Turkmenistan Tours from Bukhara
Heading from Bukhara to Khiva? Take the unforgettable way — through Turkmenistan. Cross at the Farap border, walk the ruins of Ancient Merv, see the white-marble capital Ashgabat and spend a night by the burning Darvaza Gas Crater, then cross back into Uzbekistan at Shavat, close to Khiva.
Bukhara to Khiva via Darvaza: Our Most Popular Trip
Four days across Turkmenistan — Silk Road ruins, a white-marble capital and a night by the burning crater — finishing at the Shavat border near Khiva.
4-Day Tour from Bukhara to Khiva via Darvaza
Farap → Merv → Mary → Ashgabat → Darvaza Gas Crater → Dashoguz → Shavat
- Guide meets you at the Farap border
- Silk Road ruins of Ancient Merv
- Sightseeing in white-marble Ashgabat
- Night by the burning Darvaza crater
- Hotels in Mary and Ashgabat
- Ends at Shavat, close to Khiva
From
Group of 4 · US$1,311 for a solo traveller
How many days do you have?
Turkmenabat, Dayahatyn or Ancient Merv, then back to Bukhara.
See short trips ↓ 3daysMerv and Ashgabat, then back to Bukhara, out of Ashgabat or on to Khiva.
See 3-day tours ↓ 4daysBukhara to Khiva via Merv, Ashgabat and Darvaza — our most popular route.
View the 4-day tour → 4–5daysMore routes across the country, finishing near Khiva or in Ashgabat.
See 4–5 day tours ↓Not sure? Tell us your dates on WhatsApp and we'll suggest a route.
1–2 Day Trips from Bukhara
Only have a day or two? See Turkmenabat, the Dayahatyn caravanserai or Ancient Merv, and return to Bukhara via Farap.
1-Day
Private / Small Group
1-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Bukhara → Turkmenabat → Bukhara
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Experience Turkmenistan on a 1-day private trip from Bukhara to Turkmenabat, visiting Ancient Amul, the Lebap Regional Museum, local city sights and the Amu Darya River.
1 traveler — US$ 329 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 191 pp
1-Day
Private / Small Group
1-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Turkmenabat & Amul Fortress
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Cross from Bukhara into Turkmenistan for a private one-day tour of Turkmenabat, including Amul Fortress, the regional museum, local bazaar and Amu Darya landscapes.
2-Day
Private / Small Group
2-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara: Dayahatyn, Ancient Merv & Turkmen Ojagy
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Travel from Bukhara into Turkmenistan on a private 2-day Silk Road journey combining Dayahatyn Caravanserai, Ancient Merv, Turkmen Ojagy and an evening sleeper train to Mary.
1 traveler — US$ 969 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 535 pp
2-Day
Private / Small Group
2-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara: Turkmenabat, Ancient Merv & Turkmen Ojagy
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Travel from Bukhara into Turkmenistan on a private 2-day journey through Turkmenabat, UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv and the Turkmen Ojagy cultural complex.
1 traveler — US$ 917 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 485 pp
3-Day Tours from Bukhara
Ancient Merv and Ashgabat, then back to Bukhara by night train, fly out of Ashgabat, or continue via Darvaza to Khiva.
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Tour: Farap ↔ Shavat via Merv, Ashgabat, Darvaza & Kunya-Urgench
Available from: Bukhara / Farap, Khiva / Shavat
Travel between Farap and Shavat in either direction, visiting Merv, Ashgabat, Darvaza and Kunya-Urgench on a compact 3-day journey.
1 traveler — US$ 1154 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 598 pp
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Khiva via Merv, Darvaza & Kunya-Urgench
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Cross Turkmenistan from Bukhara to Khiva or Nukus on a private 3-day journey combining Ancient Merv, Ashgabat, Darvaza Gas Crater and UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench.
1 traveler — US$ 1172 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 623 pp
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara via Merv, Ashgabat & Overnight Train
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Travel from Bukhara into Turkmenistan on a private 3-day journey combining Ancient Merv, Ashgabat and an overnight sleeper train before returning via Turkmenabat.
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara: Merv, Ashgabat & Night Train
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Explore Turkmenistan on a private 3-day tour from Bukhara, visiting Ancient Merv, Ashgabat and Turkmenabat, with an overnight sleeper train journey.
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara: Merv & Ashgabat
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Explore Turkmenistan in 3 days from Bukhara. Visit UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv and Ashgabat, with private guiding, two hotel nights and airport transfer.
4–5 Day Tours from Bukhara
Cross the whole country via Merv, Ashgabat and Darvaza, finishing near Khiva or in Ashgabat.
5-Day
Private / Small Group
5-Day Tour: Farap ↔ Shavat via Merv, Ashgabat, Yangykala, Darvaza & Kunya-Urgench
Available from: Bukhara / Farap, Khiva / Shavat
Travel between Farap and Shavat in either direction on a 5-day journey through Merv, Ashgabat, Yangykala, Darvaza and Kunya-Urgench, combining ancient heritage, dramatic landscapes and Turkmenistan’s most iconic sights.
