Destinations / Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

2 itineraries · 0 open departures · 0 missions

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are two of Central Asia's most compelling destinations, sitting at the heart of the ancient Silk Road trade routes that once connected China to the Mediterranean. Uzbekistan dazzles with the iconic cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva — home to breathtaking Islamic architecture including the Registan ensemble, towering minarets, and turquoise-domed mausoleums. Turkmenistan, one of the world's most closed-off countries, draws adventurous travellers with surreal sights like the Darvaza Gas Crater — a vast flaming pit in the Karakum Desert — and the gleaming white marble capital Ashgabat. Together, they offer a rare and immersive journey through ancient empires, desert landscapes, and cultures shaped by Persian, Mongol, and Timurid history.

What travellers are doing

Itineraries

-77%

BUSTED

We estimate you can save 77% over G Adventures's tour.

Save £4,040 (77% off)

£5,220 retail with G Adventures → £1,180 self-launched

Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan · 11 days

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Silk Road Self-Launched: Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan Independently

A self-launched version of G Adventures' 11-day "Signature: Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan" trip — same Silk Road cities (Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Ashgabat) and the same headline experiences, but booked independently with guesthouses, local guides and public transport. You'll ride the Afrosiyob high-speed trains, eat plov in a Bukhara courtyard, bake samsas with a village family, cross the Shavat border overland on foot, and fly Dashoguz–Ashgabat. The big saving comes from swapping luxury hotels and a private Expedition Leader for guesthouses and day-hire guides. Note: Turkmenistan requires a visa with a Letter of Invitation (LOI) arranged through a licensed local agency — this is the one piece you cannot fully DIY, but it's still far cheaper than a tour. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.

cultureadventureslow-travel

Travel Crew

~£1,180

-39%

BUSTED

We estimate you can save 39% over G Adventures's tour.

Save £905 (39% off)

£2,325 retail with G Adventures → £1,420 self-launched

Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan · 13 days

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Best of Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan: Self-Launched Silk Road Adventure

A self-launched 13-day Silk Road route from Tashkent to Ashgabat covering Samarkand, a Nurata desert yurt camp on Lake Aydarkul, Bukhara, Khiva, the Dashoguz/Kunya-Urgench area and the Darvaza gas crater. You'll use Uzbekistan's excellent Afrosiyob high-speed trains and shared taxis, book a Turkmenistan Letter of Invitation (LOI) through a local agency (essential — you cannot enter independently without one), and hire a guide-driver for the Turkmenistan leg. Costs are estimates; the Turkmenistan visa, LOI fee and mandatory guided transport are the biggest variable. Note: prices in GBP, approximate current budget/backpacker rates.

cultureadventurebackpacker

Travel Crew

~£1,420

Missions

Nobody's posted a Mission for Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan yet — which, frankly, is an opportunity.

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