Penguin Travel

 

This journey takes you to places where one still can feel the spirit of times passed long ago, to sense the smell of the camels, to hear the shouts of trading dealers, to experience the life in the desert. During this exciting roundtrip you will pass through the famous cities on the caravans way – Khiva, Buhara and Samarkand. “Everything I had heard about Samarkand is true – at a closer look it is even more beautiful then I have imagined”. These were the words of Alexander the Great when he conquered the city in 329 year B.C.  In the dust of the numerous markets on the background of turquoise mosques you can almost see the loaded with silk and other jewels caravans heading West.

Tour Highlights:

• Ashgabat - the capital city of Turkmenistan, situated between the Kara Kum desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range.

• The city of Khiva - the inner town, or Itchan Kala, is encircled by brick walls, whose foundations are believed to be laid in the 10th century.

• Bukhara - the town boasteing more than 140 architectural monuments.

• Samarkand - one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world (about 2,500 years old), prospering from its location on the trade route between China and Europe (Silk Road).

• Tashkent - Uzbekistan’s modern capital, which shows its roots as a Silk Road City even today.

Download our trip-dossier as PDF

Departure dates:
18 September 2010

Price without flight ticket:    1500 EUR

Trip plan:
Day 1: Arrival to Turkmenistan's capital - Ashgabat early in the morning (probably you have to start your trip the day before). Accommodation in a hotel and time for rest after the flight. Sighseeing tour in te afternoon. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 2: Today we continue our tour in and around Ashgabat, and visit the ancient Nisa Fortress, dating from 3C BC. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3: We take an early morning flight to Dashoguz, where we will cross the border with Uzbekistan and will head towards to the historic city of Khiva. Breakfast included.
Day 4: The day is devoted to sightseeing tour in Khiva. Built as an "open air museum" Khiva is more than 2500 years old with population about 40 000 people. Many museums, mosques, squares and Islamic schools (madrasser) are hidden among the city walls. Silk and spices have always been the main trading goods at the local open markets. Breakfast included.
Day 5: We follow the ancient route of the caravans through the desert Kazulkum to Bukhara. Accommodation in hotel in Bukhara. Breakfast included.
Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Bukhara, which is still considered as the most sacred town in Central Asia. There are quite many high buildings in the city center – witnesses of centuries and cultures from times gone by. You can see the 47 m high minaret, that the caravans in the past used to use as a guiding point when crossing the desert along their way. Breakfast included.
Day 7: Transfer to Nurota. Camel Riding in the afternoon. Acconmmodation in traditional yurts in a base camp. Breakfast, lunch, and dinnner by the fire included
Day 8: Drive to Ayder Kul Lake in the morning. In the afternoon: transfer to Samarkand
Day 9: Sightseeing in Samarkand. Samarkand is considered to be the oldest city in Central Asia (500 BC). In the city centre, the Registan, the most imposing complex of Central Asia and one of most beautiful of Islam with name meaning "sand square", is still preserved. We will make a sightseeing tour of the city today. Breakfast included.
Day 10: Transfer to Tashkent - the biggest city in Central Asia and capital of Uzbekistan. After a devastating earthquake from 1966 the city is rebuild in a Soviet Union style, but here we can also see many ancient landmarks like the medreser Barak-Khan (16thc.), Hast mosque or the opera house Alisher Navoi. Sightseeing tour in Tashkent. We visit Kukeldash Madrassah, Kaffal Shashi Mausuleum, Barak Khan Madrassah, Mosque on Khasty Imam Street and many others interesting sights. Breakfast included.
Day 11: We continue our sightseeing tour in the morning. The afternoon is free for exploring Tashkent, shopping, etc. Breakfast included.
Day 12: Transfer to the airport for departure from Tashkent.

Accomodation and food:   Accommodation in 3 star hotels with private facilities all days except on day 7. Accommodation in traditional tents (Yurts) on day 7. Half Board in Turkmenistan. Bed and Breakfast in Uzbekistan. Full Board on day 7.

Price of extra services:   Single supplement: 200 euro

Included in the price:   accommodation and food according to itinerary, all transfers and ground transportation, entrance fees, English speaking tour leader throughout the tour, local English speaking guides.

Excluded from the price:   Flight tickets, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan visas - can be obtained at the borders, tips, alcohol drinks, other personal expenses, fees for taking photos

Practical information:    In general, there are no strict limitations on clothing for women, especially in Tashkent and other major cities, where particularly young people enjoy full liberty with clothing. - It is not forbidden to have alcoholic drinks, to trade with alcohol, and to serve alcohol. - Drinking of water directly from the tap is not recommended, but it can be used after it has been boiled. Bottled water is widely available throughout the country. - Vegetarians have to order specially prepared food, as there is usually no vegetarian food available. There is a big selection of fresh vegetables and fruits in local markets. - In some places, it is possible to pay by credit cards. Master Card and Visa are accepted. Weather: Spring (April to June) and Fall (September through October) are in general the most pleasant times to travel. In Fall it's harvest time, and the markets are full of fresh fruit. If you're interested in trekking, then summer (July and August) is the best time, because summers are almost dry. In recent years Uzbekistan was notably affected by the global warming and dry-out of the Aral Sea, which turned snowy cold winters to mild with less precipitation by allowing to travel in wintertime.

Recommended travel period of the year:   May, September

Tour difficulty:   A 

No special experience is needed; everyone who is in condition to cope with long Saturday walks in the forest can also cope with these tours. As a rule, the trips are short and at a low altitude. Often, it is your choice to join or skip a day-tour. The routes follow a hilly terrain without steep ascents and descents. Normally we walk 3/5h a day.

Group Size:   Min. 8 persons

Vacation Extensions:
Roundtrip Iran - Classical Persia
On the Silk Road from Kyrgyzstan to Kashgar (China)

Reservation System Code: USB_RUND

Gallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•