UZBEKISTAN & TURKMENISTAN
DIFFICULTY 2.5/5 | FITNESS 2/5 | ADVENTURE 4/5 | CULTURE 4.5/5dates
DURATION
12☀︎11☾
22nd may - 2nd June 2026
group
11 pax
A 12 day journey through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, weaving together timeless Silk Road cities and awe-inspiring desert landscapes.
Travel back in time along the ancient cities of the Silk Road and their awe-inspiring architecture and food. Feel the true village life as you trek through the hills of Central Uzbekistan, before heading to the infamous unknown of the Gates of Hell and Ashgabat city in Turkmenistan.
$2490 USD
Itinerary AT A GLANCE
This itinerary takes you on a captivating journey through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, beginning in the vibrant capital of Tashkent before venturing to the iconic Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Highlights include majestic Islamic architecture like Registan Square, ancient necropolises, bustling bazaars, and traditional crafts in villages nestled in the Nuratau Mountains, where travelers also contribute to local development projects.
Crossing into Turkmenistan, the adventure continues with visits to UNESCO sites such as Konya-Urgench, the dramatic Darvaza gas crater, and the futuristic capital of Ashgabat. The journey is rich in cultural encounters, desert landscapes, historic fortresses, and ends with a memorable meeting with the rare Akhalteke horses and a final dinner in Ashgabat before departure.
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Arrive in Tashkent and explore the heart of the capital
Evening arrival in Tashkent. Meet your guide and your Far Corners Tribe, and enjoy an introductory city tour featuring Amir Temur Square and Independence Square before a welcome dinner and drinks in Tashkent's bustling centre.
Overnight: Tashkent -
Discover Tashkent’s old town en route to Samarkand
Tour Tashkent's metro, the Monument of Courage, and the Khast Imam complex housing the 7th-century Koran of Khalif Osman. Wander Chorsu Bazaar before catching the Afrosiyob high-speed train to the jewel of the Silk Road, Samarkand.
Overnight: Samarkand -
Marvel at Samarkand’s iconic Islamic architecture
Visit Registan Square, Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the grand Bibi-Khanum Mosque, and the Afrasiyab Museum on a deep dive into Samarkand’s Silk Road legacy.
Overnight: Samarkand -
Explore sacred shrines and fascinating history
Tour the wonders of Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Ulugbek Observatory, and Konigil village to see the traditional art of paper-making in action.
Overnight: Samarkand -
Ascend into the Nuratau Mountains
Drive to Ukhum village in the Nuratau Mountains, transfer to the guesthouse by local vehicles, and hike to ancient petroglyphs. Enjoy a home-cooked dinner. Deliver and install solar panels for our local guesthouses in x village as part of our social development projects.
Overnight: Ukhum village -
Mountain trails & Silk Road crafts en route to Bukhara
Enjoy a morning hike through scenic Ukhum, then drive to Bukhara with stops at Malik Sardoba and a traditional pottery workshop in Gijduvan.
Overnight: Bukhara -
Immerse yourself in the historic heart of Bukhara
Take a stroll through Bukhara’s old town, pass the Ark Citadel, Kalyan Minaret, Silk Road tea house, traditional hammams, and Lyabi-Hauz complex.
Overnight: Bukhara -
Cross the Kyzyl Kum Desert to Khiva
Sit back and relax as we journey through the vast desert landscape to Khiva. Arrive by late afternoon and settle in for a relaxing evening in this hidden gem of Uzbekistan.
Overnight: Khiva -
Cross the Kyzyl Kum Desert to Khiva
Sit back and relax as we journey through the vast desert landscape to Khiva. Arrive by late afternoon and settle in for a relaxing evening in this hidden gem of Uzbekistan.
Overnight: Khiva -
Scale Khiva’s walled city
Wander through Ichan Kala fortress, exploring mosques, palaces, and madrassahs that date back to the 10th century. Sit atop the fortress walls and enjoy the spectacular sun set over Khiva.
Overnight: Khiva -
Transfer to Turkmenistan border at Dashoguz
After breakfast, transfer to the Dashoguz border crossing into Turkmenistan. Visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of Kunya-Urgench before heading to the fiery Darvaza gas crater, ‘the Gates of Hell’. Enjoy dinner beside the flaming pit.
