Tour Overview
The 9-Day Turkmenistan Tour offers a comprehensive journey through the country, combining modern Ashgabat with remote desert landscapes, Silk Road heritage and some of Turkmenistan’s most impressive natural scenery. Travel west toward Yangykala Canyon and the Caspian region, explore Ancient Merv and Kunya-Urgench, and finish with an overnight visit to the Darvaza Gas Crater.
Begin in the capital with time to rest after arrival and explore Ashgabat's monumental white-marble cityscape. Continue west by overnight train toward the Caspian Sea, where the landscape changes completely as you travel through Turkmenbashi and into the remote desert formations of Yangykala Canyon.
From western Turkmenistan, cross the Kopet Dag foothills through Nokhur and visit the warm underground waters of Kow Ata before returning to Ashgabat. The journey then continues east toward UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv and the Bronze Age archaeological site of Gonur Depe, revealing two very different periods of Turkmenistan's history. Travel north by overnight train to Dashoguz and continue to Kunya-Urgench, another UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its medieval minarets and mausoleums. From there, enter the Karakum Desert and spend an unforgettable evening beside the Darvaza Gas Crater, with dinner and an overnight stay at a desert yurt camp. The final days bring you back to Ashgabat with stops at the Water and Mud craters, followed by flexible sightseeing, shopping or relaxation before your international departure.
This programme is designed for travellers who want a broad, in-depth introduction to Turkmenistan rather than a short transit visit, combining major historical sites with remote landscapes and authentic overland travel.
9-Day Tour Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Ashgabat & Private City Discovery
Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport and complete immigration, baggage and customs procedures.
Your Darvaza Tour guide or driver will meet you after arrival and transfer you directly to your hotel. The programme is designed to allow rest after a late-night or early-morning international flight before beginning sightseeing.
After breakfast and sufficient time to recover from the journey, begin a private introduction to Ashgabat.
Your guide will adapt the programme according to your energy level, arrival time and interests. The capital is known for monumental white-marble buildings, broad ceremonial avenues, landscaped parks and major national monuments.
Rather than following an inflexible city-tour sequence, the first day is designed as a comfortable introduction to Turkmenistan, with photo stops and sightseeing adapted around your pace.
Lunch and dinner can be arranged at local restaurants during the day.
Overnight: Ak Altyn Hotel 4*, Ashgabat.
Included meals: According to the confirmed package.
Day 2 — Ashgabat Sightseeing → Overnight Train to Turkmenbashi
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Continue exploring Ashgabat with your guide, focusing on places not visited on the first day.
The second capital programme can include additional monuments, mosques, museums, viewpoints, local markets and architectural highlights according to your interests and the operating schedule of individual sites.
Take a relaxed lunch break during the day.
Later in the afternoon, prepare for the journey west toward the Caspian region. Depending on timing, enjoy an early dinner in Ashgabat or purchase freshly prepared food, fruit and drinks to take onto the train.
Transfer to Ashgabat Railway Station.
Board the overnight sleeper train to Turkmenbashi. The planned departure is approximately 17:50, subject to the confirmed railway timetable.
Spend the night travelling west across Turkmenistan in a sleeper compartment.
Overnight: Ashgabat → Turkmenbashi sleeper train.
Day 3 — Turkmenbashi → Caspian Coast → Yangykala Canyon → Balkan Region
Arrive at Turkmenbashi Railway Station in the morning, with the planned arrival around 08:05, subject to the current train schedule.
Meet your driver and begin an orientation visit to Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan's principal Caspian port city.
See selected examples of the city's historical architecture, including the distinctive railway station, and enjoy views toward the Caspian Sea.
If access conditions allow, an optional visit to the Awaza resort area can be arranged.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, with seafood or traditional regional dishes available depending on the restaurant and season.
After lunch, travel inland toward Yangykala.
If time and route conditions permit, make an optional stop at Gozli Ata, one of western Turkmenistan's important pilgrimage sites.
Continue across increasingly remote desert landscapes toward Yangykala Canyon.
