3 Day Tour: Shavat Border – Darvaza – Ashgabat – Merv – Farab Border
3 Days | Private Tour | Darvaza Gas Crater, Ashgabat, Ancient Merv
This 3-day Turkmenistan tour offers a compact yet immersive mix of desert landscapes, cultural sites, and Silk Road heritage. Your journey begins at the Shavat border near Khiva, followed by a short stop in Dashoguz before entering the Karakum Desert. By sunset you’ll reach the famous Darvaza Gas Crater — a glowing natural fire pit that creates an unforgettable evening. A kebab dinner beside the yurts and an overnight stay complete your first day. For many travelers this is the highlight of Turkmenistan, though the rest of the tour is just as fascinating.
Tour itinerary:
Day 1 From Uzbekistan to the Heart of the Desert
- Your journey begins early in the morning at the border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Crossing the checkpoint is a small adventure in itself: a change of atmosphere, the neutral zone between the two countries, unhurried procedures, after which you meet your Turkmen guide. From this moment, a new chapter of the trip begins.
- Kunya-Urgench
- The first stop is the ancient capital of Khorezm, calm and warm, as if hidden away from the bustle of the modern world. You walk among mausoleums and minarets, listening to stories about rulers, merchants, and travelers.
- The Turabek Khanum Mausoleum impresses with its dome decorated with unique patterns.
- The mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan are austere yet majestic.
- The Kutlug-Timur Minaret rises dozens of meters into the sky, preserving its grandeur through the centuries.
Day 1 From Uzbekistan to the Heart of the Desert
- Your journey begins early in the morning at the border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Crossing the checkpoint is a small adventure in itself: a change of atmosphere, the neutral zone between the two countries, unhurried procedures, after which you meet your Turkmen guide. From this moment, a new chapter of the trip begins.
- Kunya-Urgench
- The first stop is the ancient capital of Khorezm, calm and warm, as if hidden away from the bustle of the modern world. You walk among mausoleums and minarets, listening to stories about rulers, merchants, and travelers.
- The Turabek Khanum Mausoleum impresses with its dome decorated with unique patterns.
- The mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan are austere yet majestic.
- The Kutlug-Timur Minaret rises dozens of meters into the sky, preserving its grandeur through the centuries.
Day 1 From Uzbekistan to the Heart of the Desert
- Your journey begins early in the morning at the border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Crossing the checkpoint is a small adventure in itself: a change of atmosphere, the neutral zone between the two countries, unhurried procedures, after which you meet your Turkmen guide. From this moment, a new chapter of the trip begins.
- Kunya-Urgench
- The first stop is the ancient capital of Khorezm, calm and warm, as if hidden away from the bustle of the modern world. You walk among mausoleums and minarets, listening to stories about rulers, merchants, and travelers.
- The Turabek Khanum Mausoleum impresses with its dome decorated with unique patterns.
- The mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan are austere yet majestic.
- The Kutlug-Timur Minaret rises dozens of meters into the sky, preserving its grandeur through the centuries.
Price included:
- Visa support. Full assistance with the Letter of Invitation (LOI) and foreigner registration in Turkmenistan.
- Accommodation. Comfortable 4-star hotels with breakfast, based on twin-room sharing according to guests’ gender.
- Yurt night stay at Darvaza. Overnight in a traditional yurt near the Darvaza Gas Crater, including dinner, breakfast, bed linen, and shower facilities.
- Transport. Comfortable air-conditioned vehicles with experienced drivers throughout the tour.
- Transfers. Border pick-up, city-to-city transfers, sightseeing transfers, and drop-off at the border.
- Meals. All breakfasts, plus dinner and breakfast at Darvaza.
- Guide. Licensed English-speaking guide throughout the route.
- Sightseeing and entrance fees. City tours, sightseeing program, and entrance tickets to museums and sites included in the itinerary.
- Medical insurance. Insurance coverage up to 64,000 USD per guest.
- Driver and guide expenses. Gasoline, meals, accommodation, and all route-related expenses for the driver and guide are included.
- Taxes and organization. All taxes, road fees, and organizational expenses are included.
- Border-to-border service. The tour starts at the Turkmenistan border and ends at the Turkmenistan border.
- Flexible program. You will see everything possible within the available time. The tour can be adjusted on the go, depending on time, logistics, and local conditions.
Not included:
- Visa and border fees. Usually not more than 110 USD per person.
- Meals not mentioned in the program. Average cost is 3–8 USD per person per meal.
- Personal expenses. Souvenirs, snacks, alcohol, laundry, minibar, SIM cards, extra hotel services, and other personal purchases.
- Tips. Tips are not included, but welcomed.
Prices, per person
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | US$ 725 |
| 2 persons | US$ 540 |
| 3 persons | US$ 465 |
| 4 persons | US$ 420 |
Accommodation
Darvaza - 2 nights
Standard:
Sport or similar
Comfort:
Archabil or similar
Premium:
Oguzkent or similar
Darvaza - 2 nights
Standard:
Sport or similar
Comfort:
Archabil or similar
Premium:
Oguzkent or similar
3 Day Tour: Shavat Border – Darvaza – Ashgabat – Merv – Farab Border, Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Darvaza Tours made the trip to Turkmenistan a perfect experience from the very first contact. Communication was excellent, and the tour was flexibly adapted to my/our schedule, desired entry and exit points, and sights. I felt relaxed as soon as I met our tour guide, Guljan, at the border, as she took care of everything. It's clear that Darvaza Tours' management selects its drivers and, above all, its tour guides very carefully. With Guljan, we not only saw the selected sights and learned a great deal about the history and culture, but we also felt comfortable throughout the entire days. Her positive energy and good humor are contagious, and at the same time, she is caring and considerate. Therefore, I can wholeheartedly recommend Darvaza Tours, and if I were to return, I would definitely book Guljan as my tour guide again!
Hello!
I am still on my way back to Vienna and when I finally am back home I wanted to say thank you for the experience you and the team and of course in praxis mainly Guljan provided me (or as I think I can say: us = Wayne and me)!
So I am taking this opportunity to say that what was originally just regarded as a way to reach Iran became a special highlight on my trip.
I will gladly write a review on Google and for sure I can recommend the tour also to all people that I know!
Martin
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