2-Day Turkmenistan Transit Tour: Dayahatyn, Merv & Overnight Train
Route: Farap Border – Dayahatyn – Turkmenabat – Overnight train – Mary – Ancient Merv – Farap Border
Maximize your time in Turkmenistan with this action-packed 2-day transit tour. Starting from the Farap border, you will explore the medieval caravanserai Dayahatyn and Turkmenabat, and then travel by overnight train to Mary. Discover the ruins of Ancient Merv (UNESCO), immerse yourself in authentic Turkmen culture at a traditional folklore show, and then transfer back to the Farap border for onward travel to Uzbekistan.
2
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
* 09:00: Meeting on the Turkmen side of the Farap border crossing point. Assistance with customs and immigration formalities.
* Direct transfer to the historical ruins of Dayahatyn (Dayahatyn Caravanserai), bypassing morning city traffic.
* Full guided tour of the caravanserai:
- Medieval architecture and arches from the 11th–12th centuries.
- Visiting this important resting place on the trade route between Amul and Khorezm.
* Flexible stop for lunch at a local restaurant or chaikhana in Lebap Province (time coordinated by the guide).
* Afternoon transfer back to Turkmenabat.
* Brief guided tour of Amul Fortress and the Lebap Regional Museum of Local Lore (Explore artifacts, carpets, and exhibits showcasing the region's rich history). (If time permits).
* 18:15: Transfer to Turkmenabat railway station.
* 18:45: Departure by night train to Mary (Travel time: 18:45 - 24:50).
* Arrival in Mary. Transfer to the hotel.
* Overnight: Hotel in Mary.
* Direct transfer to the historical ruins of Dayahatyn (Dayahatyn Caravanserai), bypassing morning city traffic.
* Full guided tour of the caravanserai:
- Medieval architecture and arches from the 11th–12th centuries.
- Visiting this important resting place on the trade route between Amul and Khorezm.
* Flexible stop for lunch at a local restaurant or chaikhana in Lebap Province (time coordinated by the guide).
* Afternoon transfer back to Turkmenabat.
* Brief guided tour of Amul Fortress and the Lebap Regional Museum of Local Lore (Explore artifacts, carpets, and exhibits showcasing the region's rich history). (If time permits).
* 18:15: Transfer to Turkmenabat railway station.
* 18:45: Departure by night train to Mary (Travel time: 18:45 - 24:50).
* Arrival in Mary. Transfer to the hotel.
* Overnight: Hotel in Mary.
* Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
* Full guided tour of Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
- Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum: A masterpiece of 12th-century Seljuk architecture, once the largest building in the Islamic world.
- Big and Small Kyz-Kala: Famous "corrugated" mud-brick desert fortresses (7th–12th centuries).
- Askhabs Mausoleums: Visit to the sacred burial sites of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (Al-Hakim ibn Jabir and Buraydah ibn Al-Husaib).
- Ancient Hammam and Sardoba: Explore the remnants of medieval public baths and sophisticated desert water storage systems.
- Erk-Kala and Gyaur-Kala: Ascend ancient citadels for panoramic views of the vast archaeological park.
* Arrival at the ethnographic complex "Turkmen Ochagy" near the Merv ruins for a traditional lunch and folklore show:
- Alabai Dogs and Camels: Meet the majestic Alabai dogs, Turkmenistan's national pride, and enjoy a photo session with two-humped camels.
- National Attire: Access to a collection of authentic Turkmen costumes. Try on telpeks (sheepskin hats) and silver-adorned robes for a photo session in a traditional yurt.
- Bread Baking Masterclass: Hands-on experience at a tamdyr (clay oven), learning the ancient art of baking chorek (Turkmen flatbread).
* Departure from the Merv region back to the border (approx. 4.5 hours drive).
* Border Transfer: Arrival at the Farap border crossing.
* Assistance with border formalities and crossing into Uzbekistan.
* End of tour.
* Full guided tour of Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
- Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum: A masterpiece of 12th-century Seljuk architecture, once the largest building in the Islamic world.
- Big and Small Kyz-Kala: Famous "corrugated" mud-brick desert fortresses (7th–12th centuries).
- Askhabs Mausoleums: Visit to the sacred burial sites of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (Al-Hakim ibn Jabir and Buraydah ibn Al-Husaib).
- Ancient Hammam and Sardoba: Explore the remnants of medieval public baths and sophisticated desert water storage systems.
- Erk-Kala and Gyaur-Kala: Ascend ancient citadels for panoramic views of the vast archaeological park.
* Arrival at the ethnographic complex "Turkmen Ochagy" near the Merv ruins for a traditional lunch and folklore show:
- Alabai Dogs and Camels: Meet the majestic Alabai dogs, Turkmenistan's national pride, and enjoy a photo session with two-humped camels.
- National Attire: Access to a collection of authentic Turkmen costumes. Try on telpeks (sheepskin hats) and silver-adorned robes for a photo session in a traditional yurt.
- Bread Baking Masterclass: Hands-on experience at a tamdyr (clay oven), learning the ancient art of baking chorek (Turkmen flatbread).
* Departure from the Merv region back to the border (approx. 4.5 hours drive).
* Border Transfer: Arrival at the Farap border crossing.
* Assistance with border formalities and crossing into Uzbekistan.
* End of tour.
