Itinerary
- Day 1
Ashgabat
You'll arrive in Ashgabat and meet your guide and driver for the drive to your hotel. After you check in, you'll head out on a city tour that takes you through several important sites. The Parthian Fortresses of Nisa (a UNESCO World Heritage site) come first, followed by the Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque. You'll also visit the Earthquake Memorial Complex and spend some time at Makhtumkuli Park. By evening you'll head back to the hotel.
- Start point
- Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (Airport Pick-up)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sport Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- City tour of Ashgabat
- Visit Parthian Fortresses of Nisa (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- Visit Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque (Gypjak Mosque)
- Visit Earthquake Memorial Complex
- Visit Makhtumkuli Park
Landmarks Parthian Fortresses of Nisa Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque (Gypjak Mosque) Earthquake Memorial Complex Makhtumkuli Park - Day 2
Ashgabat
After breakfast, you'll spend the morning at the National History Museum checking out rare ancient objects from the region. Next you'll go to Alem Center to see the world's largest indoor Ferris wheel, and you'll ride it up to the Wedding Palace Viewpoint for views over the city. In the afternoon, you'll visit Independence Park and the Arch of Neutrality. Later you'll head to a local stable to meet Akhal-Teke horses, then check out Ertugrul Gazi Mosque and Inspiration Park. You'll browse through Gulistan Bazaar before returning to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sport Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit National History Museum
- Visit Alem Center (world's largest indoor Ferris wheel)
- Visit Wedding Palace Viewpoint
- Visit Independence Park and Arch of Neutrality
- Meet Akhal-Teke horses at stable
- Visit Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
- Visit Inspiration Park
- Visit Gulistan Bazaar
Landmarks National History Museum Alem Center Wedding Palace Viewpoint Independence Park Arch of Neutrality Ertugrul Gazi Mosque Inspiration Park Gulistan Bazaar - Day 3
Ashgabat to Mary
You'll travel about 4 hours to Mary (Merv), and on the way you'll stop at the Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque Ruins in Annau. Once in Mary, you'll explore Ancient Merv, one of the oldest oasis cities on the Silk Road, where you can see fortresses, towers, mosques, and the Sultan Sunjar Mausoleum. During the afternoon, you'll visit Pokrovskaya Church and the Gurbanguly Hajji Mosque (also called Juma Mosque). Before heading back to your hotel, you'll browse a local bazaar. You'll stay overnight in Mary.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mary Hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Stop at Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque Ruins in Annau
- Explore Ancient Merv State Historical and Cultural Park
- Visit Sultan Sunjar Mausoleum
- Visit Pokrovskaya Church
- Visit Gurbanguly Hajji Mosque (Juma Mosque)
- Explore local bazaar in Mary
Landmarks Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque Ruins Ancient Merv Sultan Sunjar Mausoleum Pokrovskaya Church Gurbanguly Hajji Mosque (Juma Mosque) - Day 4
Mary to Darvaza
You'll fly back to Ashgabat (about 40 minutes) or drive depending on flight schedules (4 hours total). After you arrive, you'll check out the Turkmen Carpet Museum which holds over 2,000 carpets on display. Then you'll visit the lively Teke Bazaar. In the afternoon, you'll take a 4-hour 4WD trip across the Karakum Desert to reach the Darvaza Gas Crater, often called the Door to Hell. You'll stop to see the Mud and Water Craters along the way. At the crater, you'll have a BBQ dinner and spend the night at a yurt camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (BBQ dinner by the Darvaza Gas Crater)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Yurt Camp)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit Turkmen Carpet Museum
- Explore Teke Bazaar
- 4WD desert trip to Darvaza Gas Crater (Door to Hell)
- Stop at Mud Crater and Water Crater
- BBQ dinner by the crater
- Dinner
Landmarks Turkmen Carpet Museum Teke Bazaar Darvaza Gas Crater (Door to Hell) Mud Crater Water Crater - Day 5
Darvaza to Dashoguz to Ashgabat
You'll wake early so you can watch the Darvaza Gas Crater flame during daylight hours. After breakfast, you'll drive about 4 hours to Dashoguz. There you'll visit Kunya Urgench Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site with the Turabek Khanum Mausoleum and the Kutlug-Timur Minaret. Later you'll fly back to Ashgabat (about 50 minutes) and your driver will transfer you to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sport Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Watch Darvaza Gas Crater during daylight
- Visit Kunya Urgench Historical Park (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- Visit Turabek Khanum Mausoleum
- Visit Kutlug-Timur Minaret
Landmarks Darvaza Gas Crater (Door to Hell) Kunya Urgench Historical Park Turabek Khanum Mausoleum Kutlug-Timur Minaret - Day 6
Ashgabat to Nokhur to Ashgabat
After breakfast, you'll travel 4 hours to Nokhur Village, and on the way you'll stop at Kow Ata Underground Lake inside a natural cave. There you can take a therapeutic soak in the mineral-rich water. Once you reach Nokhur Village, you'll have lunch and then visit a century-old parasol tree and tribal cemeteries. You'll explore Qyz-bibi Shrine, then head back toward Ashgabat. On the way, you'll stop at Gokdepe Fortress and Saparmyrat Hajji Mosque before arriving back at the hotel in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sport Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Visit Kow Ata Underground Lake
- Bathe in mineral-rich underground lake
- Visit Nokhur Village
- Lunch
- Visit century-old parasol tree in Nokhur
- Explore tribal cemeteries
- Visit Qyz-bibi Shrine
- Visit Gokdepe Fortress
- Visit Saparmyrat Hajji Mosque (Gokdepe Mosque)
Landmarks Kow Ata Underground Lake Nokhur Village Qyz-bibi Shrine Gokdepe Fortress Saparmyrat Hajji Mosque (Gokdepe Mosque) - Day 7
Ashgabat Departure
You'll head to the airport according to your flight schedule for your departure from Turkmenistan.
- End point
- Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (Airport See-off)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Airport transfer
