This 7-day tour is a compact and high-intensity journey that provides a mix of all the unique aspects that make up Turkmenistan: Ashgabat’s post-independence architecture; the National Museum, a UNESCO historical park from the Great Silk Road era and a Russian-orthodox church; the most popular landscapes of the Caspian Sea coast and its prehistorical canyons of Yangikala and the Karakum Desert with Darwaza; and last but not least, several desert settlements that tell the story of the traditional Turkmen tribal lifestyle.
Accommodation in Ashgabat is in 3* hotel, one night in a sleeper compartment of a local passenger train, and the remaining 3 nights in a tent. To reduce time spent on finding appropriate meal arrangements, we have chosen to include all meals on the entire tour. Transport is by 4-wheel drive vehicles, while minibus transport is used only in Ashgabat. We also use the local train and a local flight, to add to the mix of transport available. Using these types of accommodation and transportation, we manage to keep the tour cost as well as the tour duration within limits.
If you have just a week to spend, are willing to sacrifice the comfort of a bed for most of the nights, don’t mind long days and covering significant overland distances, yet want to experience all facets of Turkmenistan, this tour is our recommendation for you.
Arrival in Ashgabat by air (evening D1 or early morning D2, depending on airline used) or overland from Iran at Bajgiran-Gaudan land border. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
0900h We start with a city tour, including visits of Independence Park, Neutrality Arch, Ferris Wheel, Wedding Palace Viewpoint. In the afternoon we visit the National Museum and Turkmenbashi Mosque and Mausoleum, before we make our way to the train station for the overnight train to Turkmenbashi.
On arrival in Turkmenbashi, we visit the local Russian Orthodox Church and then head out in our jeeps in approximately 4 hours to the canyons of Yangikala. Picnic lunch on the way and overnight in tents in the Yangikala canyon area.
Today we travel eastwards and make our way along the white cliffs of Koymat and the banks of the dried-up Uzboy River in about 6 hours to the desert settlement of Melegoch. We pass several traditional villages on the way. Picnic lunch on the way. Camp dinner and overnight in tents in the dunes near Melegoch.
We drive further eastwards on our off-road journey, passing several villages, until after some 6 hours we reach Darwaza. Camp dinner and overnight in tents near Darwaza crater.
Today we travel over tarmac in 4 hours north to Kunya Urgench. After our visit of the UNESCO historical park we carry on in 1,5 hours to Dashoguz, where we take the late afternoon flight back to Ashgabat. We complete our journey with a city-by-night tour through the post-independence district and the main avenues of downtown Ashgabat, with stops at the Neutrality Arch, Ferris Wheel and the Wedding Palace Viewpoint. Overnight in hotel.
Transfer to airport or overland border with Iran at Gaudan-Bajgiran land border post.
Early morning start for road trip in approximately 5 hours east to Mary. Arrival around lunch time. Afternoon visit the historical park and return to airport for evening flight to Ashgabat. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Early morning start for road trip in approximately 5 hours east to Mary. Arrival around lunch time. Afternoon visit the historical park. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Early morning drive partly on unpaved tracks in approximately 2,5 hours to the excavation site of Gonur Depe. Visit the site and return to Mary for a visit of the Mary Museum. Transfer to airport for evening flight back to Ashgabat. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Early morning start for road trip in approximately 5 hours east to Mary. Arrival around lunch time. Afternoon visit the historical park and return to airport for evening flight to Ashgabat. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
(Merw UNESCO historical park, Gonur Depe archeological site, Mary Museum)
Early morning start for road trip in approximately 5 hours east to Mary. Arrival around lunch time. Afternoon visit the historical park. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Early morning drive partly on unpaved tracks in approximately 2,5 hours to the excavation site of Gonur Depe. Visit the site and return to Mary for a visit of the Mary Museum. Transfer to airport for evening flight back to Ashgabat. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.