toscanafoto

I want to share with the community the photos of my trip to Uzbekistan

I visited: Bukhara - Khiva - Samarkand - Tashkent - Shahrisabz

To see my photo gallery click on the link below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcodi...7628835342783/

I want to point out the major tourist attractions

> Samarkand what to visit:
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- Historical centre is UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Registan ( the main square )
- Shah-i-Zinda ( complex of buildings with Mausoleo and cemeteries )
- Gur Emir Mausoleum ( Timur Mausoleum ) - Shaybanids Mausoleum
- Ulugbek Observatory ( astronomical observatory )
- Madrasa Tilya Kori - Madrasa Ulugh Beg Madrasah - Madrasa Sher Dor - Madrasa Khodja Abdi Darun Shrine - Madrasa Khodja Akrar
- Bibi Khanym Mosque
- Siab Dekhkhan Central Bazaar ( central Market )
- Chorsu trading dome ( covered market )
- Afrasiab Museum

> Bukhara what to visit:
---------------------------
- Historical centre is UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Ark ( fortress )
- Bakhautdin Naqshband Mausoleum - Ismail Samani Mausoleum ( Samanids ) - Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum - Turki Jangi Mausoleum
- Poi Kalyan or Po-i-Kalyan Mosque - Kalon Mosque - Maghoki-Attar or Magoki-Attor Mosque
- Minaret Kalyan
- Madrasa Mir-i Arab - Madrasa Chor Minor - Madrasa Kukeldash - Madrasa Gaukushan
- Lyab-i-Hauz or Lyab-i Khauz ( a square with a large central pond )
- Trade dome Tagi Zargaron or Taqi-Zargaron ( large building with market inside )
- Fayzulla Khujayev House ( house museum )
- Zindan ( an old prison )
- Chor-Bakr ( 6 km from Bukhara there is a Mosque and a cemetery )
- Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa or Palace of Moon-like Stars ( 30 min. from Bukhara was the summer residence of the Emir )

> Khiva what to visit:
------------------------
- Itchan Kala ( Historical centre is UNESCO World Heritage Site )
- Kunya-ark ( citadel )
- Friday Mosque Juma ( with 213 wooden columns )
- Tash Khauli or Stone Palace ( house museum )
- Madrasa Mohammed Amin - Madrasa Shirgazi Khan - Madrasa Allah Kuli Khan
- Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum
- Sayid Allauddin Tomb

> Shahrisabz what to visit:
------------------------------
- Historical centre is UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Ark ( remains of the fortress )
- Dorus Saodat or Dorussiadat Mausoleum - Jahongir Mausoleum - Shamshiddin Kulol Mausoleum
- Dorut-Tilavete or Dor-ut Tillavat - Dorus-Syadot or Dor-ut Siodat - Ak-Saray Palace ( buildings )
- Caravanserai Kobu
- Kok Gumbaz Mosque - Malik Ajdar Mosque - Khazratiy Imam Mosque - Friday Mosque
- Aq-Saray Palace
- Amir Temur Crypt ( the tombs of the ancestors of Timur )
- Chorsu ( covered market )

> Tashkent what to visit:
----------------------------
- Khast Imam Mosque - Teleshayakh Mosque
- Madrasa Kukeldash
- TV tower ( panoramic tower with an observatory at 97 meters )
- Mustakillik Square ( Independence Square )
- Amir Timur Museum - Fine Arts Museum of Uzbekistan - Museum of Applied Art - Museum of History
- Theater Ilkhom - Theater Navoi Opera
- Chorsu ( covered market )
- Alisher Navoi Park
- The metro stations

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I want to share with the community the photos of my trip to Turkmenistan

I visited: Ashgabat - Mary - Merv - Konye-Urgench - Nisa - Gunar Tepe - Tolkuchka - Turkmenabat

To see my photo gallery click on the link below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcodi...7629030656449/

I want to point out the major tourist attractions

> Ashgabat what to visit:
----------------------------
- Nisa archaeological site is UNESCO World Heritage Site
- National Museum of History
- Tolkuchka ( beautiful market )
- Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
- Unabhängigkeitsdenkmal ( monument )
- Neutralitatsdenkmal ( building )
- Desert

> Mary what to visit:
-----------------------
- Merv archaeological site is UNESCO World Heritage Site
- National History and Ethnology Museum
- Desert

- Konye-Urgench archaeological site is UNESCO World Heritage Site

- Gunar Tepe archaeological site

Another attraction is Derweze - What is Derweze " Door to Hell " ?

From Wikipedia: The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 70 metres (230 ft) To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today. Locals have dubbed the cavern "The Door to Hell"

skchin

Great photos. I can't believe I'm the only one to post a feedback. This brought back memories from my visit to Dogestan and Azerbaijan several years ago. I hope you experienced the hospitality of the Caspi people. I've had my share of "chai" from many hospitable families.

glennaa11

very nice. Hoping to do a Silk Road trip some day. Were you on your own or on a tour?

AnitaBryant63

How safe were these countries? They look amazing, but I'm concerned about safety. I'd also like to know were you with a tour or alone.

IaninDC

Here's one of my snapshots of the Registan

And one from Khiva:

toscanafoto

I was with a group and the trip was organized by a tour operator

I had no problems and I really enjoyed the trip

Reismicrobe

Fantastic pictures!

We have only visited Uzbekistan so we can only comment on this country. It is a safe country which it easily visited independently. We did so with two small kids and never experienced any issue.

Domestic flights can be reserved online, and hotels by e-mail. Let me know if you have specific questions.

SanDiego1K

What tour company did you use? Was it a group or private tour?

toscanafoto

I bought the trip with an italian tour operator ( I am italian ). Local tour operators in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan unfortunately do not remember sorry !

SanDiego1K

Does anyone have hotels you'd recommend along the tourist route in these two countries? What did you like about the hotel?

BuildingMyBento

I think Koryo Tours has groups going to Turkmenistan too.

rankourabu

I recommend looking at Advantour. They are a great resource, even if you dont do one of their tours (which I recommend, as they have fixed guaranteed group departures - lowering costs substantially)

Stayed at the Hotel Uzbekistan in TAS. You cant miss it. It towers over the adjacent park. In Ashgabat - it was Ak Altyn.

In the smaller town in Uz, you are best off staying at little boutique hotels.

SanDiego1K

Thanks. I contacted them last year when I began planning my trip and will be contacting them soon. Their price was a fraction of what most charge and yet the itinerary appears to be as solid. They will do a custom trip for two which is what I want.

toscanafoto

Sorry, I don't remember the names of the hotel of my trip. However they were not good

Bonaturtle

I head to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan & Tajikistan in a month, so this info is quite useful as there still isn't a ton of info to be found on these places, outside of Uzbekistan which I think will be a travel hot spot sooner than later.