Friday 25 September
Depart Tashkent
Our final morning is at leisure. Rooms are available until your transfer to the airport, where the tour concludes. For those continuing our journey on the post tour extension, we take an afternoon flight from Tashkent to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan. (B)