Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport AM.

Follow the “VISA” sign. Inside the customs area, next to the visa desk, your guide will be meeting you with a sign. He will assist you with getting your visa issued and doing the covid test. The total cost per person for all the visa related fees and including covid test, is around 130-140 USD. The money has to be paid in cash in USD (bank notes have to be in good condition). Please note: All formalities may take around a couple of hours. After passport control, collect your luggage and transfer to the hotel in the city center (c. 20-30 min), where you can check in immediately. Have some well-deserved rest after your long flight.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel and a leisurely morning to relax and acclimate.

Today we will explore the capital city. Ashgabat – translated from Persian as “the City of Love” welcomes it’s visitors with its striking white marble architecture and modern amenities.

12:00 PM – First, visit the State Museum of History and Ethnography to see ancient artifacts and treasures from Turkmenistan’s rich history.

Then drive to Bagir village to explore the ruins of the UNESCO-listed Old Nisa Fortress, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire. Wander through its atmospheric ruins, set against the picturesque Kopet-Dag Mountains.

Visit Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, dedicated to Turkmenistan’s heroes and victims of WWII, the Geokdepe Battle, and the 1948 earthquake. Explore its three captivating halls with dramatic dioramas and poignant exhibits.

Continue to Bagt Koshgi (Palace of Happiness) for a panoramic city view, including the striking Yyldyz Hotel. Drive through Ashgabat’s lavish avenues, passing key landmarks like the Ruhyyet Palace, Parliament, and Olympic City. Stop at Berkarar Mall, one of the city’s largest and liveliest malls, for lunch and a short break.

Modern Ashgabat: Drive through modern Ashgabat, famed for its white marble buildings. We will drive along the Archabil highway to highlight the most iconic landmarks of the city: the Monument of Constitution, Alem Ferriss Wheel (also included in the Book of Guinness World Records as the biggest indoor ferris wheel) – 60-meter-high monument of Magtymguly (the greatest Turkmen poet), and the Monument of Neutrality topped with a golden statue of the first president. End the tour at the Park of Independence and the Monument of the Gigantic Book “Ruhnama”.

Enjoy a welcome dinner with a panoramic view of the city.

Accommodation: Overnight in Ashgabat
Meals: breakfast, dinner

Breakfast at the hotel check out 9:00 AM.

Drive to Gokdepe village (45 km, 50 min) to visit the Geokdepe stud-farm to see the magnificent Ahal Teke horses. Ride, feed, and photograph these unique creatures, known for their exceptional speed and ancient heritage. Geokdepe was also the site of a fierce battle between the Russian Empire and the Teke tribe during Russia’s conquest of Central Asia.

On the way to Ashgabat, we will make a stop at an impressive complex in Kipchak town to see the biggest mosque of Turkmenistan “the Spiritual Mosque of Turkmenbashi” and “the family mausoleum of the first president”.

Later we hop into our trusty 4×4 SUVs and make our way north to the Central Karakum desert. Today, we’re off to see the famous Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as “the Gates of Hell.”

“Gates of Hell”: Next, we head to Darvaza, stopping to see bubbling water and sulfur-mud craters on the way.

Arriving at Darvaza. As the sun sets, enjoy a nomadic-style dinner with grilled kebabs and traditional tea, surrounded by the tranquil desert under a starlit sky — and let yourself be carried away by the soulful singing of a bakhshi, performing by the campfire and accompanying himself on the dutar, a traditional two-stringed instrument. Witness the stunning fiery crater, a sight that fascinates travelers worldwide.

Overnight in traditional yurts (600 m away from the crater, we can walk or drive on our cars).

Accommodation: AYAN Travel yurt camp (3 beds in a yurt)
MEALS: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Breakfast at Darvaza, take one last look at the mesmerizing flaming crater, and then we’ll head back to Ashgabat with a stop at Bokurdak.

