Flight to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, with one stopover
Accommodation in the city center and a thorough tour of the city. We will visit the most exotic marketplace in Central Asia, as well as the world’s oldest Quran from the year 634. We will also ride the metro, peek into the narrow streets of the oldest city in Central Asia, and not miss the parliamentary square, the World War II monument, or the city center with its cafés and restaurants. Tashkent will pleasantly surprise you with its cosmopolitan atmosphere. Overnight stay in Tashkent.
In the morning at 8:30, we will board a high-speed train traveling at up to 250 km/h and arrive in the legendary city of Samarkand in two hours. We will see the beautiful Registan Square, the tomb of Timur the Great, and the most sacred site for all Uzbeks, Shah-i-Zinda. We will taste the national dish plov and wash it down with good vodka. You will enjoy this tolerant blend of Islam and the former Soviet world.
Two nights in Samarkand.
This time we continue by high-speed train to Bukhara, which has been taken under the patronage of UNESCO. The journey will take just under two hours. According to many, Bukhara is the most beautiful historical city in Uzbekistan. Highlights include the Kalon Minaret, the Ark Fortress, Noah’s Well, the Ulugh Beg Mosque, and Chor Minor.
Two nights in Bukhara, in the city center.
We will transfer by private transport to another pearl of the Silk Road – Khiva, located approximately five hours from Bukhara. During the transfer, we will cross the mighty Amu Darya river via the famous railway bridge, which is an experience in itself.
Khiva is among the most beautiful cities in Uzbekistan – it looks as if it were cut straight out of the tales of One Thousand and One Nights. In the afternoon, we will tour this enchanting and extremely photogenic historic town, where minarets, madrasas, and narrow streets breathing an ancient atmosphere hide behind the city walls.
Overnight stay in the heart of Khiva, right in the city center, so we can enjoy its charm even after dark.
Today you have a choice. Either wander through the historic city center or set off on a full-day trip to the former Aral Sea. You can decide directly on site.
Option 1: You can expect narrow clay alleyways, photogenic mosques, and exotic bazaars. Look forward to a beautiful historic center that has not yet been discovered by mass tourism. Time to buy souvenirs before flying home.
Option 2: A half-day trip to the Aral Sea, or rather to its part that was once a rich port. Today, there is a ship cemetery on the shore of the dried-up lake. On the way back, we will stop at the former caravanserai, Mizdakhan, and Gyaur Kala.
Departure in the early morning from Khiva to the Turkmenistan border, which is among the most exotic in the world. Time seems to have stopped here. We are entering a country visited by the fewest tourists. It is more closed off than North Korea.
After completing all entry formalities, we continue our journey to the Darvaza gas crater, nicknamed the “Gateway to Hell.” Not only will we stay overnight near this unique site, but we will also take an evening trip to the crater. We will sleep in a traditional yurt in the desert under a sky filled with a billion stars.
Early in the morning we will transfer to Ashgabat, with the route passing by other craters – this time, however, instead of flames, water will be reflecting. Along the way, we will stop in a local village and peek into everyday life in the desert. If we are lucky, we may spot falconers, desert foxes, or herds of camels.
In Ashgabat, we will have a day and a half to explore this bizarre marble city, which has no equal in the world. Where else would you find so much marble, gold, and fountains? On one side, socialist architecture; on the other, futuristic buildings reminiscent of Dubai. Grandiose monuments, huge parks, and structures that seem to defy logic.
We will see the wedding palace for six thousand people, the wheat museum, and the talking Ruhnama book written by the “great leader” himself. We will stand before the statue behind which the sun allegedly rotates, as well as in front of the world’s largest golden dog statue. We will also visit the monumental cyclists’ monument, one of the largest mosques in the world, and the grandiose Avenue of Ministries.
Ashgabat is a city where you will constantly ask yourself: “Really?” And believe me, there will be things that make you shake your head in disbelief.
Flight home from one of the most expensive airports in Central Asia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The program awaiting you has already been prepared and successfully guided more than 20 times. The experiences are therefore not based on chance, but on many years of experience and detailed knowledge of the region.
The journey was designed by Martin Navrátil, author of the successful book OKOLO SVETA (Around the World) on the Silk Road and creator of numerous reports not only about Uzbekistan but also about Turkmenistan. Thanks to this, during the trip we will gain access not only to monuments but also to broader connections, stories, and context that make the Silk Road so exceptional.
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are countries we not only know but also love. We have been returning here for years, always discovering something new, and we are happy to share these experiences with you. We believe this journey will enrich you not only with unforgettable experiences but also with a deeper understanding of this fascinating region.
Our mission is to organize unconventional expeditions to less-visited countries around the world, off the main tourist trails.
Mission
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We offer you a distinctive kind of travel experience, tailored precisely to each client’s individual requirements. Your trips will be prepared by Martin Navrátil, a traveller and tour guide with over 20 years of experience from almost every country in the world. Over the course of his travels he has created hundreds of tours, not only to well-known places but also to destinations people don’t normally visit — from the South Pole and Baikonur to countries that require a great many permits and specialist experience.
It is precisely this experience that forms the foundation of our tailor-made trips. This is a distinctive kind of travel experience, adapted down to the very last detail to your wishes. Whether you’re a small group of friends or a company team, we’ll put together an itinerary based on whatever appeals to you most — culture, nature, history, food, adventure, or a combination of everything.
Our job is to turn your travel dreams into reality. We don’t offer “packages,” but experiences tailored precisely to you. Traveling with us isn’t just about the place you visit — it’s about the stories we’ll create together and the memories you’ll always love coming back to.
