Uzbekistan, Tajikistan & Turkmenistan - 3 Stans Silk Road Expedition

Tashkent, Uzbekistan 12D11N Beginner-friendly
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
12D11N Beginner-friendly

Highlights

#CoreMemories

Why we love this experience

Nature
60%
Relax
60%
Culture
85%
City
75%

A Sotravel Signature Experience

Loved by thousands of travellers—our highly rated, time-tested adventures that bring people back year after year.

Silk Road’s Greatest Hits

Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Merv — trace Central Asia’s most legendary cities and journey through ancient kingdoms.

History, Art & Nature Intertwined

Discover turquoise mausoleums, alpine lakes, and ancient desert fortresses in one unforgettable journey.

Sleep Beside the “Door to Hell”

Spend a surreal night in a desert yurt near Darvaza’s fire crater as it blazes beneath the Karakum sky.

Embark on a 12-day Silk Road adventure across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, discovering centuries of history, culture, and natural beauty. Wander through Samarkand’s Registan Square, Bukhara’s ancient madrasahs, and the surreal burning crater of Darvaza. Visit UNESCO heritage cities like Khiva and Kunya-Urgench, explore remote Seven Lakes in Penjikent, and connect with the people through authentic cultural performances and traditional cuisine. With high-speed trains, yurt stays in the Karakum Desert, and guided tours through historic empires, this journey offers the ultimate blend of exploration and immersion through the heart of Central Asia.

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What's included

foodfood

Day 1: Not included Day 2-3: Breakfast, Dinner Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 5: Br..Day 1: Not included Day 2-3: Breakfast, Din..

transporttransport

Airport transfers to and from Tashkent Airport. Domestic flight from Mary to Ashgabat an..Airport transfers to and from Tashkent Airp..

lodginglodging

3-star hotels, twin-sharing rooms. Yurt camp in the desert with 3–4 people in a multisha..3-star hotels, twin-sharing rooms. Yurt cam..

instructorinstructor

English-speaking guide throughout the tripEnglish-speaking guide throughout the trip

activityactivity

Entrance fees to all mentioned sites Guided tours in all major cities and historical are..Entrance fees to all mentioned sites Guided..

flightflight

Domestic flight from Mary to Ashgabat & Urgench to TashkentDomestic flight from Mary to Ashgabat & Urg..

group leader servicesgroup leader

Our Group Leaders are passionate travellers just like you. They share the experience aut..Our Group Leaders are passionate travellers..

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Itinerary

Additional Information

Arrival information

Fly into Tashkent International Airport (TAS); arrive before 6:00 PM for a 6:30 PM pickup and transfer to the trip hotel.

Pick up

6:30 PM

Tashkent International Airport (TAS)

Arrive and check in

Accommodation

How does accommodation & rooming work?

By default, solo travelers are matched with same-gender roommates. If you're traveling with friends, you can choose to room together. Private rooms are sometimes available at an additional fee at checkout.

Trip confirmation & minimum participants

Most trips require a minimum of 4 and cap at 20 participants. Booking early helps the trip reach confirmation faster — and you'll enjoy our early bird discount.

Is flight included?

Flights are not included, giving you flexibility to book your own. We recommend booking after your trip is confirmed. Once you've booked, we'll send you a detailed trip pamphlet with recommended flight options and more details about your trip.

Cancellation & refund policy

Cancel before the deadline shown at checkout and receive a full refund in credits. If we cancel the trip due to insufficient participants, you'll receive a full cash refund.

Physical level

This itinerary is perfect for those seeking an adventure at a relaxed pace. Expect minimal physical exertion with short walks and gentle activities suitable for all fitness levels. The most physically demanding day involves light hiking and cycling. Incorporate regular short walks and gentle exercises into your routine to build basic endurance.

Can I combine this trip with another trip?

You can pair this trip with the 10D9N Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan Adventure and get a little discount too! We’ve arranged back-to-back trip dates, giving you the option to experience the full 5 Stans. Do the Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan trip first, then fly from Almaty to Tashkent according to the recommended arrival time (at your own expense) and continue from there!

Sotravel Signature

Uzbekistan rewards good judgement.

Design your own custom Uzbekistan

The map is vast, roads are variable and the best moments rarely happen on command. We design with that reality—not against it. That means sensible drive days, trusted locals, the right accommodations and enough time at each location to feel its magic.

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Why choose to travel with us?

Guides & leaders you can trust

Our guides and leaders are carefully selected and trained to deliver a safe and unforgettable Sotravel adventure.

Can't do alone adventures

We put together adventures that are best experienced with a group of like-minded individuals.

Just show up and enjoy yourself

Our team has done the heavy lifting on our end so all you have to do is show up for your adventure!

Have questions?

