7-Day Turkmenistan Nature & Heritage: Crater, Capital & Koytendag Mountains
Route: Shavat - Darvaza - Ashgabat (Flight) - Kerki - Koytendag (Dinosaur Plateau) - Turkmenabat - Dayahatun - Farap
Embark on a unique 7-day expedition from Shavat to Farap. Witness the Darvaza Gas Crater, explore Ashgabat, and venture into the remote Koytendag Mountains for dinosaur tracks and waterfalls. Includes ancient Silk Road sites like Dayahatun and Astana Baba.
7
days
0
groups
0
options
There are currently no available dates for this tour. Contact us for a private tour.
What is included
- Letter of Invitation (LoI) for Turkmenistan visa and assistance with mandatory registration of foreign visitors.
- Accommodation in standard hotel rooms: twin rooms shared by same-gender guests; double rooms for couples; single rooms arranged when needed (other room categories on request).
- Private transport and English-speaking guide for the days and routes specified in your itinerary.
- All expenses of your driver and guide, including fuel, meals, accommodation, meeting you at the border and seeing you off at the border.
- Daily breakfasts during the tour.
- Dinner and overnight in a yurt at the Darvaza gas crater and at Gozli Ata (if included in your itinerary).
- Entrance fees and photography permits for museums and attractions visited with your guide.
- Travel insurance.
- All local taxes and mandatory service charges for services included in the tour.
- The tour usually starts and ends at the Turkmenistan side of the border (other pick-up or drop-off points can be arranged on request).
What is not included
- Visa and other border fees are not included. The visa can be obtained either at the embassy or at the border.
- International flights and any transport to/from Turkmenistan at the start and end of the tour.
- Meals not included in the program (estimated 3–8 USD per meal per person, depending on the location and restaurant).
- Personal expenses (e.g. souvenirs, laundry, minibar) and tips for guides/drivers (optional but appreciated).
- Drones (not allowed in Turkmenistan).
- Entrance fees. meal costs and photo fees at the Turkmen Ojagy Ethnographic Complex (if included in your itinerary).
Tour program
* 10:00 AM: Meet and greet at the Turkmen side of the Shavat Border Checkpoint.
* Short drive to Dashoguz for a traditional lunch and a visit to the local market (shopping for supplies/snacks for the desert).
* Begin the journey to Darvaza (~300 km, 5 hours). The route crosses the Central Karakum Desert.
* Arrival at the Darvaza Gas Crater ("Gates of Hell"). Experience the sunset over the desert as the crater’s glow begins to intensify.
* Traditional BBQ Dinner served at the campsite. Spectacular nighttime viewing of the burning crater—the best time for photography.
* Overnight: Stay in a traditional Turkmen Yurt or tent campsite.
* Short drive to Dashoguz for a traditional lunch and a visit to the local market (shopping for supplies/snacks for the desert).
* Begin the journey to Darvaza (~300 km, 5 hours). The route crosses the Central Karakum Desert.
* Arrival at the Darvaza Gas Crater ("Gates of Hell"). Experience the sunset over the desert as the crater’s glow begins to intensify.
* Traditional BBQ Dinner served at the campsite. Spectacular nighttime viewing of the burning crater—the best time for photography.
* Overnight: Stay in a traditional Turkmen Yurt or tent campsite.
* Breakfast at the camp and optional pre-dawn sunrise visit to the crater for final photos.
* Drive from Darvaza to Ashgabat.
* En route: Short photo stops at the Water and Mud Craters. Experience these unique natural desert bubbles before leaving the Karakum sands.
* Arrival and Ashgabat City Tour: A flexible program tailored to your arrival and departure times. The final itinerary depends on your personal preferences, your guide’s professional advice, and the time available in your schedule. We will visit as many landmarks as possible, ensuring a perfect balance of history, culture, and modern architecture.
* Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat.
* Drive from Darvaza to Ashgabat.
* En route: Short photo stops at the Water and Mud Craters. Experience these unique natural desert bubbles before leaving the Karakum sands.
* Arrival and Ashgabat City Tour: A flexible program tailored to your arrival and departure times. The final itinerary depends on your personal preferences, your guide’s professional advice, and the time available in your schedule. We will visit as many landmarks as possible, ensuring a perfect balance of history, culture, and modern architecture.
* Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat.
* After breakfast Ashgabat City Tour: A flexible program tailored to your arrival and departure times. The final itinerary depends on your personal preferences, your guide’s professional advice, and the time available in your schedule. We will visit as many landmarks as possible, ensuring a perfect balance of history, culture, and modern architecture.
* Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat
* Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat
* After breakfast transfer to the airport
* 10:00 Flight: Ashgabat → Kerki.
* Lunch: In Kerki city.
