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Explore The Wonders Of Western Turkmenistan In 6 Days
  • Tour Category

    Private Tour

  • Tour Types

    Bizarre Encounters, Architecture, Tribal Experience

  • Duration

    6 Days

  • Activity Level

    Easy

  • Language

    English

Description

Journey through western Turkmenistan on this 6-day tour, starting with sightseeing at Presidential Palace, Ruhyyet Palace, and Wedding Palace in Ashgabat and riding a cable car to Kopetdag. Visit the historical Gokdepe Fortress and Kowata Underground Lake and marvel at the famous Yangykala Canyons. Next, reach Darvaza to see the world-famous "Door To Hell" before returning to Ashgabat.

Highlights
  • Visit Horse Farm to see a national pride of the Turkmen people
  • Explore the majestic Yangykala Canyons
  • See the Arch of Neutrality and Ertogrul Gazy Mosque in Ashgabat
  • Admire the beauty of the Kowata Underground Lake
  • Learn about the lifestyle of locals in Nokhur mountain village
  • Marvel at Darwaza Burning Gas Crater, also known as "The Door to Hell"
  • Day 1: Ashgabat expand_more
    • Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport,  will be met by our representatives and transferred to the hotel.

    • Enjoy some free time.

    • Have an Ashgabat city tour in the afternoon. See the Presidential Palace, Ruhyyet Palace, Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferries Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and Park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat 2017 Sports and Housing facilities, the Earthquake and Victims of WWII Monuments.

    • Drive to visit the Ashgabat Cable Car. It is a 4 km (2.5 mi) cableway between Ashgabat and the foothills of the Kopetdag. The first and single in Turkmenistan. The length of the cable car is 4 km. The journey time is 20 minutes.

    Overnight in Ashgabat.

  • Day 2: Ashgabat – Gokdepe – Kowata – Nokhur expand_more
    • Savour breakfast at the hotel and go on a morning drive to visit Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque in Kipchak (the largest mosque in Central Asia).

    • Drive to Gokdepe Fortress was attacked in December 1880 by the Russian Empire Army. The siege of Gokdepe lasted 23 days, after which the city was taken by storm.

    • Visit Geokdepe Mosque (Saparmyrat Hajj), built in 1995 to commemorate the defeat and is noted for its mint-turquoise blue-coloured roof and white marble structure.

    • Drive to Horse Farm to see a national proud of Turkmen people - Akhalteke horses, the most excellent horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began to breed Akhalteke horses. The world’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great and Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are over 35 beautiful horses on the farm. Per superstition, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon.

    • Drive to Kowata Underground Lake, which is located 107 km from Ashgabat. The Turkmen's name Kow-Ata means "father of caves". This underground area seems like a magnificent auditorium: the overall length of the cave is 230 m, its height reaches 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm and gushing water is clear and emerald-coloured. The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. (You should swim in the lake).

    • Drive to Nokhur mountain village. The village itself fills a small depression valley in the mountains of the Kopet Dag Range, and the houses are built with local boulders cemented with mud. Apart from the main street through the middle of the town, the streets are so narrow that they only fit a car between the high stone retaining walls on each side. The Nohkuri people who populate this remote mountain village are quite different from other Turkmen tribes. They live in a handful of villages in the mountainous border area spanning Turkmenistan and Iran; Nokhur is the largest village, with just a thousand or maybe two thousand people.

    • Eat a traditional dinner with a local family. 

    Overnight in a local family.

  • Day 3: Nokhur – Yangykala – Turkmenbashi - Avaza expand_more
    • Savour breakfast. Embark on a morning drive to Yangykala Canyons, one of the scenic natural objects of Turkmenistan. “yangy kala” translates from Turkmen as “fire fortress”. Indeed, the sheer cliffs of white, yellow, ocher, purple and red colours, fancily carved by winds and rains, are very similar to the stone castles from a fantasy.

    • Explore the Canyons.

    • Drive to Turkmenbashi City and transfer to the Avaza resort area. 

    Overnight in Avaza.

  • Day 4: Turkmenbashi – Dashoguz – Darwaza expand_more
    • Eat breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Turkmenbashy Domestic Airport in the morning and take a flight to Dashoguz at 12:40 (flights available Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat).

    • Arrive in Dashoguz at 13:45.

    • Drive to Darwaza Burning Gas Crater (268km), dubbed by locals as "The Door to Hell". The Darwaza area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 70 meters. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a few days, but it still burns today.

    • Watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater in the evening.

    • Savour BBQ dinner & stay overnight at Gas Crater.

  • Day 5: Darwaza – Ashgabat expand_more
    • Relish a picnic-style breakfast in the camp.

    • Drive to Ashgabat.

    • Transfer to the hotel and enjoy some free time. 

    Overnight in Ashgabat.

  • Day 6: Departure expand_more
    • Eat breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Ashgabat International Airport.

What's Included
  • Letter of invitation

  • Registration in Ashgabat city

  • Accommodation in rooms:

  • Sport Hotel 4* – 3 nights

  • Bagtyyar or similar hotel 4*– 1 night

  • Tent stay in Darwaza – 1 night

  • Homestay – 1 night

  • Transportation throughout the tour

  • Flight ticket: Turkmenbashi – Dashoguz

  • Escort: English-speaking guide service

  • Entrance tickets to the cable car, Kowata Underground Lake, and horse farm

  • Meals: BBQ Dinner & breakfast at Gas Crater. Breakfast at the hotel. Dinner in a local family

  • 1,5 L water per person per day

  • Travel Tax: 2 USD per person per night

What's Excluded
  • International flights

  • Cost of Turkmen visa & border fees

  • Early check-in at hotels

  • Payment for photo and video

  • Tips for guide and driver

  • Medical insurance

  • Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  • Services not shown in the program

Meeting Point

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price Details
Persons
1 To 1 USD 1865 Per Person
2 To 3 USD 1195 Per Person
4 To 4 USD 1095 Per Person

This is a private tour

Starting From

Fromss

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USD 1865 / person