Arrival and Check-In: 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.

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. (open on SAT and SUN)

Return to Ashgabat and 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.

Begin the city tour visiting 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 the 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.

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

Start your day with a breakfast at the hotel. Check-out and drive 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.

Visit the State Museum of History and Ethnography to see ancient artifacts and treasures from Turkmenistan’s rich history.

Drive to Gokdepe village to visit the Gokdepe stud-farm to see the magnificent Ahal Teke horses. Ride, feed, and photograph these unique creatures, known for their exceptional speed and ancient heritage.

On the way to Ashgabat we will make a stop at 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 an exciting day, drive back to Ashgabat for a relaxing evening.

Enjoy a comfortable overnight stay in Ashgabat, reflecting on the day’s adventures.

Accommodation: in hotel
Meals: breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning is free for leisure and check out at noon.

After lunch continue our tour. 12 kilometers from Ashgabat near modern Anau we will visit a former medieval city of Bagabad, featuring the citadel of an important Timurid-period center and the ruins of the Seyit Jemaleddin mosque, which is referred to in many historical sources as “the house of beauty”. Many centuries ago (around the 5th mill. BC) this area accommodated the population of early Central Asian farmers who developed the world-famous Anau culture, evidences of which were discovered and extracted during archaeological researches throughout the XX century.

Return to Ashgabat and visit the Carpet Museum. Witness the wonders of craftsmanship as you marvel at the smallest carpet ever created designed to carry keys with utmost elegance. And hold your breath as you stand before the world’s largest handmade carpet, an astonishing feat with a total area of 301 square meters! No wonder it earned its rightful place in the Guinness Book of Records in 2003.

After lunch, 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)

Order dinner boxes and transfer to Ashgabat train station for late afternoon train to Turkmenbashi, departing at 17:50.

Accommodation: in train
Meals: breakfast

Arrive in Turkmenbashi train station in morning at 8:15. Meet your 4WD drivers and transfer to the local restaurant for breakfast.

Turkmenbashi – a port city on the Caspian Sea. Once known as Krasnovodsk, this city boasts a cosmopolitan atmosphere with a mix of Russian, Turkmen, and Azeri cultures.
After breakfast, explore the Moorish-style railway station and the vibrant central market, where you might find the famed Caspian caviar.

Order lunch boxes from local restaurant and drive to Yangykala canyons. Also known as the ‘Grand Canyons of Central Asia’ Yangikala means “fiery fortress”, which consists of white, pink and orange limestone formations, stunning vistas, and the fascinating ‘crocodile’s mouth’ rock formations; so amazing that we cannot break away from their sight, and the landscape situated beneath our feet.

During this journey we will also visit Gozli Ata and Kemal ata canyon with animal shaped spheroids.

Overnight in Yangykala.

Accommodation: Tents
Meals: breakfast, dinner

Wake up at sunrise and enjoy the breakfast with a view to the canyon. Then, we pack up and drive to Balkanabat town where we will stop for lunch.

After lunch, head south to Kopetdag Mountains to visit Nokhur village.

Arrive at Nokhur village by late afternoon and we will be greeted by a local family. Enjoy a traditional Turkmen dinner prepared with the family. We will also stay here for overnight.

Accommodation: homestay
Meals: breakfast, dinner with local family

After breakfast we will explore the village.
Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, Nokhur is known for its rugged mountains, lush green valleys, and panoramic vistas. The village is perched on the slopes of the Kopet Dag mountain range, providing a serene and idyllic setting for visitors seeking a peaceful escape from the bustling city life. It is the first place you must see if you are interested in places isolated from the modern life. Exploration of the site on arrival:

• Kyz Bibi shrine
• The Great Chinar Tree
• The Tribal Cemetery with Ram Horns
• Silk weaving workshop

After lunch in Nokhur, transfer to Ashgabat with an short stop to see the Kov Ata cave and underground lake with thermal water in it.

• The Kov-Ata Underground Lake is a captivating limestone cave in Turkmenistan. Filled with warm mineral water, it offers a unique swimming experience. With healing properties and stunning cave formations, it attracts visitors seeking relaxation and natural beauty.

Arrive in Ashgabat in the evening and accommodate in the hotel.

Accommodation: in hotel
Meals: breakfast

Early in the morning, check out and transfer to the airport for a flight to Mary. On arrival, transfer to the local restaurant for breakfast.

After breakfast, board 4×4 SUVs for a journey to Gonur Depe, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site in Central Asia.

Exploring Gonur Depe

Once a thriving Margiana Oasis settlement, Gonur Depe dates back to 7,000 BCE and is believed to be a center of early Zoroastrianism. Excavations reveal advanced urban planning, irrigation systems, and religious structures. Archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi considered it one of the greatest ancient civilizations, possibly the homeland of Zoroaster. The Boston Globe even suggested Margiana as a fifth cradle of civilization, alongside Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China.

Picnic lunch during the tour.

Return to Mary and accommodate in the hotel.

Later, 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. The museum is located in a walking distance.

Take an evening walk to a local restaurant for dinner or opt to dine at the hotel restaurant.

Accommodation: in hotel
Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch

After breakfast and check-out, we’ll drive 40 minutes 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)
• Ancient Ice House – A 7th-century structure used for storing ice and preserving food
• 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)

Returnt 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 the tour, we’ll drive back to Ashgabat via the newly built highway through the Eastern Karakum desert, arriving late in the evening.

Dinner and overnight stay in Ashgabat.

MEALS: breakfast and lunch

Breakfast at the hotel and we hop into our trusty 4×4 SUVs and make our way north to the Central Karakum desert. Today, we’re off to see the famous Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as “the Gates of Hell.” On the way we will stop in Bokurdak to plunch into the daily life of semi-nomadic families living in the desert village.

Experience village life in Bokurdak, where tradition thrives. Explore homes built from unfired bricks and authentic yurts. Meet locals and see traditional crafts like embroidery and “pishme”-making. Enjoy a homemade lunch and learn about Turkmen culture.

Arriving at Darvaza, marvel at the crater before enjoying a special dinner with nomad-style kebabs in yurt camp. Watch the sunset over the desert as you sip traditional tea traditionally prepared in “tunche” pot.

Overnight: yurt stay, basic facilities but reasonable

Meals: breakfast, dinner

Breakfast at camp and take one last look at the flaming crater and head north to Dashoguz.

Note: The drive to Dashoguz takes approximately five hours, and the road is in poor condition. However, our skilled drivers and sturdy vehicles are well-equipped to navigate the challenging terrain, ensuring a safe and steady ride.

Upon arrival in Dashoguz, you may choose to stop for lunch at a local restaurant before proceeding to the border.

Note: the Dashoguz/Shavat border will be closed from 13:00-14:00 for lunch.

After lunch, transfer to the Dashoguz/Shavat border for your exit to Uzbekistan. Our guide will assist you with border formalities and bid you farewell.

Once you have completed Turkmenistan exit procedures, take a short shuttle transfer ($1 per person) to reach the Uzbek border, where your journey to Khiva continues. This marks the end of your Turkmenistan adventure!

End of Services.

MEALS: breakfast

Note: domestic flight schedules are subject to possible change.

Tour price information

The cost of the tour package per person based on DBL/TWN room + breakfast:

ACCOMMODATION

Hotel information and pictures, see: https://ayan-turkmenistan.travel/hotel

MEALS: expect to spend around $8-$12 per meal at local restaurants.