* Drive toward Koyten village (~185 km).
* Nature Stop: Gaynar Baba sulfur spring (located right on the route) for a brief rest and photos.
* Arrival: Settle in at the guesthouse in Koytendag.
* Overnight: Stay at a guesthouse or base in Koytendag.
* 10:00 Flight: Ashgabat → Kerki.
* Lunch: In Kerki city.
* Drive toward Koyten village (~185 km).
* Nature Stop: Gaynar Baba sulfur spring (located right on the route) for a brief rest and photos.
* Arrival: Settle in at the guesthouse in Koytendag.
* Overnight: Stay at a guesthouse or base in Koytendag.
* After breakfast, begin your guided exploration of the Koytendag mountain region.
* Dinosaur Plateau (Hojapil): Visit the world-renowned limestone plateau in the morning light. View over 300 fossilized dinosaur tracks—the largest collection of its kind.
* Umbar Dere Gorge: Walk through the narrow, high-walled canyon to see the scenic waterfall.
* Kyrk Gyz Cave: Visit the sacred "Forty Girls" pilgrimage cave, famous for its unique atmosphere and thousands of cloth stalactites.
* Cultural Experience: "Goat Massage" (traditional local experience) if time permits between nature sites.
* Picnic Lunch: Enjoy a meal amidst the spectacular mountain scenery.
* Overnight: Stay at a guesthouse or base in Koytendag.
* Dinosaur Plateau (Hojapil): Visit the world-renowned limestone plateau in the morning light. View over 300 fossilized dinosaur tracks—the largest collection of its kind.
* Umbar Dere Gorge: Walk through the narrow, high-walled canyon to see the scenic waterfall.
* Kyrk Gyz Cave: Visit the sacred "Forty Girls" pilgrimage cave, famous for its unique atmosphere and thousands of cloth stalactites.
* Cultural Experience: "Goat Massage" (traditional local experience) if time permits between nature sites.
* Picnic Lunch: Enjoy a meal amidst the spectacular mountain scenery.
* Overnight: Stay at a guesthouse or base in Koytendag.
* Departure from Koytendag.
* Heritage Stop:
Astana Baba Mausoleum: Explore this unique 11th–12th-century complex, famous for its "miraculous" water and interconnected tombs.
Alamberdar Mausoleum: Visit the largest standing Seljuk-era monument in the region, known for its magnificent brickwork.
Idris Baba Madrasah: Pay respects at the site where the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy once studied.
* Drive to Turkmenabat.
* Amul Fortress (Amul-Gala): Arrive at the outskirts of Turkmenabat to see the ancient Silk Road fortress.
* Hotel Check-in: and dinner.
* Short Night Tour (optional): A drive through the illuminated center of Turkmenabat, seeing the modern architecture and city lights of Turkmenistan’s second-largest city.
* Overnight: Hotel in Turkmenabat.
* Heritage Stop:
Astana Baba Mausoleum: Explore this unique 11th–12th-century complex, famous for its "miraculous" water and interconnected tombs.
Alamberdar Mausoleum: Visit the largest standing Seljuk-era monument in the region, known for its magnificent brickwork.
Idris Baba Madrasah: Pay respects at the site where the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy once studied.
* Drive to Turkmenabat.
* Amul Fortress (Amul-Gala): Arrive at the outskirts of Turkmenabat to see the ancient Silk Road fortress.
* Hotel Check-in: and dinner.
* Short Night Tour (optional): A drive through the illuminated center of Turkmenabat, seeing the modern architecture and city lights of Turkmenistan’s second-largest city.
* Overnight: Hotel in Turkmenabat.
* Early departure north toward the remote Dayahatun Caravanserai.
* Dayahatun Caravanserai (The Architectural Masterpiece): Explore the 11th-century Seljuk ruins.
* Return to Turkmenabat: Drive back through local villages and cotton fields.
* Lebap Regional Museum: Visit the museum to see the ethnographic and archaeological collections of the Amu Darya region.
* Amu Darya River: Enjoy a photo stop by the majestic Amu Darya, the largest river in Central Asia, on your way toward the border.
* Drive to Farap and drop-off at Farap border (Turkmen side; escort through formalities as per permit).
* End of Tour.
* Dayahatun Caravanserai (The Architectural Masterpiece): Explore the 11th-century Seljuk ruins.
* Return to Turkmenabat: Drive back through local villages and cotton fields.
* Lebap Regional Museum: Visit the museum to see the ethnographic and archaeological collections of the Amu Darya region.
* Amu Darya River: Enjoy a photo stop by the majestic Amu Darya, the largest river in Central Asia, on your way toward the border.
* Drive to Farap and drop-off at Farap border (Turkmen side; escort through formalities as per permit).
* End of Tour.
