Across Turkmenistan in 5 Days: Iran Border to Bukhara
Overview
For overlanders arriving from Iran: we meet you at the Bajgiran crossing and take you across the whole country — Ashgabat, the crater, Merv — to the Farap border with Uzbekistan. Transit-visa support included, hotels four-star, one yurt night.
Highlights
Is this trip for you?
- Overlanders and Iran-to-Uzbekistan travellers
- Anyone who wants the whole country in one straight line
- You are flying in — take the Ashgabat-to-Bukhara route instead
- You want the Kunya-Urgench ruins (they are off this line)
Our honest opinion
- The Bajgiran road is a dramatic descent from the Kopet Dag
- Everything from the first border to the last is handled
- Transit visas are strict about dates — no flexibility once issued
- Four road days out of five
Have your Uzbek onward plan confirmed before applying — the transit visa needs it.
The trip in numbers
Your route
Line style shows how you travel each leg: solid = train, dotted = car, dashed = flight.
Day by day
Border meeting, the mountain road down to the capital and a first evening in the marble city.
City tour and Nisa, then north to the crater for dinner by the fire.
Back to the capital; afternoon at the Turkmenbashi mosque and the Kipchak cemetery.
Drive east and an afternoon in ancient Merv.
Drive to the Farap border and handover to our Uzbekistan team.
What’s included
What’s not included
Where you’ll stay
Or equivalent, depending on season. Hotels are inside or beside the historic centres wherever the town has one.
Good to know
Most nationalities enter Uzbekistan visa-free for 30–90 days. If your passport needs an e-visa, it takes 2–3 working days online — we check your case and guide you at booking.
The local currency is the Uzbek som (UZS). Visa and Mastercard work in city hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; keep some cash for bazaars, taxis and tips. ATMs dispense som and sometimes USD.
April–June and September–November are warm and clear — ideal for walking the old cities. July–August afternoons exceed 35°C; winter departures run at reduced prices.
Uzbekistan uses European plug types C and F, 220V. Travellers from the UK, US and Asia need a standard Euro adapter — one per device is enough, hotels have plenty of sockets.
Everyday dress is relaxed across all four cities. Inside mosques and madrasas, shoulders and knees should be covered; headscarves for women are only needed in a few active mosques — your guide will tell you when.
Your included eSIM is activated on arrival, so you’re online from the airport. Hotel Wi-Fi is reliable in all four cities; your coordinator stays reachable on WhatsApp or Telegram throughout.
Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. 50% refund up to 15 days before; after that the booking is non-refundable, but you can move to another date once for free.
Medical insurance for the tour days is included. We still recommend personal travel insurance covering cancellation and baggage — we can suggest trusted providers.
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