Highlights

● Panoramic Turkmenistan Tour to explore the marvelous natural wonders and folk customs of locals

● Hit the viewing platform of the Arch of Neutrality to see the beautiful panorama of Ashgabat

● Sightseeing in the most popular sea resort center - Avaza with nicest beaches

● Drive by 4WD along the Koytendag mountain gorge and enjoy a view of Koytendag from a distance, the home of the highest mountains in Turkmenistan

● An incredible view of Darwaza burning Gas Crater dubbed by locals as "The Door to Hell".

ITINERARY Close All

Day 1Arrive in Ashgabat, Half day Ashgabat city tour

Arrival in Ashgabat by morning flight. Ashgabat is the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan even though it is relatively new city. In 2013 the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat "white marbled city" - here you can see the biggest number of structures in the world made out of the white marble such as monument of Akhalteke horses, park of "Ylham" (Inspiration), "Altyn Asyr" trade market and "Gulistan" market (so called Russian bazaar). After lunch half day tour of Ashgabat includs Monument of Independence, National Museum of History and Ethnography, and Arch of Neutrality, a 75m high monument with a revolving golden statue of the first President Turkmenbashy. Hit the viewing platform of the Arch of Neutrality to see the beautiful panorama of Ashgabat. Panoramic tour to "Alem" Ferris wheel, "Bagt Koshgi" (wedding palace). Continue tour to the historical and archaeological site "Ancient Nissa – the Residence of Parthian Kingdom" UNESCO site from 2007. The Parthian Empire was one of the most powerful and influential civilizations of the ancient world, and a brilliant rival of Rome which prevented the expansion of the Roman Empire to the east.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Ashgabat
Altitude: 219m
  • Ashgabat-1

  • Wedding-palace

Day 2Drive to Nokhur Mountain Village by 4WD Car

First visit "Kow-ata" underground lake on the way to Nokhur Mountain Village. A warm hydrogen sulphide lake lies in a cave at the Kopet Dag foothills. 276 steps lead into the lake. On your way down you will admire marvelous grapes and lines of stalactites and see bat's bevies. This cave impresses with its greatness. It has the length of 250 m, width 50 m, depth of 65 m. The lake is available all year round because of constant temperature of water. Arrival in Nokhur village. Short sightseeing of Nokhur village and visiting of "Gyz Bibi" Pilgrimage site & its unique cemetery where each tomb has the horns of moun-tain goats, the Great Tree - oldest tree in the village thought to be 800 years old. Even-ing short introduction with local silk textile weavers and having dinner at local family. Overnight in tents or at local family's house.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in tents or at local family's house
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1276m
  • Kowata-under-groud-lake

  • Nokhur

Day 3Nokhur and drive to Yangikala via Balkanabat

Yangikala, an impressive limestone formations rises up from the desert sands with views of the Karabogaz Gulf in the distance. These limestone cliffs are the remains of massive coral reefs from the pre-historical Parathetys Sea. En route to Yangikala stop in Balkanabat to have lunch and visit the local bazaar to stock up with food & drinks for dinner. Continue to explore the canyon of Yangikala, the best scenery in Turkmenistan, and take a picnic among the cliffs. When the sun sets we drive to the pilgrimage site of Gozli Ata - one of the holiest pilgrim sites in Turkmenistan. The mausoleum of Gozliata, located on a low plat-form against the backdrop of stunning pink and red limestone rock for-mations.Overnight at a local pilgrim house (multi-share accommodation) or camping.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight at local pilgrim house orr camping
Meals: Breakfast
  • Yangikala-canyon

  • Yangikala

Day 4Drive to Turkmenbashi. Rest in Avaza - Caspian Sea Resort

Turkmenbashy - the biggest port town of Turkmenistan. The town is enclosed with low mountains and faces the Caspian Sea. You will stay over in one of the best hotels in Avaza - the most popular sea resort center (10 km from Turk-menbashi) . Rest on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Short sightseeing in Avaza with its nice beaches which will be turned soon into the free economic touristic zone with decades of luxurious hotels, resorts and health clubs. Overnight at "Seyrana" 5* hotel or similar.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Turkmenbashi
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 27m
  • Awaza

  • Avaza-caspian-sea-resort

Day 5Fly to Dashoguz and City Exploration

Transfer to the airport and flight to Dashoguz. Arrival & check in Uzboy hotel. Short sightseeing in Dashoguz city. Overnight at the hotel.

Traffic: Car+Flight
Hotel: Overnight in Dashoguz
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 88m
  • Dashoguz-city

  • Dashoguz

Day 6KoneUrgench Sightseeing and explore the flaming Gas Crater at sunset

Koneurgench - the capital of Khorezmshahs (3-16th cc.) inscribed into the World Heritage Book of UNESCO.Koneurgench (known as Gurganch in the past) is the largest historical and archaeological park in the north of Turkmeni-stan. It is a large reserve with numerous ruins and monuments on the territory of modern Kunyaurgench. Such great Muslim scholars as al-Biruni, al-Khorezmi and Avicen-na once worked here. Sightseeing of the old city: Portal of Caravansaray (11-14th cc.), Il Arslan Mausoleum (12th c.), Mausoleum of Khorezm shahSultan Tekesh (13th c.), Academy of Horezm (3-13th cc.), Mausoleum of TurabekHanum, Minaret of KutlugTimur (14th c.) - one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia, Najmeddin Kubra (13th c.) and Soltan Ali (15th c.) Mausoleums. After sightseeing of KoneUrgench drive to Darvaza. Arrive at Darvaza and explore the flaming Gas Crater at sunset. Having dinner (barbecue). Overnight in tents. (D).

