This three-week tour of Central Asia evokes the famous Silk Road to Samarkand and beyond. We start in the ultra-modern city of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Here we explore the National Museum and see the excellent collection of artefacts from the main archaeological sites. We visit the impressive ruins of the Parthian city of Nisa dating from the 3rd-4th Century AD, and the explore the enormous 20th Century Turkmenbashi Mosque. The following day we have the unique opportunity to visit the on-going excavation of a Silk Road caravanserai at Shahrislam, and go for a swim in a subterranean hot spring at Kow Ata.

We then fly to the modern town of Mary in eastern Turkmenistan and heading into the Karakum Desert we visit the enormous Early Bronze Age site of Gonur Tepe which includes a palace and tombs with chariot burials. We see the artefacts from the site in the Mary Museum and explore the impressive remains of the ancient Seljuk capital of Merv.

We return to Ashgabat and then head north across the Karakum Desert. We stop for the night at the Darvaza Gas Crater which has been burning for more than 45 years. The following day we head north across the desert, stopping to see the ruins of a Silk Road caravanserai. We then continue north to Kunya Urgench, ancient capital of the Khorezm state during the 9th and 10th Centuries. This UNESCO World heritage site is famous for its medieval tombs and enormous Kutlug Timur minaret.

The following day we cross the border into Uzbekistan, after which we head to the superb medieval walled city of Khiva. After getting settled into our hotel we explore the Kunya Arg, which was the fortified royal compound. The following day we explore the Ichon Qala, the ancient walled city of Khiva. We visit the beautiful Juma Mosque with its wooden columns, visit private residences and the Tash Hauli palace complex. In the evening we take a walk around the walls of Khiva at sunset.

The next morning, we head out into the Kyzylkum Desert north of Khiva to explore some of the impressive ancient and medieval fortresses which guarded the region of Khorezm. This includes the Ayaz Qala with walls 10m thick, located in a spectacular desert landscape. We next have a free day to explore Khiva or shop in the local markets. In the evening we fly to Bukhara.

We have two days to explore the stunning monuments of Bukhara. We start at the 9th Century tomb of Ismael Samani, founder of the Samanid Empire. We explore the fortified residence of the local Emirs which was occupied up to the early 20th Century. We also see the magnificent Kalon Mosque and adjoining madrasa, walk through the covered bazaars and visit two further madrasas. The following day we explore the ruins of the ancient part of Bukhara, visit the Summer Palace of the Emirs and explore the shrine complex of Bakhauddin Nakhshbandi.

The following day we head east along the Royal Road to Samarkand, stopping to see the ancient town of Karmana. This was an important Silk Road centre, where we visit a medieval caravanserai, the Khanagha (Sufi Inn) of Kasim Sheikh and Mausoleum of Mir Said Bakhrom. In Samarkand we explore the Gur Emir tomb of Tamerlane and his family before exploring the remarkable Registan complex, consisting of three tiled madrasas of the 15th to 17th Century. We see the Ulug Beg astronomical complex, the ancient Afrosiab tell mound and its museum, the Shah-I Zinda tombs, and the enormous Mosque of Bibi Khanum. A day excursion from Samarkand then takes us to explore the ruins of the palace of Tamerlane, the Kok Guymbaz Mosque and Dorus Siadad Mausoleum.

We next cross the border into Tajikistan and see the ruins of the Early Bronze Age site of Sarazm. We also explore the ancient Sogdian site of Penjakent. We head into the Zarafshan Mountains to see the Iskanderkul Lake before heading to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Here we see the archaeology museum, explore the Hisar Fortress and take a walk in the Botanical Gardens.



Day 1: Arrive in Ashgabat
You arrive in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan - a tour representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our hotel. The group will meet in the lobby of the hotel and go out for dinner at 7pm. Overnight Ashgabat.

Day 2: National Museum - Nisa - Turkmenbashi Mosque
In the morning we explore the National Museum of Turkmenistan which has an excellent collection of artefacts covering the history of the region. In the afternoon we visit the impressive 3rd Century AD Parthian royal complex at the site of Nisa. We also see the grand Turkmenbashi Mosque in Ashgabat, one of the largest in Central Asia. Overnight Ashgabat.


Day 3: Shahrislam caravanserai - Kow Ata hot springs
This morning we drive west of Ashgabat to visit the on-going excavation of a Silk Road caravanserai at Shayrislam. Excavations have revealed a fortified residence for merchants, a palatial complex and water cistern. After lunch we visit the impressive Kow Ata cave where there is the optional to swim in a large thermal pool. Overnight Ashgabat.

Day 4: Gonur Tepe
This morning we fly to Mary in the east of Turkmenistan. We drive 60km north of Mary through desert country to the remarkable Early Bronze Age site of Gonur Tepe. This was the capital of the region of Margiana and includes a palatial complex and rich burials with horses and chariots. We return to Mary after lunch where we visit the Zelyony bazaar. Overnight Mary.

Day 5: Merv - Mary Museum
This morning we explore the ruins of the ancient and medieval city of Merv. A Seleucid power base and major centre on the Silk Road, Merv was a Seljuk capital in the 12th Century. Sacked by the Mongols it still preserves rich evidence of its history. A highlight is the enormous mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar. In the afternoon we visit the regional museum - this has an excellent display of finds from the area and an ethnographic collection. Overnight Mary.

Day 6: Ashgabat - Darvaza gas crater
In the morning we fly back to Ashgabat where we explore some of the landmarks including the Monument of Neutrality and Independence park. After lunch we head north across the Karakum Desert to the Darvaza Gas Carter, an enormous gas pit which has been burning for more than 45 years. Overnight in a yurt at Darvaza (dinner included).


