Itinerary

1. Day 1: Farap – Turkmenabad – Mary – Ashgabat

   • Morning. Meet with your local guide at the Alat/Farap border point.
   • Drive to Mary province (approximately 3-4 hours).
   • Afternoon: Visit the ancient Merv archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
   • Explore different fortresses at Merv, including Erk-kala (VI century BC), Gyaur-kala (III century), Kyz-kala (VI century), Sultan-kala (XI century), Abdullakhan-Kala (XV century), and Bairamalikhan-Kala (18th century).
   • Evening: City tour of Mary, visiting shopping places like the Green Bazaar.
   • Depart from Mary to Ashgabat (approx. 5-6 hours drive).
   • Arrival in Ashgabat and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

2. Day 2: Ashgabat City Tour & Old Nisa

   • Morning:08:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel.
   • Begin the Ashgabat city tour.
   • Visit Old Nisa fortress, the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings, the capital of the Parthian Empire.
   • Afternoon: Explore Ashgabat's key landmarks, including:
     • The sculptural ensemble of Oguzkhan and his six sons, with 27 synchronised light fountains.
     • Health trail in the mountains.
     • The highest flagpole in the world at 133 meters.
     • Monument and park of the Independence.
     • Neutrality tower and Ferris wheel (both in the Guinness Book of World Records).
     • Ertogrul Gazi mosque and National Memorial complex (Halk Hakydasy).
   • Evening: Visit one of the city's shopping and entertainment centres.
   • 11:00 PM: Drive through Ashgabat to enjoy the city's night illuminations.

   Overnight at the hotel.

3. Day 3: Ashgabat – Darvaza Gas Crater

   • Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.
   • Visit Altyn Asyr Gundogar Bazar to shop and explore the local marketplace.
   • Drive to the Darvaza Gas Crater (a 5-hour drive, 270 km north of Ashgabat).
   • Afternoon/Evening: Arrive at Darvaza Gas Crater and witness the flaming phenomenon, best viewed at sunset and into the night.
   • Enjoy a picnic-style dinner at the camp near the crater.
   • Experience the unique sounds and heat of the giant crater.
   • Night: Overnight stay in a yurt camp near the Darvaza Gas Crater.

4. Day 4: Darvaza – Koneurgench – Dashoguz Border Checkpoint

   • Morning: Breakfast at the yurt camp.
   • Drive to Kunya-Urgench (5-6 hours drive, 270 km), the capital of Khorezm during the X-XII centuries.
   • Afternoon: Explore the architectural monuments of Old Urgench, including:
     • Mausoleum of Najm al-Din al-Kubra.
     • Tyurabek Khanum, Il-Arslan, Tekesh Ibn Hadzhibey Mausoleums.
     • The highest minaret in Central Asia is Kutlyg Timur.
   • Evening: Transfer to Dashoguz and the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border checkpoint (1-2 hour drive).
   • Cross the border and end the tour.