Trekkup Dubai ✔

At 8:00 AM on July 11th 2016, the TREKKUP team summitted Kilimanjaro for the first time and ever since we’ve been climbing this mountain with amazing success and unforgettable memories!

This time we invite you to join us for a journey across most mysterious and the least explored of Central Asia stans, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, combined into one trip. We will discover both of them over a week travel across their deserted lands by plane, train and 4WDs.

Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. In medieval times, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road, a caravan route used for trade with China until the mid-15th century. Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic became independent in 1991.

Uzbekistan
The region’s cradle of culture for more than two millennia, Uzbekistan is the proud home to a spellbinding arsenal of architecture and ancient cities, all deeply infused with the bloody, fascinating history of the Silk Road. In terms of sights alone, Uzbekistan is Central Asia's biggest draw and most impressive showstopper.

In a brief:
- Direct flight to Turkmenistan,
- Ashgabat,
- Darvaza - Doors to hell,
- Domestic flight to Turkmenabat
- Farab/Alat border,

- Border crossing to Uzbekistan
- Bukhara,
- Bullet train Bukhara - Samarkand,
- Samarkand,
- Return flight to Dubai.

Let's go!

DAY 1 :: Arrival in Ashgabat – Darvaza

Early morning arrival in Ashgabat. Immigration procedure, check in to our lavish, white marble hotel and short rest. Foreign passport registration procedure. Quick look at majestic statues of Ashgabat and few other landmarks of the city. In the evening departure to Darvaza. On the way stop at two other craters with water and sulfur mud, both seeping with gas from the underground."A little party never killed nobody" themed BBQ dinner near the main crater. Unforgettable sunset over the gas burning spectacle (camping).

DAY 2 :: Darvaza – Ashgabat

After picnic breakfast we will return to Ashgabat and to visit the city sites not visited the previous day, including Visit UNESCO site Old Nissa, Turkmenbashi Ruhy mosque, Independence square and statues of famous national heroes. Overnight in the hotel.

DAY 3 :: Ashgabat – Turkmenabat – Farab/Alat border

Morning flight from Ashgabat to Turkmenabat. On arrival transfer 40 km to the Farab/Alat border and cross to Uzbekistan.

Bye bye Turkmenistan, welcome to Uzbekistan!

After crossing the border transfer to hotel in Bukhara for overnight.

Day 4 :: Bukhara

After breakfast start discovery of magical monastery-city - place of education and pilgrimage, called often a living museum. Stroll along the Lyabi Khauz Place – one of the most famous places of Bukhara; trading domes; Abdul-Azizkhan and Ulugbek madrassahs. Further to Poi-Kalyan place, with its Kalyan minaret, the main symbol of Bukhara, serving in former times as a lighthouse for caravanneers. Ismail Samani mausoleum – the oldest building in the Central Asia.
Our Uzbekistan experience would not be completed without a ride on a bullet train Afrosiyob to Samarkand. Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 5 :: Samarkand

In the morning sightseeing in the capital of Tamerlane’s powerful empire: Gur-Emir mausoleum – the burial place of the Tamerlane and his dynasty (XIV-XV c). Start with Registan Square, Ulugbem Observatory, free time in the afternoon. Registan Square – the heart of Samarkand with its three madrassahs – representatives of the great past of this city; Samarkand secrets: ancient observatory, paper factory and uzbek local life. Optional visit in local hammam.

Day 6 :: Return

Bye bye Silk Road, early morning flight back to Dubai,

Activities: trekking, swimming, sightseeing, getting amazed with burning gas crater, cultural immersion.
Accommodation & meals: atmospheric 4 star hotels double sharing + 1 night camping, local meals included.

Cost: 7790 AED incl. flights until AUG 21.

Specifically excluded: visa or any border fees, payable individually on arrivals.

Visa:
Turkmenistan - based on pre-approval. Approx. 100 USD, min. 3 weeks.
Uzbekistan - most of passports and UAE residents visa free, otherwise E-visa.

See yah at Silk Road x

Are you ready for weekend overload of iconic forts, romantic palaces, ancient treasures and hidden secrets? From Jaipur to Agra, Amer Fort and Taj Mahal, on bike, boat, and rail!

In a Central Asian intersection of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan across the Wakhan Corridor lays the Republic of Tajikistan, a small enclave country of Persian-speaking, cyrillic writing Tajik peoples once part of the Samanid Empire and most known today for its rugged snow-capped peaks, world-class trekking and climbing across the Fann Mountains, a warm and inviting culture, and what is surely one of the world’s most picturesque turquoise lakes, Iskandarkul!

The capital city of Dushanbe, along the Varzob River in the Gissar Valley, was once the site of several settlements which were rebuilt during the Soviet Era and has become the metropolis it is today, with Barakat covered-market as one of it’s most iconic attractions. With wide tree-lined avenues, museums and monuments around every corner, and cafes and tea-houses to satisfy every craving for Tajik sweets.

One cannot venture across Tajikistan without paying a visit to Iskandarkul. The legendary Lake of Alexander the Great, at nearly 2200 MASL, is iconic in its turquoise still reflections of the surrounding mountains and peaks. The locals will have a few stories to tell about how the lake formed and whether Alexander’s favourite horse Bucephalus still haunts the icy waters, but you’ll have a chance to see and swim this pristine jewel, trek around the “Fann Niagara”, and explore a few sites of scientific expeditions!

Let’s go!!

Day 0 // Dushanbe Departure

Meeting at Dubai Airport for evening flight to Dushanbe.

Day 1 // Yaghnob Valley & Iskandarkul Lake

After early morning arrival and immigration formalities, we’ll transfer to hotel for a very quick rest and breakfast before we hit the road to Varzob through the Anzob Pass and take in our first views of the Fann Mountains along the way.

We’ll continue to Yaghnob Valley for a village visit and local lunch before we reach Iskandarkul Lake where we’ll check-in and take a quick trek to waterfall and first pristine views of the lake! Return to hotel for dinner and rest.

Day 2 // Iskandarkul & Dushanbe

We’ll rise with the sun for a boat trip around the lake before a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before we start our return journey back to Dushanbe. We’ll have a lunch in town before sightseeing few highlights of Somoni Statue, Navruzhoh Palace, and the Mehrigon Market. We’ll have a quick hotel check-in before we head out to enjoy some live music at local pub for dinner. We depart for airport early next morning for return flight home.

Activities: Short trekking, boating, optional swimming, cultural immersion.

Duration: Weekend.

Accommodation & meals: hotels and lake bungalows - double sharing. Meals in guesthouses included, restaurant meals excluded. Bring your fav snacks.

Cost: AED 3520 all incl. flight until SEP 08. Past this date please inquire about cost and availability.