Day 7: Kunya Urgench
In the morning we drive through desert landscapes, stopping to see a ruined Silk Road caravanserai. We then head to the ruins of Kunya Urgench, the ancient capital of the region of Khorezm. A UNESCO world heritage site, the monuments includes mausoleums and the Kutlug Timur minaret. In the afternoon we drive to Dashoguz. Overnight Dashoguz.


Day 8: Border crossing into Uzbekistan - Khiva
Today we go through the border crossing into Uzbekistan - this might require wheeling your luggage through the customs zone. We then drive 50km drive to the ancient walled city of Khiva. We have some lunch, check into our hotel, and in the afternoon, we explore the Kunya Arg, the fortified residence of the medieval city of Khiva. Overnight Khiva.

Day 9: Khiva
Today we continue our exploration of the Ichon Qala, the ancient walled city at the heart of Khiva. Highlights include the historic Juma Mosque with its black elm pillars, the Tash Hauli Palace and the eastern ensemble which includes three madrasas and the Allah Kuli Khan Caravanserai. In the evening we walk along the city walls for a superb view across the historic quarter. Overnight Khiva.

Day 10: Kyzylkum Desert Fortresses
In the morning we cross the famous Amu Darya (Oxus River), into the Kyzylkum Desert to explore some of the remarkable desert castles which originally guarded the region of Khorezm This includes the enormous Ayaz Qala with its 10m walls, the Toprak Qala city fortress which accommodated 2500 people and the Guldursun Fortress. Overnight Khiva.

Day 11: Free day in Khiva - fly to Bukhara
Today there is some free time to explore more of the historic walled city of Khiva - the historic heart of the city is a short walk from our hotel. You could climb a minaret, visit one of the small city museums, relax, read a book, or shop in the local markets. In the afternoon we fly to Bukhara. Overnight Bukhara.


Day 12: Bukhara
Today we explore the historic heart of Bukhara. In the morning we visit the 9th Century Ismael Samani Mausoleum, burial place of the founder of the Samanid Dynasty. We see the beautiful Bolo Hauz Mosque and then explore the fortified Ark, the royal residence of Bukhara. After lunch we visit the magnificent Kalon Mosque and adjoining Mir-i Arab Madrasa. In the afternoon we take a walk through the covered bazaars of the old quarter and see The Ulug Beg Madrasa and adjoining Abdul Aziz Madrasa. Overnight Bukhara.

Day 13: Bukhara
Today we explore more of the historic heritage of Bukhara. We see the ruins of the Magori Attari Mosque, and the Lyab-I Hauz Complex of pools and madrasas. We also visit some of the historic sites in the countryside outside Bukhara including the Sitorai Makhi Khosa (Emir's Summer palace) the Bakhauddin Nakhshbandi Shrine complex and the Chor Bakr Complex of shrines. Overnight Bukhara.

Day 14: Royal Road to Samarkand - Karmana
In the morning we drive along the ancient Royal Road up the Zerafshan Valley from Bukhara to Samarkand. We visit Karmana, the old Silk Road town of Karminiya where we see the Rabat-i Malik caravanserai, the Kasim Sheikh Khanagha, and the Mir Said Bakhrom Mausoleum. In the late afternoon we check into our hotel in Samarkand. Overnight Samarkand.

Day 15: Samarkand
This morning we explore some of the highlights of medieval Samarkand. We start with the magnificent Gur Emir Mausoleum where Tamerlane is buried. We then explore the remarkable assemblage of buildings of the Registan Square. This consists of three stunning madrasas erected from the 15th to 17th Century. In the afternoon we see how traditional paper was made and see the Ulug Beg Astronomical Observatory.

Day 16: Samarkand
Today we explore some more of the historic heart of Samarkand. We start at the Afrosiab mound, the ancient Sogdian tell of Samarkand. We visit the site and explore the stunning frescoes in the site museum. We then see the Shah-I Zinda Necropolis, a series of magnificent tombs belonging to the family and descendants of Tamerlane. In the afternoon, and explore the enormous Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane in the late 14th Century. We finish with a wander in the Russian era Bazaar.


Day 17: Shakhrisabz
We head south for a day excursion to the historic town of Shakhrisabz (the ancient city of Kesh), the home town of Tamerlane. We explore the historic buildings of the old city, including the remains of Tamerlane's Ak Serai (White Palace), the Kok Gumbaz Mosque and the Dorus Siadad mausoleum built by Tamerlane. Overnight Samarkand.


Day 18: Sarazm - Penjakent
In the morning we cross the border into Tajikistan. After customs formalities we head to the ruins of Sarazm, an Early Bronze Age archaeological site which is under excavation. We then continue east up the valley of the Zarafshan River, stopping to see the ruins of ancient Penjakent. This was a Sogdian political centre and is famous today for its wall paintings (Dushanbe and St Petersburg). Overnight Penjakent.

Day 19: Iskanderkul Lake - drive to Dushanbe
Today we take an excursion into the Zarafshan Mountains to see the magnificent Iskanderkul Lake surrounded by snowy peaks. We take an easy walk around the lake edge to enjoy the scenery. We then cross the Fann mountain passes (3300m) and head to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajjkistan. Overnight Dushanbe.


Day 20: Dushanbe Archaeology Museum - Hisar Fortress - Botanical Gardens
In the morning we visit the archaeological museum which has a representative collection of artefacts from various sites including frescos from Penjakent and an impressive reclining Buddha. In the afternoon we visit the Hisar Fortress and the Botanical gardens. Overnight Dushanbe.

Day 21: Depart Dushanbe
We depart from Dushanbe International Airport.

* Please note that the Company reserves the right to make alterations to the itinerary in the period up to 60 days prior to a tour departure. The itinerary may also be subject to minor re-arrangement due to the scheduling of the operators and availability of access. If this occurs, the Company will endeavour to provide a comparable alternative.