7-Day Turkmenistan Highlights Tour: Ashgabat to Khiva / Nukus

Route: Ashgabat (Airport) – Turkmenbashi – Yangykala Canyon – Nokhur – Kow Ata – Ancient Merv – Darvaza Gas Crater – Kunya-Urgench – Khiva / Nukus (Shavat/Hojaili Border)

Embark on an action-packed 7-day tour through Turkmenistan, starting with an airport pickup in Ashgabat and ending with a seamless border transfer into Uzbekistan (Khiva or Nukus). Discover the striking white-marble capital, ride an overnight train to the Caspian shore, and explore the fiery red-and-pink rock formations of Yangykala Canyon. Swim in the subterranean thermal waters of Kow Ata, tour the UNESCO World Heritage ancient cities of Merv and Kunya-Urgench, and spend an unforgettable night camping beside the glowing Darvaza Gas Crater ("Door to Hell") in the Karakum Desert. Includes private transport, expert guide, and full border crossing assistance.

Available Departure Dates

1 open groups

04.10.2026 10:00

2 free

2 booked 2 free

1 person: $1017 4 people: $949

Secure payment via Stripe — Visa, Mastercard, Amex. Processed by TMTOURISM LLC (Wyoming, USA).

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 & Evening Welcome

✈️ Flight Arrival & Welcome: Upon your evening arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (ASB), clear customs and immigration formalities.
🛂 Meet-up: Meet and greet by our team at the arrival gate (our guide/driver will recognize you based on your photo).
🍽️ Evening Dining or Direct Check-in: Depending on your exact flight arrival time, enjoy a warm welcome dinner at a local restaurant to sample authentic Turkmen cuisine, or proceed directly to your hotel for a smooth check-in and rest.
🏨 Overnight: Stay at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Day 2 Ashgabat → Turkmenbashi (Overnight Train)

🍽️ Breakfast & Check-out : Enjoy a fresh breakfast at your hotel in Ashgabat and complete check-out.
🏛️ Tailored Ashgabat Discovery : Embark on a private, fully customizable tour of Turkmenistan's capital, known as the "White Marble City." Your guide will craft a flexible route on-site blending ancient Silk Road history with grand futuristic landmarks, monuments, and parks based on your preferences.
🍽️ Meals & Culinary Leisure : The day is arranged around your personal comfort, featuring a delicious traditional lunch break and a flexible evening meal, enjoy an early dinner at a local restaurant or pick up freshly prepared Turkmen takeaway dishes to sample on board the train.
🚗 17:50 Train Station Transfer & Departure : Transfer to the Ashgabat Railway Station. Board the overnight train to Turkmenbashi, departing at 17:50.
🌃 Overnight : Stay on the overnight train (comfortable 4-berth compartments).

Day 3 Turkmenbashi → Yangykala Canyon → Balkan Region

🛂 08:05 AM: Arrival & Meet-up: Arrive at Turkmenbashi Railway Station via the overnight sleeper train from Ashgabat. Meet your private driver at the platform and refresh before the day's program.
🏛️ Turkmenbashi City & Awaza Highlights: Enjoy a brief orientation tour of this historic port city on the Caspian Sea. View the unique pre-revolutionary architecture built from Caspian limestone, stop by the beautiful 1895 Moorish-style railway station, and catch scenic coastal views. Optional: An excursion to the nearby Awaza Sea Resort can be arranged upon request, subject to accessibility.
🍽️ Lunch: Enjoy a fresh Caspian seafood or traditional lunch break 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 across the desert plateau to the breathtaking Yangykala Canyons (~165 km total from Turkmenbashi, approx. 2.5 to 3 hours). Arrive at the canyon plateau to explore the vast, fiery red and pink limestone formations, the ancient seabed of the Tethys Ocean. Please note that driving to the canyon plateau includes rough off-road sections.
🍽️ Dinner: Depending on the season and weather, enjoy an authentic packed picnic dinner at the canyon landscape, or a warm dinner upon arrival at your destination.
🚗 Drive to Hotel: Drive south from the canyon plateau down toward your hotel in the Balkan region (~169 km, approx. 2 to 2.5 hours to the nearest hub).
🏨 Overnight: Stay at a hotel in the Balkan Region (Balkanabat or surrounding transit hubs).

