4 Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva: Darvaza, Ashgabat & Merv

• Your journey begins at the Shavat border crossing, conveniently located for travelers arriving from Khiva or Urgench in Uzbekistan.
• After completing the Uzbek border formalities, continue across the neutral zone and complete immigration procedures on the Turkmenistan side. Your local guide and driver will meet you after the formalities and assist you with the beginning of your journey through Turkmenistan.
• From the border, travel toward Dashoguz, one of the main cities of northern Turkmenistan. Depending on your border-crossing time and the pace of the day, there can be time for a short stop in the city, lunch at a local restaurant, currency exchange or purchasing drinks and other items for the desert journey.
• Afterwards, continue south across the vast Karakum Desert toward Darvaza. The drive offers your first real impression of Turkmenistan’s remote desert landscape, with long stretches of open scenery and small settlements along the route.
• As you approach the Darvaza area, leave the main road and continue toward the desert camp and the famous Darvaza Gas Crater, also widely known as the Gates of Hell.
• The aim is to arrive around the late afternoon or evening so that you can experience the crater as daylight gradually disappears. Darvaza becomes particularly impressive after dark, when the flames illuminate the crater and surrounding desert.
• Dinner will be served near the yurt camp. Depending on the season and conditions, the meal usually includes freshly prepared local dishes, salads, bread, tea and a hot main course.
• After dinner, you can return to the crater for another view in complete darkness or simply relax at the camp beneath the desert sky.
• Overnight: Private traditional yurt near the Darvaza Gas Crater.

• After breakfast at the camp, enjoy some final time in the Darvaza area before beginning the journey south toward Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.
• Where timing and local road conditions allow, the route can include stops at the Water Crater and Mud Crater, two smaller geological sites located in the wider Darvaza region. These stops provide an interesting contrast to the much larger burning gas crater.
• Continue across the Karakum Desert toward Ashgabat. As you approach the capital, the scenery changes dramatically from open desert to the carefully planned avenues and white marble architecture for which Ashgabat is famous.
• After arriving in the city, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before beginning your Ashgabat sightseeing tour.
• Your guide will introduce you to the most important areas of the capital. Depending on opening hours, timing and your interests, sightseeing can include major monuments, impressive government districts, parks, city viewpoints and several of Ashgabat’s distinctive white-marble buildings.
• Possible highlights include the Independence Monument, Neutrality Monument, Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center, and other important landmarks of the capital.
• If time permits and you are interested, the program can also be adjusted to include additional cultural or historical sights.
• In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before transferring to your hotel.
• Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat.

• After breakfast, leave Ashgabat and travel east toward Mary and Ancient Merv.
• The journey crosses another large section of southern Turkmenistan before reaching the fertile Murgab oasis, one of the most historically important areas of the country.
• Upon arrival in the Mary region, enjoy lunch before beginning a guided visit to Ancient Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest archaeological complexes in Central Asia.
• For centuries, Merv was an important center along the Silk Road and developed under several different civilizations and empires. Because of this long history, the archaeological park contains ruins from many different periods.
• During the tour you can explore some of its most important sites, including:
• Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar – one of the most important surviving monuments from the Seljuk period and one of the architectural symbols of Ancient Merv.
• Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala – massive mud-brick fortress structures famous for their distinctive corrugated outer walls.
• Askhabs Mausoleums – an important religious complex associated with early Islamic history.
• Erk Kala – one of the oldest fortified areas of Merv.
• Gyaur Kala – an enormous ancient walled settlement illustrating the remarkable scale of historical Merv.
• Additional ruins and archaeological sites can be visited depending on available time and your particular interests.
• After completing the Merv sightseeing program, transfer to nearby Mary, the modern regional capital.
• One of the advantages of this itinerary is that there is no need to rush immediately toward the border after visiting Merv. Instead, you can check into your hotel, rest after the long day and enjoy a more relaxed evening in Mary.
• Dinner can be arranged at a local restaurant.
• Overnight: Hotel in Mary.

• After breakfast at the hotel, begin the final part of your journey across eastern Turkmenistan.
• Depart Mary and drive toward Turkmenabat, one of the largest cities in the eastern part of the country and an important transportation center near the Amu Darya River.
• The drive provides another opportunity to see the changing landscapes of Turkmenistan as you travel from the Murgab oasis toward the Amu Darya region.
• Upon arrival in Turkmenabat, stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Depending on your preferred border-crossing time, there may also be time for a short city stop before continuing toward the border.
• After lunch, drive approximately 40 km toward the Farab border crossing.
• Your guide and driver will assist you until the end of the Turkmenistan side of the journey. After completing the Turkmen border formalities, cross toward Uzbekistan through the Farab / Alat checkpoint.
• Once you reach the Uzbekistan side, you can continue onward toward Bukhara.
• This marks the end of your 4 Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva, completing an overland journey connecting Khiva, Darvaza, Ashgabat, Ancient Merv and Bukhara.

Standard & Comfort:
Private yurt near the Darvaza Gas Crater

Premium:
Private yurt with a private bathroom near the Darvaza Gas Crater

Standard:
Mizan Hotel or Bagt Koshgi Hotel (or similar)

Comfort:
Sport Hotel or Archabil Hotel (or similar)

Premium:
Oguzkent Hotel (or similar)

Standart: Mary Hotel / Merv Hotel

Comfort: Margush Hotel