Best of Tajikistan & Uzbekistan

Location: Dushanbe

Meals: No Meals

Arrive at any time.

Welcome to the capital of Tajikistan on the Varzob River with snowcapped mountains in the backdrop. There are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting, so get out there and explore.

ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Location: Dushanbe, Kuli Iskandarkul

Accommodation: Homestay Iskander Kul (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a morning tour of Dushanbe, visiting the main monuments, museum, and mosque. After lunch, drive through the valleys and mountains to Iskandar-Kuli for a short hike to Iskander Darya waterfall. Afterward, continue the drive—passing Alexander the Great's lake—to your overnight stay at a local home in the stunning mountain valley. Meet the local people and explore the gorgeous landscape of the Fann Mountains.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy an overnight stay in local homes in this stunningly beautiful area. Meet the locals and explore the gorgeous landscape of the Fann Mountains.

ACTIVITY: Take a short hike through the peaceful Fan Mountains to Iskander Darya waterfall, or Fan Niagra. The Iskander Darya river flows from the famous Iskandarkul Lake, named after Alexander the Great for his love of place. This massive, majestic waterfall falls from a height of 38 meters.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Visit the highlights of the capital city on a guided tour, seeing the Central Mosque and square, Ismail-i-Somoni Monument, the State Flag Pole, and Tajikistan Antiquities Museum.

Location: Kuli Iskandarkul

Accommodation: Homestay Iskander Kul (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, embark on a trek alongside Sarytag and the Karakul River. Return to the homestay for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure. Later, head to Sarytag Village to experience local living and get a better understanding of life in this remote region. After the village exploration, head back to the homestay for a delicious Tajikistan dinner.

FREE TIME: HALF DAY Get out and explore the region.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy an overnight stay in local homes in this stunningly beautiful area. Meet the locals and explore the gorgeous landscape of the Fann Mountains.

Location: Kuli Iskandarkul, Khujand

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Firuz Hotel (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast

Continue on to Khujand, stopping first in Istaravshan to explore a local mosque and Mug Teppe, an ancient citadel fortress stormed by Alexander the Great in 329 BC. Enjoy an optional lunch in a local chaikhana (teahouse) before continuing the drive to Khujand. Wander the city in the afternoon, visiting the Historical Museum of Sughd, resembling a castle, and the Mausoleum of Sheik Muslekheddin.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Visit a fortress stormed by Alexander the Great in 329 BC and again by Arabs in 772 AD. Learn more about the history of this place and soak in the view over the city.

ACTIVITY: Explore the city, visiting the museum and a mausoleum.

Location: Khŭjand, Tashkent

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Uzbekistan (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast

Visit the Khujand market (largest in Tajikistan) before continuing on to the border. Cross into Uzbekistan and drive to the capital city of Tashkent, where modern skyscrapers mix with Soviet-era architecture and mosaic mausoleums. Enjoy a short orientation walk in the evening before an optional dinner.

Some travellers will be joining the group here as they start their journey into Uzbekistan.

ACTIVITY: Visit the market in Khujand. It's the largest in Tajikistan and a great example of a typical Central Asian market. Enjoy browsing what's for sale and opt to sample a few of the local delicacies.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

ACTIVITY: Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Location: Tashkent

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Uzbekistan (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast

Spend the day freely exploring this unique bustling city. Check out one of the many museums, wander the streets admiring the modern, Soviet-era architecture, venture up Tashkent Tower (which offers city views from its observation deck), or wander through the bazaar.

FREE TIME: FULL DAY Head out and explore Uzbekistan's capital city.

Location: Tashkent, Samarkand

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Zilol Baxt Hotel (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast

Travel on to Samarkand, known for intricately beautiful mosques and mausoleums, situated on the Silk Road. Take an orientation walk and opt to visit the Amir Timur Mausoleum, dedicated to the famous conqueror who once hoped to rebuild the empire of Genghis Khan.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Location: Samarkand

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Zilol Baxt Hotel (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast

Embark on a city tour, visiting Ulugbek Observatory, Shaki Zinda complex, the bazaar, Bibi Khanum, and Registan Square. With a free afternoon, continue exploring the Samarkand sights, have a cuppa in a local tea house, or wander around the bazaar. Opt to explore the Tomb of Prophet Daniel, famous for the Biblical story of Daniel and the lions.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Head out and discover more of Samarkand.

