Tashkent to Turkey - 48 Days
Member Savings
Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)
Overview
Highlights
- Tashkent - begin your amazing journey in the clean and modern Soviet-style capital city of Uzbekistan
- Samarkand - join a guided tour of the jewel in Uzbekistan's crown to see the incredible Registan Square and the Shah-I-Zinda necropolis
- Kyzylkhum Desert - stay in a traditional felt yurt in the desert, take a dip in Lake Ajdar Kul and visit the nearby town of Nurata
- Bukhara - learn about the fascinating past of the city and see the Kalyan Minaret which was once used as a place of execution
- Khiva - discover highlights of the ancient city including it's imposing city walls, the turquoise Kalta Minor Minaret and Juma Mosque
- Darvaza - gaze at the flaming Darvaza Gas Crater in the desert, which has been burning away since 1971
- Ashgabat - marvel at the bonkers architecture and marble-clad buildings of Turkmenistan's strange and off the beaten track capital city
- Baku - explore the resource-rich Azerbaijani capital independently to see glistening skyscrapers and the iconic Maiden Tower
- Sheki - visit the exquisite Khan's Palace and spend the night in a converted Silk Road caravanserai which is now a comfortable hotel
- Vardzia - take in the incredible underground cave city including the monastery which is still maintained by a handful of dedicated monks
What's this trip about?
Compare to similar trips
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- 27 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 16 dinners
- 34 nights in hotels / hostels / guesthouses
- 11 nights camping (including 3 nights on campsites, 7 nights wild camping & 1 night camping without facilities)
- 1 night camping in traditional yurt
- 1 overnight ferry from Turkmenbashi - Baku
- All necessary camping equipment (excluding sleeping bags)
- Transportation in an overland expedition vehicle
- Services of two crew (drivers/tour leaders) and local guides along the way
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Guided tour of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva
- Guided visit to the Darvaza Gas Crater and guided minibus tour of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan
- Visit to Gobustan to see the petroglyphs and mud volcanoes
- A stay in the ancient Sheki caravanserai in Azerbaijan
- Visit to the Vardzia Caves in Georgia
- Visits to the Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery & Khor Virap Monastery in Armenia
- Guided sightseeing of Cappadocia, Ephesus, Troy & Gallipoli in Turkey
View Similar Trips
Itinerary
Welcome to Uzbekistan! On arrival in Tashkent you can make your way to our start hotel and there’s a pre-departure Welcome Meeting at 10:00. The rest of your first day is then free to explore Uzbekistan’s clean and modern Soviet-style capital at leisure.
Tashkent - Samarkand. On day 2 we climb aboard our overland truck for the first time and head towards the jewel in Uzbekistan's crown - the incredible Silk Road city of Samarkand. On arrival, the evening is free to head out and explore. We enjoy a guided tour of...
Samarkand - Nurata. This morning we leave Samarkand and venture into the wild Kyzylkhum Desert. Later on we can hike in the Nurata Hills and you may wish to take a dip in Lake Ajdar Kul. There’s an optional camel ride over the rolling sand dunes of the desert and we s...
Nurata - Bukhara. We head out of the desert on day 6, reaching the beautiful and historic Silk Road city of Bukhara, where we'll be staying for the next three nights. We make a quick stop in Nurata en route. On day 7 we enjoy a guided tour of Bukhara, taking in ...
Bukhara - Khiva. On day 9 we say goodbye to Bukhara and embark on a long drive to the welcoming city of Khiva. The next day there’s a guided tour of the city, taking in highlights including the incredible city walls, the turquoise Kalta Minor Minaret and the blue pala...
Khiva - Kunye Urgench (Turkmenistan). Today we leave Uzbekistan behind and cross the border into the closed off country of Turkmenistan. Browse the markets in the border town of Dashoguz before we explore the Kunye Urgench ruins towards the end of the day. Once ...
