4-Day Turkmenistan Tour with Darvaza Crater and Ancient Merv

Meet your Turkmenistan travel guide at the Dashoguz border and pass customs.

Have lunch in a local cafe before setting out on the 105 km journey to Konye-Urgench.

Arrive at Konye-Urgench and marvel at its huge complex of ruins and monuments. Learn how the city once fought back against Genghis Khan's army and why this place is still holy for Muslims.

Set out on a five-hour drive to Darvaza.

Admire the Gas Crater at Darvaza. Located in the middle of the Karakum Desert, the Darvaza Crater is a natural gas field that has been burning since 1971. Its extremely long flames can be seen from far away.

Enjoy a hearty barbecue dinner and spend the night at a tent camp.

After breakfast, begin your drive to Ashgabat, located 250 km from Darvaza.

Stop at Yerbent village on the way and enjoy learning about the nomadic life of Turkmen tribes.

Reach Ashgabat, check in to your hotel, and have lunch.

Explore the National Museum of Turkmenistan and see the ancient Parthian settlement of Nisa.

Visit the Memorial Complex in Kypchak and shop at the Gulistan Bazaar.

Drive back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Have breakfast at your hotel and transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Mari.

Drive to Bayramali, located 30 km from Mari.

Tour the State Historical Reserve and visit the ruins of Ancient Merv, once among the most important capitals of Islam, along with Bagdad, Cairo, and Damask.

Drive back to Mari for lunch.

Visit the Museum of Ethnography in Mari and learn more about Turkmen culture.

Reach your hotel and have some time to yourselves.

Savour dinner with a folk show and spend the night at your hotel.

Have an early breakfast and set out on a four-hour drive to Turkmenabad.

Marvel at the ancient fortress of Amul in Turkmenabad.

After lunch, drive to the Farap border and cross the Amu Darya River.

End your tour after passing customs and migration control.