The drive from the Turkmenbashi area is approximately 165 km, with roughly 2.5–3 hours of travel. The final sections include rough desert tracks.
Arrive at the canyon plateau and explore the dramatic bands of red, pink, orange and pale limestone that make Yangykala one of Turkmenistan's most remarkable natural landscapes.
Depending on weather and timing, enjoy a picnic-style dinner near the canyon or continue onward for a warm meal.
Drive south toward your overnight accommodation in the Balkan region.
Overnight: Hotel in Balkanabat or surrounding transit hub.
Day 4 — Balkan Region → Nokhur → Kow Ata → Ashgabat
After breakfast, leave the Balkan region and travel east along the foothills of the Kopet Dag Mountains.
Turn into the mountains toward Nokhur, a distinctive settlement known for its isolated location and long-preserved local traditions.
Explore the village with your guide.
Visit the local cemetery, where many graves are decorated with mountain-goat horns, and learn about aspects of Nokhur's community traditions and mountain lifestyle.
Enjoy a traditional home-style lunch during the visit.
Access to the village depends on weather and road conditions, particularly during periods of heavy rain or winter weather.
Continue toward Kow Ata Underground Lake.
Descend into the limestone cave and visit the naturally warm mineral-rich underground waters. Guests who wish may swim in the lake.
Afterwards, travel back toward Ashgabat.
Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant after arrival.
Overnight: Ak Altyn Hotel 4*, Ashgabat.
Day 5 — Ashgabat → Ancient Merv → Turkmen Ojagy → Mary
After breakfast, check out and leave Ashgabat.
Travel east toward the Mary region along the main motorway, covering approximately 367 km in around four hours under normal conditions.
Continue to Ancient Merv, one of Central Asia's most important archaeological complexes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explore the main historical monuments with your guide.
Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar — one of the great surviving monuments of the Seljuk period.
Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala — monumental mud-brick structures distinguished by their unusual corrugated walls.
Askhabs Mausoleums and Sardoba — sacred monuments and historical water-storage structures connected with the Merv oasis.
Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala — large fortified areas showing different stages in Merv's long history.
Where time allows, additional archaeological remains can be included.
Continue to Turkmen Ojagy for an ethnographic programme.
Depending on the confirmed arrangement, activities can include meeting Turkmen Alabay dogs and Bactrian camels, trying traditional clothing for photographs and participating in a demonstration of traditional bread preparation in a tamdyr oven.
Afterwards, travel into Mary city, enjoy dinner and check in at your hotel.
Overnight: Margush Hotel 4*, Mary.
Included meals: Breakfast.
Day 6 — Mary → Gonur Depe → Ashgabat → Overnight Train to Dashoguz
After breakfast at Margush Hotel, check out and begin the journey into the Karakum Desert toward Gonur Depe.
The archaeological site lies approximately 100 km from Mary, with the journey taking around 2.5 hours because parts of the route include rough desert tracks.
Explore the excavated remains of the Bronze Age settlement associated with ancient Margush.
Walk through archaeological areas including royal burial complexes, ritual structures and residential sections while learning about the history of this ancient civilisation.
After the visit, return toward Bayramaly for lunch.
Continue west along the motorway toward Ashgabat, approximately 367 km away.
On arrival in the capital, stop for dinner or purchase food to take onto the train.
Transfer to Ashgabat Railway Station for the overnight train to Dashoguz.
The planned departure is approximately 20:30, subject to the confirmed railway timetable.
Overnight: Ashgabat → Dashoguz sleeper train.
The source itinerary includes Gonur Depe, the return via Bayramaly to Ashgabat and the 20:30 overnight train to Dashoguz.
Day 7 — Dashoguz → Kunya-Urgench → Darvaza Gas Crater
Arrive at Dashoguz Railway Station in the morning, with planned arrival around 08:45, subject to the railway schedule.
Meet your driver and continue toward Kunya-Urgench, approximately 96 km away.
Kunya-Urgench is one of Turkmenistan's major UNESCO World Heritage Sites and preserves important monuments from the historical Khorezm region.