1 traveler — US$ 1629 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 914 pp
4-Day
Private / Small Group
4-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Bukhara → Merv → Darvaza → Ashgabat
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Travel from Bukhara through the Farab border on a 4-day private journey combining Ancient Merv, Ashgabat, the Darvaza Gas Crater and a final departure from Ashgabat International Airport.
1 traveler — US$ 1228 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 659 pp
4-Day
Private / Small Group
4-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Khiva via Merv, Overnight Train & Darvaza
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
This 4-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Khiva combines Ancient Merv, an overnight sleeper train, Ashgabat, the Darvaza Gas Crater and Kunya-Urgench in one overland journey across Turkmenistan.
1 traveler — US$ 1226 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 699 pp
4-Day
Private / Small Group
4-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Khiva via Merv, Ashgabat, Darvaza & Kunya-Urgench
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
This 4-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Khiva combines Ancient Merv, Ashgabat, the Darvaza Gas Crater and UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench in one overland journey across Turkmenistan.
1 traveler — US$ 1356 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 798 pp
5-Day
Private / Small Group
5-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Bukhara to Ashgabat: Merv & Darvaza
Available from: Bukhara / Farap
Discover Turkmenistan on a 5-day tour from Bukhara to Ashgabat. Explore UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv, the white-marble capital and Darvaza Gas Crater with desert yurt camping. Copy
Want More Time in Turkmenistan?
Our routes from Bukhara run up to 5 days. Tell us your dates and we’ll plan a longer trip with Yangykala, Nokhur or Koytendag.
From Bukhara to the Farap Border
Farap is the Turkmen border closest to Bukhara — here's how the morning of your trip works.
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1
~07:00
Leave Bukhara
A driver picks you up at your hotel. The drive to the border takes about 2 hours.
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2
09:00
Arrive at the Border
The border opens in the morning, so an early start means you're among the first to cross.
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3
Border
Cross the Border
Exit Uzbekistan at Alat, cross the neutral zone, then enter Turkmenistan at Farap with your e-Visa and pay the arrival fees in cash.
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4
Turkmen side
Your Guide Meets You
Your guide and driver are waiting right after the checkpoint — and the road to Ancient Merv begins.
On the 4-day tour you cross back into Uzbekistan at Shavat, about 1–1.5 hours from Khiva.
We can arrange your Bukhara–Farap transfer through our local partner. It's paid separately and isn't included in the tour price.
See in the New Year at the Darvaza Gas Crater
Join our 4-day group trip from Bukhara: cross at Farap on 29 December, see Ancient Merv and festive Ashgabat, welcome 2027 by the burning crater and finish at Shavat, near Khiva, on 1 January.
Tours from Bukhara: Your Questions
The things travellers in Bukhara usually ask us before crossing into Turkmenistan.
How many days do I need to see Darvaza from Bukhara?
At least 3. The crater is on the far side of the country from Farap, so our 1–2 day trips stay in eastern Turkmenistan. The 3-day tour from Bukhara to Khiva is the quickest way to Darvaza, and our most popular 4-day tour adds Ancient Merv and Ashgabat.
Can I travel from Bukhara to Khiva through Turkmenistan?
Yes, and it's the most popular way to use a tour from Bukhara. Our 3–5 day routes enter at Farap and leave at the Shavat border, about 1–1.5 hours from Khiva, so you continue your Uzbekistan trip with Merv, Ashgabat and Darvaza on the way.
Can I return to Bukhara or finish in Ashgabat instead?
Yes. All 1–2 day trips and the 3-day night train routes start and end at Farap, so you come back to Bukhara the same way you entered. Several 3–5 day tours finish in Ashgabat, where you can fly home from the international airport.
What time do I need to leave Bukhara?
Early. The drive to the Farap border takes about 2 hours, so most travellers leave their hotel at about 07:00. We confirm the exact time for your dates, and your guide and driver meet you on the Turkmen side.
Is the transfer from Bukhara to the Farap border included?
No, the Uzbekistan-side transfer is paid separately. We can arrange it for you through our local partner and coordinate the timing with your tour. See transfer options and prices.
Do I need a visa for Turkmenistan?
Yes, tourists travel on an e-Visa, and our visa assistance is included in every tour. Standard processing takes about 14 days and urgent processing about 7 days, so it's best to start as soon as your dates are confirmed. Official visa and border fees are paid by the traveller. More about the e-Visa.
Can I join a group from Bukhara to share the cost?
Yes. When other travellers join for the same dates, the price per person goes down. Check our group tour dates or tell us your dates and we'll let you know if anyone else is travelling then.
More questions? Read our full FAQ or ask us on WhatsApp.