Introduction
This 5 day journey is designed for travelers arriving in Ashgabat late at night. It’s the perfect choice for those landing in Turkmenistan’s capital in the evening or after midnight guests can rest comfortably at the hotel and begin their adventure the next morning without any rush. The itinerary combines Turkmenistan’s top highlights: the glowing Darvaza Gas Crater known as the “Gates of Hell,” a rich Ashgabat city tour with both modern and historic landmarks, and the ancient Silk Road city of Merv, once among the world’s largest. The route then continues to Turkmenabat and the Farap border, ideal for travelers heading onward to Bukhara or Khiva, or starting a longer Central Asia journey across Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Ashgabat Arrival
- Transfer to the hotel.
- Rest and overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 2 – Ashgabat → Darvaza (overnight in yurts)
- After breakfast, Ashgabat city tour.
- Afternoon departure to Darvaza, aiming to arrive before sunset.
- Overnight in Darvaza yurts.
Day 3 – Darvaza → Ashgabat (city tour)
- Breakfast and departure from Darvaza.
- Short stops at Mud Crater and Water Crater near the highway.
- Drive to Ashgabat.
- City tour and evening drive-by of modern monuments.
- Dinner in town.
- Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 4 – Ashgabat → Mary
- Depart Ashgabat.
- Drive to Merv for sightseeing.
- Overnight in Mary.
Day 5 – Mary → Turkmenabat → Farap border
- After breakfast, drive to Turkmenabat.
- Turkmenabat city tour.
- Drive to Farap border crossing.
- End of tour.
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.
- – 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 ($3-8/ 1meal/ 1person)
- – Entrance fees to Museums and others as per the tour. roughly not more 10$ per day if any.
- – 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
Mary – 1 nights
Standart: Margus / Mary / Merv