11 days tour – Classic Turkmenistan

Itinerary

Day 1 – Ashgabat

• Meet the guide and driver and transfer to the hotel. 
• Enjoy a city tour of Asghabat, including sights such as:
• Highlight: Independence Park, the symbol of modern Turkmenistan.
• Akhal-Teke horse farm. Turkmenistan is known for their unique Akhal Teke horses, this is your opportunity to experience them up close.
• Independence Monument, an impressive monument inspired by the old Turkmen tents.
• Monument of the Constitution, a 185m high tower.
• Gate of Neutrality, an absurd monument with a golden statue of former President Niyazov.
• Lenin Park, here you will find a statue of Lenin.
• Erogrul Ghazi Mosque, a famous mosque named after the leader of the Ottoman Empire.
• Alem Business Centre with the largest indoor ferris wheel in the world.
• Highlight: Palace of Hapiness for a panoramic view of the city.
• Overnight stay in Ashgabat.

Day 2 – Ashgabat – Nissa – Nokhur – Serdar

• Highlight: After breakfast we drive to Nissa. On the way we visit Turkmenbashi Mosque Mausoleum.
• Visit Nissa, an UNESCO world heritage site and the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire.
• Drive to Kow Ata and have a visit at this underground lake. 
• Highlight: Drive to the traditional mountain village of Nokhur. Here we get acquainted with life outside the big city.
• Walk in the surrounding mountains of Nokhur, with time to explore village life and the old tree.
• Nokhur Cemetery, learn more about the impressive graves here.
• Drive onwards to Serdar town.
• Overnight stay in a homestay in Serdar.

Day 3 – Serdar – Yangikala Canyon – Turkmenbashi

• Highlight: After breakfast we drive to Yangikala Canyons. This place is also known as the Grand Canyon of Central Asia. We will visit several viewpoints here.
• Visit multiple viewpoints, including Gozli Ata red pilgrim house.
• Explore the canyons close to sunset.
• Drive to Turkmenbashi.
• Overnight stay in Turkmenbashi.

Day 4 – Avaza – Turkmenbashi

• This morning we’ll drive to Avaza. We will go straight through Turkmenistan.
• Highlight: City tour by car through Avaza, a (reasonably) deserted seaside resort, where a lot has been built in recent years. However, the tourists never came, so there are a lot of new empty buildings.
• Beach walk along the Caspian Sea.
• Overnight stay in Turkmenbashi.

Day 5 – Turkmenbashi – Ashgabat – Darvaza

• After breakfast we drive to the domestic airport for a departure flight to Ashgabat.
• Upon arrival in Ashgabath we visit the Russian Bazaar, Lenin’s Monument and Pushkin’s Monument.
• After lunch time drive to Darwaza gaz crater via 2 small craters (mud and water).
• Visit to the mud crater.
• Highlight: Arrival at the fire crater (Gates of Hell). A place that originated in the seventies and has never stopped burning since.
• Walk through the sand dunes around the crater.
• Highlight: Sunset at the crater.
• Enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner and explore the gaz crater at night time.
• Overnight stay in tents near the Gates of Hell.

Day 6 – Darvaza – Ashgabat – Mary

• After breakfast we drive back to Ashgabat. 
• Highlight: On the way or upon arrival we visit Tolkuchka Bazaar, one of the largest open-air markets in Central Asia and a perfect place to observe local life and take photos.
• In the afternoon we take a daytime train ride to Mary, giving a glimpse of everyday travel in Turkmenistan and the changing landscapes outside the window.
• Upon arrival Mary, transfer to the hotel.
• Overnight stay in Mary.

Day 7 – Mary – Merv – Turkmenabat

• After breakfast we visit the Mary Museum of History to gain context on the region before heading to one of Central Asia’s most important archaeological sites.
• Drive to Merv.
• Highlight: Visit to Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site), once one of the largest cities in the world and a key stop on the Silk Road. We explore the remains of shrines, temples, towers, city walls, castles and mausoleums spread across the vast archaeological park.
• We continue driving east towards Turkmenabat.
• In the afternoon, a short city tour with the highlights of Turkmenabat.
• Overnight stay in Turkmenabat.

Day 8 – Turkmenabat – Koyten

• After breakfast we depart for the remote Kugitang (Koyten) Mountains near the border with Uzbekistan. This is a long but scenic drive through changing landscapes.
• We stop along the way for a picnic lunch.
• Highlight: Driving through the Karlyuk steppe, where we pass one of the country’s most unusual natural features, the Kainar Baba lake, known for its constantly flowing spring water.
• Upon arrival in the mountain area we set up camp.
• Barbecue dinner at the campsite.
• Overnight stay in tents.

Day 9 – Kuritang – Kuritang 

• Today is dedicated to exploring the natural highlights of the Kugitang area.
• We visit the Dinosaur Plateau, famous for its well-preserved dinosaur footprints embedded in stone.
• Highlight: We continue to Umbar Dere Gorge, a scenic canyon area, and visit the Kyrk Gyz pilgrim cave, an important local pilgrimage site connected to legends and spiritual traditions.
• We also see the Amudarya River, one of Central Asia’s most important rivers.
• At the end of the day we return to Kugitang.
• Overnight stay in Kugitang.

Day 10 – Kuritang – Turkmenabat – Ashgabat

• Early departure as we drive back to Turkmenabat.
• Highlight: Visit to the Astana Baba and Alamberdar Mausoleums, two significant religious and historical sites in eastern Turkmenistan.
• Picnic on the way.
• We stop for a picnic lunch along the way.
• Transfer to Kerki domestic airport for the flight back to Ashgabat.
• Upon arrival in the capital, transfer to the hotel.
• Overnight stay in Ashgabat.

Day 11 – Ashgabat

• After breakfast, transfer to the international airport for your departure flight.
• End of tour.