On first sight Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan seem to be one country divided by a river running through it. This river is the largest river in Central Asia, Amu Darya. Both got ruled by Muslim rulers from Persia and later came under Soviet rule. Hence both countries share some the similarities between them of, but almost seem completely opposite in current political ruling. Uzbekistan is a fairly liberal country whereas Turkmenistan still follows a strict repressive government restricting much of human right freedom and expression. By taking this dual-country Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan tour, you’ll surely get isolated from the rest of the world and get lost in an oriental Middle Eastern Fairly tale.
Brief About Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country which was a cradle of culture for more than two kiloyears. The amount of ancient historical monuments that Uzbekistan houses are next to none in the entire Central Asia. Located centrally along the Silk Road route, the cities long served as a major stop-by destination and commercial base for traders of various regions. These cities now are major sightseeing destination which attracts millions of tourists each year. Our Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan Tour will cover most of the cities some of which are:
Tashkent
The capital city of Uzbekistan will be our first destination. Situated in the Great Silk Road route, it was an important commercial hub for traders. With history dating back to 8th Century AD, it is a jumble of contradiction which deserves a visit. Here are the top sites in Tashkent:
- Old City Tashkent
- Khast-Imam Complex
- Tashkent Polytechnical Museum
Samarkand
One of the oldest cities in Central Asia, Samarkand is dubbed as the “Crossroad of Cultures” because of its ideal location along the Silk Route which facilitated transcontinental trade and relations. Main sightseeing spots included in the package are:
- KoniGhil village
- Registan Square
- BibiKhanum Mosque
- Ulugh Beg Observatory
- Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis
Bukhara
The city of Bukhara is 2,000 years old and is the most complete example of a preserved medieval city in Central Asia. It was an important economic, cultural trading center. Numerous tombs, madrasas, mausoleum can be found in this city. Here are the main sightseeing spots:
- Old Part of Bukhara
- Sitorai-Mokhikhosa
- BakhoutdinNaqshbandi Mausoleum
- Chor-Bakr Necropolis
Brief About Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan on the other hand has also been the crossroad of civilization for centuries facilitating trade. In has been one of the most repressive and conservative countries that has virtually closed its doors to international media, scrutiny and its citizens constantly face threats of government reprisal. Nevertheless Turkmenistan is visited by few intrepid travelers who want to explore beyond the limits and see for themselves the enigmatic ancient offerings that Turkmenistan offers. Here are the main tourist spots in Turkmenistan:
Kunya-Urgench
Situated in the north-western part of Turkmenistan, Kunya-Urgench is a municipality bordering with Uzbekistan. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was the capital of Khorezm region and has many ancient monuments under its belt. Long inhabited by Oghuz and Mongol groups, all of these monuments have distinctive Islamic architectural methods and decors applied to them. Below are some of the tourist sites to see in Kunya-Urgench:
- Mausoleums of TurabekKhanum
- KutlugTimur Minaret
- KonyeUrgenc
- Gate of the Caravanserai
- Il-Arslan Mausoleum
- Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum
Ashgabat
Ashgabat is the capital city of Turkmenistan and is also the largest both in terms of area and population. It is a relatively younger city as compared to its Silk Route cousins which was founded in 1881. It got significantly destroyed in an earthquake in 1948, but has been constantly renovated since then. Below are the main sightseeing spots in Ashgabat:
- Old and New Nisa
- TurkmenbashiRuhy Mosque
- National Museum of History
- Monument of Neutrality
- ErtugrulGazi Mosque