Small Group Tours In Turkmenistan

PACKAGE ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrival in Ashgabat.

Arrival in Ashgabat. Pick up in the airport and transfer to the Ak Altyn 4* hotel.

Day 2: Exploring Ashgabat

Today we will have a full day 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. 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 – Kerki (1hr. by flt.) – Trip to Koytendag Mountain 

Transfer to the airport to take a morning flight to Kerki (1 hr. by flt). Arrival in Kerki. Visit “Astana-Baba” Mausoleum. Then drive to Koyten village to explore the Koytendag Nature Reserve, which offers dinosaur footprints, a vast network of caves and Turkmenistan’s highest peak. The region has some fine historical monuments and holy places as well. Crossing Amudarya River. Arrival in Koyten. Accommodation in the hostel. Overnight.

Day 4: Explore Koytendag Mountain

Morning drive along the Koytendag mountain gorge. Koytendag is the home of the highest mountains in Turkmenistan, the deepest lake, the longest caves and the most majestic natural waterfalls in the country. Koytendag Nature Reserve is a huge geological research center, the pride of which is the rocky plateau with hundreds of dinosaur footprints. Explore “Forty Girl`s Gorge”, “Plateau of Dinosaurs”. Lunch outdoors. Visit of Umbar-Dere Waterfall. Return to the hostel. Excursion to the Kaynar Baba Lake. Overnight at the hostel.

Day 5: Koyten – Kerki – Ashgabat (1hr. by flt.)

Drive back to the airport of Kerki city to take a return flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival transfer to Ak Altyn 4* hotel. Overnight.

Day 6: Ashgabat - Anau – Mary – Merv (385 km.)

Morning drive to Mary. Visit on the route Anau pilgrimage place (remains of Seyitjemaletdin mosque XV c). Arrive in Mary & check in Mary 4* hotel. In the afternoon 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. Visiting of 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.), Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum (12^th c.), IbnZeid Mausoleum (12^th c.). After tour of Ancient Merv transfer to your hotel. Overnight. 

Day 7: Mary – Ashgabat (by flt) – Darvaza (260 km)

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival 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 at site of flaming gas crater. Explore the flaming gas crater at sunset. Having BBQ for dinner. Overnight in tent and sleeping bags.

Day 8: Darvaza – Koneurgench – Dashoguz (360 km) – Ashgabat (1 hr. by flt.)

In the morning depart Darvaza and drive to Koneurgench - the capital of Khorezmshahs (3-16^th cc.) inscribed into the World Heritage Book of UNESCO.Koneurgench (known as Gurganch in the past) is the largest historical and archaeological park in the north of Turkmenistan. It is a large reserve with numerous ruins and monuments on the territory of modern Kunyaurgench. Such great Muslim scholars as al-Biruni, al-Khorezmi and Avicenna once worked here.
Sightseeing of the old city: Portal of Caravansaray (11-14^th cc.), Il Arslan Mausoleum (12^th c.), Mausoleum of Khorezm shahSultan Tekesh (13^th c.), Academy of Horezm (3-13^th cc.), Mausoleum of TurabekHanum, Minaret of KutlugTimur (14^th c.) - one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia, Najmeddin Kubra (13^th c.) and Soltan Ali (15^th c.) Mausoleums.
After sightseeing of Kone Urgench drive to Dashoguz city airport to take an evening flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 9: Ashgabat - Turkmenbashy (1h. by flt.) – Yangikala Canyons (185 km) -  Turkmenbashy – Avaza Resort

Morning drive to the airport to take a flight to Turkmenbashy city - the biggest port town of Turkmenistan. The town is enclosed with low mountains and faces the Caspian Sea. Upon arrival, your English speaking driver-guide will meet you in the airport and drive to Turkmenbashy city. Sightseeing in the city and visit the local bazaar to stock up with food & drinks.
Then drive to Yangikala Canyons (185 km.) where impressive limestone formations rise up from the desert sands. These limestone cliffs are the remains of massive coral reefs from the pre-historical Parathetys Sea.  Arrive and explore Yangikala. Take a picnic among the cliffs. Return to Turkmenbashy city. Transfer to Avaza – the most popular sea resort center (10 km from Turkmenbashi) that is promising much in the future. Accommodation in Yelken 5* hotel or similar hotels in Avaza.

Day 10: Rest in Avaza – Caspian Sea Resort

Rest on the shores of the Caspian Sea. You can sightseeing in Avaza with its nice beaches which will be turned soon into the free economic touristic zone with decades of luxurious hotels, resorts and health clubs. Overnight at “Yelken”5* hotel or similar hotels.

Day 11: Turkmenbashy – Ashgabat (1h. by flt.)

Enjoy your morning by leisure on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Check out hotel till noon. Transfer to the airport to take a flight to Ashgabat. Arrive in Ashgabat. Transfer to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy free time for rest or shopping.

Day 12: Ashgabat – departure to home

Check out hotel until noon. Transfer to the International Airport of Ashgabat according your departure flight to home. Farewell. End of tour.

TOUR DATES: August 19-30, September 2-13, October 7-18, 2023

TOUR DURATION: 12 days / 11 nights

Places to visit: Ashgabat, Nissa, Koytendag, Mary, Ancient Merv, Darvaza, Koneurgench, Dashoguz, Turkmenbashy, Avaza, Yangikala

TOUR PRICE:

Single room supplement: 350 USD

*Deadline for receipt of applications 35 days before the tour start date. Please see how to apply for letter of invitation to get the visa to Turkmenistan here: https://turkmentravels.com/eng/visa-support/turkmenistan-visa-support-invitation/ 

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TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

1. Visa invitation to Turkmenistan, entry travel pass and visa registration
2. Arrival and departure transfers
3. A/C land transportation during the whole tour, 4WD cars based on 4 persons in a car for off road part
4. Economy class domestic flight tickets: Ashgabat – Kerki - Ashgabat, Mary – Ashgabat, Dashoguz – Ashgabat, Ashgabat – Turkmenbashy – Ashgabat
5. All accommodation (breakfasts and travel tax included) in double or twin shared rooms at hotels
6. Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary
7. Meals (dinner and breakfast) at Darvaza
8. Local English speaking guide services for excursions and visits

Accommodation (local star & standard): double or twin shared rooms at hotels
Ashgabat: Ak Altyn 4* hotel (breakfast is included), 5 nights
Mary: Mary 4* hotel (breakfast is included), 1 night
Koytendag: Koyten hostel (breakfast is included), 2 nights
Darvaza: Tents with sleeping bags (dinner and breakfast is included), 1 night
Avaza, Turkmenbashy: Yelken 5* hotel or similar (breakfast is included), 2 nights

TOUR 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, meals not listed above (lunch and dinner allow up to 15 $ per person), photo/video fees at sites & other services not mentioned above.