New Year 2027 in Turkmenistan: Ashgabat lights & Karakum stars
This carefully paced private journey combines Ashgabat's white-marble landmarks and festive illuminations with Parthian heritage, New Year's Eve atmosphere and a winter desert adventure. After the city celebrations, travel by 4WD to a hosted lunch in Bokurdak and an overnight near the Darvaza Gas Crater. Selected 5* city accommodation and an accompanying English-speaking guide provide a comfortable framework throughout.
Tour style: private cultural, festive and desert journey for 4-6 guests, with an accompanying English-speaking guide and 4WD transport for the Karakum section.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Ashgabat at its most atmospheric, with white-marble landmarks, illuminated avenues, New Year trees and festive public spaces.
- A guided city program combining the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, modern monuments, historic neighborhoods and the Russian Bazaar.
- An optional heritage excursion to Kipchak, the UNESCO-listed Parthian Fortresses of Nisa and the State Museum, subject to holiday opening hours.
- A New Year's Eve evening at restaurant or hosted family dinner and a permitted city viewpoint, subject to confirmation.
- A hosted lunch in Bokurdak and an introduction to the traditions of a Karakum Desert family.
- Sunset and evening views at the Darvaza Gas Crater, followed by a desert dinner and overnight in a yurt camp.
- Private transport, dedicated 4WD vehicles for the desert and an accompanying English-speaking guide.
Festive-season planning: Hotels, guides, the New Year's Eve venue, viewpoint access and holiday opening hours require final confirmation. The order of visits may be adjusted while preserving the principal services.
TOUR OVERVIEW
Dates: 29 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Group size: 4-6 guests
Accommodation: Olimpia 4* or similar hotel and one night in a traditional yurt camp
Festive dinner: Optional and quoted separately after venue selection
Price: from USD 1,595 p.p.
Route
Ashgabat - Bokurdak - Darvaza - Ashgabat
Tour Itinerary
Day 1. TURKMENISTAN, Ashgabat – arrival and city highlights
Arrival: Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport. After completing arrival formalities, meet the Ayan Travel representative outside the terminal and transfer privately to the hotel. Early room access and breakfast are included for the planned early arrival, subject to the confirmed flight schedule and hotel reconfirmation.
After time to rest, meet the guide in the hotel lobby and begin at the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, dedicated to the victims of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, the Second World War and the Battle of Gokdepe. Continue with photo stops at the Alem Cultural and Entertainment Centre, the Monument of Neutrality, Independence Park and selected monumental landmarks.
Afternoon: After lunch at Berkarar Mall or a local restaurant (own expense), explore older parts of the capital on foot, including the historic Clock Tower, Ashgabat Circus, Magtymguly Avenue, the Russian Bazaar and the Lenin Monument. Dinner is at guests’ own expense.
Transport: private airport transfer and vehicle for sightseeing. Guide: accompanying English-speaking guide.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Meals: arrival breakfast
Day 2. Ashgabat – festive city tour and optional heritage excursion
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. The morning may be kept free for rest and shopping, or guests may pre-book an optional half-day heritage excursion to Kipchak, Old Nisa and the State Museum. The excursion is subject to holiday opening hours and is quoted separately.
The optional program includes the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque and family mausoleum in Kipchak, followed by Old Nisa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former Parthian center. If open, continue to the State Museum of History and Ethnography.
Afternoon: After lunch, join the included festive city program. See Ashgabat’s principal New Year trees and decorated avenues, then stop at selected markets and shopping centers to observe local holiday preparations. Dinner is at guests’ own expense before returning to the hotel.
- Clarification: the optional Day 2 heritage excursion is included in the tour price. Those who wish to have free time can relax at the hotel and join the group at lunch.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Meals: breakfast
Day 3. Ashgabat – New Year's Eve
Morning/Afternoon: Breakfast at the hotel. The day is free to rest, shop or explore independently, allowing guests to prepare for the evening celebrations.
