Tour Reviews – What Our Travelers Say
Read genuine reviews from travelers who explored Turkmenistan with Darvaza Tour. See what our guests say about our local guides, itineraries, Darvaza trips, border assistance and overall travel experience.
Posted on Google
Casey3 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I was able to experience sunny Turkmenistan and its incredible culture through Darvaza Tours. It was truly an unforgettable experience where I was able to make some wonderful memories that I will be sharing for many years to come. Darvaza Tours made the Visa application process so easy, and were helpful and responsive every step of the way. I applied several months before my tour started, and by the time I was ready to fly to Turkmenistan I had all the information I needed for a smooth entrance. Once landing in Ashgabat, I was greeted by Aiza who was absolutely wonderful and helpful. Her willingness to share her culture and country with me made the experience special, and by the end of my 3 day trip I considered her a good friend. Our drivers in Ashgabat and to Darvaza were also fantastic, and we shared many good memories along the road. Darvaza Tours was able to give me one of the most incredible experiences of my life and there will always be a place in my heart for sunny Turkmenistan!+2Posted on Google
Robert Kamimoto3 days agoAwesome experience from the start to the end. Getting the LOI was a breeze with Darvaza tour letting us know exactly what information was needed and they always responded in a timely manner which really made us feel confident about the tour. Upon arrival in Ashgabat we were greeted by Aiza who turned out to be a fantastic tour guide - she covered everything we wanted to see and made sure that we felt comfortable at all times. I couldn’t be any happier with our time spent with her throughout the tours. Our drivers were professional at all times and really gave us confidence as they navigated some difficult road conditions. I would without a doubt recommend Darvaza tours to anybody including my friends and family that decide to make the journey to the wonderful country of Turkmenistan. I hope to return again one day. Thank you so much+3Posted on Google
Jessie Ki5 days agoWe enjoyed the 2-day tour from Ashgabat to Darvaza gas crater to Shavat border with Darvazatour. Tour team and Gozel is super helpful and responsive since the pre-trip planning. Really appreciate their support throughout our journey and deliver a safe trip. Our tour guide Agamyrat is very caring and helpful to guide us through these 2 days. Appreciate his kindness and help. Thank you very much! Highly recommend this tour guide and this company!+0Posted on Google
Richard Varga6 days agoOverall, I am very satisfied with my experience with Darvaza Tour. We initially had a small misunderstanding regarding the price, but in the end, we managed to resolve everything. It was mainly a communication issue, and I appreciate that we were able to sort it out. The five-day itinerary is excellent and packed with highlights. We managed to see everything that had been promised, which I really appreciated. However, the schedule is very tight and requires excellent time management. I would recommend extending the tour to six days to make the experience more relaxed and allow more time to enjoy the places visited without constantly rushing. Mekan is a great person with a big heart. He was always helpful and willing to assist us whenever needed. He is still young and has a lot of potential, with some room to improve and gain more experience and professional skills. However, I believe he is already a very good guide, and with time and experience, he can become even better. Overall, I had a great experience and would recommend Darvaza Tour to anyone planning to visit Turkmenistan.+6Posted on Google
Eunice Leung11 days agoThank you Gozel for all your assistance up til the start of the tour, with putting together our applications for the LoI and any questions I had about the trip to Turkmenistan! Thank you to Agamyrat as well for being a great friendly guide and giving very helpful explanations, and to the driver as well (sorry didnt get his name!) for his experience and expertise in navigating difficult roads in record time.Posted on Google
Carlos Marrero11 days agoHad an amazing time with our guide, Mekan. He had everything set. All the tours, food, and had great knowledge about the places that we visited. Expressed great love and passion for Turkmenistan. We saw it exactly in the way he sees it, and would love to visit again! If you were to book anyone to show you this amazing country, it would be Mekan.+10Posted on Google
Jordy Aalpol13 days agoGeweldige ervaring, alles super geregeld!+0Posted on Google
Ахун Шамратов17 days agoI had a wonderful experience travelling through Turkmenistan in my private tour. The whole trip was well organised from start to finish, and communication before the tour was always quick. My guide Aiza was perfect, she was like my best friend throughout the whole trip. And drivers were experienced. The drivers were very experienced and knew the routes well, so we always reached our destinations smoothly and without delays. In the future, I would love to come back to Turkmenistan with my friends for a longer trip and explore more of the country. I would also be happy to recommend Darvaza Tour to friends and anyone I know who is planning to visit Turkmenistan.Posted on Google
Ryan G17 days agoHad an amazing time in Turkmenistan! These 4 days were the highlight of my whole 40 day trip! Shoutout to our guide Aiza who was amazing! She was super funny and nice and she made the whole trip amazing! Highly recommend taking a tour!+6Posted on Google
