Golden Triangle of Turkmenistan
This 7-day journey offers an unforgettable exploration of Turkmenistan’s Golden Triangle—three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Old Nisa, Kunya Urgench, and Ancient Merv—along with the breathtaking Darvaza Gas Crater, famously known as "The Gates of Hell." Timed perfectly this tour blends ancient history, cultural immersion, and desert adventure, offering a unique experience of Turkmenistan’s past and present.
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Price: see price information
Group size: 1-6 pax
Tour languages: English, Russian
Ports of entry and exit: Ashgabat International Airport
Route: Ashgabat – Dashoguz – Kunya Urgench – Darvaza – Yerbent – Ashgabat – Mary – Ashgabat
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Ashgabat
Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport with Turkish Airlines at 2:00 AM or other. You’ll be greeted and transferred to hotel for an early check-in.
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.
First, 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: in hotel
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 2: Ashgabat – Gokdepe – Ashgabat
Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before exploring two of Turkmenistan’s most treasured symbols—Akhal Teke horses and Turkmen carpets, known as “the wings and the soul” of the Turkmen people.
Drive to Gokdepe village 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”.
After lunch, 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 intented to carry keys.
Next, explore the old part of the city from soviet times.
We’ll take a walking tour of Ashgabat’s Soviet-era landmarks. We start at the Ashgabat Cotton Mill named after S.A. Niyazov, featuring the Clock Tower that survived 1948 earquake that completely destroyed the city. Walk up to the Turkmen State Circus built in 1979-1984, which was abolished during the reign of the first president and then reoconstructed and reopened in 2009. We continue along Magtymguly Avenue, formerly known as Mervskiy Avenue in Tsarist times and Svoboda Avenue during the Soviet era. 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 – 2.5 km, about 2 hour walk including stops)
After dinner, return to the hotel for overnight.
Overnight: in hotel
Meals: breakfast
Day 3. Ashgabat – Dashgouz (evening flight, 50 minutes)
After breakfast, we will spend the morning visiting “Tolkuchka” bazaar, one of the biggest open air bazaars in Central Asia where you can shop for traditional dresses, embroideries, carpets, and souvenirs.
Kick off the morning with a visit 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.
Next, the State Museum of History and Ethnography to see ancient artifacts and treasures from Turkmenistan’s rich history.
16:00 Transfer to the airport for an evening flight to Dashoguz, departing at 18:00 or 21:50. Arrive in Dashoguz and accommodate in the hotel.
Overnight: in hotel
Meals: breakfast
Day 4. Dashoguz – Kunya Urgench (ca. 100 km, about 1.5 hour drive) – Darvaza (ca. 275 km, about 6 hour drive)
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
We begint the day driving to Kunya Urgench (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – once a glorious capital of the medieval Khorezshah Empire, the biggest Muslim empire of the late 12 and early 13 centuries. We will take a close look at the outstanding 14-century mausoleum of Turabek Hanum, one of the best examples of the architecture of its period; the minaret of Kutlug Timur, a former highest minaret of Central Asia that used to form a part of the main cathedral mosque of the city; the mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh, a beautiful 12-century mausoleum with one of the earliest portals of the east and a unique cone of a dome; Kyrk-Mollah mound, the fabled al-Mamun’s Academy of Sciences; the mausoleum of Il-Arslan; Najmeddin Kubra and Piryar Wali shrines.
After lunch, drive 6 hours to Darvaza gas crater to the center of Karakum Desert.
Note: Be prepared for the road challenge for the next 6 hours. The road from Kunya Urgench to Darvaza is quite damaged but our experienced drivers have strong wheels to handle it.
Arrive to Darvaza in the evening and accommodate in yurts. Take a walk around the burning crater while dinner is being prepared. Enjoy the dinner and traditionally prepared green tea in “tunche” pot.
Overnight: yurt stay, basic facilities but reasonable
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 5. Darvaza – Yerbent – Ashgabat (ca. 270 km, about 4 hour drive)
Enjoy breakfast at the camp and a final look at the glowing Darvaza Gas Crater before heading back to Ashgabat. En route, stop at two smaller craters (water-filled and sulfur-mud) and Yerbent village to experience the lifestyle of semi-nomadic Turkmen. Another stop at the biggest open air bazaar in Turkmenistan “Tolkuchka”.
Arrive in Ashgabat by lunchtime. Accommodate in the hotel and rest.
The rest of the day is free to explore the city on your own and to relax at the hotel.
Overnight: in hotel
Meals: breakfast
Day 6. Ashgabat – Mary (flight) – Bayramali/Ancient Merv – Ashgabat (ca. 375 km, about 3-4 hour drive)
Early in the morning, take a flight to Mary, departing at 06:00. On arrival, transfer to the local restaurant for breakfast. Next, we will transfer (40 minutes drive) to Bayramaly village to explore Ancient Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as “The Queen of Cities.” Our tour will include landmarks like,
- Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum (the last Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire)
- Yusuf Hamadani Mosque (Yusuf Hamadani was one of the most influencial Sufi masters whose teachings spread across Central Asia)
- 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)
- Ashabs Mausoleums (dedicated to two of the Prophet Muhammad’s earliest companions, Abu Dhar al-Ghifari and Abu Buraidah al-Aslami, among the earliest converts to Islam)
- 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 the Shia movement against the Abbasid Caliphate)
Return to Mary and visit “Pokrovskaya” Russian Orthodox Church, built in the 1990s. One of Turkmenistan’s most beautiful religious landmarks, the church features intricate architecture and deep spiritual significance.
After lunch, visit the Mary History Museum, where you’ll delve deeper into the rich history and artifacts of Ancient Merv and Gonur depe, further consolidating your understanding of this remarkable site.
Transfer to Ashgabat (about 3.5-hour drive) via newly constructed highway. With 2 possible pit stops we arrive in Ashgbat by the evening.
After dinner, transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: in hotel
Meals: breakfast
Day 7. Departure
After midnight, check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your international flight. This marks the end of our unforgettable journey. Safe travels!
NOTE: domestic flight schedule is subject to possible change.
Tour price information
The cost of the tour package per person based on DBL/TWN room + breakfast:
| Group size | Hotel Option 1 | Hotel option 2 | Hotel option 3 |
| 1 pax | $2,324 | $2,437 | $2,479 |
| 2 pax | $1,510 | $1,615 | $1,728 |
| 3 pax | $1,423 | $1,529 | $1,640 |
| 4 pax | $1,286 | $1,388 | $1,503 |
| 5 pax | $1,281 | $1,386 | $1,495 |
| 6 pax | $1,218 | $1,323 | $1,433 |
| SGL sup. | $180 | $200 | $230 |
| H/B | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| F/B | $90 | $90 | $90 |
- Comfort A/C transportation: SUVs for off-road trips (Darvaza), Minivan/Bus for city tours
- Accommodation
- Visa support (Letter of Invitation)
- Water along the way
- Entrance fees to sites
- Photo and video camera fees at sites/museums
- English-speaking tour guide
- Registration of tourists staying over 3 days
- Meals as per itinerary
- Master-classes
- Visa cost $55-$85 paid in cash on arrival
- PCR test cost $31 upon arrival (paid by each traveller)
- Migration duty charge $14
- Additional services in the hotel
- Tips to the guide and the driver (recommended)
- Personal expenses
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- International flights
- Travel insurance
