The Heart of Turkmenistan: Darvaza, Ashgabat & Ancient Merv
Rewritten Introduction: “Immerse yourself in the heart of Turkmenistan with this perfectly paced tour. Witness the mesmerizing Darvaza Gas Crater, the dazzling city of Ashgabat, and the ancient wonders of Merv. Designed for individual travelers, this tour balances iconic sights with moments of tranquility, ensuring an unforgettable experience.”
Itinerary
Day 1, Bukhara – Turkmenabat – Mary (Merv).
- We will meet you at the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border crossing point at Farab. (The time depends on how early you will pass the border).
- Head to the Turkmenabat city.
- After the lunch head to the ancient city of Merv. (250km, 4.5hours).
- Reach the UNESCO site of Merv and start sightseeing tour. (1.5 hours).
- After the Merv, proceed to the ancient Civilization ruins, the City of Gonur Depe. (70km, 1.5hrs).
- After the sightseeing of the Margiana (Gonur Depe) ruins, head towards Mary city, the capital of the region.
- Have a dinner and check in a hotel.
- Overnight in Mary.
Day 2, Mary – Ashgabat
- 09:00, After the breakfast proceed to Ashgabat. (350km, 4hrs). On the way visit some historical places like mosque and ruins of Anau.
- 15:00, Reach Ashgabat and have lunch at a restaurant.
- 16:30, Start with sightseeing of Ashgabat.
- 20:30, Have dinner at a restaurant.
- Check in a hotel.
- Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 3, Ashgabat – Darvaza (Gas Crater)
- 09:00 After the breakfast have some free time in Ashgabat.
- 13:00 Have a lunch at a restaurant.
- 15:00 Head towards Darvaza. On the way see couple of villages where we will stop for coffee and for taking photos of the local life. We will also visit two other craters on the way to the Darvaza. Those craters are Water Crater and Mud Crater.
- 20:00 Reach the Burning Crater – Darvaza (The Gates of Hell). Have some walking and photo time around the Darvaza.
- 21:00 Have a dinner prepared there by the driver and locals.
- Spend more time at the Darvaza Gas Crater.
- Overnight in Darvaza in tents or traditional Yurts. You will stay in the yurts alone or with your group. No strangers.
Day 4, Darvaza – Dashoguz – Khiva
- 07:00 After breakfast head towards Dashoguz.
- 13:00 Reach Dashoguz city and have lunch at a restaurant.
- 15:00 After a short city tour head towards the border crossing point of Shavat (near Khiva and Urgench in Uzbekistan).
- End of the Tour!!!
Note: All citizens of the world need to obtain a visa to visit Turkmenistan. This process has recently become easier. Click Here for Visa Information