Matthew Neal22 days agoWe had a fantastic 3 day tour of Darvaza Gas Crater and Ashgabat. I highly recommend the company who were very easy and accommodating to deal with from start to finish. We started planning this trip a year ago and the company gave plenty of help and advice before we agreed to use them. They made the visa process as simple as possible by asking once for our detailed information and then doing it on our behalf before sending us our LOIs. They adapted the itinerary to our preferences and booked accommodation that we wanted. Very quick replies by e-mail and were obliging with any questions I had about other aspects of Central Asia, such as currency. The guide (Ruslan) was extremely friendly and accommodating. It was clear that his main objective was to make sure that we had a good time and he did his very best to achieve this. His English was excellent and it made it very easy to understand what he was explaining to us and he was adaptable to do whatever we wanted. The 2 drivers were also very good who had specific local knowledge of the 2 locations and acted as an additional guide, for which Ruslan translated. Between the 3 of them, the itinerary was often adapted to make sure that we were making the best use of time and doing what we wanted. We were very happy with all 3 of them and it made a change from trips in other countries as it felt like a friend was showing us around his place rather than a formal guide. The border crossing at Shavat was slow (3 hours), so be prepared for that. Firstly we ate dinner at Bay Town restaurant in Dashoguz. This was upmarket and wouldn’t look out of place in Europe, but had cheap prices. Ruslan chatted to us here and asked our opinions on his plans. Before leaving the town we went to the supermarket to buy supplies for the camp site. This allowed us to pick food which we like to eat. Darvaza was obviously the highlight of the trip. Seeing it in the dark is amazing and I strongly recommend anyone going and seeing it, particularly before it slowly dies out. We were allowed as much time as we wanted there. Ruslan acted as a great photographer and adapted himself to the angles that we wanted. The dinner and morning afters breakfast was cooked at the camp site by the employees there using the food that we bought. The Yurt itself was spacious and comfortable, a great experience. It was not as cold as I expected in the desert overnight. It had 2 single beds and ample room to move around. There was a separate toilet block and no showers. We awoke early to see sunrise and the surroundings looked very different in the daylight. We left at 7:15am. In Ashgabat, firstly we had lunch at another very good restaurant with lots of tasty options at very good prices. I had chicken & pineapple curry and we shared a crispy eggplant salad. Then we went to the horse stables booked for 2pm. This was interesting to see the Turkmen horses and ride a horse. Afterwards we drove around and saw some buildings and went to the Turkmen museum. I commented that we were less interested in ancient history than modern history and then our guide & driver showed their adaptability again to take us to a different museum which had modern history including Russian occupation and the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake. This was interesting and a better museum in our opinions. We rode the Ferris wheel. This was great and we were given a souvenir fridge magnet too. The views were brilliant. We visited again after dark to see it lit up. After this we went to the bazaar to buy souvenirs. The stall was a recommendation from the driver and there were multiple good and cheap options. In the evening we had a drive around to see the lit up buildings. The driver was happy for us to stop and take photos. He knew good routes and avoided traffic to make the best use of time. We saw several monuments, the mall and Olympic village. We ate dinner in a modern shopping centre at a high quality French styled restaurant, frequented by Turkmens. This was very tasty food with local options and a good idea to see how local city life is like.+19Posted on Google
Sara Wiatrak23 days agoThe trip was absolutely wonderful! Mekan was an amazing guide, making the whole experience truly special. Everything was perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend! ✨Posted on Google
Anna B27 days agoI would like to thank the DarvazaTour team for helping with all the nuances. What about the guide Mekan, at first I didn’t immediately understand what kind of person he was, but he turned out to be very kind and polite, helped me until the moment of departure and made me a delicious gift. And since lamb is very expensive in California, he decided to please me with lamb. A very attentive young man. I hope that I will still be able to visit this wonderful country and get to know the whole team in person.+3Posted on Google
Mireille La maison jaune37 days agoMagnifique escapade au Turkménistan Équipe aux petits soins Je recommande vivement+16Posted on Google
david chen38 days agoI have just completed a 5-day fully guided tour through Turkmenistan provided by Darvazatour and had a wonderful time. Our tour guide, Gujian is very nice, thoughtful, considerate and her knowledge of local history, culture and nature is wonderful and her English is near native speaker. 3 drivers supported us throughout the travel - long distance travels on bumpy road and they did their best to search for the better part of the road. I am also grateful for the tour organizers who arranged everything details smoothly before the tour so the entry visa, Uzbekistan hotel pickup, etc were all well settled, removing all the concerns that I had before the tour. I highly recommend this company and especially Gujian if you are planning to visit Turkmenistan in the futurePosted on Google