Contact us on Telegram to chat with us! If you are looking for an instant reply, try searching for a quick answer here.

From SGD 4,129/ pax

Day 1

Welcome to Tashkent – Gateway to the Silk Road

Arrive in Tashkent and settle into your hotel and enjoy a relaxed day to explore the city at your own pace.
Note: If you want to complete the 5-Stans experience, you can pair this trip with our Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan Adventure trip and get a little discount too! Do the Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan trip first, then fly from Almaty to Tashkent according to the recommended arrival time (at your own expense) and continue here!

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Image for Free and easy arrival day in Tashkent

Free and easy arrival day in Tashkent

Day 2

Time Travel Through Tashkent – Ancient to Avant-Garde

Dive into the contrasts of Tashkent, exploring both the atmospheric Old City and its gleaming new center.
Stroll through bustling bazaars, admire Islamic architecture, and learn about Uzbekistan’s post-Soviet transformation.
Share a dinner featuring traditional Uzbek cuisine.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Image for Admire the architectural beauty of Tashkent

Admire the architectural beauty of Tashkent

Image for Enjoy a warm Uzbek welcome dinner

Enjoy a warm Uzbek welcome dinner

Day 3

Speed into Samarkand – Jewel of the Silk Road

Hop on the Afrosiyob high-speed train to legendary Samarkand.
Walk among monumental landmarks: Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum, Bibi Khanum Mosque.
Wander the bustling Siyab Bazaar, filled with spices, sweets, and textiles.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Image for Hop on a high-speed train to Samarkand

Hop on a high-speed train to Samarkand

Image for Explore Siyab Bazaar

Explore Siyab Bazaar

Image for See the intricate details of Bibi-Khanum Mosque

See the intricate details of Bibi-Khanum Mosque

Day 4

Cross into Tajikistan – Alpine Lakes & Ancient Ruins

Cross into Tajikistan and drive to the majestic Marguzor Seven Lakes, each with its own hue and character, nestled in the Fann Mountains.
Visit the ruins of Ancient Penjikent, once a thriving Sogdian city.
Return to Samarkand by evening.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Image for Take in the beauty of Marguzor Seven Lakes

Take in the beauty of Marguzor Seven Lakes

Image for Visit the ruins of Ancient Penjikent

Visit the ruins of Ancient Penjikent

Day 5

Spiritual Samarkand to Storybook Bukhara

Visit the sacred Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, a breathtaking corridor of turquoise-tiled mausoleums dating from the 9th to 14th centuries — one of Samarkand’s most spiritually revered sites.
Continue to the Ulugbek Observatory, built by the famed Timurid astronomer-king, who mapped the stars with astonishing precision centuries ago.
Drive across the desert plains to Bukhara, a UNESCO-listed oasis city rich in Sufi heritage and Silk Road legends.
Explore Bukhara’s treasures: Sitorai Mohi Xosa (Summer Palace), Kalon Minaret and Mosque, the twin Madrasahs of Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan, Lyabi-Khauz courtyard, and Trade Domes — bustling Silk Road bazaars still alive with crafts, spices, and textiles.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Image for Explore the UNESCO-listed city of Bukhara

Explore the UNESCO-listed city of Bukhara

Image for Visit the turquoise-tiled mausoleums of Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis

Visit the turquoise-tiled mausoleums of Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis

Image for Visit the Ulugbek Observatory

Visit the Ulugbek Observatory

Day 6

Mystical Monuments of Bukhara

Immerse yourself in centuries of Islamic art and architecture as you explore Bukhara’s most iconic landmarks:
Ark Fortress – The ancient royal citadel and seat of Bukhara’s emirs for over a millennium.
Samanid Mausoleum – A 9th-century masterpiece of early Islamic architecture, remarkably preserved.
Chashma Ayyub – The “Spring of Job,” a sacred site believed to hold healing waters, crowned by a rare conical dome.
Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Mausoleum – A revered pilgrimage site honoring the founder of the Naqshbandi Sufi order.
Chor Minor – A charming, photogenic madrassah with four distinctive towers, tucked away in Bukhara’s old quarters.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Image for Visit one of Bukhara’s most unusual landmarks

Visit one of Bukhara’s most unusual landmarks

Image for Visit Samanid Mausoleum, a 9th-century masterpiece of early Islamic architecture

Visit Samanid Mausoleum, a 9th-century masterpiece of early Islamic architecture

Day 7

Cross into Turkmenistan

Cross the Farap border into Turkmenistan and drive to Merv, one of the world’s oldest oasis-cities.
Explore monumental ruins like the fortified Kyz Kala, the grand Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, and the 2,000-year-old Erk Gala.
Visit the Gadymy Turkmen Ojak ethnoguesthouse for traditional baked bread, carpet weaving demonstrations, and folk dance performance.
Transfer to Mary for overnight stay.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Image for Explore monumental ruins of Merv

