4-Day Tour through the Untamed Beauty of Ashgabat and Darvaza
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Duration
4 days
Max Group Size
20
Departure Type
Request
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
easy
Operated In
Turkish, English, Russian
Age Requirement
25 - 65 Ages
About this tour
Four days in Turkmenistan, split between the marble capital Ashgabat and the Karakum desert. The tour takes in the Museum of History and Ethnography, the UNESCO-listed Old Nisa fortress of the Parthian kings and the landmarks of modern Ashgabat, then drives 270 km north to the Darvaza gas crater for an evening by the flames and a night in a desert camp. The return day adds the National Turkmen Carpet Museum and free time in the city before departure.
Route
- 1Ashgabat International AirportAsiaTurkmenistanAshgabat
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
Land in Ashgabat International Airport. Obtain a visa at the Airport and pay in cash there.
After receiving your visa at the Airport, you will take the COVID test there (in the Airport), which costs $35$. You will pay in cash in American dollars. Then, you will claim your baggage. Please be aware that all these procedures may take about 2 hours.
The tour guide will meet you with signboard at the meeting area. Transfer to the hotel check-in (early check-in)—short rest. 09.00 – visit the Museum of History and Ethnography of Turkmenistan. A tour of the museum with a professional guide will take 2 hours. Visiting the museum complex exposition is divided into seven thematic galleries to store over 166,000 unique exhibits, many of which are of special historical and cultural importance. The Museum of History and Ethnography has ancient artifacts at the Nisa fortress, Merv and Gonur excavations, a collection of vintage Turkmen carpets, rare examples of national clothing, jewelries, and antique weapons. The nine halls display figurines of Athens, Eros, silver gilded griffin, horn-shaped ivory vessels-rhytons of the Parthian era, gold jewelries and medallions-stamps from Margiana, and Buddhist artifacts.
11.00 - Ashgabat City Tour starts with the historical monument “Old Nisa” fortress, which was the capital of the Parthian Empire (since 2007 under the protection of UNESCO) After excursions in Old Nisa fortress, a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, a «Health” trail in the mountains, a monument to Neutrality and a monument to Independence, Ferris wheel, Wedding palace, TV tower and other monuments and attractions of the city.
In the evening, visit one of the city's shopping and entertainment centres, such as Berkarar or Arkach.
23.00 - Overnight at the hotel.
08.00 Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, drive to the State Hippodrome to see a short horse show.
16.00—Trip to Darvaza Gas Crater, a vast flaming crater located 270 km north of Ashgabat. The journey takes 4 hours. Continue to the Water and Gas Crater. Enjoy the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater in the evening. Stay in a camp with tasty catering—dinner picnic-style—the perfect way to enjoy this highlight.
Enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner.
Overnight at the camp in yurts or tents.
08:00 - Have your breakfast at the camp.
09:00 - Departure from the camp to Ashgabat. The trip will take approximately 4 hours by car.
12:00 - Arrival in Ashgabat, transfer to the hotel, and short rest.
16:00 - Visit to the National Turkmen Carpet Museum.
18:00 - Enjoy your free time.
23:00 - Overnight at the hotel.
Transfer to International Airport.
Flight from Ashgabat.
End of the tour.
Trip includes
Included
Experience Turkmenistan's rich history and natural wonders, from the ancient Silk Road hub of Merv to the modern wonders of Ashgabat. Marvel at the fiery canyons of Yangi Kala and pay your respects to the sacred Mausoleum of the Eyed Ancestor. Explore the journey to the Karakum Desert to witness the fascinating Darvaza burning crater. Explore the UNESCO-listed Kone-Urgench and its historical treasures before completing your adventure
Experience Turkmenistan's rich history and natural wonders, from the ancient Silk Road hub of Merv to the modern wonders of Ashgabat. Marvel at the fiery canyons of Yangi Kala and pay your respects to the sacred Mausoleum of the Eyed Ancestor. Explore the journey to the Karakum Desert to witness the fascinating Darvaza burning crater. Explore the UNESCO-listed Kone-Urgench and its historical treasures before completing your adventure.
Guiding Method
Fully guided
- Tour package (LOI, Register fee., permit fee)
- Accommodation: hotel - 2 nights (breakfast), and camping -1 night (dinner+breakfast)
- Guide – 4 days
- Transport – 4 days (all our vehicles are equipped with air conditioning)
- Entry tickets to museums
- Daily water
Excluded
- Visa fee 55$-85$
- COVID-test 35$
- Private expenses, gratuities
- Meal, services
- Insurance
- Fee for using cameras on monuments
Availability
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Make this journey exclusively yours
By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
Personal
Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected
Travel withing your own bubble.
Professional
Access our Travel Specialists insider knowledge.
Privacy
Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
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