Aubin Arrouet41 days agoI had the amazing privilege to do a tour with the amazing guide Mekan. The tour was great and he went more than out of his way to make us able to see as many places (even ones that weren't initially included) and meet as many people as possible. He was helpful, kind, fun and always ready to help. He also bought me a huge cake for my birthday😊 Davud also made sure that before the tour everything was clear and sorted out for us and he was very helpful for the preparation and Letter Of Invitation. I very strongly recommend Darvazatour for everything that you need in turkmenistan. Weither it is the help before the tour, the actual tour itinerary, the guide, the drivers, the cost, and the overall experience; everything was more than perfect and more than we expected. I am certain that I will go back to Turkmenistan in the future and I will make sure to go through DarvazaTours and especially try to get a tour with Mekan😊 Thank you again for everything Aubin+9Posted on Google
Aare Kase42 days agoThis was one of the best trips ever. It was so well organized. The communication from Gozel was professional and excellent, everything promised was delivered. I really enjoyed my 5-day tour of Turkmenistan. Tour was seamless and well-organized My guide, Mekan, was excellent. He also made me love Turkmenistan, its people, and its culture. He was always ready to help. A friendly, humorous, and cheerful fellow. Thank you Darvaza Tour You made this trip even more enjoyable and memorable.+14Posted on Google
Kathryn Strachan42 days agoI had a fantastic 8 day tour of Turkmenistan with Darvaza Tours. My guide Jakob was super professional and really knew his stuff. I didn’t know what to expect going to Turkmenistan but I was so amazed and impressed with the diversity in the country. From the canyons to the sea to ancient sites and modern cities, the country really truly has it all. If you just go to the gas crater, you’ll be massively missing out!Posted on Google
Ailsa Gemmola46 days agoAbsolutely loved this tour! Our tour guide was amazing, and she was very accommodating and caring towards our toddler. It was a jam packed itinerary that gave great insight into the Turkmenistan history, present culture, and way of life. Would highly recommend this tour.+0Posted on Google
Vera Montejo47 days agoEspectacular , de inicio a fin. Nuestra guía Guljan nos acompañó en todo momento y nos sentimos muy bien con ella. Realmente volvería a contratar este tour.+2Posted on Google
anonymous47 days agoGreat experience with this company. The communication from Davud and Gozel was professional and excellent, everything promised was delivered. Our guide, Gulgan was remarkable with her information, organisation and making sure we got the maximum out of our short trip. I have no hesitation in recommending this company.+3Posted on Google
Brandon Thompson47 days agoI recently did the 3 day tour with Darvaza Tours and had an amazing experience. My guide Guljan was great, very knowledgeable, accommodating and always went out of her way to make sure everyone was comfortable and happy throughout the trip! Turkmenistan genuinely surprised me and ended up being one of the most interesting places I’ve visited. The sights were incredible and I really enjoyed my time there. Would highly recommend Darvaza Tours and Guljan to anyone looking to visit Turkmenistan! 🇹🇲+2Posted on Google
渡邊史乃49 days agoI really enjoyed my 6-day tour of Turkmenistan. My guide, Mekan, was excellent. He had a great balance between taking care of his guest and giving me enough space to enjoy things on my own. He was always happy to answer my questions, whether I was asking about the basics of Islam as an atheist or about ancient Turkmen history. I also enjoyed discovering some nice coffee shops that served local Turkmen food, and Mekan helped me find good-quality items at reasonable prices in the bazaar. One of my favorite experiences was walking around the Darvaza crater, cocoa in hand, taking photos and enjoying the incredible scenery. He even managed some of my more unusual requests, including arranging opportunities for me to meet dogs and horses. Our driver Allayar was also excellent, made the long journeys comfortable and reassuring. Thank you Davud for suggesting the itinerary and arranging this trip for me. I trusted as you responded to my inquiries very fast with detailed explanations. A very memorable trip — highly recommended!Posted on Google
宮本拓也54 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I could enter in Turkmenistan smoothly. Because when I arrived at the border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, a staff member was waiting me to support my process. It was so long journey at bad load , though, it was a good token of my memory haha.+0Posted on Google