Kunye Urgench - Darvaza Gas Crater. We continue our journey through the desert today, reaching the incredible Darvaza Gas Crater, known locally as the 'Door to Hell'. The crater was created by accident in 1971 when Soviet oil drillers released gas into the atmos...
Darvaza Gas Crater - Ashgabat. On day 13 we complete our drive to Turkmenistan's bizarre capital city of Ashgabat. The city holds the world record for the highest concentration of marble clad buildings anywhere in the world. On day 14 we embark on a minibus tour...
Ashgabat - Turkmenbashi. Today we have a long drive across Turkmenistan to Turkmenbashi, on the Caspian Sea Coast. If we have time, we'll visit the spectacular Kow Ata Underground Lake on the way. Please note: Our itinerary in Turkmenbashi and over the Caspian...
Turkmenbashi - Baku (Azerbaijan). Today we will hopefully be able to board the ferry across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan. The ferry is a fantastic local experience but please do not expect any luxury whatsoever. These ferries are budget vessels for the locals and cargo hauliers, and are not designed with travellers in mind. There will generally only be seats available for the crossing.
After we've disembarked in Baku, we'll arrive at our hotel. The next few days are free to explore Baku as you please. The oil-rich city is an amazing contrast of the old and new, with glistening skyscrapers contrasting against the old architecture such as the famous M...
Baku - Lahij. This morning we drive to Gobustan, the region known for its bubbling mud volcanoes and ancient petroglyphs. After exploring this site, we continue to Lahij, an ancient mountain settlement which is famous for its copper and arms production. Explore the site at leisure and camp with facilities tonight.
Lahij - Sheki. Today we journey across Azerbaijan to Sheki and visit the beautiful Khan’s Palace. After our visit here, we arrive at our accommodation for the night. There’s a real treat in store as we stay in a hotel built inside an old Silk Road caravanserai, where weary merchants used to stop for a rest and to resupply their caravans.
Sheki - Lagodekhi National Park (Georgia). Today we say goodbye to Azerbaijan and cross into Georgia. We'll spend the night camping in the lush scenery of Lagodekhi National Park, which is located fairly close to the border.
Lagodekhi National Park - Telavi. We head into the Alazani Valley on day 24 and visit the impressive Gremi Citadel en route to the famous wine producing town of Telavi. We'll be basing ourselves in this wine region for the next couple of days. Day 25 sees us exp...
Telavi - Stepantsminda. Leaving Telavi behind, we drive to the town of Stepantsminda, which is nestled in beautiful scenery. During our stay here we’ll enjoy a trek up to the tiny Tsminda Sameba Church, which is hidden away in the rolling hills and mountains of the Georgian Caucasus. There’s also an optional cooking class where you can learn how to make delicious Georgian kinkhalis (meatballs).
Stepantsminda - Mtskheta. This morning is free to relax in Stepantsminda, or we'll hike up to the Tsminda Sameba Church if there wasn't time yesterday. Later in the day we'll head to the town of Mtskheta, where we visit the beautiful 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.
Mtskheta - Vardzia. We head out of Mtskheta and make our way to Borjomi National Park. Enjoy a short hike in the ancient forest and opt to ride a cable car up the mountain before we continue to the incredible Vardzia cave city. First inhabited during the Bronze ...
Vardzia - Armenian Highlands (Armenia). This morning we explore Vardzia if there wasn't time yesterday. We then set off for the Armenian border, finding a suitable spot to wild camp once we have crossed.
Armenian Highlands - Yerevan. On day 30 we visit the Khor Virap Monastery, near the Turkish border. This important pilgrimage site is set in the shadow of Mt Ararat and on a clear day there will be incredible views of the snow-capped peak. After our visit we continue ...
Yerevan - Lake Sevan. Say goodbye to Yerevan as we make our way towards Lake Sevan. There are included stops en route at the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery and Garni Temple. The Geghard Monastery was carved into the rock face of the Azat River Gorge, whilst Garni Tem...
