Arrival in Ashgabat International Airport. Complete the formalities (visa, payment for a PCR test, migration fee). Transfer to the hotel. Time for rest and acclimation.

Just 12 km from Ashgabat near modern Anau, explore the ruins of the medieval city of Bagabad, once a key Timurid center, including its citadel and the remains of the Seyit Jemaleddin Mosque. Continue 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.

Visit the Ashgabat Art Bazaar, we join a local ceramicist for a hands-on goddess figurine workshop, where we’ll shape our own clay effigies inspired by the iconic forms seen earlier in the museum. This experience connects us to the timeless female symbols of strength, fertility, and artistry that have endured in this land for millennia. Enjoy a welcome dinner with a panoramic view of the city.

Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat

Meals: B, D

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before exploring two of Turkmenistan’s most treasured symbols – Ahalteke horses and Turkmen carpets. 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 Geokdepe Mosque, built in memory of those events. A cooking master class (bake bread in traditional clay oven, make pishme and somsa, and pilaf) and lunch in Geokdepe.

On the way to Ashgabat, 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”. Upon arrival, visit the Ashgabat Carpet Museum to discover the artistry and symbolism of Traditional Turkmen carpet making art (included in UNESCO, the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity). Later, visit a local family’s home. The family supports female artisans across Turkmenistan by preserving traditional crafts. Watch the unique process of producing fabric made from camel wool and silk on antique wooden looms, followed by a cozy homemade dinner.

Distance: 40 km | Drive: ~1 hour

Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat

Meals: B, L, D

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Experience village life in Bokurdak and explore homes built from unfired bricks and authentic yurts. Meet a local family and see traditional crafts like embroidery, camel milking and “pishme”-making. Enjoy a homemade lunch and learn about Turkmen culture.

After lunch, depart toward the Darvaza also known as “the Gates of Hell“, a methane-belching fire pit in the Turkmenistan desert. The journey includes paved highways, uneven asphalt roads, and a short off-road desert section. Arrive in Darvaza by early evening.

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

On the way, stop to see “bubbling water” and “sulfur-mud” craters.

Settle into a traditional yurt camp for dinner 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. Listen to a bakshi — a traditional Turkmen bard who preserves ancient oral epics through song and storytelling.

Distance: 270 km | Drive: ~4 hrs.

Accommodation: yurt in Darvaza

Meals: B, L, D

Wake up early in the calm of our yurt camp and join a gentle sunrise meditation. After breakfast at the camp, we say goodbye to the gas crater and head to the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. Upon arrival in Ashgabat, explore local markets and shops – a chance to find unique Turkmen souvenirs and traditional handicrafts.

In the evening, gather for a festive farewell dinner followed by a dance workshop where we learn Kushtdepdi — an ancient Turkmen group dance.

Distance: 270 km | Drive: ~4 hrs.

Accommodation: Hotel in Ashgabat

Meals: B, D

After midnight/breakfast, transfer to the airport to catch your international flight.

Meals: B

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.