Independence Monument
Ashgabat
Darvaza crater
Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center
Wedding Palace "Bagt Köşgi"
Arrival in Ashgabat.
Your driver will meet you holding a sign with your name. Transfer to the hotel.
Extra night in the hotel.
Meeting with a company representative who will provide a tour package, and you will have the opportunity to discuss the details of the program.
Meet with your guide & driver at the hotel's lobby and start the excursion in Ashgabat:
- Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118 m column that is considered the highest building in the country),
- Neutrality Arch - a unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun.
Visit the National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique expositions from Ancient Merv and Nisa.
A trip to ancient Nisa (18 km from Ashgabat), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation of the I millennium BC - I millennium BC).
Return to Ashgabat. Visit en route the Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It's considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousand people). There are beautiful gardens and fountains near the mosque.
Resting time.
Overnight in the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to Darvaza with sightseeing en route:
- Anau Mosque Ruins,
- 2 small craters with mud and water.
Continue to Darwaza crater and change from the asphalt road to the Karakum desert track, continuing 10 km deep inside.
In 1971, geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with natural gas. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn the gas. Geologists hoped the fire would go out in a few days, but it has been burning ever since. Locals have named the cavern The Gate - Darwaza. The views are impressive, especially at sunset and night when the mild sunlight and burning crater evoke incredible and ambiguous feelings.
BBQ dinner and overnight.
The views are most impressive in the dark.
Barbecue dinner.
Overnight in the yurt camp.
Breakfast in the camp.
Return to Ashgabat and continue the tour to Geokdepe and Kow-ata.
Visiting of a heroic Geokdepe fortress and mosque located almost 40 kilometers to the west of Ashgabat, where in 1881, defending their independence, the Turkmens showed courageous resistance to the invading Russian army.
Visit Geokdepe Horse Farm to see a national pride of the Turkmen people - Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began breeding Akhalteke horses.
The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious emperors as Alexander the Great and Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are over 35 beautiful horses on the farm. Per superstition, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon. Continue your tour to the underground lake Kow-Ata, where you can swim. The lake is available all year round because of the constant temperature of water (33-37◦C) and air. A warm hydrogen sulphide lake lies in a cave at the Kopet Dag foothills. 276 steps lead into the lake. On your way down, you will admire marvelous grapes and lines of stalactites and see bat’s bevies.
Return to Ashgabat.
Overnight in the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Visit the National Circus of Turkmenistan to see an Ahalteke horse show or a horse exhibition. The horse show is performed by the “Galkynysh” group. The group has famous stunts on Akhalteke horseback. The audience is charmed by the beauty and swiftness of “royal horses”, brave riders, performing at full gallop tricks and various techniques of stunts on horseback, which the Turkmen artists inherited from their talented ancestors. The triumph of the “Galkynysh” group horse riders was recognized as the best among 32 circus troupes from 22 countries and awarded the main prize of the festival - the Gold Cup. “Galkynysh” group performed in Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Turkey, and other countries, where it has made a real furor, gained victories in prestigious international competitions and circus art festivals.
Transfer to the hotel.
Resting time.
Overnight in the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Visit the Hippodrome to see horse races.
Horse racing is very popular in Turkmenistan. People traditionally do rates during the races. A winner gets an expensive handmade carpet or luxury car, or an elite apartment. There are several races during the holiday.
Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
- Check-in 14.00, check-out time 11.00. No early check-in/ late check-out is included unless indicated;
- Please note that the tour price does not include seasonal VAT 15 %, VAT can be added to the basic tour price.
- Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English;
- All the changes in the basic itinerary, the timing for transfers depending on the international flight departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed;
- Please note that the train trip/s can be replaced for transfer/s by car depending on train tickets availability and trains schedule;
- After the date of publication, any changes in the hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may influence the tour prices;
- Anur Tour is not responsible for the force majeure occasions (weather conditions during the tour, repairing-reconstructing works at some parts of roads, government restrictions).
4 days, from: $1195
Season: all year round
10 days, from: $4000
Season: all year round
18 days, from: $3255
Season: March – December
3 days, from: $660
Season: all year round
5 days, from: $1260
Season: April – October
4 days, from: $775
Season: all year round
Central Asia & Caucasus DMC