Explore monumental ruins of Merv

Image for Observe the process of traditional carpet weaving

Observe the process of traditional carpet weaving

Day 8

Ashgabat – Marble Metropolis of the Desert

Catch a morning flight to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s surreal white-marble capital — holding the Guinness World Record for the highest concentration of marble buildings on Earth.
Explore the striking Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, with its soaring minarets and elegant Ottoman design.
Wander through Independence Park, a vast landscaped plaza filled with golden statues, symbolic monuments, and sweeping fountains that reflect the national spirit of modern Turkmenistan.
Cap it off with a visit to the futuristic Arch of Neutrality, offering panoramic views of the capital from its sky deck.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Image for Enjoy panoramic views of Ashgabat from Arch of Neutrality

Enjoy panoramic views of Ashgabat from Arch of Neutrality

Image for Wander through Independence Park filled with golden statues

Wander through Independence Park filled with golden statues

Day 9

Nisa & Darvaza – Into the Karakum Desert

Begin the day at ancient Nisa, once the capital of the powerful Parthian Empire and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perched on a plateau beneath the Kopet Dag mountains, Nisa’s crumbling mudbrick walls echo with over 2,000 years of history.
Continue to Kipchak to visit the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque, once the largest in Central Asia, clad in white marble and inscribed with verses from both the Quran and the Ruhnama (Book of the Soul).
Head north into the heart of the Karakum Desert, pausing in the desert village of Erbent.
As the sun dips below the dunes, arrive at the Darvaza Gas Crater — an eerie, fire-filled pit that has been burning for over 50 years. Known as the “Door to Hell,” its flickering orange glow creates a surreal spectacle under the stars.
Spend the night in a yurt.

Accommodation: Yurt

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Image for Visit one of Central Asia’s largest mosques

Visit one of Central Asia’s largest mosques

Image for Witness the blazing natural gas inferno of the Karakum Desert

Witness the blazing natural gas inferno of the Karakum Desert

Image for Explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ancient Nisa

Explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ancient Nisa

Day 10

Kunya Urgench – Cradle of Khorezm

Visit the haunting ruins of Kunya Urgench — once the Khorezm capital and a Silk Road hub.
See the Kutlug Timur Minaret (tallest in Central Asia), mausoleums, and sacred sites.
Cross the border and continue to Khiva.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Image for Wander through the ancient city of Kunya Urgench

Wander through the ancient city of Kunya Urgench

Day 11

Khiva – The Open-Air Museum

Explore Khiva’s walled Old Town (Ichan-Kala), a perfectly preserved desert fortress.
Visit Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, Kunya-Ark Fortress, Islam Hajji Minaret and Madrasah, and Juma Mosque with 218 carved wooden pillars.
Evening flight to Tashkent.

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Image for Visit Juma Mosque, with 200 finely carved wooden pillars

Visit Juma Mosque, with 200 finely carved wooden pillars

Image for Step inside Khiva’s walled Old Town

Step inside Khiva’s walled Old Town

Day 12

Farewell!

Bid farewell as you check out and transfer to Tashkent airport, taking with you cherished memories of your adventure!

Accommodation: None

Meals included: Breakfast

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Please note

The itinerary is subject to change in order to provide an adventure that best suits your needs, weather and operating conditions. For safety reasons, we reserve the right to interrupt your participation at any time if your medical condition is deemed unfit or you are deemed a danger to yourself or those around you.

What's included

food

Day 1: Not included Day 2-3: Breakfast, Dinner Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 5: Breakfast, Dinner Day 6: Breakfast, Lunch Day 7-10: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 11: Breakfast, Dinner Day 12: Breakfast

transport

Airport transfers to and from Tashkent Airport. Domestic flight from Mary to Ashgabat and Urgench to Tashkent. Afrosiyob high-speed train from Tashkent to Samarkand. Private vehicle throughout the trip.

lodging

3-star hotels, twin-sharing rooms. Yurt camp in the desert with 3–4 people in a multisharing room.

instructor

English-speaking guide throughout the trip

activity

Entrance fees to all mentioned sites Guided tours in all major cities and historical areas Excursion to Seven Lakes (Marguzor Lakes) Carpet weaving demonstration, folk dance performance, and freshly baked Turkmen bread at Gadymy Turkmen Ojak

flight

Domestic flight from Mary to Ashgabat & Urgench to Tashkent

group leader services

Our Group Leaders are passionate travellers just like you. They share the experience authentically, keep the trip running smoothly, and help you make the most of every moment.

miscellaneous

Depending on the activity and location, locals may sometimes ask you to pay fees such as tourist taxes or park fees.

All photos

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