Overnight: Karakum Desert (traditional yurt). -
Explore craters, desert villages & the city lights of the capital, Ashgabat
Travel through the desert via mud and water craters with a stop in Yerbent village. Arrive in Ashgabat and explore the National Museum, Artogrul Gazi Mosque, and the Russian Bazaar. Take a night city tour including the Neutrality Arch and Olympic Village.
Overnight: Ashgabat -
Day 12 - Wander Nisa fortress, war memorials & ride rare Turkmen horses
Visit the Parthian fortress of Nisa, the State Carpet Museum, and battle sites from the 1879–81 Turkmen-Russian war. Meet Akhalteke horses at a private stable and stop at Ruhy Mosque and the Mausoleum of the first Turkmen president.
Final dinner in Ashgabat before late evening flight home (or continuing on to following itinerary link)
WANT A HAND GETTING TO THE START LINE?
OUR FAR CORNERS CREW ARE HAPPY TO HELP!
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LOI for Visa on Arrival at Dashoguz border
Accommodation in twin share 3/4* rooms (where available), or eco-accom (e.g., yurts)
Breakfast every day in Uzbekistan; All meals in Turkmenistan
All entrance and permit fees
All ground transportation and driver costs
FCT guide and local English-speaking guides in each country
Welcome and farewell dinners and drinks
Visa support, if necessary
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International flights to Tashkent and from Ashgabat
Visa fees + COVID test ($104.00 USD cash for Turkmenistan)
Other meals in Uzbekistan
Travel insurance
Spending money
Tips for guides
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
A cornerstone of Far Corners vision is the provision of sustainable support to locals. These social development projects aim to improve the living standards of the communities that make up the foundation of our tours.
This expedition gives back through the delivery and installation of solar panels in the villages of the Nuratau mountains. As part of our itinerary, we will be staying with the direct beneficiaries of your contributions to see the SDP in action.
FAQs
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94 nationalities do not require a visa to Uzbekistan (check if you do here). Nationals that require an eVisa can apply here in advance. All nationalities require a visa to enter Turkmenistan. With the required LOI, we can acquire a Visa On Arrival at the land border with Uzbekistan. Turkmen visas will be paid in cash at the border and cost $104USD including COVID testing.
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Turkmenistan is renowned as one of the most difficult countries in the world to enter. LOIs need to be applied for well in advance and can take a long time to be approved. LOIs must be applied for at latest one month before the trip begins. Our team on the ground are experts at securing the LOIs for guests but please do not book flights until you have received your LOI.
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Absolutely, we have planned out the tours so the dates align enabling you to be able to jump from one tour to the next. Although we don’t cover travel between each tour we can advise the best way to get from one tour to the next if you do choose to book more than one tour! Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is the first stop on our Central Asia route followed by Tajikistan & Afghanistan which you can book here.
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Tashkent is very well connected by air from all over Europe, Middle East and Asia. We recommend arriving in the morning on the 22nd of May to ensure a smooth start to the trip. Do not book non-refundable flights until you have received your LOI.
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Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are some of the safest countries to travel in when it comes to tourist safety (ranking higher than places like France on Global Peace Index). At the same time, our local partners are experts in guiding clients and are constantly monitoring the situation to respond accordingly to any safety issues. Safety is our number one priority and therefore we reserve the right to adapt the itinerary if necessary.
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Yes, all adventurers that join us on our Far Corners expeditions are required to have comprehensive travel insurance. Given some of the destinations we visit, it can prove difficult (or very expensive!) to have travel insurance that covers you. At Far Corners we have used Safetywing for our personal and business travels for years and the best part is they don’t break the bank.
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We choose to run our Far Corners tours during the prime season to ensure all activities are available. We will visit diverse landscapes (mountains, lakes, canyons, cities) so temperatures will fluctuate. Given the mountainous nature of these two countries, cooler temperatures/snow are the most likely adverse conditions we will have to deal with. Given the low-lying nature of these two countries, hot temperatures are the most likely adverse condition we will have to deal with.
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This tour specifically does not have as much strenuous activity as some other Far Corners offerings. However, the pace of travel will be quite intense and an ability to walk for most of the day will be required although multi-day trekking experience is not needed.
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Yes, a non-refundable deposit of $1000 is required upon booking. Alternatively, you can also pay the full amount at booking.