Turkmenistan Tours from Khiva
Already in Khiva? The Darvaza Gas Crater is closer than you think. Cross at the Shavat border, spend a night by the burning crater in a yurt camp, and be back in Khiva the next day — or continue to Ashgabat and Bukhara.
Khiva to Darvaza: Our Most Popular Trip
Two days, one unforgettable night by the burning crater — and you're back at the Shavat border the next day.
Most popular from Khiva
2-Day Darvaza Trip from Khiva
Shavat → Dashoguz → Darvaza Gas Crater → Dashoguz → Shavat
- Guide meets you at the Shavat border
- Sunset and night at the burning crater
- Dinner, yurt camp night and breakfast
- Back at the Shavat border on day 2
From
Group of 4 · US$520 for a solo traveller
How many days do you have?
Darvaza and back to Khiva — perfect if Turkmenistan is a side trip.
View the 2-day trip → 3daysKunya-Urgench, Darvaza and Ashgabat, then back to Khiva or on to Bukhara.
See 3-day tours ↓ 4–5daysCross the whole country to Bukhara via Merv, with Yangykala on 5-day routes.
See 4–5 day tours ↓ 7+daysThe Caspian coast, Koytendag or our grand tour of the whole country.
See longer journeys ↓Not sure? Tell us your dates on WhatsApp and we'll suggest a route.
More Short Trips from Khiva (1–2 Days)
Prefer to end your trip in Ashgabat, or only have a day? These routes also start at the Shavat border.
2-Day
Private / Small Group
2-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Shavat → Darvaza → Ashgabat
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Travel from Khiva/Shavat to Ashgabat via Kunya-Urgench and Darvaza, including an unforgettable overnight stay near the Darvaza Gas Crater.
1 traveler — US$ 516 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 270 pp
1-Day
Private / Small Group
1-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Kunya-Urgench
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Cross from Khiva into Turkmenistan for a private one-day visit to UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench, then return toward Khiva or continue to Nukus via the appropriate border crossing.
3-Day Tours from Khiva
Enough time for Kunya-Urgench, a night at Darvaza and a taste of Ashgabat — then return to Khiva or continue to Bukhara.
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 Khiva via Darvaza to Ashgabat or Iran
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Travel from Khiva into Turkmenistan on a private 3-day journey through the Karakum Desert, Darvaza Gas Crater and Ashgabat, finishing at Ashgabat Airport or the Iran border.
1 traveler — US$ 1072 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 582 pp
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva via Darvaza & Kunya-Urgench
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
This 3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva combines the Darvaza Gas Crater, Ashgabat, an overnight train journey and UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench in one compact itinerary.
1 traveler — US$ 977 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 514 pp
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva: Kunya-Urgench, Izmukshir & Darvaza
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
This 3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva combines UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench, the historic Izmukshir Fortress and an overnight experience at the Darvaza Gas Crater.
1 traveler — US$ 1018 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 543 pp
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara via Darvaza & Overnight Train
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
This 3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara takes you through the Darvaza Gas Crater and Ashgabat, followed by an overnight sleeper train to Turkmenabat and onward travel via the Farap border.
3-Day
Private / Small Group
3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva: Kunya-Urgench & Darvaza
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Explore Turkmenistan on a private 3-day tour from Khiva, visiting UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench, Izmukshir Fortress and Darvaza Gas Crater, with a hotel stay and desert yurt camping.
4–5 Day Tours from Khiva to Bukhara
Cross the whole country: Darvaza, Ashgabat and Ancient Merv — and on 5-day routes, the colourful Yangykala Canyon.
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 from Khiva to Bukhara: Darvaza, Ashgabat, Merv & Turkmen Ojagy
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Travel overland from Khiva to Bukhara through Turkmenistan on a private 4-day journey featuring Darvaza Gas Crater, Ashgabat, Ancient Merv and the Karakum Desert.
1 traveler — US$ 1333 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 765 pp
4-Day
Private / Small Group
4-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara with a Full Day in Ashgabat
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
This 4-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara combines the Darvaza Gas Crater, two days of sightseeing in Ashgabat and UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv in one overland itinerary.
