Shavat – Koneurgench – Darvaza, 410 km 

Our representative will meet you at Turkmen/Uzbek border “Shavat” 09:00. Drive to Kunya Urgench (1.5h). 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.

Afternoon drive to Darwaza burning Gas Crater (6h, 300km) The Crater is also called as "The Door to Hell". The 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 60 m and 20 m deep. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided 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. In the evening, watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater. BBQ dinner & overnight at Gas Crater.

Meals: dinner.

Darwaza – Ashgabat, 280 km, 4 hrs

After breakfast, drive to Ashgabat (4h, 280km). Firstly, visit to 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 centers 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 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 at the Hotel in Ashgabat. Meals: breakfast

Ashgabat – Nokhur – Kow Ata – Gokdepe – Ashgabat  

BF at hotel. Then drive to Nokhur mountain village. The village itself fills a small depression valley in the mountains of the Kopet Dag Range, and the houses are built with local boulders cemented with mud. Apart from the main street through the middle of the town, the streets are so narrow that they only just fit a car between the high stone retaining walls on each side.The Nohkuri people who populate this remote mountain village are quite different to other Turkmen tribes. They live in a handful of villages in the mountainous border area spanning Turkmenistan and Iran. After drive to Kowata underground lake which is located 107 km from Ashgabat. The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means "father of caves". The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm and gushing water is clear and emerald colored. The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. (You should swim in the lake). Drive to Gokdepe fortress (45 km from Ashgabat). The siege of Gokdepe lasted 23 days, after which the city was taken by storm. Visit Geokdepe Mosque (Saparmyrat Hajy). Later drive to visit Horse Farm to see a national proud of Turkmen people - Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens begin breed Akhalteke horses.  Drive to Ashgabat, overnight at hotel.

Meals: breakfast

Ashgabat – Seyitjemaleddin Mosque – Abiwerd - Mary 

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.  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. Drive to Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque. Among the small number of Timurid-era monuments on the territory of Turkmenistan, the mosque of Seyit Jemaletdin in Anau city. The ancient settlement Abiverd is one of eight historical reserves of Turkmenistan along with Kunya-Urgench, Nissa, Merv, Dakhistan etc. The ruins of Abiverd are located between Ashgabat and Mary. Then drive to Mary. If time permits, visit local Green bazaar, Mary regional museum, Library for 6000 readers with Observatory on a top, also Old Russian Church, which build in 1900. Overnight at hotel. 

Meals: breakfast

Mary – Merw – Farap 

BF at hotel. 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,  drive to Turkmen-Uzbek border Farap border (3h) for further journey to Uzbekistan.