9-Day Turkmenistan Highlights Expedition: Ashgabat, Merv, Yangykala & Darvaza

🗺️ Tour Itinerary

Route: Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi – Yangykala Canyon – Nokhur – Kow Ata – Ancient Merv – Gonur Depe – Dashoguz – Kunya-Urgench – Darvaza Gas Crater – Ashgabat

✨ Travel Overview

Explore the essential highlights of Turkmenistan on an action-packed 9-day expedition, round-trip from Ashgabat. Journey from the Caspian Sea coast to the depths of the Karakum Desert, combining scenic overnight trains, private off-road drives, and visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ancient Merv and Kunya-Urgench. Discover the ancient Bronze Age kingdom at Gonur Depe, swim in the underground thermal waters of Kow Ata, admire the spectacular multi-colored cliffs of Yangykala Canyon, and camp under the desert stars by the glowing Darvaza Gas Crater ("Door to Hell"). Includes private transport, expert local guide, and early airport check-in.

Available Departure Dates

1 open groups

10.10.2026 10:00

2 free

2 booked 2 free

1 person: $1633 4 people: $1542

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 & Early Check-in

✈️ Night Flight Arrival & Welcome: Upon your arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (ASB), clear customs and immigration formalities.
🏨 Meet-up & Hotel Rest: Meet and greet by our team at the arrival gate (our guide/driver will recognize you based on your photo). Immediate Early Check-In upon arrival at the hotel for a restful night and relaxed morning sleep.
🏛️ Tailored Ashgabat Discovery: After a late breakfast and rest 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 & Leisure: The day is designed around your comfort, featuring carefully timed breaks for a delicious traditional lunch and a relaxed dinner at local restaurants, sampling authentic Turkmen cuisine.
🏨 Overnight: Stay at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Day 2 Ashgabat Extended Capital Discovery → Turkmenbashi (Overnight Train)

🍽️ Breakfast & Check-out: Enjoy a fresh breakfast at your hotel in Ashgabat and complete check-out.
🏛️ Extended Capital Discovery: Continue your private, fully flexible exploration of Ashgabat with your guide.
🍽️ 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 & Turkmen Ojagy → Mary

🍽️ Breakfast & Check-out: Enjoy a fresh breakfast at your hotel in Ashgabat and complete check-out.
🚗 Overland Highway Drive (~367 km): Depart Ashgabat along the modern High-Speed Motorway toward the Mary region (approx. 4 hours drive).
🏛️ 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.
🍽️ Turkmen Ojagy Ethnographic Experience & Lunch: Visit the nearby Turkmen Ojagy complex for an immersive cultural experience and traditional lunch:
- Alabay Dogs & Camels: Meet the majestic Turkmen Alabay dogs and take photos with Bactrian camels.
- National Dress Photo Session: Try on authentic Turkmen telpek hats and silver-adorned robes inside a traditional yurt.
- Bread-Baking Masterclass: Get hands-on experience at the Tamdyr (clay oven), learning to bake traditional Chorek flatbread.
🌃 Evening & Dinner: Drive to Mary city center (~30 km from Merv). Relax over dinner at a recommended local restaurant and check into your hotel.
🏨 Overnight: Stay at a hotel in Mary.

Day 6 Mary → Gonur Depe → Ashgabat → Dashoguz (Overnight Train)

🍽️ Breakfast & Check-out: Enjoy a fresh breakfast at your hotel in Mary and complete check-out.
🚗 Off-Road Expedition to Gonur Depe: Depart Mary and drive northeast into the heart of the Karakum Desert (~100 km, approx. 2.5 hours, including rough off-road desert sections). Explore the legendary archaeological site of Gonur Depe, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Margush (Bronze Age, 5th center of world civilization). Tour the excavation grounds, including royal tombs, temples of fire and water, and ancient residential quarters.
🚗 Drive to Bayramaly & Traditional Lunch: Return from the desert plateau to the town of Bayramaly (~1.5 to 2 hours drive). Enjoy a relaxed traditional Turkmen lunch at a local restaurant.
🚗 Expressway Drive to Ashgabat: Depart Bayramaly and join the High-Speed Motorway for a smooth drive west across the desert plateau to the capital city (~367 km, approx. 4 hours).
🍽️ 20:30 Evening Dinner & Station Transfer: Arrive in Ashgabat for an early evening dinner at a local restaurant (or pick up freshly prepared takeaway meals). Transfer directly to the Ashgabat Railway Station to board the overnight train to Dashoguz, departing at 20:30.
🌃 Overnight: Stay on the overnight train (comfortable 4-berth compartments).

Day 7 Dashoguz → Kunya-Urgench → Darvaza Gas Crater

🛂 08:45 AM Arrival & Meet-up: Arrive in Dashoguz via the overnight train from Ashgabat. Meet your private driver at the railway station and refresh before the day's program.
🚗 Drive to Kunya-Urgench: Depart toward Kunya-Urgench (~96 km, approx. 1.5 hours), the ancient capital of the Khorezm Empire and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
🏛️ 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 & Market Stop: Enjoy a traditional local lunch (in Kunya-Urgench or Dashoguz, depending on the chosen route). Visit a local bazaar to pick up fresh fruits and snacks for your desert camp stay.
🚗 Desert Drive to Darvaza: Journey south into the heart of the Karakum Desert toward Darvaza (~260 km via the direct Ruhubelent desert route, or ~390 km via Dashoguz, approx. 4 to 5 hours). Please note that certain sections of the desert road are rough and uneven; this is an authentic off-road expedition.
🏔️ 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 8 Darvaza Gas Crater → Ashgabat

🛂 Sunrise Experience: Optional pre-dawn walk to the crater edge to experience the surreal morning light and capture the last glowing flames before sunrise over the Karakum dunes.
🛂 Breakfast & Departure: Enjoy a fresh breakfast at the yurt camp, pack up, and begin your southward return journey across the desert to Ashgabat (~270 km, approx. 3.5 hours). Enjoy the final stretch of off-road desert landscapes along the way. Please note that certain sections of the desert highway are rough and uneven; this remains a bumpy off-road drive.
🏔️ 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.
🍽️ Lunch & Final Ashgabat Discovery: Enjoy lunch back in the capital. Spend a fully customizable afternoon wrapping up your tour, explore any remaining highlights, shop for authentic souvenirs and carpets at local bazaars, or relax at your own pace.
🍽️ Evening & Dinner: Enjoy the evening at leisure in Ashgabat, with time to dine at a local restaurant in the city.
🏨 Overnight: Stay at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Day 9 Ashgabat Relaxation & Evening Airport Departure

🍽️ Breakfast & Leisure Morning: Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel and spend a peaceful morning enjoying hotel amenities or packing at your own pace.
🏨 12:00 PM | Hotel Check-out: Complete standard hotel check-out by 12:00 PM. Load your luggage into our private vehicle, which will remain with you for the rest of the day.
🍽️ Lunch & Flexible Afternoon: Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a local restaurant. Spend your remaining afternoon on a flexible program, enjoy a quiet stroll through city parks, relax at a local café, or visit any final landmarks with your driver/guide.
🍽️ Dinner: Enjoy an early farewell dinner at a recommended local restaurant in Ashgabat.
✈️ Farewell Dinner & Airport Transfer (Depending on Flight Schedule): Enjoy an early dinner or light meal at a local restaurant depending on your flight timing, followed by a private transfer to Ashgabat International Airport (arranged ~3 hours prior to your scheduled international departure time). Our team will assist with luggage and entry formalities.
🚀 End of Tour Services.