Itinerary

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

   • Meet with your local guide at Alat/Farap border point.
   • The meeting time depends on what time you will cross the border.
   • Оbtaining a border visa.
   • Аfter crossing the border you will have to take a Covid-test costing $35 US dollars.
   • Upon arrival to the border point go through custom procedures and drive to Mary province.
   • Тhe trip will take approximately 4-5 hours by car.
   • Arrival to Mary province. Visit an Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
   • A tour of the entire facility located on an area with a radius of 10-14 km takes at least 2 hours.
   • One of the major archaeological sites of Central Asia, Merv played an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2 000 years. 
   • On the territory of Merv there are unique fortresses that belong to different eras. They differ in size and degree of preservation. 
   • Different fortresses - Erk-kala  (VI century BC), Gyaur-kala (III century), Kyz-kala (VI century), Sultan-kala (XI century), Abdullakhan-Kala (XV century), Bairamalikhan-Kala (presumably 18th century).
   • Drive to Ashgabat (3h)
   • 22:00/23:00: Arrival to Ashgabat, transfer to the hotel, overnight at the hotel

2. Day 2 - Ashgabat – Darvaza Gas Crater

   • 08:00 – Breakfast at the hotel
   • 09:00 – Excursion  Ashgabat City Tour and Old Nisa fortress. Old Nissa fortress  -The Sanctuary of Parhian Kings, Nisa was the capital of Parthian Empire, which lasted 600 years and was greatest enemy of Rome Empire. 
   • Tour duration with a professional guide is 1 hour.
   • A sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, Continue with The Health trail in the mountains, Monument and park of Independence, Neutrality tower, Ferris wheel, Wedding palace – everything is white, dressed in expensive white marble - that’s why Ashgabat is called the white marble capital.  
   • 16:00 -  trip to Darvaza – Gas Crater, which is a huge flaming crater located 270 km (4 hours) to the north of Ashgabat. 
   • Continue with moving to the Water and Gas Crater. In the evening, enjoy the spectacular and fascinating view of the Gas Crater. 
   • In order to truly enjoy this end of the world, it is best to arrive at the Gate before the sunset. 
   • Only in the dark is the full beauty of this phenomenon reveale
   • Stay in a camp with tasty catering – dinner at picnic style -  the perfect way to enjoy this highlight. 
   • Observe the fantastic view of the crater during daylight and at night, feel the heat, and listen to the sound that this giant oven creates.
   • Overnight at the camp in the yurts 

3. Day 3 - Darvaza – Kunya-Urgench – Crossing Border to Uzbekistan

   • 06:00 – breakfast at the camp.
   • 07:00 –  drive to the North province of Turkmenistan, to the architectural monuments of Old Urgench, 270 km, 5-6 hours of the journey.
   • 12:00 – Kunya-Urgench is the capital of Khorezm in X-XII centuries.
   • 13:00 visit the Mausoleum of Najm al-Din al-Kubra, Tyurabek Khanum, Il-Arslan, Tekesh Ibn Hadzhibey, and the highest minaret in Central Asia, Kutlyg Timur and etc.  
   • 15:00 transfer to the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border point Dashoguz (1-2 hour). Cross border.

   End of the tour.