Explore highlights including:
- Kutlug-Timur Minaret — one of Central Asia's most impressive medieval minarets.
- Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum — renowned for its geometric dome decoration.
- Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan Mausoleums — major monuments associated with medieval Khorezm.
- Caravanserai Gate — a surviving reminder of the city's Silk Road trading history.
Enjoy lunch and, if useful, stop at a local market to purchase fruit or snacks before the desert journey.
Continue south toward Darvaza.
Depending on route and road conditions, the journey may follow the more direct Ruhubelent desert route or a longer alternative via Dashoguz.
Arrive at the Darvaza Gas Crater around sunset.
Watch the flames grow more dramatic as the desert becomes dark.
Enjoy a freshly prepared barbecue dinner at the nearby camp and return to the crater for night-time viewing and photography.
Overnight: Traditional Turkmen yurt camp near Darvaza Gas Crater.
Included meals: Dinner.
Day 8 — Darvaza → Water & Mud Craters → Ashgabat
Early risers may return to the crater before sunrise for another view of the desert landscape.
After breakfast at the camp, begin the journey south toward Ashgabat.
The distance is approximately 270 km and normally takes around 3.5 hours, though road conditions may affect the journey.
Along the way, stop at the Water Crater and Mud Crater.
Continue to Ashgabat and stop for lunch after arrival.
Spend the afternoon completing your capital sightseeing programme. Depending on your interests, visit remaining landmarks, browse local markets, shop for souvenirs or simply enjoy a more relaxed final afternoon.
Dinner can be arranged at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Ak Altyn Hotel 4*, Ashgabat.
Included meals: Breakfast.
Day 9 — Ashgabat Free Time & International Airport Departure
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and a relaxed final morning in Ashgabat.
Use the time to pack, rest or enjoy the hotel before standard check-out at approximately 12:00.
After check-out, your luggage can remain with the vehicle while you continue the programme.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and spend the afternoon according to your interests.
You may revisit a favourite part of Ashgabat, walk through city parks, spend time at a café, shop for final souvenirs or visit another landmark if time permits.
Later, enjoy a farewell meal according to your flight schedule.
Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport approximately three hours before the scheduled international departure time.
End of tour services.
9-Day Tour Price
Price per person based on the total number of travelers in the group.
1 Traveler
US$ 2,375
per person
2 Travelers
US$ 1,700
per person
3 Travelers
US$ 1,589
per person
4 Travelers
US$ 1,458
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.
- E-visa fee: the electronic visa fee is included in the tour price.
- 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
Balkanabat — 1 night
Hotel in Balkanabat or Nearby Transit Area
Accommodation is arranged in the Balkan region after the Yangykala Canyon excursion.
The exact hotel depends on route timing, availability and operational conditions on the travel date. A comfortable room with breakfast will be provided according to the confirmed accommodation category.
Overnight Train (Ashgabat - Turkmenbashi) — 1 night
Ashgabat → Dashoguz Sleeper Train
Travel overnight from Ashgabat to Dashoguz in a comfortable 4-berth sleeper compartment.
Even for solo travellers or couples, Darvaza Tour will arrange a full 4-berth compartment for your booking whenever available, giving you more privacy and space during the journey.
The compartment is equipped for overnight travel and includes clean bedding, pillows and sleeping berths, allowing you to rest comfortably during the night.
The exact train and departure time will be reconfirmed before travel according to the railway schedule and ticket availability.
Overnight Train — 1 night
Ashgabat → Turkmenbashi Sleeper Train
Travel overnight from Ashgabat to Dashoguz in a comfortable 4-berth sleeper compartment.
Even for solo travellers or couples, Darvaza Tour will arrange a full 4-berth compartment for your booking whenever available, giving you more privacy and space during the journey.
The compartment is equipped for overnight travel and includes clean bedding, pillows and sleeping berths, allowing you to rest comfortably during the night.
The exact train and departure time will be reconfirmed before travel according to the railway schedule and ticket availability.
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 — 3 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.