Paisley Anastasia58 days agoA phenomenal experience!!! I took a 4D/3N tour with Darvaza Tour company and it was the best. First, they have a whole list of currently booked tours to choose from so that you or others can join in on existing groups to lower the cost, or you can start your own group if no current dates work for you. Even leading up to the tour, the organizers were prompt and responsive to all questions. VOA letter was super easy. They even alleviated my concerns about border crossing and gave me step by step instructions ahead of time! The border crossing into Turkmenistan is easily the most chaotic crossing experience, and they had a guide at the border on the Turkmen side to help!! It was life saving! It is evident that the company really values feedback and incorporates it into their practices. Truly the customer experience is their priority. They supplied water for us all throughout the tour, took our group’s interests into consideration for day to day activities, and thoroughly asked for feedback throughout and at the end of the tour. Both our guide and driver were 10/10. Very kind folks who took care of us well. Absolutely absolutely recommend traveling with Darvaza Tours.Posted on Google
はんちゃん65 days agoDarvaza Tour was excellent tour operator, highly recommended! Very communicative from the planning stage all the way through the tour And the one thing I really want to say is that my guide, Aiza, was the best guide.Her dedication, knowledge, incredibly attentive care, and the itinerary she prepared helped to make my journey so memorable and allowed me to experience not only the famous sights of Turkmenistan, but also the real atmosphere and everyday life of the country. I was particularly impressed by Aiza’s guiding at the Merv ruins. Her gentle tone and storytelling style really stirred my imagination. I closed my eyes and listened to her speak, It is nothing but a ruin now, yet I feel as though I can hear echoes of what life was like in the city that was once the largest in the world. Her guiding was superb. It was the first time in my life. I’ve had an experience like this. I had hoped for a group tour, but due to the scorching heat in August, no other participants signed up, so it ended up being a private tour just for me. I was anxious before going because I couldn't speak English (I only understand Japanese) and didn't have an internet connection. However, Aiza worked incredibly hard and gave it her all. Thanks to Aiza, the 1,200 km road trip from the Khiva border to the Bukhara border—a distance comparable to traveling from Tokyo to Kagoshima—became an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime memory. I cannot say enough good things about the level and quality of service of Darvaza Tour, and would highly recommend them+1Posted on Google
Ben Mullan76 days agoMekan was a great guide and accommodated as well as he could to support the trip. He was able to personalise the itenary and include specific things such as karaoke which the group wanted to do+2Posted on Google
Redzuan Rahmat79 days agoGreat trip to Turkmenistan with Darvazatours, exploring all the major attractions. Pre-trip there was good communication, the LOI and itinerary all arranged well. During the trip Mekan our guide is fun, knowledgeable and took good care of us throughout the tour. He went out of his way to make sure we are comfortable, brought us to some great restaurants serving local delicacies, and was flexible introducing new activities while celebrating Melon Day. All in all a great tour, recommend Darvazatours.+3Posted on Google
Anna Wandlang80 days agoI had a wonderful four-day tour through Turkmenistan and can absolutely recommend Darvazatour. The organisation and communication before the trip were excellent. I knew exactly what to expect, and everything was organised very reliably. Our guide was great, and our driver was absolutely amazing – incredibly kind and attentive throughout the whole journey. The hotels were very good, the food was excellent, and I was impressed by how much of this fascinating country we were able to see in only four days. As someone who normally travels independently, I personally would have enjoyed a little more free time to explore on my own. However, I understand and respect that independent travel in Turkmenistan is restricted and that this is not something the tour company or guide can change. Overall, it was a very special experience and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you to the whole team for making this trip possible!+1Posted on Google
Cameron Akker80 days agoReally positive experience for an American tourist. All you have to do is email with the dates you’re interesting in visiting Turkmenistan and they will help figure out an itinerary that works for you. From there, it’s border to border service with them helping out with a lot of the difficult border crossing stuff. I did a 3-day, 2-night tour starting on the Uzbekistan border after flying into Urgench and leaving with a flight from Ashgabat. I saw the Darvaza Gas Crater and Ashgabat and everything went super smoothly. Really professional and friendly company to work with!Posted on Google
FY81 days agoAn amazing 5-day journey with Darvaza Tours. Tour was seamless and well-organized despite an intense itinerary. Huge shoutout to Mekan, our guide, who was exceptional throughout. It felt more like traveling with a friend than a guide. On Melon Day, he went out of his way to find the festivities; and when a few places didn't pan out, he improvised by taking us to see the local horses and even surprising us with a melon platter at dinner as a thoughtful replacement. And when we had an early departure before breakfast, he had the driver to help cook breakfast for us to eat on the road. They were also flexible with the schedule, we got to see Old Nisa along the way and to arrive just in time for the sunset at Darvaza. The small moments like drinking tea with locals at Nohur village and tasting the sweetest melons at Yangykala Canyon, made my trip truly memorable. I would definitely recommend Darvaza Tours, especially Mekan as a guide!+6Load moreVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