Lake Sevan - Tbilisi (Georgia). Today we cross back into Georgia and pass through the amazing scenery of Dilijan National Park to reach Tbilisi, Georgia's endearing capital city. The rest of today is free to explore the quaint Old City as you please. Consider heading up to Narikala Fortress for amazing views over Tbilisi.
Tbilisi - Gori - Kutaisi. This morning we set off from Tbilisi and head across Georgia to Gori, the city that is famous as the birthplace of former Soviet leader Josef Stalin. There's a guided tour of the city and an included visit to the Stalin Museum, where you'll l...
Kutaisi - Batumi. Today we drive to the hospitable port city of Batumi. Sitting on the Black Sea coast, Batumi is a popular summer getaway destination for Georgians and travellers alike. There’s free time to explore the city and an optional visit to the Batumi Archaeo...
Batumi - Sumela (Turkey). Today we say goodbye to Georgia and the Caucasus, as we cross into Turkey, the last of the six amazing countries on our adventure. We make our way to the incredible Sumela Monastery, which clings to rugged cliffs 1,200m up. The Sumela M...
Sumela - Zara. Today we have a full day's drive through central Turkey towards the magical landscape of Cappadocia. We break the journey at the village of Zara, where we camp.
Zara - Goreme. On day 38 we arrive at the small town of Goreme, nestled in the heart of the magical Cappadocia Mountains. During our two days here we’ll enjoy guided sightseeing in this enchanting subterranean landscape. Explore the underground city of Kaymakli and th...
Goreme - Egirdir. Today we leave Cappadocia behind and continue south towards Egirdir, finding a suitable wild camping spot en route.
Egirdir - Termessos - Olympos. On day 41 we drive to the impressive Pisidian ruins of Termessos, which sit at an altitude of more than 1,000m. After exploring the site, we continue towards Olympos, where we'll be spending the next two nights. Olympos is a popula...
Olympos - Pamukkale. Driving inland, we reach the small village of Pamukkale, which is famous for its mineral rich hot springs and white terraced travertines. Take a walk along these beautiful terraces and opt for a dip in the thermal springs. Tonight, we will either camp near Pamukkale or stay in a local hotel.
Pamukkale - Selcuk. On day 44 we drive to our next destination, Selcuk. We'll be spending the next two nights here. The evening is free to relax in one of the many tea bars in the area. The next day sees us exploring the legendary marble ruins of Ephesus, includ...
Selcuk - Troy - Eceabat. Today we drive along the coast to the ruins of the fabled city of Troy. See the replica Trojan Horse here before we board the ferry to cross the Dardenelles, arriving in Eceabat this afternoon.
Eceabat - Gallipoli - Istanbul. This morning we drive to the Gallipoli peninsula. Here we’ll take a guided tour of the region and can pay our respects at some of the WW1 battlefields and memorials. We’ll also visit ANZAC Cove, the site of some of the fiercest fighting...
Today your adventure comes to an end. Please speak to our Sales team if you'd like to book any extra accommodation in Istanbul in order to further explore the city.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with On The Go Tours.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
On The Go Tours Reviews & Ratings
Other On The Go Tours Reviews
Over all fantastic
Over all fantastic Excellent service, great prices, sup...
Magical Morocco
The Magical Morocco tour is definitely one to remember (for all the right reasons), it's amazing how much can be packed into 13 days with some savvy planning. Our gu...
Jade has been such a help and is always…
Jade has been such a help and is always friendly - even when I had to change things several times. Thanks for your patience and your kindness, Jade. You are a st...
Travelers also viewed
Tour Operator
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights and visas
- Items of a personal nature, additional meals and drinks
- Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
- Sleeping bag and roll mat - please bring your own for camping
- Local payment - $1880pp, paid in USD
Accommodation
18 and over. No upper age limit but anyone over 70 needs to complete a tour suitability form.
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations