Introduction

This is a relaxed tour that spends enough time in the Capital city of Ashgabat. The tour also covers two other main destinations of Turkmenistan. Darvaza Gas Crater and ancient Merv City ruins. The distance that you will travel in 5 days is about 1300 kilometers.

Itinerary

Day 1, Bukhara – Turkmenabat – Merv (Mary city)

Somebody will meet you at the border on Turkmenistan side near Bukhara. The border town is called Farab.
Drive to Turkmenabat and have some lunch there.
After the lunch drive towards the Merv ruins (220km, 4 hours drive). Merv is the pearl of Central Asia, before it was destroyed by mongols and second time by Timurids, it was one of the few greatest cities in Central Asia if not the greatest one.
After exploring ancient Merv, we will travel to the city of Mary, which is the capital of this region.
19:00, Have dinner at a restaurant.
Check-in a hotel in Mary city.
Overnight in Mary.

Day 2, Merv – Ashgabat

09:00, After breakfast start driving towards Ashgabat.
14:00, Reach Ashgabat and have lunch at a restaurant.
16:00, Check-in a hotel. and have some free time in Ashgabat.
20:00, have dinner at a traditional restaurant in Ashgabat.
Overnight in Ashgabat.

Day 3, Ashgabat – Darvaza Gas Crater

10:00, After the breakfast, you will have another free time in Ashgabat. You can move around with taxis which are quite cheap in Ashgabat.
12:00, Have lunch at a restaurant.
14:00, After getting some food stuff from a market we will head towards Darvaza Gas Crater, also called “Gates of Hell”.
19:00, Reach the Crater of Darvaza and have some time around it photographing.
20:00, Have dinner prepared locally at a Yurts camp near Darvaza.
21:00, Start admiring the crater at night when it is most beautiful. The guide will give you more details about this burning pit.
Overnight at Darvaza Gas Crater in a Yurt or tents.

Day 4, Darvaza – Ashgabat

08:00, After the breakfast head towards Ashgabat.
On the way we will see two more craters; Water crater and Mud Crater. Both are about the same size as the Gas Crater and both have some gas coming out at the bottom. Water Crater is especially beautiful with turquoise water inside.
We will also make several stops to take photos of camels on the way and goats, as well as local village life.
15:00, Reach Ashgabat and have lunch in a restaurant.
17:00, After the lunch you will have a free time in Ashgabat. We can use taxis to move around, they are quite cheap.
20:00, Dinner at a restaurant.
Overnight in Ashgabat.

Day 5, Ashgabat

08:00, After the breakfast start with sightseeing of Ashgabat (6-7 hours). Will cover everything there is to cover. National Museum, Museum of Carpets, Nisa ruins, Anau ruins, Bazaar, Monument of Independence, Monument of Neutrality, Monument of Constitution, Largest indoors Ferris Wheel Alem, Akhalteke horse farm etc.
14:00, Have lunch at a restaurant.
20:00, After dinner at a restaurant go back to the hotel.
Overnight in Ashgabat in the hotel.
Next day there will be international flight early in the night/morning to fly out of Turkmenistan.
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