ACTIVITY: Visit the important sights of the city with an expert local guide. See the Ulugbek Observatory, Shaki Zinda complex, bazaar, Bibi Khanum, and Registan Square.

Location: Samarkand, Aydar Lake

Accommodation: Camp

Accommodation Name: Yurt Camp Stay Aidarkul (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel out into the desert to visit Chashma Complex, a pilgrimage site in the territory of Nurata, dominated by ruins of Alexander the Great's fortress, Juma mosque, a bath-house, and the ancient Panjvakta mosque. All of this, hiding a holy spring believed to heal diseases. After exploring the complex, head to Aidarkul Lake and opt for a swim before continuing on for an overnight stay in a local yurt camp. Enjoy an authentic Uzbekistan dinner and an evening Kazakh singing show.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: The Chashma Complex in Nurata contains multiple important Islamic sights including the Juma Mosque and spring. The spring is believed to heal diseases and attracts many visitors.

ACTIVITY: The city of Nurata was founded by Alexander the Great in 327BC and the remains of his fortress are still standing. The area is mentioned in many historical texts as being of strategic importance.

ACTIVITY: Stay in traditional felt yurts and experience the way of life in the remote reaches of Uzbekistan.

Location: Aydar Kŭl Camp, Bukhara

Meals: Breakfast

Travel to Bukhara, known as one of the most charming cities in the country, and get your bearings on an orientation walk. Opt to visit the old city bazaars, enjoy a traditional dinner cooked by a local family, visit a hammam (bathhouse), or just relax in the pleasant atmosphere of this Silk Road city.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

FREE TIME: HALF DAY Spend the afternoon wandering and get to know the city.

Location: Bukhara

Meals: Breakfast

Explore Bukhara on a half-day guided walking tour around the beautifully restored mosques, madrassas, and covered markets, or trading domes, that make up the Old City. A centre for pottery, cloth, and carpets, Bukhara is centered around Lyabi-Hauz, a delightful pool of water surrounded by ancient mulberry trees. Wander the artisan shops and narrow twisting streets and alleyways, or sit at a café table and let the evening drift by. Opt to watch a local puppet show held in an old caravanserai, or indulge in a rejuvenating hammam bathhouse.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON This is the perfect city for shopping or enjoying tea and snacks at a chaykhana.

ACTIVITY: Take an included city tour with a local guide to visit the the Samanid Mausoleum, the Ark Citadel, and the Poi-i-Kalon complex. Walk around beautifully restored mosques, madrassas, and covered markets that make up the Old City.

Location: Bukhara, Khiva

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a scenic drive through the desert on a full day's journey to reach UNESCO-listed Khiva, well worth the arduous drive. Get to know this peaceful, picturesque city on a late afternoon orientation walk, and pick your favourite spots to explore more in-depth tomorrow.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Location: Khiva

Meals: Breakfast

Before exploring this historic town on your own, enjoy a guided tour to learn about local life here. Wander through the narrow labyrinth mudbrick alleyways of old town, bargain with locals at the bazaar, admire the madrassas, mosques, and blue mosaic domes, climb up towering minarets, and venture into the dark dungeons Khiva was infamous for back in the 10th century. Explore the inner walls of Ichon-Qala, and enjoy spectacular sunset views on the sand-coloured buildings.

ACTIVITY: Khiva is currently almost a museum city, with well-preserved city walls and ancient monuments. Wander the city and learn about life here and its important place in history.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Continue exploring this historic town.

Location: Khiva, Tashkent

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Uzbekistan (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast

Take a short flight back to Tashkent and enjoy a city tour, then explore on your own with some free time.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

ACTIVITY: Visit the city's highlights with a local guide. Ride the Russian-esque metro and visit the religious centre of the city and Quran Museum. Wander the neighbourhood streets and learn about daily life and history of the city and the Uzbek people.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Get out and explore the city.

Location: Tashkent

Meals: Breakfast

Depart at any time.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.