Best of Turkmenistan

Breakfast at hotel. We start our touring today with the visit of the ruins of Old Nisa (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the earliest of the Parthian Empire capitals. Erected on the top an irregular pentagon hill at the foot of the Kopet-Dag Mountains, in atmospheric outskirts of the city, Old Nisa is a beautiful landmark. 14 ha in size, the fort accommodates two semi-excavated complexes of the Parthian period (III c. BC - III c. AD), designated as royal residence and temple complex. Abandoned at the end of the Parthian period, Old Nisa conveyed its functions to New Nisa, another archaeological site located a couple of kilometres to the west, an important medieval Silk Road city. After sightseeing at Old Nisa we proceed to Kipchak village to visit a complex of the biggest mosque in Turkmenistan and the family mausoleum of the first President, Turkmenbashi. Then we return to Ashgabat to visit the National Museum of History (more than 327.000 objects on a display) and observe an exclusive collection of ancient artifacts from different historical and archeological sites of Turkmenistan, such as Old Nisa, Ancient Merv and others.

In the afternoon, fly to Mary by T5-131 at 5:55 PM – 8:35 PM (flight times are subject to change). On arrival, transfer to hotel.

Hotel Margush 3* or similar

After breakfast, we drive towards Bayram-Ali, the contemporary re-incarnation of and humble suburb of the glorious Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the major archaeological sites of Central Asia, Merv played an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2 000 years. Within the limits of the archaeological park, which is 1200 ha, we will have a chance to observe all constituent parts of the “wandering city”. A series of adjacent cities, which can be roughly divided into the ancient (Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala), the medieval (Sultan Kala with its suburbs), and post-medieval (Abdulla-Khan Kala and Bayram-Ali-Khan Kala), appeared in the course of time as a token of the natural progress of the city from initial stages of its existence to a more advanced level. Besides remnants of the cities of Merv, we will visit the VI-IX cc. AD forts of Big and Little Kyz-Kalas, excellent examples of the so-called corrugated Koshks; the splendid XII c. mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammed ibn-Zeyd, demonstrating exquisite Seljuk period brickwork and architectural décor. After sightseeing, we head back to Mary to visit local History Museum, presenting a wide array of archaeological finds (dating back to the III mill. BC through the late XIX century) from both Ancient Merv and Bronze Age sites of the Margush country as well as interesting ethnographic displays reconstructing the scenes of daily life of the Turkmen population and other minorities of the Murghab oasis. Then we fly back to Ashgabat T5-132 at 7:35 PM – 8:15 PM (flight times are subject to change). On arrival in Ashgabat, transfer to hotel.

Hotel Divan 5* or similar

Today morning we will travel 12 kilometres east of Ashgabat towards modern Anau, to visit a former medieval city of Bagabad, featuring the citadel of an important Timurid-period centre and the ruins of the Seyit Jemaleddin mosque, which is referred to in many historical sources as “house of beauty”. Many centuries ago (around the 5th mill. BC) this area accommodated the population of early Central Asian farmers who developed the world-famous Anau culture, evidences of which were discovered and extracted during archaeological researches throughout the XX century. Near Anau we will visit a private stud farm, home of the famous Akhal-Tekke horses. Welcome tea. The Akhal-Tekke breed is one of the oldest in existence and is well known for elegance, swiftness, and stamina. Having finished our photo session with the horses, we return to Ashgabat.

In the afternoon, we will travel inland through the Kara Kum desert (280 km/4-5 hrs) with its moving sands and sparse vegetation of saksaul, acacia and kandym bushes. Arriving at the border between the northern and southern regions of Turkmenistan we turn off the main road for an exciting eight-kilometre desert drive. The drive over, we find ourselves a couple of hundred metres away from the Darvaza flaming crater. At daylight, it seems more of an ordinary whole in the ground slightly smoked by fire. We go for a walk around the crater, while our barbecue dinner is being prepared. By the time we notice the smell of a fire-cooked dinner, the simple whole of the crater turns into what may seem a front door of hell, a fire temple or any other mysteriously spectacular place that a romantic’s imagination may associate with fire. We finish the day tasting delicious nomadic food, pondering over the meaning of life in the serene atmosphere of beautiful evening sky and flickering lights of the “eternal” fire. Dinner and overnight in the yurt camp.

Yurt Camp with shared bathroom facilities

After breakfast, we continue our northward trip towards Konye-Urgench (UNESCO World Heritage Site), a former capital of the medieval Khorezmshah empire (230 km/4-5 hrs). On arrival in Konye-Urgench we will have a chance to take a close look at outstanding monuments of the medieval Khorezm. We will visit the 14 century mausoleum of Turabek Hanum, one of the best living examples of the architecture of its period; minaret of Kutlug Timur, a former highest minaret of Central Asia that used to form a part of the main cathedral mosque of the city; mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh, a beautiful 12 century mausoleum with one of the earliest portals of the east and a unique cone of a dome; Kyrk-Mollah mound, the fabled al-Mamun’s Academy of Sciences; and mausoleum of Il-Arslan, a tiny precursor of unique Khorezmian mausoleums with a pyramidal cone as its dome. Having finished sightseeing, we drive to Dashoguz (100 km/1.5 hrs).

Hotel Dashoguz 3* or similar

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Turkmenbashi by T5-235 at 11:40 AM - 12:50 PM (flight times are subject to change). Free time at leisure to enjoy the blue of the Caspian sea. If weather permits, it would be possible to swim in the sea, take 1 hour cruise along the shoreline on a boat (subject to availability), visit city market in Turkmenbashi or just take a walk through the city.

Hotel Bagtyar 3* or similar

After breakfast drive east to the so-called Yangikala canyons (180 km/4 hrs). We will spend about an hour here to explore the land of the red canyons, enjoying the “Martian” scenery around. Then we continue further north (30 km/1 hr) and, diving into the precipice of the Kara-Bogaz gulf, discover the sparkling Yangysuw canyons. Picnic lunch. Having travelled from the fiery red of the Mars to the blinding snow-white of the moon we take a farewell glance at the canyons and set back off towards the Caspian shore, crossing boundless empty steppes of this region. Enjoy this evening at the luxury of the hotel and the blue of the “Khazar” sea.

Hotel Bagtyar 3* or similar

Early in the morning transfer to the airport for our flight to Ashgabat T5-242 at 8:40 AM - 9:40 AM (flight times are subject to change). Check in at hotel after 12:00. Afternoon free time for rest, to shop for souvenirs, visit any of the museums if willing and packing up for departure home.

Please note: On April departure we can join the celebrations of the “Turkmen Horse Day” today, which takes place on the last Sunday in April.

Hotel Divan 5* or similar

Early morning transfer to the airport for departure home by Turkish airlines via Istanbul.

Please note: If you prefer to fly to Almaty, you can take the evening flight to Ashgabat on day 7 and take the morning flight on day 8 (Thursday) to Almaty.