Turkmenistan West-East Karakum tour
Turkmenistan is a land of striking contrasts, from the gleaming white-marble city of Ashgabat and the ancient ruins of Old Nisa to the fiery Darvaza Gas Crater burning in the heart of the Karakum Desert. Discover sacred traditions, vast desert landscapes, and the dramatic cliffs of Yangykala Canyon before reaching the tranquil shores of the Caspian Sea – an unforgettable journey through one of Central Asia’s most remote and fascinating destinations.
Program Highlights
- White Marble Ashgabat – city tour through the glimmering capital.
- Kow-Ata Underground Lake – swim in healing warm waters inside a natural limestone cave.
- Darvaza Gas Crater – camp near the legendary “Gates of Hell” under the stars.
- Damla – a tiny settlement hidden among sand dunes in the heart of the Karakum Desert.
- Yangykala Canyon – a geological masterpiece with striking red and gold cliffs.
Tour Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Ports of entry and exit: Ashgabat International Airport
Route: Ashgabat – Geokdepe – Balkanabat – Turkmenbashi – Yangysuw – Yangykala – Karakum desert – Darvaza – Damla – Ashgabat.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Ashgabat – City Tour
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.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel and a leisurely day to relax and acclimate.
Visit 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 back 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 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
Day 2: Ashgabat – Balkanabat
After breakfast, depart by 4WD vehicle toward to Balkanabat.
En route we will visit the Geokdepe, the area is 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 Geokdepe Mosque, built in memory of those events.
On the way stop at the underground cave of Kov-Ata, accommodating a unique hot-water (+ 35-37C all year round) mineral lake.
Arrive in Balkanabat and hotel check-in. Opt to dine at hotel restaurant or to take a walk to nearby local restaurant.
Drive: Ashgabat → Geokdepe ~55km / ~1 hr.
Geokdepe → Kov-ata ~45km / ~40 min
Kov-ata → Balkanabat ~350km / ~4 hrs.
Meals: B
Accommodation: Hotel in Balkanabat
Notes: Travel by 4WD vehicles (max. 3 guests per vehicle)
Day 3: Balkanabat – Turkmenbashi
After breakfast drive to Turkmenbashi.
Arrive in Turkmenbashi and explore the Moorish-style railway station and the vibrant central market, where you might find the famed Caspian caviar and visit to Avaza sea resort. Rest of the time is free at leisure. Opt to dine at hotel restaurant or to take a walk to nearby local restaurant with a wonderful view on Caspian seaside.
Drive: Balkanabat → Turkmenbashi ~ 150km / ~1,5 hrs.
Meals: B
Accommodation: Hotel in Turkmenbashi
Day 4: Turkmenbashi – Yangykala – Yangysuw
After breakfast drive to Yangysuw via Yangykala.
Upon arrival enjoy a picnic lunch then start exploring Yangykala Canyon, a geological masterpiece with its striking red and gold cliffs. Explore the canyon’s unique landscapes, capturing stunning photos at every turn.
As evening approaches continue driving to Yangysuw Canyon. Here, you’ll be amazed by the beautiful sandstone formations in shades of white, yellow, and red.
Set up camp nearby and dine under the stars, experiencing the serene beauty of the night.
Drive: Turkmenbashi → Yangysuw ~ 195km / ~3 hrs.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Overnight in wild camping
Day 5: Yangykala – Kemal-ata
Begin the day with breakfast at the camp in the stunning Yangysuw. After exploring the breath-taking scenery, travel to the Kemal-Ata Mausoleum, a sacred site isolated in the steppe. Observe unique spherical rock formations in a nearby riverbed, a fascinating geological feature of the area.
Set up camp nearby and dine under the stars, experiencing the serene beauty of the night.
Drive: Yangysuw → Kemal-ata ~ 90km / ~2 hrs.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Overnight in wild camping
Day 6: Kemal-ata – Ygdykala
After breakfast, drive onward to Gokdere Village, where you’ll encounter shepherds and their camel herds, experiencing the traditional pastoral lifestyle of the region.
