Itinerary
- Day 1
Frankfurt to Ashgabat
You'll fly from Frankfurt to Ashgabat, touching down early in the morning. Once you clear arrivals, a transfer takes you directly to your hotel where you can start settling in.
- Day 2
Ashgabat
After arriving this morning and checking into your hotel, you'll have time for breakfast and to rest up. At 3:00 pm the city tour kicks off, taking you through Independence Monument, the Arch of Neutrality, and Earthquake Monument before heading to Ertogrul Gazi Mosque. Later you'll walk through Gulistan Bazaar to get a feel for local markets and how people shop here. Dinner's included, and then you'll head back to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Ashgabat including Independence Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Earthquake Monument, and Ertogrul Gazi Mosque
- Visit to Gulistan Bazaar
Landmarks Independence Monument Arch of Neutrality Earthquake Monument Ertogrul Gazi Mosque Gulistan Bazaar - Day 3
Ashgabat - Bokurdak - Darwaza
You'll check out after breakfast and head to Altyn Asyr Bazaar, the country's largest market where there's a lot to see. After grabbing lunch at a traditional restaurant, a jeep takes you out to Bokurdak village where you can see rural Turkmen life firsthand. From there you continue to Darvaza crater, known locally as the 'gateway to hell,' arriving in time for sunset. You'll have a rustic BBQ dinner under the stars and sleep overnight in a traditional yurt.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional dishes at Lezzetli Tamdyr restaurant), Dinner (Rustic BBQ dinner under the sparkling starry sky of the Karakum Desert)
Included Activities
- Visit to Altyn Asyr Bazaar
- Lunch at Lezzetli Tamdyr restaurant
- Travel to Bokurdak village
- Visit to Darvaza gas crater
- BBQ dinner in the Karakum Desert
Landmarks Altyn Asyr Bazaar Bokurdak Darvaza Gas Crater 
- Day 4
Darwaza to Ashgabat
Breakfast starts at 08:30, then you drive back toward Ashgabat through the open Turkmen landscape. After lunch, you'll visit Old Nisa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former sanctuary of Parthian kings. The afternoon includes a stop at a Turkmen art bazaar for traditional paintings and handicrafts, followed by a visit to Gypjak Mosque, the country's largest. You'll check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Return journey to Ashgabat
- Visit to Old Nisa UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit to Turkmen art bazaar
- Visit to Gypjak Mosque (Turkmenbashi Mosque)
Landmarks Old Nisa Gypjak Mosque - Day 5
Ashgabat - Kovata - Nokhur - Turkmenbashi
An early start at 07:30 with breakfast, then checkout at 08:00. You're heading to Kow-Ata, an underground lake with warm, mineral-rich water surrounded by stalactite caves. Next is the remote mountain village of Nokhur where you can spend some time. The drive to Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea is long, and you'll check in at your hotel in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to underground lake Kow-Ata
- Visit to Nokhur village
Landmarks Kow-Ata Underground Lake Nokhur - Day 6
Turkmenbashi - Yangykala - Ashgabat
A leisurely breakfast before heading to Yangykala Canyon, where you'll see colorful red, pink, and yellow sandstone formations including the striking 'Crocodile Mouth' rock. You'll also visit Gozli-Ata shrine, an important pilgrimage site. At 18:00 you transfer to the airport for a flight departing 20:30, arriving in Ashgabat at 21:30. After that it's a quick transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Yangykala Canyon
- Visit to Gozli-Ata shrine
Landmarks Yangykala Canyon Gozli-Ata Shrine - Day 7
Ashgabat to Mary
Breakfast at 08:00 before traveling to Mary, with a stop at the ornate Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque on the way. In Mary you'll check out the Russian Orthodox Church from the 1800s, a regional mosque, and the art center. Then you head to Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with historical structures like Gyz Gala, Oglan Gala, and Soltan Sanjar's mausoleum. Later at the Gadymy Turkmen Ojagy cultural center you can try horseback riding and catch a folklore show. Hotel transfer happens in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque
- Visit to Russian Orthodox Church in Mary
- Visit to regional mosque in Mary
- Visit to art center in Mary
- Visit to ancient city of Merv UNESCO World Heritage Site including Gyz Gala, Oglan Gala, Askhabs complex, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, Soltan Sanjar mausoleum, and Friday mosque
- Visit to Gadymy Turkmen Ojagy cultural center
- Horseback riding
- Folklore show
Landmarks Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque Russian Orthodox Church Merv Gyz Gala Oglan Gala Askhabs Complex Erk Gala Soltan Gala Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum Friday Mosque 
- Day 8
Mary to Ashgabat
After breakfast you're driving back to Ashgabat, roughly 350 kilometers through the landscape. You'll stop at the Carpet Museum to see Turkmen carpet weaving, then visit the Akhal-Tekkin horse farm where the country's prized horses live. In the evening there's a night tour of Ashgabat with stops at the Ferris wheel and Palace of Happiness for photos before heading to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Ashgabat Carpet Museum
- Visit to Akhal-Tekkin horse farm
- Night tour of Ashgabat
Landmarks Ashgabat Carpet Museum Akhal-Tekkin Horse Farm Ferris Wheel Palace of Happiness - Day 9
Ashgabat to Frankfurt
You'll check out at 05:30 and head to Ashgabat International Airport by 05:45. Flight TK325 departs at 09:05 for Istanbul, arriving at 11:15. Your trip ends here with plenty of memories from your time in Turkmenistan.
