Arrival and Check-In: Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport with Turkish Airlines at 2:00 AM or other. You will be greeted and transferred to hotel for an early check-in.

After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, discover Ashgabat, the “City of Love,” renowned for its striking white marble architecture and grand boulevards. Begin at the State Museum of History and Ethnography to explore ancient artifacts, then travel to the UNESCO-listed ruins of Old Nisa, the former capital of the Parthian Empire, set against the scenic Kopetdag Mountains.

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

After lunch, continue along the Archabil Highway to see the Magtymguly monument, ending at Independence Park and the monumental buildings.

After dinner, return to the hotel for overnight.

Meals: B
Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat

After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the morning visiting the ruins of the medieval city of Bagabad, once a key Timurid center, including its citadel and the remains of the Seyit Jemaleddin Mosque, historically known as the “House of Beauty.” The area is also one of Central Asia’s oldest settlement zones, home to early farming communities of the Anau culture dating back to the 5th millennium BC, revealed through major 20th-century archaeological discoveries.

We’ll start our journey to Mary via newly built highway. Upon arrival Mary we will have lunch, then drive 40 minutes to Bayramali village to visit Ancient Merv.

Ancient Merv Historical Park includes ancient cities Erk-Kala and Gyaur-Kala, medieval city Sultan Kala, the oldest of still standing corrugated mud-brick palaces – Great and Little Gyz Kalas, mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar, Yusup Hamadani and Muhammad ibn Zaid, and tombs of the Prophet’s companions, Askhabs, and some others. After sightseeing we return to Mary to visit Pokrovskaya Russian Orthodox Church.

Evening transfer to the Mary airport and fly back to Ashgabat. Upon arrival transfer to hotel, free time at leisure.

Flight: Mary → Ashgabat, (ETD 20:15 / ETA 20:55) flight schedules are subject to change Drive: Ashgabat → Mary ~355km / 4 hrs.
Meals: B
Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel.

We will spend the morning visiting Tolkuchka Bazaar is one of the largest markets not only in Turkmenistan but in all of Central Asia. Here you can find and buy almost everything – from souvenirs and toys to cattle and camels. Note: open on SAT and SUN.

After lunch, depart by 4WD vehicle toward the Darvaza also known as “The Gates of Hell“, a methane-belching fire pit in the Turkmenistan desert has been spewing fire for decades – but its origin is considered The USSR’s top-secret desert mystery.

En route make short sightseeing stops at two gas craters (one with boiling water and the other one with sulfur-bubbling mud; both seeping with gas from the underground). Arrive in Darvaza by early evening.

• ~160 km of smooth asphalt / ~103 km of uneven asphalt roads / ~7 km of desert off-road terrain
• Travel is by comfortable 4×4 vehicles (max. 3 passengers per vehicle) to ensure safety and comfort.

Settle into a traditional yurt camp and visit the legendary Darvaza Gas Crater, a massive natural gas crater burning continuously since the 1970s. As night falls, the glowing flames create an unforgettable desert atmosphere. Enjoy a special dinner with nomad style kebabs in yurt camps.

Drive: Ashgabat → Darvaza ~270km / ~4 hrs.
Meals: B, D
Accommodation: Overnight in yurts (AYAN Travel Camp)
Notes: Travel by 4WD vehicles (max. 3 guests per vehicle); basic facilities at camp

Wake up to breakfast at the camp, take one last look at the mesmerizing flaming crater, and then we’ll head back to Ashgabat.

Arrive in Ashgabat and hotel check-in.

After lunch visit the Geokdepe stud-farm to see the legendary Ahalteke horses, famed for their speed, endurance, and shimmering coats, with opportunities to ride, feed, and photograph them. The area is also historically significant as the site of the fortress that was the site of a battle during the Great Game in 1881, as well as the Geok depe Mosque, built in memory of those events.

Evening sightseeing of Ashgabat city and take a night picture. Return to hotel, free time at leisure.

Drive: Darvaza → Ashgabat ~270km / ~4 hrs.
Ashgabat → Geokdepe ~55km / ~1 hr.
Meals: B
Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat

Depending on your flight schedule, check out and transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for departure. This marks the end of our services.

Drive: Hotel → Airport (approx. 15km / 20 min)
Accommodation: —
Meals: Breakfast (depends on flight time)
Notes: Ensure all personal belonging are collected, prepare the passport, and tickets

NOTE: B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner.

Tour price information

ACCOMMODATION

Important Accommodation Policy

In the event of government-level events or official delegations requiring priority accommodation, our company reserves the right to substitute the originally confirmed hotel with an alternative property of the same category and comparable standard.