After a picnic lunch, continue your journey east to Melegoch, a village known for camel breeding and the practice of falconry. Interact with locals who belong to one of Turkmenistan’s proudest tribes. Traverse the dry bed of the Uzboy River to Ygdykala, a Parthian fortress offering panoramic views of the surrounding desert. Explore the ruins and set up camp near this ancient site, enjoying another night under the vast desert sky.
Drive: Kemal ata → Ygdykala ~250km / ~3,5 hrs.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Overnight in wild camping
Day 7: Ygdykala – Darvaza
After breakfast, travel through a landscape of small sand dunes. Continue towards the infamous Darvaza gas crater 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.
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: Ygdykala → Darvaza ~230km / ~4 hrs.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Overnight in yurts (AYAN Travel Camp)
Day 8: Darvaza – Damla
Wake up to breakfast at the camp, take one last look at the mesmerizing flaming crater, and then drive to Damla.
Journey deeper into the Karakum Desert to the remote settlement of Damla, where endless dunes frame a glimpse into the traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle. Meet local families, learn about camel herding and desert crafts, and spend the night in a yurt or village home, experiencing the warmth and simplicity of authentic desert hospitality.
Drive: Darvaza → Damla ~90km / ~3-4 hrs.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Overnight in a guesthouse
Day 9: Damla – Ashgabat
After breakfast drive to Ashgabat.
On the way, stop at Yerbent village, which offers visitors an authentic glimpse into life in the Karakum Desert and features a Soviet-era monument in its center depicting a Turkmen woman with a bowed head, commemorating 11 men who died during the Basmachi Revolt in the struggle for collectivization and the establishment of Soviet rule.
Arrive in Ashgabat and hotel check-in. The rest of the day is free to explore the city on your own or continue with walking tour in older part of the city with a chance of souvenir or carpet shopping.
Enjoy a 1-2 hour walk from Ashgabat Park along historic Magtymguly Avenue, to Lenin Square, home to The Monument of Lenin that survived the 1948 earthquake. Continue to the lively Gulistan Bazaar (Russian market), a Soviet-era landmark, where you can experience local life and browse stalls of dried fruits, famous Turkmen melons, carpets, and traditional souvenirs. (Walking tour distance – 2.5 km, about 2 hour walk including stops)
Drive: Damla → Ashgabat ~250km / ~4 hrs.
Meals: B
Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat
Day 10: Departure
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
Tour price information
- Comfort A/C transportation depending on size of a group and route
- Hotel accommodation (B&B) – 4 nights
- Wild camping – 3 nights
- Yurt stay in Darvaza – 1 night
- Homestay – 1 night
- Visa support (Letter of Invitation)
- Water along the way
- Entrance fees to sites and museums
- English-speaking tour guide
- Registration of tourists staying over 3 days
- Meals, mentioned in the itinerary
- Visa cost $55-$165 paid in cash on arrival
- PCR test cost $31 upon arrival
- Migration duty charge $14
- Additional services in the hotel
- Tips to the guide and the driver (recommended)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Photo and video camera fees at sites/museums
ACCOMMODATION
| City | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Option 4 |
| Day 1. Ashgabat | Sport 3* | Olimpia 4* | Divan 5* | Yyldyz 5*+ |
| Day 2. Balkanabat | Nebitchi 3* | |||
| Day 3. Turkmenbashi | Charlak 3* | |||
| Day 4. Yangysuw | Wild camping | |||
| Day 5. Kemal ata | Wild camping | |||
| Day 6. Ygdykala | Wild camping | |||
| Day 7. Darvaza | Yurt | |||
| Day 8. Damla | Homestay | |||
| Day 9. Ashgabat | Sport 3* | Olimpia 4* | Divan 5* | Yyldyz 5*+ |
| Day 10. | Departure | |||
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.
