TWO CITIES ON THE SAME ROAD UZBEKISTAN-TURKMENISTAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Visiting the most famous Central Asian square — Registan (Ulugbek madrasah, Sher-Dar madrasah, Tillya-Kori madrasah), taking photos in national costumes and shopping (optional).
Lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, visit the Siab Bazaar. Free time. Independent research of the city.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel (7: 00 am). After breakfast, transfer to Bukhara. Arrival in Bukhara. Transfer to
hotel and check-in. Lunch time. Bukhara is another ancient city of Uzbekistan, through which the Great Silk Road passed. Medieval Bukhara was one of the main political, cultural and religious centers of the Middle East. More than 140 architectural monuments are perfectly preserved here, including magnificent madrasas and mosques,
famous symbols of the city are the Kalyan Tower, Ark Fort, active medieval baths and shopping domes. The historical center of Bukhara is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. After a short rest at the hotel, we will take a walk around the Old City of Bukhara.

Night in Bukhara.

After breakfast, a full-day sightseeing tour of Bukhara. The city tour includes: Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the oldest and most valuable in the country, a masterpiece of medieval architecture built by Ismail Samani for his father Nasr I. Chashma Ayub Mausoleum. We will see the Bolo-Hauz Mosque, the official place of worship of the Emir, built in 1718 and located next to the door of the Arch, the city center, the official residence of the rulers of Bukhara. After lunch, visit the Poi Kalon minaret and Mosque, the Abdulaziz Khan and Ulugbek madrasas, the Labihauz ensemble, the pool and teahouse of which are the modern center of traditional Uzbekistan. (Lunch is planned during the guided tour)
* Overnight in Bukhara.

Our representative will meet you at the Turkmen-Uzbek border "Alat" at 9: 00. A trip to Merv to explore ancient Merv — the "Queen of Peace", one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Attractions of ancient Merv include the Big Kyz Gala and Small Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Askhab Complex (VIII-XIV centuries), Erk Gala (VI century BC), Gyaur Gala (IV century BC), Khoja Yusup Hamadani Complex, Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, Mausoleum of Muhammad ibn Zeid. After sightseeing, drive to Mary. Then you will see all the main buildings in the center of Mary. If time permits, you can also visit the Mary Bazaar to see many local products, and the Russian Orthodox Church (one of the oldest in Turkmenistan). Overnight in Mary.

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, drive to Ashgabat. On the way to Ashgabat, visit the stables in Aneu to see the national pride of the Turkmen people-Akhal-Teke horses, the most beautiful horses in the world. 5,000 years ago, Turkmens started breeding Akhal-Teke horses. The unique breed in the world has never been mixed with other breeds. Such
famous emperors like Alexander the Great and Darius I wanted to own Akhal-Teke horses. The farm has beautiful horses. According to the belief, every sick person who touches an Akhal-Teke horse will soon recover. In the afternoon, you will have a guided tour of Ashgabat. In 2013, the Guinness Book of World Records named Ashgabat "white marble city" – here you can see the largest number of structures in the world made of white marble. You will see the Wedding Palace, the modern Yildiz Hotel, the Ferris wheel, the Constitution Monument, the Neutrality Arch, the Independence Monument and Park, the Ertogrul Mosque of Gaza, sports and housing facilities of Ashgabat.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, drive to the Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia, where samples of Tekke, Yamud, Saryk and Chodor carpets are displayed. The Museum of Turkmen Carpets is one of the cultural centers of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 exhibits of carpets, including rare ones, are displayed. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet that can be carried with keys, as well as the world's largest handmade carpet with a total area of 301 m2, which was woven in 2001, and in 2003 it was added to the Guinness Book of World Records. Afternoon drive to Darvaza Crater (300 km, 5 h). The crater is also called the "Door to Hell". This area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists discovered a cave filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the rig collapsed, leaving a large pit 60 m in diameter and 20 m deep. To avoid the release of toxic gas, it was decided to burn it. Geologists had hoped that the fire would use up all the fuel in a few days, but the gas is still burning today. In the evening, enjoy a spectacular and breathtaking view of the gas crater. Barbecue dinner and overnight in the gas crater.

Picnic-style breakfast. After breakfast, drive to the Turkmen-Uzbek border checkpoint to cross the border with Uzbekistan. Our driver will meet you at the border and take you to Khiva. Lunch at a local restaurant. Free time. Recreation, self-study of the city. Dinner at the restaurant.
Overnight in Khiva.

After breakfast, a full-day excursion to Khiva. Kalta Minor Minaret (1855), Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah (XIX c.), Kunya Ark Fortress (1868-1888), Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum (XVII-XIX c.), Said Alautdin Mausoleum (XIV c.), Juma Mosque, Khoja Islam Minaret and Mosque (1908-1910), Shergazi Madrasah- khan (1718-1720). Lunch at the restaurant. After lunch, continue the fascinating tour. Nurullabay Palace, Caravanserai (XVIII), Tim Ala-Kulikhan (XIX), Abdulla Khan Madrasah (1865), Palvan-Darvaz Gate (XIX). Tosh-Khovli Palace (Harem) (1830-1836). Traditional Khorezmian. Dinner at the restaurant. Transfer to Urgench International Airport for boarding the flight (20: 35 / 1: 20 hrs.)
* Overnight in Tashkent.

After breakfast, we start the tour at 9: 30 am with a visit to the Tashkent Metro, and then to the ancient mosques and madrassas (Islamic academies), the Hazrati Imams complex, which includes the Barak Khan Madrassah (XVI century), the old Jami Mosque (Friday), which is still in operation, and the Kaffal Chachi mausoleum- tomb of the great philosopher, poet and teacher of Islam, who lived in the X century. Chorsu Bazaar, which is one of the oldest bazaars in Central Asia. At 14: 00 you will have lunch in the Central Asian Center of Pilaf, where you can taste Uzbek national dishes and see the cooking process, after lunch we will start the tour with ancient mosques and madrassas (Islamic academies), After that we will have a panoramic tour of the city.
modern city: Independence Square, Amir Temur Square, Theater Square. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Tashkent.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken to Tashkent International Airport to board a flight.