5-Day Turkmenistan Round-Trip Tour from Ashgabat

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Route: Ashgabat (ASB Airport) – Darvaza Gas Crater – Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi – Yangykala Canyon – Balkanabat – Ashgabat – Ancient Merv – Mary – Ashgabat (ASB Airport)

An action-packed 5-day round-trip itinerary across Turkmenistan starting and ending at Ashgabat International Airport! Journey north into the Karakum Desert for a thrilling night of yurt camping by the fiery Darvaza Gas Crater. Explore the white-marble capital of Ashgabat before taking a domestic flight to the Caspian coast to marvel at the vibrant, multi-colored formations of Yangykala Canyon. Ride an overnight train back to the capital and travel along the high-speed motorway to uncover the ancient UNESCO-listed ruins of Merv. Enjoy a rich cultural ethnographic experience at Turkmen Ojagy with Alabay dogs and traditional bread-baking before returning to Ashgabat for your departure flight home.

No dates scheduled yet. Contact us to request a private tour or specific date.

What is included/not included

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, domestic flights, and train tickets (as specified in your itinerary), along with a professional English-speaking guide for all designated routes.
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 are not included in the program (approximately 5–10 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, photo fees, and activities at Turkmen Ojagy (if included in your itinerary; lunch, folklore, dress-up, & masterclasses require min. 4 people).

Tour program

Day 1 Arrival in Ashgabat → Darvaza Gas Crater

Flight Arrival & Welcome: Upon your arrival at the Ashgabat International Airport (ASB), clear customs and immigration formalities.

Airport Transfer: Meet and greet by our team at the arrival gate (our guide/driver will recognize you based on your photo). Transfer to a restaurant for breakfast and a quick refresh.

Ashgabat City Highlights: Take a morning orientation tour of the "White Marble City", exploring its grand monuments, futuristic avenues, and manicured parks.

Lunch: Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.

Drive into the Karakum Desert: In the afternoon, depart Ashgabat and head north into the vast Karakum Desert (~270 km, approx. 3.5 hours). Please note that certain sections of the road are rough and uneven, making the drive bumpy, this is a true off-road desert adventure.

Darvaza Gas Crater ("Shining of Karakum"): Arrive at the spectacular burning gas crater. Experience the desert sunset as the crater’s fiery glow begins to intensify.

Evening & Dinner: Enjoy a traditional open-air BBQ dinner prepared by our team at the campsite. The night offers the ultimate viewing and photography opportunities under the desert stars.

Overnight: Stay in a traditional Turkmen yurt or a comfortable tent campsite near the crater.

Day 2 Darvaza Gas Crater → Ashgabat

Sunrise Experience: Optional pre-dawn visit to the crater edge to experience the surreal morning light and capture the last glowing flames before sunrise over the desert.

Breakfast & Departure: Enjoy a fresh breakfast at the yurt camp, pack up, and begin your southward journey across the Karakum Desert to the capital city, Ashgabat (~270 km, approx. 3.5 hours). Please note that certain sections of the road are rough and uneven, making the drive bumpy, this is a true off-road desert adventure.

Desert Craters Stops: En route, make short stops to explore the unique Water Crater and Mud Crater, witnessing the diverse geological phenomena of the desert.

Lunch: Enjoy a lunch break upon arrival in Ashgabat.

Ashgabat City Tour: Spend the afternoon discovering any remaining landmarks, museums, or vibrant local bazaars in Ashgabat that you haven't visited yet, perfect for picking up souvenirs.

Overnight: Stay at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Day 3 Ashgabat → Turkmenbashi (Flight) → Yangykala Canyon → Ashgabat (overnight train)

Morning Flight to the Caspian Coast: Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for a short morning flight to Turkmenbashi at 10:40 AM. Meet your driver upon arrival at the coastal airport.

Lunch: Enjoy a fresh seafood or traditional lunch at a local restaurant.

Scenic Drive & Optional Stop at Gozli Ata Pilgrim Site: Depart east into the desert toward the canyons. Optional & Time Permitting: Make a brief visit to Gozli Ata, one of Turkmenistan’s most revered pilgrimage sites, nestled inside striking white-and-pink cliff formations.

Expedition to Yangykala Canyon: Continue your off-road journey to the breathtaking Yangykala Canyons (~160 km total from Turkmenbashi). Arrive at the canyon plateau to explore the vast, fiery red and pink limestone formations (the ancient Tethys Ocean floor).

Drive to Balkanabat & Dinner: Depart the canyons by late afternoon for a smooth drive to Balkanabat (~2.5 hours). Relax over a warm dinner at a local restaurant.

Train Station Transfer & Departure: Transfer to the Balkanabat Railway Station. Board the overnight train to Ashgabat, departing at 21:10.

Overnight: Stay on the overnight train (comfortable 4-berth compartments).

Day 4 Ashgabat → Ancient Merv & Turkmen Ojagy → Mary

06:15 AM: Arrival & Meet-up: Arrive in Ashgabat via the overnight train from Balkanabat. Meet your private driver at the railway station.

Overland Highway Drive (~360 km): Depart Ashgabat in the morning along the modern High-Speed Motorway toward the Mary region.

Breakfast En Route: Stop for a fresh, warm breakfast at a roadside restaurant along the highway.

Ancient Merv Guided Tour: Explore the grand archaeological park of one of the Silk Road's greatest historical metropolises:

Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar: A 12th-century Seljuk masterpiece featuring its legendary double-dome construction.
Greater & Lesser Kyz Kala: The iconic "corrugated" mud-brick desert fortresses (7th–12th centuries).
Askhabs Mausoleums & Ancient Sardoba: Visit the sacred burial sites of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, along with the adjacent medieval public baths and the sophisticated desert water storage system (Sardoba).
Erk Kala & Gyaur Kala: Climb the massive ancient citadels for a panoramic view over the vast archaeological park.
Note: Ancient Merv hosts numerous other hidden ruins; additional minor historic sights within the archaeological park can be flexibly explored upon request, depending on your time and interest.

Turkmen Ojagy Ethnographic Experience & Lunch: Following the historical tour, visit the nearby Turkmen Ojagy complex for an immersive cultural experience and a traditional lunch:

Alabay & Camels: Meet the majestic Alabay dogs, the national pride of Turkmenistan, and take photos with Bactrian camels.
National Dress: Access a collection of authentic Turkmen costumes (Telpek hats and silver-adorned robes) for a photo session inside a traditional yurt.
Bread-Baking Master Class: Get hands-on experience at the Tamdyr (clay oven), learning the ancient art of baking Chorek flatbread.

Evening & Dinner: Enjoy a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant in Mary and a well-deserved rest at your hotel.

Overnight: Stay at a hotel in Mary.

Day 5 Mary → Ashgabat → Ashgabat Airport

Breakfast & Check-out: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Mary and check out.

Overland Highway Drive to Ashgabat (~360 km): Depart Mary in the morning for a smooth, scenic drive along the modern High-Speed Motorway back to Ashgabat (approx. 3.5 to 4 hours).

Return to Ashgabat & Lunch: Arrive in the capital and enjoy a delicious farewell lunch at a top city restaurant.

Last-Minute Sightseeing: Depending on your international flight schedule, enjoy a flexible final drive through Ashgabat to catch any remaining architectural landmarks, photogenic monuments, or cultural sites you missed, tailored entirely to your departure timing.

Airport Transfer & Departure: Private transfer to Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) for your flight back home.

End of Tour.