Turkmenistan’s Silk Road Tour

Day 1: Ashgabat – Arrival

Arrive in Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel. Free time. Overnight.

*If you are arriving from the neighboring countries, we will meet you at the border crossing.

Day 2: Ashgabat – Mary – Merv

Drive to Mary. Visit on the route: Anau pilgrimage place (remains of Seyitjemalatdin mosque XV c). Lunch at Hanhovuz Chayhana to taste silver or grass carp fish. Arrive in Mary & check in Margush hotel. Visit the Museum of History and Ethnography of the Khorassan region in Turkmenistan.

Drive to Merv historical site. The ancient city of Merv (Persian Marv) contains a succession of ancient cities developed over a period of 2500 years at the heart of the oasis formed by the Murgab river delta, and close to the course of where the main river channel flowed in ancient times. Together, the cities of Merv once encompassed over 1000 hectares. In 1999, the United Nations declared Merv a World Heritage Site. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Mary - Ashgabat

After breakfast transfer to the airport for a flight to Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel. Today we will have a sightseeing tour in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan which has recently been noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most white marble-clad buildings in the world. During the city tour you will explore an archeological site of Old Nisa included in the UNESCO World Heritage list and Turkmenbashi Mosque and Mausoleum, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia.

You will visit the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, the Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, the Monument, and the Park of Independence. The intense and interesting excursion also includes a stopover at the Akhalteke horse stables. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 4: Ashgabat – Darvaza Gas Crater

Your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby in Ashgabat and drive to the Darvaza gas crater located in the middle of the Karakum desert (280km, 4h). On the way stop at Erbent village to witness the life of locals surrounded by desert. Arrive at the crater, and set up the camp. Enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner near the burning gas crater. Overnight in tents.

Day 5: Darvaza – Kunya-Urgench – Dashoguz – Ashgabat

In the morning depart Darvaza and drive to Kunya-Urgench. Visit the mausoleums of Turabek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmuddin-Kubra, and Sultan Ali. Discover the Kutlug Timur Minaret and Kyrk Molla Hill. After lunch drive to Dashoguz airport, and take an evening flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Day 6: Ashgabat – Departure

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.