Experience village life in Bokurdak (175 km, 2.5 hr), where tradition thrives. Explore homes built from unfired bricks and authentic yurts. Meet locals and see traditional crafts like embroidery, Ishlekli pie making, that is baked in the sand. Enjoy a homemade lunch and learn about Turkmen culture.

Afternoon, visit the Carpet Museum showcasing the biggest handmade carpet in the world recorded in the Book of Guinnes World Records in 2003 and the smallest ever carpet intended to carry keys.

Next, explore the old part of the city from soviet times.

We will visit the Russian Bazaar (now called “Gulistan”), a bustling market offering seasonal fruits, traditional crafts, and souvenirs. We’ll also explore Lenin Square, home to the city’s only surviving monument from the 1948 earthquake, before heading to Ashgabat Park, the city’s busiest amusement park. (Walking tour distance – 1 km, about 1-hour walk including stops)

Transfer to the railway station. Train to Turkmenbashi deperts at 5:40 pm (arrival 08:00 next day)

Overnight: sleeper compartment

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Arrive in Turkmenbashi train station in morning at 8:15. Meet your driver and start the city tour in Turkmenbashi; visit the local Fish market and Caspian Seaside. Breakfast at a local restaurant.

After lunch, drive to Yangykala canyons. Also known as the ‘Grand Canyons of Central Asia’ Yangikala means “fiery fortress”, which consists of white, pink and orange limestone formations, stunning vistas, and the fascinating ‘crocodile’s mouth’ rock formations; so amazing that we cannot break away from their sight, and the landscape situated beneath our feet.

First we will also visit Yangykala Canyons and then Kemal ata canyon with animal shaped spheroids.

Transfer to Balkanabat and accommodate in the hotel around 8 pm.

Overnight: Overnight in Balkanabat

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Breakfast at the hotel 08:00 am and we start driving south-east towards Kopetdag mountains.

Arrive to Nokhur village (ca. 320 km, 3 hrs drive) in the afternoon and visit the main attractions in the lower Nokhur. Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, Nokhur is known for its rugged mountains, lush green valleys, and panoramic vistas. The village is perched on the slopes of the Kopet Dag mountain range, providing a serene and idyllic setting for visitors seeking a peaceful escape from the bustling city life. It is the first place you must see if you are interested in places isolated from the modern life. Exploration of the site on arrival:

• Kyz Bibi shrine
• The Great Chinar Tree
• The Tribal Cemetery with Ram Horns

Lunch in a guest house with a local family.

Later we head east to Kov Ata Underground Lake. (70km, 1 hr)

The Kov-Ata Underground Lake is a captivating limestone cave in Turkmenistan. Filled with warm mineral water, it offers a unique swimming experience. With healing properties and stunning cave formations, it attracts visitors seeking relaxation and natural beauty.

PM we arrive at Ashgabat

Accommodation: Overnight in Ashgabat
Meals: breakfast, lunch

Early in the morning meet your guide in the hotel lobby and transfer to the airport (c. 15-20 minutes) to catch your flight, departing. End of services.

NOTE: flight schedule is subject to possible change.

Accommodation: No
Meals: breakfast

Tour price information

The cost of the tour package per person based on DBL/TWN room + breakfast:

ACCOMMODATION

Hotel information and pictures, see: https://ayan-turkmenistan.travel/hotel

Hotel Descriptions:

1. Sport Hotel (4★) – A modern hotel with a prime location in the city center, surrounded by a shopping mall and major landmarks. Offers decent service and a basic breakfast. Internet access is limited, with WhatsApp and other social media platforms blocked.
2. Nebitchi (3★) – Balkanabat – One of the best budget-friendly hotels in Balkanabat, located in the city center with restaurants nearby. Offers cozy rooms, good service, and a basic breakfast. Internet access is available but limited
3. Darvaza Yurt Camp – A traditional yurt stay near the Darvaza Gas Crater, providing a unique and authentic desert experience. Facilities are basic but reasonable. No internet or showers available.