Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan – The Marco Polo Route

Breakfast and an excursion to Gobustan to visit the museum and discover the region's petroglyphs. Continue to the mud volcanoes and return to Baku to visit the Bibi-Heybat Mosque. Walk through Icherisheher, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Maiden Tower, the ruins of St Bartholomew's Church, old hammams and historic mosques. Lunch included. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Baku. UNESCO: Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah’s Palace and Maiden Tower; Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape.

Breakfast and a visit to the Baku viewpoint overlooking the Caspian bay. Excursion to the Absheron Peninsula to visit the Ateshgah Fire Temple in Surakhani and Yanar Dag, the Burning Mountain. On returning to Baku, visit the Heydar Aliyev Center (exterior visit only), designed by Zaha Hadid, and Yashil Bazaar, known for fresh produce, spices and local specialities. Lunch included and overnight in Baku.

After breakfast, visit the YARAT contemporary art space and the Carpet Museum. Walk along the Caspian seafront boulevard and have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan and the house of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. Return to the hotel and overnight in Baku.

Morning departure for Guba and a visit to the Red Village, Qırmızı Qəsəbə. Continue to a traditional carpet workshop and have lunch in a local home. In the afternoon, travel to Khinalig and visit its Local History Museum. Return to Baku and transfer to the airport for the direct flight to Tashkent. Arrive in the early hours, meet the local guide and driver, transfer to the hotel and stay overnight. The flight schedule will be reconfirmed before travel. UNESCO: Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route.

Breakfast and a tour of old Tashkent: the Hazrati Imam complex, Barak-Khan Madrasa, Tillya Sheikh Mosque and Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum. Visit Chorsu Bazaar, the Museum of Applied Arts and the Kosmonavtlar and Alisher Navoi metro stations. Lunch, followed by Amir Timur Square and Theatre Square. In the afternoon, transfer to the station for the train to Samarkand. Arrive and transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast and a visit to Registan Square, with the Ulugbek, Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kori madrasas. Continue to the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Siab Bazaar. Lunch at a local restaurant and an afternoon visit to the Shakhi Zinda necropolis. Overnight in Samarkand. UNESCO: Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures.

Breakfast and transfer to the station for the journey to Bukhara. If train seats are unavailable, the journey will be made by road. On arrival, visit the Samanid Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub, Bolo Hauz Mosque and the Ark Citadel. After lunch, tour the Kalyan Minaret, Poi Kalyan Mosque, Miri Arab Madrasa, the covered markets of Toki Zargaron, Toki Telpak Furushon and Toki Sarafon, the Ulugbek and Abdullazizkhan madrasas, Magoki Attori Mosque, the Lyabi Hauz complex and Chor Minor. Overnight in Bukhara. UNESCO: Historic Centre of Bukhara.

After breakfast, travel by road to Khiva through the Kyzylkum Desert. The journey is approximately 451 km and seven hours. Lunch en route. Arrive at the hotel and enjoy free time to rest. Overnight in Khiva.

Breakfast and a tour of Ichan-Kala. Visit Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark Fortress, the Mohammed Rahim Khan and Islam Khodja madrasas, Tash Hovli Palace, the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum and Allakulikhan Madrasa. Lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel within the historic walled city. UNESCO: Itchan Kala, Khiva.

Breakfast and transfer to the Shavat border to enter Turkmenistan. Continue towards Darvaza through the Dashoguz region, a journey of approximately 300 km. Visit the gas crater and view the landscape at dusk. Barbecue dinner and overnight near the crater.

Picnic breakfast and a road transfer of approximately 280 km to Ashgabat. In the afternoon, tour the city and its buildings and monuments: the Presidential Palace, Ruhyyet Palace, Wedding Palace, Yildyz Hotel, observation wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Independence Monument and Park, Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, sports facilities and residential complexes. Lunch included and overnight in Ashgabat.

After breakfast, visit Nisa Fortress near Bagyr and the National Museum of History and Ethnography. Continue to Kipchak to see the Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque. Visit the Halk Hakydasy memorial complex and the Watan Mukaddesligi Museum. Lunch included and overnight in Ashgabat. UNESCO: Parthian Fortresses of Nisa.

Breakfast and departure for Gokdepe via Arkadag, at the foot of the Kopetdag Mountains. Visit an Akhal-Teke horse farm, Gokdepe Fortress and Saparmyrat Hajy Mosque. Meet a local family to learn about traditional clothing, carpet and felt making, and the preparation of dishes such as dograma and ishlekli, traditional bread and pishme. Share lunch with the family. Return to Ashgabat and visit Gulistan Bazaar. Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport and departure on the return flight.