Arrival from Ashgabat International Airport

After Customs formalities the accompanying guide will meet you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Hotel check in.

Breakfast in the hotel.

• Explore the National Museum of History and Ethnography – museum contains over 500,000 exhibits including collections of ancient artifacts, pottery, carpets and many others;
• Visit main flagpole – is one of the tallest flagpoles in the world, standing at 133 meters tall;
• Visit Old Nisa Fortress, the ancient Parthian city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Visit Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque – the biggest mosque in Turkmenistan and one of the biggest in Cental Asia with stunning architecture which was built to honor the memory of the family of first President Saparmyrat Niyazov;

Lunch at local restaurant.

• The arch of Neutrality and the monument of Neutrality – is a large monument standing 75 meters tall and topped by a golden statue of the first President of Turkmenistan;
• Independence Park and arch of Neutrality – 118 meters high monument dedicated to the country’s Independence and surrounded by green landscaping that encompasses a cascaded pool and 27 heroic statues;
• Wedding palace “Bagt koshgi”;
• “Alem” Ferris wheel – standing 95 meters tall, it offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. It is also the largest ferris wheel in Central Asia which is included to the Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest Ferris wheel in an enclosed space;

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in a hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel.

Drive to Seytjemalledin Mosque Ruins which is located in 15 min. from Ashgabat city.

• On the way stop at Seytjemalledin Mosque Ruins (build in 1456) which is referred to in many historical sources as “house of beauty”.

Lunch at Khawuz Khan.

Arrival to Mary.

Drive 40 minutes to Bayram-Ali, Old Merv the “The Pearl of Seljuk Empire” 11-12th centuries  (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

• Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum (the last Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire)
• Yusuf Hamadani Mausoleum (important figure in religious affairs during Malik Shah, the father of Sultan Sanjar)
• Erk gala (was founded in the 6th century BCE; in the 3rd century BCE it became the citadel for the larger Hellenistic city of Antiochia/Margiana)
• Sultan gala (built in between 800-1400 AD, Sultan-Kala offers to explore the mudbrick work of Seljuk fortifications)
• Great and Small Gyz kala (7th-12th centuries), known as “Ladies Fortress”. One of the most well preserved fortresses made from mud bricks.
• Mohammad ibn Zayd Mausoleum (the leader of Shia movement against Abbasid Caliphate)
• Return to Mary.

Evening transfer to the airport and fly back to Ashgabat.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in a hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel.

• Explore the Tolkuchka Bazaar, one of the largest markets in Central Asia.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Drive 5-6 hours to Darvaza. Be prepared for the road challenge for the next few hours. The road from Ashgabat to Darvaza is quite damaged but our experienced drivers have strong wheels to handle it. It won’t be smooth but the destination and camping are worth it. On the way have a stop by another two craters “mud crater” and “bubbling water crater”.

(Nomad-style kebabs) & overnight in tents or yurts not far from the burning gas crater (wild camping).

After camp style breakfast, drive 4-5 hours to Ashgabat.

Transfer to the hotel on arrival.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Drive 50 km to Gokdepe village to visit Arkadash horse farm where you will have a chance to see, feed and drive the unique breed of Turkmen Ahal-Teke horses.

Evening sightseeing of Ashgabat city and take a night picture.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in a hotel.

Early morning hotel check out and transfer to the international airport for the departure. End of services.

Tour price information