Small Group Tours In Turkmenistan

PACKAGE ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrival in Ashgabat.

Meet in the airport and transfer to your hotel in Ashgabat. Check-in and free time.

Day 2: Ashgabat city tour

Today we will have a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat including visits to Park and Monument of Independence, Arch of Neutrality, a 75m- high monument with a revolving golden statue of the first President Turkmenbashy.  Hit the viewing platform of the Arch of Neutrality to see the beautiful panorama of Ashgabat. Panoramic tour to “Alem” the largest Indoor Ferris wheel. Visiting of the Memorial Complex. Continue tour to the historical and archaeological site “Ancient Nisa – the Residence of Parthian Kingdom” UNESCO site from 2007. The Parthian Empire was one of the most powerful and influential civilizations of the ancient world, and a brilliant rival of Rome which prevented the expansion of the Roman Empire to the east. Visiting of Turkmenbashi Mosque and Mausoleum, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia.  

Day 3: Ashgabat - Anau – Mary (350 km)

Morning drive to Mary. Visit on the route Anau pilgrimage place (remains of Seyitjemaletdin mosque XV c) and the ruins of Abiverd medieval city that was once an important trading town of North Khorasan. It was a key link on the Silk Route between Nisa and Merv. Arrive in Mary and check in Mary 4* hotel. In the evening short walking around the city center.

Day 4: Full day exploring Margush (Gonurdepe) and Ancient Merv

In the morning drive to by 4WD car (110km & 2,5 h) visit Margush Country (Gonur Depe - capital of Margush) - Bronze Age Civilization Sites recognized as 5^th Civilization of the Earth recently & Birthplace of Zoroastrianism - Fire Worshipping (4-3 mil. BC- 6^th c. BC) inscribed in the World Heritage Book. 

Continue sightseeing to Ancient Merv known as Mary ShahuJahan-King of the World for about 300 years became the biggest city in Asia, inscribed into the monuments list of World Heritage Book, protected by the UNESCO. Sightseeing of Ancient Merv includes: Gyz Gala&Oglan Gala (6-7^th cc.), Complex of Askhabs (8-14^th cc.), Giaur Gala (4^th c. BC), Buddist Complex (4-6^th cc.), Erk Gala (6^th c. BC), Soltan Gala (11^th c.), SoltanSanjar Mausoleum (12^th c.), IbnZeid Mausoleum (12^th c.). Return to hotel. Overnight.

Day 5: Mary – Ashgabat (40 min. by flt) – Darvaza (260 km)

Transfer to the airport to take a morning flight to Ashgabat. Arrival in Ashgabat and drive to Darvaza by 4WD cars. En route stopover to visit Erbent Nomadic village where you can enjoy seeing the local life in the desert - Turkmen yurts, dromedaries, tamdyr (mud oven) and many others. Arrive at Darvaza, explore the gas craters, first full of water, and second the sulfur - muddy. Leave the road and venture in the desert to see the flaming gas crater. Arrive and explore the flaming gas crater at sunset. Enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner. Overnight in Turkmen yurt or tents with sleeping bags.

Day 6: Darvaza – Koneurgench – Dashoguz (360 km)

Drive to Koneurgench. Arrival and sightseeing in Koneurgench: visiting mausoleums of Turabek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmuddin-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Discover the Kutlug Timur Minaret and Kyrk Molla Hill. Return to Dashoguz city. In the evening short walking around the city center. Overnight at Dashoguz 4* hotel.   

Day 7: Dashoguz – Ashgabat (1h. by flt.) –  Geokdepe – Kow-ata – Ashgabat

Morning drive to the airport to take a flight to Ashgabat. Arrival and drive to Kow-ata underground lake 110 km. to the west from Ashgabat. A warm hydrogen sulphide lake lies in a cave at the Kopet Dag foothills. 276 steps lead into the lake. On your way down you will admire marvelous grapes and lines of stalactites and see bat’s bevies. This cave impresses with its greatness. It has the length of 250 m, width 50 m, depth of 65 m. The lake is available all year round because of constant temperature of water (33-37◦C) and air.  En route stop in Geokdepe to visit a heroic Geokdepe fortress and mosque located almost 40 kilometers to the west of Ashgabat where in 1881, defending their independence, the Turkmens showed courageous resistance to the invading Russian army. Arrive and explore Kowata Cave and lake. Return to Ashgabat. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Ashgabat

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.

T​​​​​​our duration: 8 days / 7 nights

Places to visit: Ashgabat, Nisa, Mary, Merv, Margush (Gonurdepe), Karakum Desert, Darvaza, Dashoguz, Koneurgench, Geokdepe, Kow-ata

TOUR PRICE:

Single supplement: 300 USD

* Not fit your requirement? Feel free to contact us to plan this trip and get the best possible price based upon your travel period, number of travelers and specific touring needs.

Price includes:

1. Visa invitation to Turkmenistan, entry travel pass and visa registration
2. A/C Transportation during the whole tour as per program, group (car, minivan, bus), 4 WD cars for off road parts based on 4 persons in a car
3. Economy class domestic flight tickets: Mary – Ashgabat, Dashoguz – Ashgabat
4. All accommodation (breakfasts included) in 4* hotels as per program
5. Local English speaking guide-driver's services during the whole tour as per program
6. Travel tax

Accommodation (local star & standard): double or twin shared rooms in hotels
Ashgabat: Grand Turkmen 4* or Ak Altyn 4* hotel (breakfast is included), 3 nights
Mary: Mary 4* hotel (breakfast is included), 2 nights
Darvaza: Turkmen yurt or tents with sleeping bags (breakfast and dinner included), 1 night
Dashoguz: Dashoguz 4* hotel (breakfast is included), 1 night

Price excludes: International flights, consular fees for Turkmenistan tourist visa (depends on the place you obtain - 40$ at Turkmenistan Embassy abroad, 90 $ on arrival at Ashgabat airport for most nationalities), migration card paid upon arrival - 14 USD, entrance fee (5-10$ per person per site), photo/video fees at sites, (lunch and dinner - allow up to 15 $ per person per meal) & other services not mentioned above.

Terms of the tour:

1. Tour is guaranteed even if there is just 1 (one) person in the group.
2. Deadline for receipt of applications 45 days before the tour start date.

APPLYING FOR VISA SUPPORT

If you would like to proceed with booking, please email us at: tours@turkmentravels.com the following documents for visa support (LOI) process:

1. Colored passport copy (main page of applicant’s passport) in a good resolution and JPEG format. (Passport validity must be more than 3 months after your exit date from Turkmenistan)
2. Colored one 3x4 photo (jpg format)
3. Education and name of educational institution
4. Speciality (qualification as in Diploma)
5. Marital Status
6. Job title & Company
7. Address of residence (domicile)
8. Previous visits to Turkmenistan (periods, purpose of visit)
9. Arrival and departure points to/from Turkmenistan

On receipt of your completed form and documents, we will submit your application to the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan. LOI is arranged within 15 working days term.  Once the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan approves your travel, we will email you the Visa Invitation Letter (LOI).

OBTAINING TURKMEN VISA

Your Passport must be valid until at least 3 months after your exit date from Turkmenistan and must have at least one blank visa page.
Once you have your visa invitation letter you can then either:
1. Visit your local Turkmenistan Embassy with a copy of your visa invitation letter to get a visa stamped in your passport. This can take up to 7 working days.
2. Obtain your visa on arrival. You can travel to Turkmenistan with your visa invitation letter and obtain a visa on arrival at the airport or at border zones.

We are looking forward to see you in Turkmenistan!