Discover the northern highlights of Turkmenistan on a compact private journey that begins and ends in Ashgabat. This 3-day Turkmenistan tour from Ashgabat combines the monumental capital, UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench and the extraordinary landscapes of the Karakum Desert in one carefully planned itinerary.
Your journey begins with a private introduction to Ashgabat, where monumental avenues, marble architecture and important cultural landmarks create a striking first impression of the country. After an overnight stay in the capital, take a domestic flight north to Dashoguz and continue overland to Kunya-Urgench, once one of the great centres of medieval Khorezm and today one of Turkmenistan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After exploring its minarets, mausoleums and Silk Road monuments, return through Dashoguz and travel deep into the Karakum Desert toward the Darvaza Gas Crater. Spend the evening beside the glowing crater, enjoy dinner at the desert camp and stay overnight in a traditional Turkmen yurt.
The final day follows the desert road south toward Ashgabat, with visits to the Water and Mud craters along the way. After reaching the capital, continue sightseeing according to your flight schedule before a private transfer to Ashgabat International Airport.
This itinerary is ideal for travellers who have only three days but want to combine Ashgabat, Kunya-Urgench and Darvaza without making a long overland journey from the capital to northern Turkmenistan.
Tour Overview
3-Day Tour Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Ashgabat → Private Ashgabat City Tour
✈️ Arrival in Ashgabat
Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) and complete passport, immigration and arrival procedures.
After leaving the arrivals area, meet your Darvaza Tour guide and driver. Your transfer and sightseeing schedule will be coordinated according to your actual flight arrival time.
☕ Breakfast / Refreshment Stop
If you arrive early in the morning, your guide can arrange a breakfast or refreshment stop before the sightseeing programme begins.
🏛️ Private Ashgabat Discovery
Begin exploring Turkmenistan's distinctive capital with a private English-speaking guide. Ashgabat is known for its monumental city planning, broad avenues, landscaped public spaces and remarkable concentration of white-marble architecture.
The sightseeing route remains flexible and will be adapted according to opening hours, your arrival time and personal interests.
Depending on the day and available time, your programme can include a selection of Ashgabat's major monuments, viewpoints, cultural attractions and city landmarks.
🍽️ Lunch
Take a relaxed lunch break at a local restaurant, with your guide helping you choose suitable Turkmen or regional dishes.
🏙️ Afternoon Sightseeing
Continue exploring the capital during the afternoon. The programme can be adjusted so that places not visited today can be covered after returning from the desert on Day 3.
🍽️ Dinner
Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel.
🏨 Overnight: Ak Altyn Hotel, Ashgabat.
Included meal: Breakfast according to hotel/arrival arrangements.
Day 2 — Ashgabat → Flight to Dashoguz → Kunya-Urgench → Darvaza Gas Crater
✈️ Early Domestic Flight to Dashoguz
Early in the morning, transfer to the airport for the scheduled domestic flight from Ashgabat to Dashoguz.
The exact flight departure time will be reconfirmed before the tour because domestic schedules can be subject to operational changes.
Upon arrival in Dashoguz, meet your local driver and continue toward Kunya-Urgench.
🚗 Dashoguz → Kunya-Urgench
Drive approximately 100 km toward Kunya-Urgench, historically one of the most important cities of the Khorezm region.
The journey generally takes approximately 1.5–2 hours, depending on traffic and local road conditions.
🏛️ Kunya-Urgench UNESCO World Heritage Tour
Explore the historic monuments of Kunya-Urgench, one of Turkmenistan's most important archaeological destinations.
Your guided programme includes major monuments such as:
Kutlug-Timur Minaret – one of the most impressive surviving medieval minarets in Central Asia.
Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum – renowned for its remarkable interior decoration and geometric dome design.
Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum – an important architectural monument from the Khorezmshah period.
Il-Arslan Mausoleum – distinguished by its characteristic conical roof and medieval brick architecture.
Caravanserai Gate – surviving evidence of the city's historic importance on regional Silk Road trading routes.
Additional nearby monuments may be visited if timing and access allow.
🍽️ Lunch
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Kunya-Urgench or Dashoguz, depending on the day's schedule.
🛍️ Dashoguz Market Stop
Return toward Dashoguz and, when timing permits, stop at a local bazaar to see everyday life and purchase fruit, drinks or snacks before entering the desert.
🌵 Dashoguz → Darvaza
Continue south across the Central Karakum Desert toward Darvaza.
The drive is approximately 300 km and normally requires around 4–4.5 hours.
Some sections of the desert road are uneven, so driving times remain approximate.
