5-Day Turkmenistan Highlights Tour with Merv and Darvaza

5 Days Round trip from Ashgabat Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Ancient Nissa, one of the first capitals of the Parthian Empire
02 Visit UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv, the legendary "Queen of the World"
03 Witness the Darvaza Gas Crater glowing in the Karakum Desert at dusk
04 Tour Ashgabat's white-marble landmarks, monuments, and panoramic viewpoint
05 See purebred Akhalteke horses at a working farm near Gokdepe

Discover Turkmenistan's defining landmarks on a 5-day journey through Ashgabat, Ancient Nissa, UNESCO-listed Merv, the Karakum Desert, and Gokdepe. Explore the white-marble capital's monumental architecture, trace the legacy of the Parthian Empire and the Silk Road, and witness the ever-burning Darvaza Gas Crater at dusk. The tour also includes time at a traditional bazaar and a visit to a working Akhalteke horse farm, offering a well-rounded introduction to the country's history, culture, and landscapes.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Luxury

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Ashgabat, Mari, Karakum Desert, Darvaza

Languages English, French, German, Mandarin, Russian

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Ancient Nissa and Ashgabat City Landmarks

Airport pickup on arrival. In the morning, enjoy an excursion to Nissa Fortress - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the first capitals of the ancient Parthian Empire, located 18 km from Ashgabat.

In the afternoon, take a comprehensive city tour of Ashgabat, including the Olympic Stadium, Independence Park and Monument, the main flagpole, Arch of Neutrality, Constitution Monument, Ferris Wheel, Wedding Palace, a panoramic hilltop viewpoint, Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, Alabay Monument, and Ertogrul Gazi Mosque. Hotel overnight in Ashgabat.

Day 02

Mary, Anau, Abiwerd, and Ancient Merv

After hotel breakfast, depart by road toward Mary. En route, stop at the ruins of Seyitjemalledin Mosque in Anau - built in 1456 and largely destroyed in the catastrophic 1948 earthquake; today, only the lower sections of the portal and scattered wall fragments remain.

Continue to the medieval Silk Road settlement of Abiwerd. Arrive at Ancient Merv - the legendary "Queen of the World" and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Greater and Lesser Kyz Gala, the Complex of Askhabs, Erk Gala, Gyaur Gala, Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, and Muhamed Ibn Zeid Mausoleum. Return to Ashgabat for overnight.

Day 03

Bazaar Visit and Darvaza Gas Crater Excursion

In the morning, visit the Altyn Asyr Oriental Bazaar (open Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun) - a sprawling open-air market 20 km north of Ashgabat. Alternatively, visit the central Gulistan Bazaar.

In the afternoon, drive approximately 268 km north into the Karakum Desert toward the Darvaza Gas Crater. The crater formed in 1971 when Soviet drilling caused an underground cavern to collapse, leaving a pit 70 metres in diameter. The escaping gas was deliberately ignited, and it has burned ever since. Arrive at dusk. BBQ dinner on-site. Return to Ashgabat for overnight.

Day 04

Gokdepe Fortress, Mosque, and Akhalteke Horses

Drive to Gokdepe Fortress (54 km) - the site of the 1880-1881 Russian Imperial siege, which lasted 23 days. Visit the Geoktepe Mosque, built in 1995 and famous for its mint-turquoise dome and white marble, as well as the Gokdepe Museum.

Continue to a working Akhalteke horse farm with more than 35 horses of the ancient Akhalteke breed - maintained pure for 5,000 years. On the return to Ashgabat, stop at the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque and Mausoleum. Hotel overnight.

Day 05