Turkmenistan Budget Historic Sightseeing Tours & Packages Tours & Trips

Highlights

• Explore the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva – steeped in Silk Road history and immortalised in many great tales, this town is as photogenic as it is legendary.
• Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, aka the 'Gates to Hell' as you camp nearby – one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth.
• Stay at a local guesthouse in a rural village in Turkmenistan – a rare opportunity to get up close to local people’s life – and visit a local horse breeder who preserves the precious breed that is the national treasure of Turkmenistan – Akhal-Teke horses.
• See the sprawling ruins of Mary, Merv and other ancient kingdoms and contemplate the remnants of empires that once ruled these vast lands.
• Learn how Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and has enjoyed a surreal and futuristic makeover since. Witness its often bizarre, but certainly memorable architecture on a city tour with a local leader who has all the insights.

Highlights

• Take an incredible journey through parts of Central Asia that few people can find on a map, let alone have considered travelling to!
• Discover the history of the Silk Road – see the much-photographed Registan in Samarkand (one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture), spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara (a 6th-century city), visit the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva and explore the sprawling ruins of Mary.
• Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, aka the 'Door to Hell' as you camp in isolated desert – this is one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth. Spend the evening warming yourself by the fire and sleeping in a yurt overlooking the crater.
• Get to know the stories and people of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan while sharing home-cooked meals with local families, including a home stay in the remote Nuratau Mountains in Uzbekistan and a rare chance to stay with a Turkmen family in Nohur village.
• Learn how Ashgabat rose from the devastation of an earthquake in 1948 and witness its often bizarre, but certainly memorable architecture on a city tour.

Highlights

• Explore Central Asia – a fascinating and unique mix of ancient Silk Road culture, post-soviet culture and redefined nations living in post-independence.
• Discover the history of the Silk Road – see the much-photographed Registan in Samarkand (one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture), spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara (a 6th-century city), visit the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva and explore the sprawling ruins of Mary.
• Be treated to traditional hospitality and get a unique insight into the daily life of locals during a Kyrgyz homestay, a night in a guesthouse in Uzbekistan and the rare chance to stay with a local family in Turkmenistan.
• Marvel at the beautiful natural landscapes in this ever-changing land – see Son-Kol Lake’s flocks of sheep, goats and horses, witness the majesty of the Kyrgyzstans Mountains, visit Issy-Kul Lake, watch the ever-burning flames of ‘The Gates of Hell’ and take in the vast desert of Turkenistan.
• Rub shoulders with locals, bargain in the bazzars and sit down for a homemade plov meal – with your expert leader by the side, you’ll really get into the local insight and learn what’s common and what’s different between these three stans.

Highlights

• Bishkek - begin your overland journey in the emerging and hospitable capital of Kyrgyzstan
• Ashgabat - explore Turkmenistan's off the beaten track capital city on a guided minibus tour taking in the plethora of white marble buildings
• Vardzia - discover this amazing cave monastery which was mostly abandoned centuries ago but is still inhabited by a handful of monks
• Samarkand - spend three days exploring the jewel in Uzbekistan's crown and see the stunning architecture of the Registan plaza
• Darvaza - admire the flaming Darvaza Gas Crater which was created accidentally in 1971 and is known by the locals as the "Door to Hell"

Highlights

• Istanbul - Begin your adventure in the cosmopolitan Turkish city, which is the only city in the world that lies in two continents - Asia and Europe
• Cappadocia - Enjoy guided sightseeing of the enchanting region including the underground city of Kaymakli and the valley of Ihlara
• Tbilisi - See the highlights of Georgia's charming capital city including the Sioni Cathedral and the hilltop Narikala Fortress
• Lake Sevan - Camp on the shore of this breathtaking lake which is home to the only beaches in Armenia
• Vardzia - Take in the incredible underground cave city including the monastery which is still maintained by a handful of dedicated monks