Turkmenistan Tours
We offer various Turkmenistan tours but our most popular option starts at just €599 for a 8 day tour taking in all of Turkmenistan's highlights (details listed below).
For further information on alternative itineraries and prices please contact us.
Day 1
Arrive in Ashgabat early morning (from London with Turkmenistan
airlines or via turkey with Turkish Airlines). Our tour guide will be
waiting to transfer you to your hotel (3 star, Grand Turkmen/Ak Altyn)
for a short rest. around 11am our guide will return to pick you up for
sightseeing around Ashgabat. You will visit parks and monuments of the
city, the fortress of Old Nisa (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the
National Museum of History and Ethnography. The museum features numerous
pieces from the independence period, artefacts from archaeological
sites all over the country (7 mill. BC - 15 c. AD) and an ethnographic
collection (Turkmen jewellery, carpets, embroidery). Return to hotel and
spend evening at leisure.
Day 2
Early morning we will set off 390km east to Mary. Along the way we
will visit various sites. First up is the ruins of an Anau mosque (Timurid
period), formerly called the "house of beauty". We then drive onwards to
view the former Silk Road city of Abiverd, reduced to rubble by the
hordes of Genghis Khan in the early 13th century. Finally we will drive
to and explore of the fortress of Nedir Shah (the 18th century Turkmen
Shah of Iran). The fortress is located in an atmospheric area at the
foot of the Kopet Dagh Mountains. Continue further east and arrive in
Mary early evening. Transfer to 3 star Yrsgal/Margush hotel and spend
evening at leisure.
Day 3
Early in the morning head north towards the once Margush country
capital, Gonur Depe (Bronze Age). The journey is 100km, taking 3 hours
with a 30km drive across desert roads. Greek-Russian archaeologist
Viktor Sariandi has been excavating the site since 1972. Excavation work
is still ongoing (you may have the chance to meet Sariandi) and new
finds are being found daily. Lack of funds means there is still much
more to uncover at the huge site but current indications suggest Gonur
Depe should be considered the worlds fifth centre of ancient
civilisation. After exploration of the site and picnic lunch we head
back to Mary to visit the local History Museum, displaying finds from
Merv and Margush. Evening at leisure.
Day 4
Early morning we will visit the site of Ancient Merv (UNESCO World
Heritage Site), the biggest archaeological site of Central Asia. Merv
was an important destination along the ancient Silk Route and was
briefly the worlds biggest city during the 12th Century. Afternoon
we drive back to Ashgabat staying overnight at Grand Turkmen or Ak Altyn hotel. Evening
at leisure.
Day 5
The morning is free to maybe do some shopping around Ashgabat. In the
afternoon we drive to the amazing Darvaza Gas crater. En route we visit
two more craters and also stop off for supplies in the desert village of
Erbent. We then turn off road and drive across huge desert dunes. Arrive
at Darvaza early evening when the light is fading and all you can see
for miles around is the glow of the crater. Our guide will set up camp
in tents at a safe distance from the crater before cooking dinner while
you relax and stare in awe at the Gas crater!
Day 6
Drive back to Ashgabat in the morning. On arrival check back into
hotel for a short rest. In the afternoon we will visit Ashgabat's famous
cable car, taking in a long ride across hills and desert. Late afternoon
we will visit the Fine Arts Museum. Evening at leisure.
Day 7
In the morning, we visit the vast Tolkuchka Market to see a
traditional oriental bazaar. The market sells everything from huge
Turkmen rugs to camels! From the market we drive west, to visit a
beautiful Geok Depe mosque built within a former Tekke stronghold, which
was the site of the biggest battle for Russian domination in Central
Asia in the late 19the century. We then visit a private stud farm to
see the beautiful and legendary Akhal-Tekke horses. Afterwards we
proceed to the underground cave of Kov-Ata. The cave features a unique
hot-water (+ 35-37C all year round) sulphur lake. After a swim in the
lake we return to Ashgabat, making a stop in Kipchak, to visit the
biggest mosque in Turkmenistan and the family mausoleum of the first
President, Saparmurat Niyazov. Evening at leisure.
Day 8
Time for your own sightseeing or shopping before heading to the
airport for your flight back home.