Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan · UNESCO Heritage Sites

6-Day Turkmenistan Highlights Tour with Merv, Ashgabat and Darvaza

6 Days Round trip from Фараб Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Discover Ancient Merv, one of the region's most important Silk Road centres
02 Explore Ashgabat's modern landmarks, including Independence Park and the Arch of Neutrality
03 Visit Nisa Historical Park, linked to the early Parthian rulers
04 Marvel at the colourful cliffs of Yangi Kala, the "Fiery Fortress"
05 Pay your respects at the remote pilgrimage site of Gözli Ata
06 Witness the Darvaza burning crater in the heart of the Karakum Desert

Experience Turkmenistan's rich history and natural wonders on a 6-day journey from the ancient Silk Road hub of Merv to the modern landmarks of Ashgabat. Marvel at the colourful Yangi Kala canyons, visit the sacred Gözli Ata mausoleum, and travel into the Karakum Desert to witness the fascinating Darvaza burning crater. The tour also includes the UNESCO-listed site of Kone-Urgench and its remarkable historical monuments before ending at the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border.

Experience Turkmenistan's rich history and natural wonders on a 6-day journey from the ancient Silk Road hub of Merv to the modern landmarks of Ashgabat.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Ashgabat, Balkanabat, Turkmenbasi, Dasoguz, Kunya Urgench, Khiva, Mari, Darvaza

Languages Azerbaijani, English, Russian, Turkish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Farab Border Arrival, Mary, and Ancient Merv

9:00-10:00 - Meet tourists at the Farab border and complete customs formalities before travelling to the city of Mary.
Upon arrival, take an excursion to Ancient Merv. Located on the former banks of the Murghab River, Merv was the most important Silk Road centre in the region, especially as the regional capital under the Seljuk governor Sanjar. Merv is the name of five urban centres that existed under different names from the 6th century BC to the 18th century AD.
Return to the city of Mary and visit the museum.
Transportation throughout the day is by bus or sedan car.
Lunch and dinner are at a local restaurant.
Overnight at a 3-star hotel in Mary or similar.

Day 02

Journey to Ashgabat and City Sightseeing

Morning breakfast at the hotel, followed by a trip to Ashgabat.
Upon arrival, check in and take some time to rest.
Then embark on a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, including a visit to the Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, built in honour of Ertogrul, the father of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.
Visit Independence Park, a landmark of the city that embodies the spirit of modern Turkmenistan.
See the Arch of Neutrality with its observation deck and the National Museum, which opened in 1998 and houses the country's main collection of artifacts discovered at various excavations in Turkmenistan.
Visit Nisa Historical Park, set on a natural high platform at the foot of the Kopet Dag Mountains. Nisa is important to the early Parthian rulers who took control of the area in the 3rd century BC.
You will also visit the "Rukhi" Mosque and the Mausoleum of Turkmenbashi in Kipchak. Dinner will include a folk performance.
Transportation throughout the day is by bus or sedan car.
Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant.
Overnight at Mizan Hotel, 3-star, or similar.

Day 03

Kov-Ata Cave Lake, Nokhur Village, and Balkanabat

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a trip to the underground lake Kov-Ata, located 107 km from Ashgabat. "Kow-Ata" translates to "Father of Caves" in Turkmen. The cave is 230 m long, 20 m high, and up to 57 m wide in some places. The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm, gushing water is clear and emerald in colour, maintaining a constant temperature of 33-37°C.
Next, visit the village of Nokhur, which fills a small depression valley in the mountains of the Kopet Dag range. The houses are built from local boulders cemented with mud.
After lunch, continue the route to the city of Balkanabat.
Transportation throughout the day is by bus or sedan car.
Breakfast is at the hotel, lunch at the guest house, and dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at Nebitchi Hotel, 3-star, or similar.

Day 04

Yangi Kala Canyons, Gözli Ata, and Turkmenbashi

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a visit to the picturesque Yangi Kala canyons, located 165 km north of Balkanabat and 160 km east of Turkmenbashi. "Yangi Kala" translates from Turkmen as "Fiery Fortress." The cliffs, carved by wind and rain, display shades of white, yellow, ocher, violet, and red, resembling stone castles from fantasy.
Next, visit Gözli Ata, one of Turkmenistan's most remote pilgrimage sites, surrounded by bands of pink and white stone escarpments. Gözli Ata was a respected Sufi who lived in the early 14th century. His mausoleum is a brick building with two white domes, standing in an old cemetery with many beautifully carved stone tombs.
Continue the route to the city of Turkmenbashi.
Breakfast is at the hotel, lunch is picnic-style, and dinner is at a local restaurant.
Overnight at a 3-star hotel in Turkmenbashi or similar.

Day 05

Turkmenbashi to Ashgabat and Darvaza Gas Crater

Morning after breakfast, transfer to Ashgabat.
After reaching Ashgabat, have lunch and a short rest, then drive to Darvaza (Gas Crater).
Take a trip to Darvaza and visit the village of Yerbent on the way.
Darvaza, the centre of a gas-rich region in the heart of the Karakum Desert, attracts travellers from around the world with its unique burning crater, which is especially spectacular in the evening.
Transportation throughout the day is by microbus. Breakfast is at the hotel, lunch is at a local restaurant, and dinner is in a tent.
Overnight in a tent or yurt.

Day 06

Kone-Urgench, Dashoguz, and Border Crossing to Uzbekistan

After breakfast in Darvaza, go on an excursion to Kone-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was an important centre of the Silk Road on the Oxus River and the capital of the Khorezm Empire in the 12th century AD.
Excursions include the Mausoleum of Nehameddin Kubra, the Mausoleum of Sultan Ali, Turabek Khanum, Kutlug Timur Minaret, the Mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh, the Mausoleum of Il Arslan, and Mamun the Second Minaret.
14:00-15:00 - Cross the border from Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan.
Transportation throughout the day is by microbus or sedan car.
Breakfast is picnic-style, and lunch is at a local restaurant.
End of the tour.