Itinerary

1. Day 1: Ashgabat

   • Meet the group at the International Airport of Ashgabat. 

   • Check into the accommodation in the hotel. 

   • Go on a city tour to visit the places of interest: State historical reserve “Nissa” UNESCO world heritage site. 

   • Stop for lunch. 

   • Continue the tour to Park of Independence, Arch of Neutrality, Monument of Ashgabat, Indoor Ferris Wheel “Alem”, “Gulistan bazaar”, also known as Russian bazaar. 

   • Drive back to the hotel. 

   Overnight in hotel.

2. Day 2: Ashgabat - Kow-Аta - Nohur

   • Eat breakfast.

   • Tour the memorial complex in Kypchak village, Gokdepe Fortress, and Saparmurat Hadji mosque (45 km westerly of Ashgabat).

   • Visit a private horse stable. Famous, “Fast as a Wind”, Akhalteke horses glorified the Turkmen country worldwide and were shown at the national herb of the land. Akhalteke horse breed was found via Turkmens 5000 years before in foothills of Turkmenistan. Turkmens are natural horse riders.

   • Drive to the underground lake “Kow-Ata” (100 km westerly of Ashgabat). In the depths of 60 meters from the entrance to the cave of Kopetdag mountains located lake with healing water, which breaths with warm steam. Swimming in this water has a beneficial effect on the body and helps cure many diseases.

   Переезд в подземное озеро «Ков-Ата» (100км западнее Ашхабада). Подземное озеро Ков-Ата. 

   • Break for lunch at the place.

   • Drive to Nohur – a mountain village (50 km from the cave). High in Kopetdag mountains, village Nohur and neighbouring towns are located on the steep sides of the mountain valleys and different from other Turkmenistan regions. Surrounded by mountains, the village provides a unique opportunity to walk in nature and discover a deep rural lifestyle. Explore the place. 

   • Check out the accommodation in the guest house and eat dinner.

3. Day 3: Nohur - Balkanabad - Yangigala - Gozli–Ata

   • Wake up for breakfast. 

   • Drive to Balkanabad (420 km westerly of Ashgabat). 

   • Eat lunch and then drive to Yangigala Canyons with your Turkmenistan tour guide.

   • Explore the canyons (130 km westerly of Balkanabad) with marvellous natural objects like Yangigala Canyons located North-West of Turkmenistan in the Balkan region. Translating from the Turkmen language, Yangigala means fire fortress. This name was given to the canyons because of the red colour made by nature, mountain ranges and cliffs. 

   • Drive to the holy place of pilgrims Gozli – Ata. 

   • Do camping and enjoy dinner.

4. Day 4: Gozli–Ata - Аwaza - Turkmenbashy - Ashgabat

   • Rise for breakfast. 

   • Drive to the national recreation zone “Awaza” (200 km from Yangigala). 

   • Walk on the Caspian seashore. 

   • Transfer to the airport of Turkmenbashy for a flight to Ashgabat. 

   • Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. 

   Overnight in Accommodation.

5. Ashgabat - Mary - Ashgabat

   • Transfer to the airport for a flight to Mary. 

   • Eat breakfast. 

   • Visit the Museum of Ethnography of the Mary Region.

   • Drive to Bayramali (30 km). 

   • Tour around the State Historical Reserve “Ancient Merv” – “Queen of the World”, one of the important capitals of Islam, alongside Bagdad, Cairo and Damask. The most prosperous years of Merv were the XI-XII centuries, when it was the capital of the Great Seljuk Empire. Their Empire stretched from the Amudarya river until the Mediterranean Sea. Seljuk’s Merv occupied more than 640 hectares and was one of the prosperous cities of that period. It attracted scientists and traders from all the places of Islam. However, Merv couldn’t resist the assaults of Mongols in 1221 and was demolished, including all the marvellous monuments. 

   • Stop for lunch. 

   • Drive to Ashgabat (350 km). 

   • On the way, stop for a short time in Abiverd – ruins of the Seyidjemalettin mosque. 

   • Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. 

   Accommodation and Overnight in a hotel.

6. Day 6: Ashgabat - Dashoguz - Kunya-Urgench - Darvaza

   • Wake up to breakfast. 

   • Transfer to the airport for a flight to Dashoguz. 

   • Drive to Kunya Urgench (105 km).

   • Visit the State historical reserve “Ancient Kunya-Urgench” - a massive complex with ruins and monuments of modern Kunyaurgench. Famous scientists like Ali Biruni and Avicenna had worked here. The city fought back against an army of Genghis Khan. Only a couple of architectural monuments and buildings exist from that period, but many significant monuments were explored and studied. This place is still holy for Muslims. 

   • Stop for lunch.

   • Drive to Darvaza.

   • See the Gas Crater at Darvaza, located in the middle of the Karakum desert. It’s a huge burning hole with long flames, and the light of the fire is seen from many kilometres.

   • Explore the place and enjoy dinner (barbeque). 

   Stay overnight at tent camp.

7. Day 7: Darvaza - Ashgabat

   • Eat breakfast. 

   • Drive to Ashgabat via Yerbent village (250 km southerly of Darvaza). 

   • Find accommodation in a hotel and enjoy some time on your own.

8. Day 8: Ashgabat

   • Enjoy breakfast. 

   • Transfer to International Airport of Ashgabat.

   Farewell. End of tour.