Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan · Hiking

5-Day Koytendag Mountains Tour from Farab with Dinosaur Plateau

5 Days Round trip from Фараб Easy pace

View all 10 photos

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore the Dinosaur Plateau with ancient dinosaur family tracks
02 Hike through colorful canyons and breathtaking ridgelines in Koytendag
03 Visit waterfalls, gorges, and Kirk Gyz Cave in the Koytendag Mountains
04 Look out for rare mountain wildlife, including goats, sheep, and Persian leopards
05 See Kainar Baba Lake with its hydrogen sulfide spring and holy fish

Embark on a 5-day adventure to the stunning mountains of Turkmenistan in the Koytendag region. Explore the Dinosaur Plateau, where ancient tracks left by a dinosaur family are still clearly visible, hike through colorful canyons and breathtaking ridgelines, and discover waterfalls, gorges, and Kirk Gyz Cave. Along the way, look out for rare mountain wildlife and visit Kainar Baba Lake, known for its hydrogen sulfide spring and invisible holy fish.

Several decades ago, the inner layer of the mountain appeared due to the displacement of surface rocks, revealing the picture left by a family of dinosaurs on soil that had not yet petrified.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Turkmenabat

Languages Azerbaijani, English, Russian, Turkish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Farab Border to Turkmenabat and Koytendag Camp

Meet the tourists at the Farab border and complete customs formalities.
Travel to the city of Turkmenabat.
Register the tourists and continue to the Koytendag Nature Reserve.
Arrive in Koytendag and at the tourist camp.
Transport - minibus or bus, depending on the group size.
Overnight accommodation at the camp.
Survey the area.
Take photographs.
Meals - lunch at a local restaurant and dinner at the camp.

Day 02

Dinosaur Plateau, Waterfall, Gorge, and Kirk Gyz Cave

Journey to the Dinosaur Plateau.
Several decades ago, the inner layer of the mountain appeared due to the displacement of surface rocks, revealing the picture left by a family of dinosaurs on soil that had not yet petrified.
Four tracks are clearly visible: three from adults and one likely from a baby dinosaur.
See the sights of the Koytendag Mountains, including a waterfall, a gorge, and Kirk Gyz Cave, before returning to the tourist camp.
Transport - minibus or bus, depending on the group size.
Meals - breakfast at the camp, lunch on the Dinosaur Plateau, and dinner at the camp.
Overnight accommodation at the camp.

Day 03

Hiking in Koytendag and the Airibaba Mountains

After setting up camp in the morning, set out on a hike through the colorful canyons and breathtaking ridgelines of the Koytendaga Range.
Next, climb to the Airibaba Mountains.
Return to base camp.
Take time to rest, then head out in the afternoon for an excursion to nearby gorges.
Look for rare species of mountain goats, sheep, wild astrakhan cats, very rare species of brown bears, and Persian leopards before returning to camp.
Transport - minibus or bus, depending on the group size.
Meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the camp.
Overnight accommodation at the camp.

Day 04

Koytendag to Turkmenabat via Kainar Baba Lake

After breakfast, return to the city of Turkmenabat (480 km).
Along the way, visit Kainar Baba Lake, known for its hydrogen sulfide spring and holy fish that are invisible in the lake.
Continue the journey to Turkmenabat, crossing the Amu Darya River. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel.
Transport - minibus or bus, depending on the group size.
Meals - breakfast at the camp, lunch at a roadside cafe, and dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation - overnight at Hotel Jeyhun 3* or similar.

Day 05

Turkmenabat to the Farab Border

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Turkmen-Uzbek border at Farab/Alat.
Arrive at the border at 12:00/12:30 at the end of the route.
Transport - minibus or bus, depending on the group size.
Breakfast at the hotel.