This 5-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Farap to Shavat is designed for travelers who want to discover the country's most important historical, cultural and natural highlights in a compact overland journey. The tour can also be operated in reverse, from Shavat to Farap.
5-Day Itinerary
This tour can be operated in either direction between Farap and Shavat. Both options include Merv, Ashgabat, Kow-Ata, Nokhur, Yangykala, Darvaza and Kunya-Urgench; only the direction and order of visits change.
Farap → Shavat
Farap → Merv → Ashgabat → Kow-Ata → Nokhur → Turkmenbashi → Yangykala Canyons → Balkanabat → Ashgabat → Darvaza → Kunya-Urgench → Shavat
Day 1 — Farap → Merv → Ashgabat
Meet your guide at the Farap border crossing. Your guide will assist you with the border and visa formalities.
Drive to the ancient city of Merv and visit its principal monuments, including Erk-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, the Gyz-Gala fortresses and the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar.
Continue to Ashgabat and check in at a hotel. Lunch will be arranged during the drive.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Day 2 — Ashgabat → Kow-Ata → Nokhur → Turkmenbashi
Depart early from Ashgabat and visit Kow-Ata Underground Lake.
Continue to Nokhur Village to see the village and learn about its distinctive local traditions.
Drive onward to Turkmenbashi and check in at a hotel. This is a full day of travel and visits.
Overnight: Turkmenbashi
Day 3 — Turkmenbashi → Yangikala Canyons → Balkanabat → Ashgabat
Set off early and drive to the Yangikala Canyons.
Explore the canyon viewpoints and landscapes. The visit will be planned around road and daylight conditions.
Continue via Balkanabat to Ashgabat. This is a long driving day.
Check in at a hotel.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Day 4 — Ashgabat → Darvaza
In the morning, continue sightseeing in Ashgabat, including its white-marble architecture and selected monuments.
After lunch, drive north towards the Darvaza Gas Crater. Visit the Water Crater and Mud Crater and stop at a desert village along the way.
Arrive at the Darvaza Gas Crater before sunset. Have dinner at the nearby yurt camp and spend time at the burning crater with your guide.
Overnight: Yurt or tent at Darvaza
Day 5 — Darvaza → Kunya-Urgench → Shavat
After breakfast, drive to Kunya-Urgench and visit its principal historical monuments.
Continue to the Shavat border crossing near Khiva and Urgench.
The tour ends at the Shavat border crossing.
Shavat → Farap
Shavat → Kunya-Urgench → Darvaza → Ashgabat → Balkanabat → Yangikala Canyons → Turkmenbashi → Nokhur → Kow-Ata → Ashgabat → Merv → Farab
Day 1 — Shavat → Kunya-Urgench → Darvaza
Meet your guide on the Turkmen side of the Shavat border crossing. Your guide will assist you with the border and visa formalities.
Drive to Kunya-Urgench and visit its principal historical monuments.
Continue to the Darvaza Gas Crater and arrive before sunset.
Dinner at the nearby yurt camp, followed by time at the burning crater with your guide.
Overnight: Yurt or tent at Darvaza
Day 2 — Darvaza → Ashgabat
After breakfast, visit the Water Crater and Mud Crater and stop at a desert village along the way.
Continue to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. The drive takes approximately five hours, in addition to the visits and stops.
In the afternoon, begin sightseeing in Ashgabat, including its white-marble architecture and selected monuments.
Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Ashgabat.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Day 3 — Ashgabat → Balkanabat → Yangikala Canyons → Turkmenbashi
Set off early from Ashgabat and drive via Balkanabat to the Yangikala Canyons.
Explore the canyon viewpoints and landscapes. This is a long driving day, and the visit will be planned around road and daylight conditions.
Continue to Turkmenbashi and check in at a hotel.
Overnight: Turkmenbashi
Day 4 — Turkmenbashi → Nokhur → Kow-Ata → Ashgabat
Depart early and travel to Nokhur Village. Visit the village and learn about its distinctive local traditions.
Continue to Kow-Ata Underground Lake and visit the cave and lake.
Drive to Ashgabat and check in at a hotel. This is another full day of travel and visits.
Overnight: Ashgabat
Day 5 — Ashgabat → Merv → Farab
Drive from Ashgabat to the ancient city of Merv, a major Silk Road site.
Visit the main monuments of Merv, including Erk-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, the Gyz-Gala fortresses and the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar.
Continue to the Farab border crossing near Turkmenabat. Lunch will be arranged during the drive.
The tour ends at the Farab border crossing.
5-Day Tour Price
Price per person based on the total number of travelers in the group.
1 Traveler
US$ 1,629
per person
2 Travelers
US$ 1,145
per person
3 Travelers
US$ 948
per person
4 Travelers
US$ 914
per person
Groups of more than 4 travelers are also welcome. The larger the group, the lower the price per person may become.
Please note that the prices shown above are indicative and may vary depending on the final itinerary, travel dates, accommodation and overnight arrangements, room configuration, optional services, and other individual requirements. We will always confirm the final tour price with you before booking.
What’s Included
- Visa support and registration: assistance with the Turkmenistan e-Visa application and foreigner registration in Turkmenistan.
- Hotel accommodation: hotel accommodation in Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi according to the itinerary, including breakfast and based on twin-room sharing unless another room arrangement is agreed.
- Darvaza accommodation: one night in a traditional yurt near the Darvaza Gas Crater, including dinner, breakfast, bed linen and access to camp facilities.
- Ground transport: comfortable air-conditioned vehicles with experienced drivers throughout the land itinerary.
- Border transfers: pick-up and drop-off on the Turkmenistan side of the Farap and Shavat border crossings, according to the selected direction of travel.
- Intercity and sightseeing transfers: all road transfers required for the programme between Farap, Merv, Ashgabat, Kow-Ata, Nokhur, Turkmenbashi, Yangykala, Balkanabat, Darvaza, Kunya-Urgench and Shavat.
- Meals: hotel breakfasts according to the itinerary, plus dinner and breakfast at the Darvaza yurt camp.
- Guiding: a licensed English-speaking guide throughout the programme.
- Sightseeing: guided visits and entrance fees for museums, historical monuments and sites included in the agreed programme.
- Medical insurance: coverage up to USD 64,000 per guest, subject to the policy terms.
- Driver and guide costs: fuel, meals, accommodation and other route-related expenses for the driver and guide.
- Taxes and organisation: applicable taxes, road fees and organisational costs for the included services.
- Border-to-border service: full ground service from Farap to Shavat or in the reverse direction from Shavat to Farap.
- Flexible programme: the order and timing of visits may be adjusted according to border processing, road conditions, weather, local access and the time available.
- Mobile internet: access to the guide’s portable Wi-Fi router where mobile network coverage is available, supporting up to 10 connected devices at a time.
Not Included
- e-Visa fee: paid by the traveller; the amount depends on nationality and processing time. We prepare and submit your application after the tour is confirmed.
- Border fees on arrival: about US$49 per person (migration registration and medical check), paid in cash at the border.
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Personal expenses. Souvenirs, snacks, SIM cards, laundry and other personal purchases.
- Tips. Not included, but welcome.