🔥 Darvaza Gas Crater
Reach the Darvaza Gas Crater in the late afternoon or evening.
As natural light begins to fade, the glow from the crater becomes much more dramatic, making evening one of the best times to experience the site and take photographs.
🍢 Desert Dinner
Continue to the nearby yurt camp for a freshly prepared outdoor dinner.
After dinner, there is additional time to return to the crater viewing area and experience the Karakum Desert after dark.
⛺ Overnight: Traditional Turkmen yurt camp near Darvaza Gas Crater.
Included meals: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 3 — Darvaza → Water & Mud Craters → Ashgabat → Airport
🌅 Optional Sunrise Visit
Guests who would like an early start can return to the crater around sunrise for another perspective of the desert landscape.
Morning temperatures and lighting create a completely different atmosphere from the previous evening.
🍳 Breakfast at the Camp
Return to the yurt camp for breakfast before beginning the journey south.
🚗 Darvaza → Ashgabat
Travel south across the Karakum Desert toward Ashgabat.
The planned distance is approximately 270 km, with a usual driving time of around 3.5–4 hours, although local road conditions can affect the schedule.
🌊 Water Crater
Stop briefly at the Water Crater, another unusual feature of the Darvaza desert region.
🌋 Mud Crater
Continue to the Mud Crater for another short geological sightseeing stop before proceeding toward Ashgabat.
🍽️ Lunch in Ashgabat
After returning to the capital, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
🏛️ Final Ashgabat Sightseeing
If your flight schedule allows, continue the Ashgabat programme and visit any important city landmarks that were not covered on Day 1.
The final sightseeing schedule is deliberately flexible so that it can be matched to your international departure time.
✈️ Ashgabat International Airport Transfer
Your guide and driver will transfer you privately to Ashgabat International Airport (ASB).
Airport arrival will normally be planned approximately 2–3 hours before your international flight, subject to airline requirements.
End of Darvaza Tour services.
No overnight accommodation on Day 3.
3-Day Tour Price
Price per person based on the total number of travelers in the group.
1 Traveler
US$ 1,154
per person
2 Travelers
US$ 1,154
per person
3 Travelers
US$ 1,154
per person
4 Travelers
US$ 1,154
per person
Groups of more than 4 travelers are also welcome. The larger the group, the lower the price per person may become.
Price includes:
- Visa support and registration: assistance with the e-visa application and foreigner registration in Turkmenistan.
- Hotel accommodation: one night in a comfortable 4-star hotel in Ashgabat with breakfast, based on twin-room sharing according to guests’ gender 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 shower facilities.
- Ground transport: comfortable air-conditioned vehicles with experienced drivers throughout the land itinerary.
- Transfers: pick-up on the Turkmenistan side of the Shavat border, intercity road transfers, sightseeing transfers and the confirmed final transfer to Haudan border or Ashgabat International Airport.
- Meals: breakfasts, plus dinner and breakfast at the Darvaza yurt camp.
- Guiding: a licensed English-speaking guide throughout the programme.
- Sightseeing: guided city tours and entrance fees for museums 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.
- Flexible programme: the order and timing of visits may be adjusted according to border processing, road conditions, local access, flight timing 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.
- Happ VPN: the guide will provide an access key after arrival in Turkmenistan.
Price doesn't include:
- Meals not expressly listed as included. Allow approximately USD 3–8 per person per meal as an indicative budget; actual restaurant prices vary.
- Personal expenses, including souvenirs, snacks, alcohol, laundry, minibar purchases, additional hotel services and other personal purchases.
- Tips for guides and drivers, which are optional and appreciated.
- Onward transport and services after crossing into Iran, unless separately agreed.
- International flights departing from Ashgabat, unless specifically stated in the quotation.
Accommodation
Darvaza — 1 night
Traditional Turkmen Yurt Camp
One night near the Darvaza Gas Crater. The stay includes bedding, dinner, breakfast and access to camp washing/shower facilities. Accommodation in the desert is simpler than a city hotel and is designed as part of the Karakum experience.
Ashgabat — 1 night
Ak Altyn Hotel 4*
Accommodation in Ashgabat is planned at Ak Altyn Hotel, a centrally located hotel with convenient access to the main sightseeing areas, restaurants and major city attractions.
The hotel is officially classified as a 4-star property, although it is an older-established hotel with a more traditional interior style compared with newer luxury hotels in Ashgabat. We use Ak Altyn because of its practical location, reliable service and easy access to the main places included in the city sightseeing programme.
Breakfast is included. Twin, double or single room arrangements can be provided according to the confirmed booking.
