Caravanistan

Read the relevant visa article here, as suggested.

I believe Masaar is an atypical transliteration of Mazar (it's called a Mazar at https://caravanistan.com/things-to-do/uzbekistan/), or mausoleum. So it's basically Shah Fasil mausoleum... but everywhere other than Caravanistan seems to locate it in Kyrgyzstan. So I think it might be the case that S...

Reporting yourself as anything other than "employed" (or "student") is just asking for additional scrutiny, and giving them reasons to deny your visa.

You could probably eliminate a day in Tashkent and a day in Khiva. Or if you do want to keep the day in Khiva, it would be easy to go to Nukus in the morning before going to the Qala. For most people Bukhara is the best place to linger.

https://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/ ... istan.aspx

World Nomads says their coverage is good for everywhere except "Do Not Travel" countries/areas.

Sorry, I just remember 3 days not being long enough for you. Obviously most people find it relatively easy to make fake bookings, but they're probably also willing to pay a tour agency a few dollars to do this for them and/or don't think an embassy is going to contact an airline to vet their tickets.

Not possible, I would think, and really not advisable even if possible.

Self-driving China is difficult and expensive, and that's without the added complication of a rental car. Self-driving Afghanistan seems like a terrible idea, and I doubt any rental company would allow you to do it.

Yeah, if you're looking for a service that will let you book a flight and hold the reservation for weeks or months at a time with absolutely no charge and not even a credit card number, you're not going to find that.