Airport - Ashgabat

Arrival in Ashgabat International airport. You will be met by our representatives and transfer to hotel. Free time.

Morning drive to visit Nissa fortress - the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings. UNESCO declared fortress a World Heritage Site in 2007. Nissa described as one of the first capitals of the Parthians. It was founded by Arsaces I (reigned c. 250 BC – 211BC), and reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian Kings, although it has neither been established that the fortress at Nissa was a royal residence or a mausoleum.

Afternoon you will have Ashgabat city tour. 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. You will see Presidential Palace, Ruhyyet Palace, Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferries Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat Sports and Housing facilities, the Earthquake and victims of WWII Monuments. Overnight in Ashgabat.

Meals: no meals

Ashgabat – Mary – Merv – Ashgabat,  439 km

BF at hotel. Morning drive to Mary. You also see ruins of Seyitjemalledin mosque in Anau. The mosque was built in 1456, when Abu-ibn-Kasim Baber Bahadurkhan ruled in Khorasan (1446-1457). Construction of the mosque was financed by Bahadurkhan’s vizier, Muhammed Hudaidot, who also selected a site of construction–near the grave of his father, sheikh Jemaleddin, a native of Anau. The square central hall (with the sides of 10.5 meters) was crowned with a dome. In later periods, the Seyit-Jemaleddin mosque was partially reconstructed. By the nineteenth century, the subsidence of land had already damaged the building heavily, and during the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake it was destroyed completely. Now, only lower parts of the portal and some fragments of the walls are extant.

On the way visit Abiwerd that was once an important trading town of North Khorasan. It was a key link on the Great Silk Road between Nisa and Merv, and also enjoyed ties in Nishapur, across Kopetdag Mountains to the south.

Drive to Merv to explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum. After sightseeing transfer to Mary airport for back flight to Ashgabat. Arrival in Ashgabat. Accommodation & overnight at a hotel.

Meals: breakfast.

Ashgabat – Darvaza, 276 km

BF at hotel. Drive to visit Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. The Turkmen carpet museum is one of the cultural centres of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 carpet exhibits, including rare ones, are exhibited. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet to wear keys, as well as the world's largest hand carpet with a total area of 301 m², which was woven in 2001, and in 2003 it was added to the Guinness Book of Records.

Afternoon drive to Darwaza burning Gas Crater (3.5 h) dubbed by locals as "The Door to Hell". The Darwaza area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 70 meters. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today. En-route we cross Karakum desert, will make a stop in small desert village Erbent. In the evening watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater. BBQ dinner at Gas Crater. Overnight in Yurt camp.

Meals: breakfast, dinner

Darvaza – Dashoguz, 358 km

Picnic style breakfast. Morning drive to Dashoguz (5h). Transfer to hotel.

Then you will have pottery making master class where you will learn the basics of this ancient art form from a master potter. Your class will begin with a brief introduction to the different types of clay and the tools and techniques used in pottery making. You will then learn how to prepare the clay and center it on the pottery wheel. Once the clay is centered, you will be able to start throwing your own pots and bowls. Overnight at hotel.  Meals: breakfast

Dashoguz – Koneurgench – Dashoguz – Ashgabat (domestic flight)

BF at hotel. Drive to Kunya Urgench. Sightseeing tour in Kunya Urgench: visit Portal of Caravansaray, Mamun Minaret, II Arslan Mausoleum, Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum, Academy of Horezm, Kutlug Timur Minaret, Turabek Hanum Mausoleum. After sightseeing, drive to Dashoguz for flight to Ashgabat. Overnight at hotel. Meals: breakfast

Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi – Yangikala – Balkanabat (domestic flight)

BF at Hotel. Transfer to the Ashgabat International Airport for a flight to Turkmenbashi. After arrival at the Turkmenbashi Airport, drive to Yangikala Canyon. Visit to pilgrimage sight Gozli-Ata on the way to drive to Yangykala Canyons, one of the scenic natural objects of Turkmenistan. The word expression “Yangy kala” translates from Turkmen as “fire fortress”. Indeed, the sheer cliffs of white, yellow, ocher, purple and red colors, fancily carved by winds and rains, are very similar to the stone castles from a fantasy. Explore the Canyons. After exploration, drive to Balkanabat. Overnight at hotel. Meals: breakfast

Balkanabat – Nohur – Ashgabat, 425 km

Breakfast at the local restaurant. After breakfast, drive to Nokhur - village in the western Kopetdag Mountains on 4x4 vehicles. Arrive and lunch at local’s family home in Nokhur to experience the extraordinary culture enjoying the hospitality of locals. Visit the silk weaving home workshop and two fascinating sights in Nokhur. One is the town’s cemetery, where each grave is protected by the huge horns of the mountain goats that locals consider sacred - indeed many houses in the village have a goat’s skull hanging on a stick outside to ward off evil spirits. Just beyond is the pilgrimage site of Kyz Bibi. A fat-trunked plane tree, surrounded by a small metal fence, is covered with small scraps of cloth representing wishes. From here, a flight of concrete steps leads up to a tiny cave, just a few centimeters across, in the side of the hill. The cave is surrounded by more pieces of material, some of which have been fashioned into tiny cribs, suggesting the nature of the wishes made here. Later drive to visit Horse Stable to see a national proud of Turkmen people – Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens begin breed Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great, Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are over 35 beautiful horses in the farm. Per superstition, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon. After visiting the horse stable, drive to your hotel in Ashgabat city.  Meals: breakfast

Departure

Transfer to Ashgabat International airport. Departure.