Itinerary
- Day 1
Ashgabat
Your guide and driver meet you at Ashgabat airport, then it's a private car ride to your hotel. After you settle in, the rest of the day is yours to wander around the city at your own pace and get a feel for things.
- Start point
- Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (Airport Pick-up)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sport Hotel or similar)
Optional Activities
- Explore Ashgabat independently
- Day 2
Ashgabat to Darvaza Gas Crater
Following breakfast, you'll head to Ertugrul Gazi Mosque to see the Turkish architectural details, then stop by the horse stable to see the Akhal-Teke horses up close. Later, you're in for a 4-hour drive through the golden Karakum Desert toward Darvaza Gas Crater, with stops at the Mud and Water craters on the way. By evening, there's a BBQ dinner with flames all around, and you'll sleep in a yurt camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BBQ dinner surrounded by flames)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Yurt Camp)
Included Activities
- Visit Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
- Visit horse stable to view Akhal-Teke horses
- Drive through Karakum Desert with stops at Mud and Water craters
- Visit Darvaza Gas Crater
Landmarks Ertugrul Gazi Mosque Darvaza Gas Crater 
- Day 3
Ygdykala Fortress
You'll drive west to see what remains along the ancient Uzboy River and have a picnic lunch at Guy-Islam settlement. Afterward, there's Ygdykala Fortress with its slate walls and clay plaster facade to explore. Climb up to the top for views stretching across the Uzboy River, then camp nearby with a picnic dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch at Guy-Islam desert settlement), Dinner (Picnic dinner)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Camp)
Included Activities
- Explore ancient Uzboy River relics
- Visit Ygdykala Fortress
- Climb Ygdykala Fortress for overlook views
Landmarks Uzboy River Ygdykala Fortress Guy-Islam desert settlement - Day 4
Uzboy River to Kemal Ata Rock Formations
The drive heads out 245 km to Kemal Ata rock formations where the Kaitarmysh spring flows through volcanic lava, creating unusual shapes. You'll see ornately decorated tombs there that mix Islamic artistry with local building styles. A picnic near Koymat settlement comes next, and you'll camp in the open desert that night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic near Koymat settlement), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Camp)
Included Activities
- Visit Kemal Ata rock formations
- View Kaitarmysh spring flowing through volcanic lava
- View tombs of Kemal Ata
Landmarks Kemal Ata rock formations Kaitarmysh spring Tombs of Kemal Ata Koymat settlement - Day 5
Gozli Ata Mausoleum
It's 40 km to Yangykala Canyon, called 'burning fortress' for its red and ochre hills rising from the desert floor. You'll hike up to the 'Crocodile's Mouth' viewpoint for views of stones glinting below. After a picnic, the route continues to Gozli Ata Mausoleum, a major pilgrimage site with a large Salor tribal cemetery nearby. You'll finish the day hiking through the colorful canyon areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic in Yangykala Canyon), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Gozli Ata pilgrim house)
Included Activities
- Visit Yangykala Canyon
- Ascend to Crocodile's Mouth viewpoint
- Visit Gozli Ata Mausoleum
- View Salor tribal cemetery
- Hiking around colorful canyons
Landmarks Yangykala Canyon Crocodile's Mouth viewpoint Gozli Ata Mausoleum Salor tribal cemetery - Day 6
Gozli Ata to Turkmenbashi
A 3-hour drive takes you to Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea's eastern coast. You'll walk through Awaza Resort and see artificial rivers and bridges, plus miniature replicas of Old Nisa, Ancient Merv, and Kunya Urgench. The seaport visit shows cargo ships, and then there's the fish bazaar to check out before heading to a local hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Yelken Yacht Club Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Awaza Resort
- Explore miniatures of Old Nisa, Ancient Merv, and Kunya Urgench
- Visit seaport
- Visit fish bazaar
Landmarks Awaza Resort Turkmenbashi seaport Fish bazaar - Day 7
Turkmenbashi to Dehistan Ruins
Leaving Turkmenbashi, you'll take a 4.5-hour private drive to Dehistan Ruins passing through the Misrian Salt Plains, a stark landscape that feels almost otherworldly. The ruins have remnants of old mosques, minarets, and mausoleums scattered about. You'll see the Shir Kabir Mosque-Mausoleum, believed to be Turkmenistan's oldest mosque, plus over 100 ancient brick workshops, pottery pieces, old sewage systems, and bathhouses. Camp near the site with a picnic dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Picnic dinner)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Camp)
Included Activities
- Visit Dehistan Ruins
- View Shir Kabir Mosque-Mausoleum
- Explore brick-making workshops
- Explore ancient sewage system and bathhouses
Landmarks Dehistan Ruins Shir Kabir Mosque-Mausoleum Misrian Salt Plains - Day 8
Dehistan to Nokhur Village
The drive goes east for roughly 5 hours toward Nokhur Village, passing through the Sumbar River Valley and the lunar-like landscapes of the Kopet Dag Mountains. You'll explore a local tribal cemetery where giant goat horns adorn each tomb, then visit the Qyz-bibi Shrine, a sacred spot for local women. The region's keteni silk weaving traditions get explained, and you'll sleep in a mountain camp with dinner provided.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Camp)
Included Activities
- Visit local tribal cemetery
- Visit Qyz-bibi Shrine
- Learn about keteni silk weaving traditions
Landmarks Nokhur Village tribal cemetery Qyz-bibi Shrine Sumbar River Valley Kopet Dag Mountains - Day 9
Nokhur Village to Ashgabat
A 2-hour drive back toward Ashgabat includes a stop at Kow Ata Underground Lake inside a natural cave. You'll descend over 200 steps to reach the lake where sulfur scent fills the air. Relaxing in the warm water happens while bats fly overhead, since this cave holds Central Asia's largest bat colony.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sport Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Kow Ata Underground Lake
- Descend into natural cave
- Relax in underground lake
Landmarks Kow Ata Underground Lake 
- Day 10
Ashgabat Departure
After breakfast, your driver takes you to the airport based on your flight time. Your 10-day Turkmenistan tour comes to an end with plenty of memories from the journey.
- End point
- Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (Airport See-off)
- Meals
- Breakfast