Day 4 Balkan Region → Nokhur → Kow Ata → Ashgabat

🛂 Morning Departure: After breakfast at your hotel, depart and drive east along the highway parallel to the Kopet Dag mountain range.
🏔️ Nokhur Mountain Village: Take a scenic detour into the mountains to visit the isolated tribal village of Nokhur. Tour the unique cemetery adorned with ancient ibex horns, meet local villagers, and enjoy a traditional home-cooked lunch. Please note that the drive up into the mountains features steep serpentine roads; access depends on favorable weather and road conditions.
🏔️ Kow Ata Underground Lake: Drive down the mountain paths to the famous Kow Ata Underground Lake (~71 km, approx. 1.1 hours). Descend into the deep limestone cave for a unique, relaxing swim in the naturally warm, mineral-rich thermal sulfur waters (constant 35°C year-round).
🚗 Return to Ashgabat: Drive the final stretch back to the capital city (~89 km, approx. 1.2 hours).
🍽️ Dinner: Enjoy dinner at a recommended local restaurant in Ashgabat.
🏨 Overnight: Stay at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Day 5 Ashgabat → Ancient Merv → Ashgabat

Breakfast & Day Trip Departure: Enjoy a fresh breakfast at your hotel in Ashgabat before meeting your guide and driver.

Overland Highway Drive (~367 km): Depart Ashgabat along the modern High-Speed Motorway toward the Mary region (approx. 4 hours drive).

Lunch Break in Mary: Arrive in the Mary region around noon (~11:30 AM - 12:00 PM). Enjoy a traditional Turkmen lunch break at a local restaurant in Mary or Bayramaly.

Ancient Merv Guided Tour: Explore the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological park of Ancient Merv, one of the greatest metropolises along the historical Silk Road:

Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar: A 12th-century Seljuk masterpiece with its legendary double-dome structure.
Greater & Lesser Kyz Kala: Iconic corrugated mud-brick desert fortresses (7th–12th centuries).
Askhabs Mausoleums & Ancient Sardoba: Sacred companions' burial sites and the ancient desert water storage system.
Erk Kala & Gyaur Kala: Massive ancient citadels offering panoramic views over the archaeological complex.

Note: Additional minor historic sights within the park can be flexibly explored upon request, depending on time.

Return Drive via Motorway (~367 km): Drive back to Ashgabat via the high-speed autobahn, watching the sunset over the desert horizon during the smooth return trip.

Evening & Dinner in Ashgabat: Arrive in Ashgabat in the evening and enjoy a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Stay at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Day 6 Ashgabat → Darvaza Gas Crater

Breakfast & Check-out: Enjoy a fresh breakfast at your hotel in Ashgabat and complete check-out.

Morning Capital Prep: Spend an easygoing morning in Ashgabat. Visit a local bazaar to pick up snacks and fresh fruits for your desert trip, followed by a short flexible city stroll with your guide.

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.

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

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 7 Darvaza Gas Crater → Kunya-Urgench → Border crossing

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 & Drive to Kunya-Urgench: Enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast at the yurt camp, pack up, and begin your drive north across the desert toward Kunya-Urgench (~260 km direct desert route, or ~390 km via Dashoguz in case of seasonal weather/road conditions, approx. 4 to 5.5 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.

Kunya-Urgench Historical Tour: Explore the grand archaeological park featuring:

Kutlug-Timur Minaret: The tallest medieval minaret in Central Asia.
Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum: World-renowned for its intricate, mathematically perfect geometric ceiling mosaic.
Mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh & Il-Arslan: Featuring iconic conical domes.
Caravanserai Gate: A historical reminder of the ancient Silk Road trade route.

Lunch: Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant in Kunya-Urgench.

Border Transfer (Customizable Options): Depending on your onward travel itinerary in Uzbekistan, enjoy a private transfer to your preferred border checkpoint:

Option A: Shavat Border Crossing (Best for Khiva / Urgench): Drive south via Dashoguz back to the Shavat crossing (~130 km, approx. 2 hours).
Option B: Hojaili Border Crossing (Best for Nukus / Muynak): Drive north directly to the nearby Hojaili-Kunya-Urgench crossing (~35 km, approx. 45 minutes).

Border Formalities & Exit: Arrival at the border terminal. Our professional team will escort and assist you through all Turkmen customs and departure immigration formalities as per official border permit regulations.

End of Tour Services.