1 traveler — US$ 1341 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 774 pp
5-Day
Private / Small Group
5-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara via Darvaza, Yangykala & Merv
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Explore Turkmenistan from Khiva to Bukhara on a private 5-day journey featuring Darvaza Gas Crater, Ashgabat, Yangykala Canyon, the Caspian coast, Nokhur, Kow Ata and Ancient Merv.
1 traveler — US$ 1744 pp
4+ travelers — US$ 1109 pp
4-Day
Private / Small Group
4-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva: Darvaza & Night Train
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Explore Turkmenistan in 4 days from Khiva. Visit Darvaza, Ashgabat and UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench, with a yurt stay and overnight sleeper train.
5-Day
Private / Small Group
5-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara via Darvaza & Merv
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Travel from Khiva to Bukhara in 5 days, exploring Kunya-Urgench, Darvaza Gas Crater, Ashgabat, Ancient Merv and Dayahatyn Caravanserai.
Longer Journeys from Khiva (7–14 Days)
For travellers who want to see more — the Caspian coast and Yangykala, Koytendag in the far east, or our grand tour of the whole country.
7-Day
Private / Small Group
7-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara: Darvaza & Yangykala
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Explore Turkmenistan in 7 days from Khiva to Bukhara, visiting Darvaza, Ashgabat, Yangykala Canyon, Ancient Dehistan, Nokhur and UNESCO-listed Merv.
8-Day
Private / Small Group
8-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara: Koytendag & Darvaza
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Explore Turkmenistan in 8 days from Khiva to Bukhara. Discover Darvaza, Ancient Merv, Koytendag dinosaur footprints, mountain caves and Silk Road caravanserais.
14-Day
Private / Small Group
14-Day Grand Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara
Available from: Khiva / Shavat
Explore Turkmenistan in 14 days from Khiva to Bukhara. Discover Darvaza, Yangykala Canyon, Ancient Merv, Koytendag, Gonur Depe and extraordinary Silk Road heritage.
From Khiva to the Shavat Border
It's only about 60 km from Khiva — here's how the morning of your trip works.
-
1
~07:30
Leave Khiva
A driver picks you up at your hotel. The drive to the border takes about 1–1.5 hours.
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2
09:00
Arrive at Shavat
The border opens at 9 am, so an early start means you're among the first to cross.
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3
Border
Cross the Border
Exit Uzbekistan, take the shuttle bus across the neutral zone (about US$1), then enter Turkmenistan with your e-Visa.
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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 Darvaza begins.
On day 2 you're back at Shavat before 18:00 and in Khiva the same evening.
We can arrange your Khiva–Shavat 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 2-day group trip from Khiva: cross at Shavat on 31 December, welcome 2027 by the burning crater and be back at the border on 1 January.
Tours from Khiva: Your Questions
The things travellers in Khiva usually ask us before crossing into Turkmenistan.
Can I visit Darvaza from Khiva and come back the same day?
Not really. The Shavat border opens at 9 am and closes in the early evening, and the crater is a long drive from the border, so a Darvaza trip needs one night. Our 2-day trip from Khiva is the shortest comfortable option: you spend the night in a yurt camp by the crater and are back at Shavat on day 2.
Can I return to Khiva after the tour?
Yes. Our 2-day trip and several 3–4 day routes start and end at the Shavat border, so you come back to Uzbekistan the same way you entered. On the 2-day trip you're back at Shavat before 18:00 and in Khiva the same evening.
Can I start in Khiva and finish in Bukhara?
Yes. Many of our 3–5 day tours enter at Shavat and leave Turkmenistan at the Farap border near Bukhara, crossing the whole country via Darvaza, Ashgabat and Ancient Merv. From Farap it's about 2 hours by car to Bukhara.
What time do I need to be at the Shavat border?
Around 09:00, when the border opens. The drive from Khiva takes about 1–1.5 hours, so most travellers leave their hotel at about 07:30. Your guide and driver meet you on the Turkmen side.
Is the transfer from Khiva to the Shavat 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 Khiva 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.