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in tents
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 81m
  • Kunya-urgench

  • Najmeddin-kubra

Day 7Visit Yerbent Nomadic Village, then drive to Ashgabat

Drive to Ashgabat. En route explore the gas craters, first full of water, and second the sulfur - muddy. Make the next stopover to visit Yerbent Nomadic village where you can enjoy seeing the local life in the desert - Turkmen yurts, dromedaries, tamdyr (mud oven) and many others. Arrive & check in the hotel “Grand Turkmen”. Overnight.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Ashgabat
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 219m
  • Gas-crater-darvaza

  • Yerbent-nomadic-village

Day 8Mary Sightseeing and exploration of the ancient city Merv

Drive to Mary to visit Anau pilgrimage place (remains of Seyitjemalatdin mosque XV c). Lunch at Hanhovuz chayhana to taste silver or grass carp fish. Arrive in Mary & check in Margush hotel. Visit the museum of history and ethnography of Khorassan region in Turkmenistan. Drive to Merv historical site. The ancient city of Merv (Persian Marv) contains a succession of ancient cities developed over a period of 2500 years at the heart of the oasis formed by Murgab river delta, and close to the course of where the main river channel flowed in ancient times. Together, the cities of Merv once encompassed over 1000 hectares. In 1999, the United Nations declared Merv a World Heritage Site. Overnight at the hotel.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Mary
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 223m
  • Ancient-city-of-merv

  • Merv-historical-site

Day 9Visit Margush Country, then drive to Turkmenabat

Margush Country (GonurDepe - capital of Margush) - Bronze Age Civilization Sites recognized as 5th Civilization of the Earth recently & Birthplace of Zoroastrianism - Fire Worshipping (4-3 mil. BC- 6th c. BC) inscribed in the World Heritage Book. After sightseeing of Margush drive to Turk-menabat. Arrive & check in Jeyhun hotel. Overnight.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Turkmenabat
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 187m
  • Margush-1

  • Margush

Day 10Drive to Koyten Village, Visit

Explore the Koytendag Nature Reserve in Koyten village, where you will see dinosaur footprints, a vast network of caves and Turkmenistan's highest peak. The region has some fine historical monuments and holy places as well. En route stop to visit "Astana-Baba" Mausoleum in Atamyrat. Crossing Amudarya River. Arrival in Koyten. Accommodation in the hostel. Overnight.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in hostel
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3139m
  • Koytendag-nature-reserve

  • Plateau-of-dinosaurs

Day 11A whole day to explore the Koytendag

Morning drive by 4WD along the Koytendag mountain gorge. Koytendag is the highest mountains in Turkmenistan, the deepest lake, the longest caves and the most majestic natural waterfalls in the country. Koytendag Nature Reserve is a huge geological research center, the pride of which is the rocky plateau with hundreds of dinosaur footprints. Explore "Forty Girl's Gorge", "Plateau of Dinosaurs". Lunch outdoors. Visit of Umbar-Dere Waterfall. Return to the hostel. Excursion to the Kaynar Baba Lake. Overnight at the hostel.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in hostel
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3139m
  • Koytendag-nature-reserve-1

  • Koytendag

Day 12Drive back to Turkmenabat. Fly to Ashgabat

Morning drive by 4WD back to Turkmenabat. Evening flight to Ashgabat. Arrival and transfer to Ashgabat International airport.

Traffic: Car+Flight
Hotel: No Accommodation
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 219m

INCLUDES

  • Private transportation through out the itinerary. SRT will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure based on your flight info.

  • Shared accommodations in well located, tourist to superior class hotels include breakfast, service charge and government tax.

  • All entrance fees(shuttle bus) sightseeing; excursions and activities as per the itinerary

  • Domestic flights from Turkmenbashy to Dashoguz, Turkmenabat to Ashgabat

  • Private friendly and professional English-Speaking guides (French, Italy, Russian, German can be arranged per your request)

  • Visa support letter for you to apply the visa easily.

  • Travel and health insurance when travel with us.

  • A 24/7 helpline while you are traveling.

EXCLUDES

  • International and domestic flights not indicated.

  • Food, Lunch or dinner not specified

  • Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers

  • Personal expenses and the other tours or activities not mentioned

TRIP NOTES

Transportation

We will use business MPV to luxurious coaches and trains.

Accommodation

All the hotels we selected are 4-5star well-located in the city center with good and proper breakfast for our clients.

Guides

Our guides are very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful. And our group tours will be escorted from SRT.

Climate and Altitude

Generally speaking Mid March—End Oct are the best time to visit Silk Road. And we strongly suggest you come in May, June, October to avoid the heat and crowd. No need to worry about high altitude along the Silk Road. We will prepare Oxygen bags if the package includes Xiahe, Qinghai Lake and Taxkorgan County.

We offer beneficial Cancellation Policy to our customers.