9-Day Karakum Desert Tour with Ayrakly Oasis and Darvaza Crater

• Transfer to the hotel and complete the registration formalities.
• After breakfast at the hotel, we take it easy and begin our first day with a late-morning stroll through the city centre, followed by a visit to Nisa Fortress, which holds great historical value from the Parthian period and once served as a residence of Parthian kings.
• The State Museum is the next place to visit. Its exhibits and findings are truly worth seeing and admiring.
• Observe a row of newly built monuments and fountains on the outskirts of this marble city. The most fascinating monument is probably the Arch of Neutrality, featuring a 12 m gold statue of Turkmenistan's President, Saparmurat Turkmenbashi.
• Return to the hotel.

Stay overnight at the hotel.

• After we are fully prepared for the desert trip, we set off early in order to get the maximum pleasure from the daylight hours. Keep in mind that the journey to the Ayrakly Oasis is about 200 km and can take seven to eight hours to reach our destination.
• Our road leads via Yashlyk town, 45 km away from Ashgabat, which is famous for the local brewery producing "Berk" beer.
• Then the desert begins, with its pure, endless mountains of sand and the inimitable enjoyment of beautiful scenery and picturesque views of wild nature.
• After a long drive, we reach a desert settlement to rest and recuperate.

Stay overnight in a nomadic yurt.

• The next morning, we head towards Central Karakum to explore remote places. Our time is spent climbing sand dunes and moving through primitive, unspoiled territory.
• While en route, the most important thing not to miss is the desert sunset - the most beautiful phenomenon of nature to be seen here.

The most mesmerizing moment comes at night when you lie in your sleeping bag and look up at the desert sky. The stars are so clear and seem so near, unlike anything you may have seen before.

Stay overnight in tents.

• Full day of desert exploration.
• Quick stops along the way to greet local nomads will let you feel the hospitality of desert people, who may treat you to Turkmen bread with chal, naturally fermented camel's milk.
• Strolling around the village, you can witness the everyday concerns of nomadic people in touching moments such as dromedary camel milking.
• Shortly before sundown, we set our camp in a breathtaking area near the pools that are numerous in this region, formed as a result of the overflow of the Tejen River. The abundance of water attracts wildlife inhabitants such as boars, swans, gazelles, ducks, and other kinds of migrant birds.

Stay overnight in tents.

• After an early breakfast, we take some farewell photos of the sunrise and drive back to Ashgabat.

Stay overnight in a hotel.

• Our destination is 350 km away from Ashgabat. We visit the deepest point in Turkmenistan - Akjakaya Hollow, which lies 81 meters below sea level.

Stay overnight in tents.

• After breakfast in the desert, we begin our trip towards Darvaza. Not long before reaching Darvaza, you can see a red spot in the sky. It is the reflection of the natural gas fire that has burned for many years at the place where the derrick exploded and formed a large hole 25 m in diameter.

Set camp near the crater.

Stay overnight in tents.

• Today is the last day of our trip. After an early desert breakfast and farewell pictures of the area, we depart for Ashgabat.

• Early morning transfer from Ashgabat.