Turkmenistan · Camping

4-Day Ashgabat and Darvaza Tour with Desert Camp Experience

4 Days Round trip from Ашхабад Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore ancient artifacts at the Museum of History and Ethnography
  • 02 Discover the UNESCO-listed Old Nisa fortress and Ashgabat landmarks
  • 03 Witness the spectacular flaming Darvaza Gas Crater
  • 04 Enjoy a traditional meal at a desert camp near Darvaza
  • 05 Visit the National Turkmen Carpet Museum and explore Ashgabat

Experience Turkmenistan's rich history and natural wonders on a 4-day journey through Ashgabat and Darvaza. Explore the Museum of History and Ethnography, discover the UNESCO-listed Old Nisa fortress, and see some of Ashgabat's most notable landmarks. Travel into the Karakum Desert to witness the spectacular Darvaza Gas Crater and spend a night camping in yurts or tents. Complete your trip with a visit to the National Turkmen Carpet Museum before your departure.

Travel into the Karakum Desert to witness the spectacular Darvaza Gas Crater and spend a night camping in yurts or tents.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Budget
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Yes
Cities Ashgabat, Darvaza
Languages Azerbaijani, English, Russian, Turkish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrive at Ashgabat and explore the city

  • Land in Ashgabat International Airport. Obtain a visa at the Airport and pay in cash there.
  • After receiving your visa at the Airport, you will take the COVID test there (in the Airport), which costs $35$. You will pay in cash in American dollars. Then, you will claim your baggage. Please be aware that all these procedures may take about 2 hours.
  • The tour guide will meet you with signboard at the meeting area. Transfer to the hotel check-in (early check-in)—short rest. 09.00 – visit the Museum of History and Ethnography of Turkmenistan.  A tour of the museum with a professional guide will take 2 hours. Visiting the museum complex exposition is divided into seven thematic galleries to store over 166,000 unique exhibits, many of which are of special historical and cultural importance. The Museum of History and Ethnography has ancient artifacts at the Nisa fortress, Merv and Gonur excavations, a collection of vintage Turkmen carpets, rare examples of national clothing, jewelries, and antique weapons. The nine halls display figurines of Athens, Eros, silver gilded griffin, horn-shaped ivory vessels-rhytons of the Parthian era, gold jewelries and medallions-stamps from Margiana, and Buddhist artifacts.
  • 11.00 - Ashgabat City Tour starts with the historical monument “Old Nisa” fortress, which was the capital of the Parthian Empire (since 2007 under the protection of UNESCO) After excursions in Old Nisa fortress, a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, a «Health” trail in the mountains, a monument to Neutrality and a monument to Independence, Ferris wheel, Wedding palace, TV tower and other monuments and attractions of the city.
  • In the evening, visit one of the city's shopping and entertainment centres, such as Berkarar or Arkach.
  • 23.00 - Overnight at the hotel.
2
Day 02

Reach Darvaza and Explore the city

  • 08.00 Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, drive to the State Hippodrome to see a short horse show.
  • 16.00—Trip to Darvaza Gas Crater, a vast flaming crater located 270 km north of Ashgabat. The journey takes 4 hours. Continue to the Water and Gas Crater. Enjoy the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater in the evening. Stay in a camp with tasty catering—dinner picnic-style—the perfect way to enjoy this highlight.
  • Enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner. 
  • Overnight at the camp in yurts or tents.
3
Day 03

Return to Ashgabat and enjoy your leisure time

  • 08:00 - Have your breakfast at the camp.
  • 09:00 - Departure from the camp to Ashgabat. The trip will take approximately 4 hours by car.
  • 12:00 - Arrival in Ashgabat, transfer to the hotel, and short rest.
  • 16:00 - Visit to the National Turkmen Carpet Museum.
  • 18:00 - Enjoy your free time.
  • 23:00 - Overnight at the hotel.
4
Day 04

Transfer to the Airport

  • Transfer to International Airport.
  • Flight from Ashgabat.
  • End of the tour.
Ashgabat cityscapes, Old Nisa fortress, Karakum Desert, Darvaza Gas Crater

Where this trip takes you

Ashgabat cityscapes, Old Nisa fortress, Karakum Desert, Darvaza Gas Crater

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Ашхабад 2 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Tour package (LOI, registration fee, permit fee)
  • Accommodation: hotel - 2 nights (breakfast), and camping - 1 night (dinner and breakfast)
  • Guide - 4 days
  • Transport - 4 days (all our vehicles are equipped with air conditioning)
  • Entry tickets to museums
  • Daily water

What's Not Included

  • Visa fee: $55-$85
  • COVID test: $35
  • Private expenses and gratuities
  • Meals and services
  • Insurance
  • Fee for using cameras on monuments

What to bring

  • Note: Each traveller should have two photos (5x6) to be presented at the points of entry.

Know before you go

  • Single supplement - $180

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Ashgabat, Туркменистан
Tour start
Ашхабад, Туркменистан
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 4 days finish where they began, in Ашхабад.

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Starting from

USD 600 /person
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Estimated room rates

Single Room $600.00 — $850.00
Double Sharing $600.00 — $850.00

When

Travellers

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