A 9-day trip to visit the isolationist state of Turkmenistan, the least visited of all the Central Asian nations.
You start off by visiting its ultra-modern capital – Ashgabat – famous for its ostentatious buildings and statues, before head into the harsh Karakum Desert, to visit historic sites from the country’s Silk Road past, including the ancient city of Merv.
You move on to visit the ever burning Darvaza Gas Crater, known as the “Doors To Hell”, where you camp in traditional yurts for the night, before heading on to Dashoguz and Kunya-Urgench, two more impressive, UNESCO listed, Silk Road relics.
From the desert, we climb up into the nation’s southern mountains, bordering Iran, visiting the village of Nokhur, nearby mosques and the historic sites, before a trip to the Caspian Sea coastal city, Turkmenbashi. Next we have trip into the Yangikala Canyons, before the adventure finishes back in Ashgabat.
It’s a country few international visitors get chance to experience, which gives you a unique insight into a part of Central Asia largely untouched by tourism – a truly authentic experience.
Highlights:
Arrive in Ashgabat in the early morning.
Transfer to hotel for early check-in and rest. Breakfast and welcome briefing, followed by a full day city tour of Ashgabat.
We will explore Nisa Fortress, an ancient settlement of the Parthians, the National History Museum, and the Independence Park.
Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day trip to Mary and Merv.
Drive from Ashgabat to Mary. After lunch transfer to Bayramali and visit Ancient Merv – in the 12th and 13th C Merv was the world’s largest city and the remains are a UNESCO world heritage site. We will also explore Mary town center with its Russian Orthodox Church and small traditional bazaar.
Evening flight back to Ashgabat.
Overnight Ashgabat at hotel.
Enjoy a relaxing morning in the city, visiting the bazaar and National Carpet Museum.
In the afternoon drive to Darvaza. Enroute you will stop at Erbent, a large village located in the Karakum Desert. Set up camp and enjoy a local BBQ, and during the night visit the Darvaza Gas Crater.
Overnight in yurts.
A long drive out of the desert to Dashoguz and then onto Kunya-Urgench, another UNESCO historical park. The park is littered with impressive monuments dating between the 12th and 16th C including the Ak Kala Fortress and the Gate of the Caravanserai.
In the evening we transfer to the railway station and take an overnight train back to Ashgabat.
After breakfast we head west, driving to the Kopet Dag mountains and the village of Nohur where we will learn about the regions Sufi and animist traditions through visits to the tribal cemetery and nearby pilgrim sites. En-route to Nohur we will also visit the Turkmenbashi Mosque and Mausoleum, the Geok Depe Memorial Mosque and Kowata underground lake.
Overnight in Balkanabat at hotel.
We will drive to the otherworldly Yangikala Canyons, which translates as the “Fiery Fortresses” in Turkmen due to the vivid red and rust coloured outcrops. We will stop en route to visit the mosque and cemetery of the Gozil Ata Pilgrim site, one of the holiest pilgrim sites in Turkmenistan.
We will picnic lunch at a spectacular viewpoint and in the afternoon we will explore the canyons by both foot and jeep.
Overnight in Yangikala in tents or at a local pilgrim house.
After breakfast we will spend a few more hours in the Yangikala area before driving on to the city of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea coast. Here we take a short afternoon city tour visiting the local bazaar and its Russian-orthodox church.
Overnight in Turkmenbashi.
Fly back to Ashgabat in the morning.
On our final afternoon we will visit a private Akhalteke horse farm where we will see some of Turkmenistan’s famous horses as well as the Anau Mosque ruins.
Overnight in Ashgabat.
Transfer to airport.
End of trip.
