6 days/5 nights
Discover the highlights of Turkmenistan on this 6-day adventure through Ashgabat, the Karakum Desert, and Ancient Merv. See the famous Darvaza “Door to Hell” crater, rich cultural landmarks, museums, and unforgettable desert experiences.
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
❖ Upon arrival at the Bajgiran Border checkpoint, we will go through and follow all immigration and medical procedures. After this, a local guide will accompany you to your hotel.
❖We start our day with amazing city tours ofAshgabat
− Monument of Neutrality, Independence Monument, Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest indoor Ferris wheel ever made, Magtymguly Pyragy Cultural Park Complex, Nisa -the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings. (UNESCO), National Carpet Museum. (The Guinness Book of Records), State National Museum of History & Ethnography.
− You may visit other Ashgabat attractions the rest of the day.
▪ Meals included:
▪ Breakfast (At the hotel)
▪ Lunch and dinner at local restaurants
▪ A night tour of Ashgabat
❖ Morning: Drive to the Desert
• Meet your guide and driver at your hotel in Ashgabat at 10:00. We will drive to Old Nisa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the oldest and most renowned historical fortresses
• Old Nisa Fortress
• At 14:00, begin the 4-hour drive north into the Karakum Desert via a comfortable 4×4. The journey offers a glimpse of the vast, empty desert landscape.
❖ Afternoon: Desert Exploration
• Enjoy a picnic lunch en route. At 14:30
• Stop to visit the two smaller, less-known craters in the area: the “mud crater” and the “water crater.”
❖ Evening: The Darvaza Gas Crater & Overnight Stay
• Arrive at the main Darvaza Gas Crater. Your camp (yurts or tents) will be ready.
• Sunset: Watch the crater’s flames grow more intense as the sun sets. Walk around the perimeter for photos.
• Dinner: Enjoy a campfire dinner, often with a BBQ, under a sky full of stars and the glow of the crater at 20:00
• Overnight: Sleep in a traditional yurt or tent at the camp. Basic bathroom facilities are available.
❖ Morning: After breakfast at your camp, we’ll return to Ashgabat. Your tour guide will bring you to the hotel so you can get some rest and prepare for this afternoon’s Mary Trip. Ancient Merv (UNESCO site)
❖ Afternoon: After lunch at a local restaurant, we will depart the capital (the “White City”) for the Ancient Merv excursion. The trip by car from Ashgabat to Mary is approximately 370 kilometers and takes around 3.5 hours. Enjoy the drive with restful music, stopping to take photos in small villages along the way.
❖ Late Afternoon: Arrive in Mary, a major city in the south of Turkmenistan. Check into your hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant.
❖ Morning: After breakfast at your hotel, we’ll return to Ashgabat at 10:00. Your tour guide will bring you to the hotel so you can get some rest and prepare for this afternoon’s city tour
❖ Afternoon: After lunch at a local restaurant at 14:00, you will take a tour through the city’s most attractive points and the biggest Shopping-malls. Your tour includes:
❖ Evening: We’ll conclude the tour at a local café. Dinner at 19:00
❖ Morning: After breakfast at 09:00, we’ll begin our journey back to Ashgabat to explore the Turkmen Akhal-Teke horses’ stable (Riding adventure) on the way back. We will stop by in Nokhur village to see the hidden Nature & Culture. Enjoy a scenic morning drive back to Ashgabat. This journey traces the historic routes toward the Kopet-Dag Mountains, allowing for views of the changing landscape from desert to oasis.
Your tour includes:
❖ Afternoon: 16:00: Encounter with the ‘Heavenly Horses’. Arrive at the Akhal-Teke Stud Farm near Ashgabat (often in the Geok-Depe area). This visit is a deep dive into Turkmenistan’s national symbol, the Akhal-Teke (known as the “Heavenly Horse”).
❖ Evening: We will finish the day with an enjoyable dinner. At 20:00
❖ Morning: After a final breakfast, a later check-out, your guide will accompany you to the Ashgabat Bajgiran border checkpoint for your departure. End of Turkmenistan tour!
