Exploring the Timeless Silk Road Destinations

Category: Turkmenistan

Explore Turkmenistan, enter from Uzbekistan 5 days

Price

200$ / person

[price_in_som usd='200']

/ с человека

Highlights

Tour route: Shavat – Dashoguz – Darwaza – Ashgabat – Airport

Duration: 5 days, 4 nights

Season: March – early June, late August – November

Accommodation: Hotels, Yurt Camp

Contact us

Overview

Description:

This tour is best suit for the traveller who is eager to travel on The Great Silk Road combined with Uzbekistan and finish it in Ashgabat airport to take flight home. You cross the Uzbek – Turkmen border “Shavat” from Khiva, Uzbekistan and visit the most interesting and mysterious places of Turkmenistan in a fascinating 5 days Silk Road Tour in Turkmenistan. This tours is continue of the Silk Road after Uzbekistan by crossing Uzbek – Turkmen land border with further travel to Dashoguz with following visits of the Door to Hell “Darwaza” and capital city Ashgabat with deep explore the white marble city in Central Asia. You will have an unforgettable journey to ancient castles and ruins of antique buildings, once being majestic, and enjoy elegant oriental architecture of minarets and mausoleums. You will also see one of the Turkmen natural wonders – a gas crater burning in the midst of the Karakum desert nearly half a century.

Itinerary

Day 1: Uzbek / Turkmen border “Shavat” - Dashoguz

Our representative will meet you at the Turkmen/Uzbek border “Shavat” at 09:00 AM.

Drive to Kunya Urgench (2h). Sightseeing tour in Kunya Urgench: visit the Portal of Caravansaray, the Mamun Minaret, II Arslan Mausoleum, Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum, Academy of Horezm, Kutlug Timur Minaret, and Turabek Hanum Mausoleum. After sightseeing, drive to Dashoguz (2h). Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: no meals

Day 2: Dashoguz - Darwaza

BF at the hotel. Then you will have a 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.

Afternoon drive to Darvaza burning Gas Crater (5h, 295km), which is one of the top international tourist destinations. The area is rich in natural gas. Burning for more than 50 years, Darvaza Gas Crater shines like a pearl in the middle of the Karakum Desert. Besides the Darvaza Gas Crater, you will also see water and mud craters. One of the most vivid and addictive features of this trip is the fresh air of the desert and experiencing the nomadic life in person. At night, while the light of the Gas Crater hits the sky, you will camp in the Turkmen national yurt or private tents and barbecue for dinner. This unique landscape in the world will fascinate you, and you will want to come again. Meals: breakfast

Day 3: Darwaza – Ashgabat

After breakfast, drive to Ashgabat (4h, 280 km). After hotel check-in, visit the 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 with 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.

In the afternoon, you will take a city tour of Ashgabat. In 2013, the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat a “white marbled city” – here you can see the largest number of structures in the world made out of white marble. You will see the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium, Monument and Park of Independence, the main flagpole of Ashgabat, the Arch of Neutrality, the Constitution Monument, Ferris Wheel, Wedding Palace, and enjoy a panoramic view of Ashgabat from the top of the hill, Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, Alabay monument, and Ertogrul Gazi Mosque. Overnight in Ashgabat. Meals: breakfast

Day 4: Ashgabat

BF at the Hotel. Morning drive to visit Nissa fortress -the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings. UNESCO declared the fortress a World Heritage Site in 2007. Nissa is 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 not been established that the fortress at Nissa was a royal residence or a mausoleum.

After driving to Gokdepe fortress, which was attacked in December 1880 by the Russian Empire Army. The siege of Gokdepe lasted 23 days, after which the city was taken by storm. Visit Geokdepe Mosque (Saparmyrat Hajy), which was built in 1995 to commemorate the defeat, and is noted for its mint-turquoise blue colored roof and white marble structure.

Then visit the Gokdepe museum (closed on Tuesday and National holidays) about the battle between Russians and the local tribe “Akhalteke” in 1881.

Later, drive to visit the Horse Stable to see a national pride of Turkmen people - Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, the Turkmens began breeding Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great and Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are over 35 beautiful horses on the farm. Per superstition, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: breakfast

Day 5: Departure

BF at the hotel. Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport. Meals: breakfast

Price 2026 in USD per person

Price in USD/ pp

Single

Supplement

Turkeminstan tour 5 days

$865

$750

$720

$678

$665

$69

What's included

Included

Letter of invitation for Turkmen visa
Registration in Ashgabat city
Accommodation in DBL/TWIN rooms: 4 nights - Dashoguz - Dashoguz Hotel 3* = 1 night - Darwaza - Yurt Camp = 1 night (incl sleeping mats, sleeping bags, pillows, light) - Ashgabat - Ak-Altyn Hotel 3* = 2 nights
Transportation as per the program, per AC regular road vehicles and 4x4, where terrain requires
English speaking guide escort service
Entrance ticketsto sights
Meals: daily breakfast, 1 BBQ Dinner at Gas Crater
1,5 L water per person per day
Memorable souvenirs
Travel Tax: 2 USD per person per night

Not included

Notes

Due to changing road and traffic conditions, the actual driving time may be slightly more or less than the estimated times mentioned in the program. Please note that the mentioned driving times do not include stops.
Flight times are subject to change by Turkmenistan Airlines. The handbag is 5kg, and the baggage is 20kg per person. If the baggage is overweight, you pay between 2-3$ per kg.
If the traveller stays more than 3 working days in Turkmenistan, the travel agency will register and stamp their passport at the local Tourist Board.
An express PCR test for COVID-19 will be taken upon arrival. It costs between 33 USD.
Breakfast box in case of very early morning departures.
Make sure you have spare change (1, 5, and 10 USD banknotes) with you to facilitate and expedite visa and other procedures at the airport. Please ensure the banknotes are new or in good condition, not damaged or torn, and issued no earlier than 2009.
Most places accept only cash, and credit cards often do not work.
To communicate with your contacts (family, friends, or colleagues) during your stay, we recommend downloading the IMO messaging app on your phone before your trip. Please also inform the people you will be contacting about installing and using this application.

PAYMENT:

At the time of booking confirmation we apply dow payment of 30 % from total amount to secure the booking. The balance payment can be paid 15 days prior by bank transfer or online by card, also it can be paid by cash in USD upon arrival in Bishkek.

CANCELLATION FEES: