Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Ashgabat City Tour → Darvaza Gas Crater (Overnight in Desert Camp)
- 03:45 — Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (ASB)
- You will land in Ashgabat at 03:45. After arrival, you will complete all airport formalities (passport control, visa procedures if needed, and baggage collection). This usually takes around 1.5 hours.
- After arrival formalities (around 05:15) — Meet & Greet + Transfer to Hotel
- Our professional English-speaking guide from Darvaza Tour will meet you at the airport and assist you. Then we will provide a comfortable transfer to your hotel Bagt Kosgi Hotel (3*).
- Night / Early morning — Check-in & Rest
- After check-in, you will rest and sleep at the hotel.
- Late Morning Start (comfortable pace)
- 10:00 — Wake up & freshen up
- You will have time to rest properly after your night arrival.
- 10:00–11:00 — Breakfast at the hotel
- A good, filling breakfast at the hotel.
- 11:15 — Start of the city tour (Ashgabat)
- Visit Old Nisa (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the first capital of the Parthian Empire.
- Continue to Akhal-Teke Horse Farm to meet and photograph the legendary golden horses of Turkmenistan.
- Visit Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in Gypjak, the largest mosque in Central Asia, known for its magnificent marble dome.
- Then visit the National Museum of Turkmenistan to explore artifacts from Nisa and ancient Merv for a deep insight into Turkmen history and culture.
- Afternoon Local Bazaar & Drive to Darvaza
- Before leaving the city, visit the Russian Bazaar, the most popular local market for souvenirs, traditional dresses, and Turkmen chocolate.
- Lunch at a national restaurant (try Turkmen plov or ichlekli meat pie).
- At 14:00, depart north toward the Darvaza Gas Crater across the Karakum Desert (approx. 4 hours).
- Enjoy the drive with music, desert scenery, and stories from your guide.
- Arrive around sunset to witness the spectacular flaming crater, the “Gates of Hell.”
- Dinner with freshly grilled kebabs will be served at the camp.
- Spend the evening relaxing by the fire and enjoying the unique desert atmosphere.
- Overnight in a traditional yurt camp near the crater.
Day 2: Darvaza → Ashgabat (Full Day)
- Morning: Departure from Darvaza to Ashgabat
- In the morning, after breakfast at Darvaza, we continue our journey through the Karakum Desert towards Ashgabat: 271 km, about 4.5 hours drive.
- En route: Water & Mud Craters + Desert Village
- Along the way, we will make interesting stops:
- Water crater and Mud crater — unusual natural phenomena shaped by the desert.
- We will also visit a small desert village to see the traditional life of local people who raise goats and camels in a harsh yet beautiful desert environment.
- Lunch upon arrival
- After arriving in Ashgabat — lunch at a selected restaurant.
- Hotel check-in and shower
- The first thing we will do in Ashgabat: check-in at the Pachtashty Hotel where we stayed earlier.
- We will check-in and take a shower, because it will be hot later, and tomorrow there will be no shower at the hotel — so it is important to take a shower exactly now.
- 13:00 — Meeting at the hotel and start of the Ashgabat program
- At 13:00 — meeting at the hotel, and the full day in Ashgabat begins.
- Lunch (after leaving the hotel): On Begi Doner on coals
- After leaving the hotel, we go to a restaurant for lunch. This can be: On Begi Doner on coals (and you can also choose another option if you wish — just as a choice).
- We have lunch approximately until 14:30.
- Next — Anau, about 25 km from Ashgabat
- After lunch, we drive toward Anau — a place about 25 km from Ashgabat. This is a well-known point visited by many tourists.
- We visit the attraction in Anau — a very popular place. As mentioned in the description, there used to be a “dragon” image there, and early photos of how it looked have been preserved. We will see this place and other details in the area.
- Around 16:00 we return back to Ashgabat.
- Next — Tolkuchka Bazaar (the largest market in Ashgabat)
- After returning, we go to Tolkuchka Bazaar — the largest and most popular market in Ashgabat. It is located about 9–10 km from the city.
- This bazaar is very interesting because it is considered one of the main markets, it sells local carpets, souvenirs, and handmade items, and tourists often buy carpets and unique Turkmen items here.
- In atmosphere, it resembles large oriental markets — like Chorsu Bazaar (by feeling).
- Around 17:30 we return from the bazaar.
- After the bazaar — Turkmen Carpet Museum
- Next, we visit one of the most loved museums by tourists — the Carpet Museum. Here you can see the largest carpet in the world, listed in the Guinness World Records, handmade by Turkmen women.
- By the time we finish the museum it will be around 19:00.
- Evening: Free time
- After the museum — free time in Ashgabat: rest, walk, entertainment. The guide will offer the best options, and you can choose what you want — you can do a walking tour in Ashgabat and also visit additional places if you wish.
- Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 3: Ashgabat – City Experiences – Overnight in Ashgabat
- Morning: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. This day is flexible and can be tailored to your interests in Ashgabat. We suggest:
- Tolkuchka Bazaar (Altyn Asyr Bazaar): Experience one of Central Asia’s largest and most vibrant open-air markets. Here, you can find everything from traditional Turkmen rugs, textiles, and jewelry to livestock and everyday goods. It’s a fantastic place to absorb the local culture and do some last-minute souvenir shopping.
- Health Path (Saglyk Yoly): For those interested in a unique experience and a bit of activity, we can visit a section of the famous “Health Path” along the foothills of the Kopet Dag mountains. This concrete pathway offers scenic views and is a testament to the country’s focus on health.
- Shopping Malls: Discover modern Ashgabat by visiting one of its prominent shopping malls like Berkarar Shopping and Entertainment Center or Ashgabat Shopping and Entertainment Center. These offer a stark contrast to the traditional bazaars, with international brands, cafes, and entertainment options.
- Optional: If time permits and you’re interested, your guide can take you to other specific places of interest you might have in mind within Ashgabat.
- Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 4: Ashgabat Departure
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
- After breakfast, you will have free time in Ashgabat until your airport transfer.
- 10:30–11:30 — Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for your international flight departure at 13:20.
Price Includes:
- – Invitation letter support and Foreigner registration in Turkmenistan.
- – Accommodation. Standart rooms.
- – Ashgabat City tour
- – Transport and guide.
- – Meals at Darvaza and yurt night stay at Darvaza.
- – All breakfasts
- – All the expenses of the driver/guide, including gasoline, meals and accommodation, transfer to the point of meeting at border, and separating with the guest at the border.
- – Entrance fees to Museums and others as per the tour. roughly not more 10$ per day if any.
- – All taxes
- – The tour starts at the Turkmenistan border and ends at the Turkmenistan border.
- – You will see everything that is possible to see within that time. The tour can be changed on the go as possible.
Not included:
- – Visa and other fees at the border. (Usually costs not more than $110, per person)
- – Meals ($3-8/ 1meal/ 1person)
- – Tips. Tips are welcomed
Accommodation
Ashgabat – 2 nights
Standart: Bagt Kosgi / Mizan / Sport / Ashgabat
Comfort: Archabil / Yyldyz / Oguzkent
Darvaza – 1 nights
Standart: Shared yurts / individual accommodation in yurts or tents available upon request