Evening: Meet the guide for the confirmed festive program. A New Year’s Eve dinner may be arranged at a selected local restaurant or, subject to host availability, with a local family. At approximately 23:00, transfer towards the Bagt Koshgi area or another permitted viewpoint selected according to official access and traffic arrangements. Return to the hotel after midnight.
- New Year programme: the festive dinner is optional and quoted separately. Venue or host availability, menu, start time, viewpoint access and any official fireworks display remain subject to final written confirmation.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Meals: breakfast; festive dinner
Day 4. Ashgabat – Bokurdak – Darvaza (approx. 272 km, 4–5 hours)
Morning: Breakfast and a relaxed morning after the celebrations. Check out by 11:00 and depart in 4WD vehicles for the Karakum Desert, with a maximum of three guests per vehicle.
Bokurdak: Stop for a hosted late lunch and an introduction to desert family life. Depending on household activities, guests may see pishme preparation, camel milking, embroidery, traditional cooking and the use of yuzarlik incense.
Evening: Continue to Darvaza and arrive before dusk, subject to road conditions. View the crater from the designated safe area as daylight fades, then enjoy a freshly prepared desert dinner and an overnight stay in a traditional yurt camp nearby.
Overnight: Darvaza, in a yurt camp
Meals: breakfast, hosted lunch and dinner
Day 5. Darvaza – Ashgabat (approx. 272 km, 4–5 hours)
Morning: Breakfast at the yurt camp and a final view of the Darvaza Gas Crater. Begin the return journey to Ashgabat, with stops at the smaller Water Crater and Mud Crater when local access, visibility and road conditions permit.
Afternoon: Continue south through the Karakum Desert. A short roadside stop in the Yerbent area may be made when permitted. Arrive in Ashgabat in the mid-afternoon, check in to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Lunch and dinner are at guests’ own expense.
- Desert routing: stops at the Water Crater, Mud Crater and Yerbent area depend on safe access, official permissions, daylight and road conditions. The guide may adjust the sequence on the day.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Meals: breakfast
Day 6. Ashgabat – departure
Departure: Depending on the international flight schedule, check out and transfer privately to Ashgabat International Airport. This marks the end of Ayan Travel’s services.
Departure timing: the final hotel night is included through the morning of 3 January. For a very early flight, a packed breakfast may be requested but remains subject to hotel confirmation.
End of services!
Meals: breakfast
- Accommodation: 4 hotel nights in double or twin rooms and 1 night in a shared yurt camp with basic facilities
- Early arrival: planned early check-in and breakfast on 29 December, subject to confirmed flight schedule and hotel reconfirmation
- Meals: 6 breakfasts, 1 hosted late lunch in Bokurdak, 1 desert dinner at Darvaza and 1 festive dinner
- Guiding: services of an accompanying English-speaking guide during the scheduled program, except the departure transfer
- Transport: private airport transfers and scheduled city transport; 4WD vehicles for the Karakum section, max. 3 guests per vehicle
- Entrance fees: admission to sites expressly listed in the included guided program
- Festive transport: evening guide service and scheduled transfers for the confirmed New Year’s Eve program
- Visa support: preparation and submission of the tourist Letter of Invitation application after booking and receipt of all required documents
- International flights and any domestic flights not expressly listed
- Turkmenistan visa fee and official arrival, migration, testing or airport charges, payable directly in USD cash at the applicable official rate
- Lunches, dinners and beverages not expressly listed as included
- Single-room supplement (USD 180 per person)
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Personal expenses, hotel extras, optional services, excess baggage and porterage
- Photography or video fees charged separately at individual sites
- Tips for guides, drivers, hosts and other service staff
Payable in cash on arrival / at the border (estimate):
- Tourist visa – USD 55–155, depending on nationality
- Migration tax – USD 14 per person
- Mandatory rapid PCR test – USD 31 per person
Government charges can change without prior notice. Exact amounts will be reconfirmed before travel. Carry clean, undamaged US dollar notes issued after 2009, as older or marked notes may not be accepted.
