Visit the most interesting and mysterious places of Turkmenistan in this tour. You will see the modern capital city with its impressive white marbled buildings entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. You will also make a journey to the heart of the Karakum Desert to see the Burning Gas Crater in Darvaza.
Day 01: Arrive Ashgabat
Meet tourist at Ashgabat airport. Transfer to hotel accommodation.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 02: Ashgabat – Darvaza
After breakfast drive to Cas Crater- Darwaza 400 km-4/4.5 hours. On the way to see 2 more creators. The first crater is deep, circular hole; a metal barrier surrounds this somewhat smaller crater. There is no fire here, though it too offers a strong smell of gas. The second one lies some 18km south of Darwaza, on the west side of the main road and just about visible from it.
Eat dinner at Gas Crater.
Overnight in tents or yurta.
Day 03: Darvaza – Damla
Drive to village Damla – 100km -2/3 hours’ drive. It is located in the midst of the arid sprawl of Turkmenistan’s vast Karakum desert; the tiny village of Damla is a little haven of traditional Turkmenistani life.
Visit traditional style in Damla village. see the Tazy hunting dogs show, view sparrow hawks and listen to traditional music on dutar.
Overnight in tents.
Day 04: Damla – Ashgabat
After breakfast at Damla, drive to see camel cattle and local shepherd.
Drive to Ashgabat city with your Turkmenistan tour guide. Rest at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Nokhur – Yangykala
Very early morning at 06:00, drive to Nokhur (120km – 2 /3 hours). The village itself fills a small depression valley in the mountains of the Kopet Dag Range and the houses are been built with local boulders cemented with mud. Apart from the main street through, the middle of the town, the streets are so narrow that they only just fit a car between the high stone retaining walls on each side. The Nohkuri people who populate this remote mountain village are quite different from other Turkmen tribes. They live in a handful of villages in the mountainous border area spanning Turkmenistan and Iran. Nokhur is the largest village with just a thousand or maybe two thousand people.
Continue your way to Yangikala (480km – 5/6 hours). The word expression ”Yangi Kala” is translated from Turkmen as “fire fortresses”. Indeed, the sheer cliffs of white, yellow, ocher, purple and red colours, fancily carved by winds and rains, are very similar to the stone castles from a fantasy. The most beautiful canyons are during sunset when everything is painted in a red-hot colour.
Overnight at tents.
Day 06: Gozli-ata – Kov-Ata
After breakfast at Yangikala, at 08:00, drive to Gozli Ata (520/530km – 7/8 hours). Reportedly, a respected Sufi lived in the early part of the 14th century. His mausoleum is a brick building with twin white domes, standing in an old graveyard containing many nicely carved stone tombs. The twin- domed structure of the mausoleum is necessary to accommodate the length of the tomb: a triangular prism perhaps three ordinary graves long.
Continue to Kov-Ata – Underground Lake. The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means Father of caves. At first glance, this underground area appears like a magnificent auditorium: the overall length of the cave is 230 m, its height reaches 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm and gushing water is clear and emerald coloured. The water has a constant temperature of 33–37°C.
Drive to Ashgabat.
Hotel accommodation and overnight.
Day 07: Ashgabat – Dark Gorge
Drive from Ashgabat city to Gokdepe.
Continuer to 3rd Berlishik and Dark Gorge (171 km / 2/3.5 hours).
Entrance to Gorge. Turn back to camp.
Overnight in tents.
Day 08: Dark Gorge – Ashgabat
Early morning, view an ancient settlement of 15-16 centuries, Archman fortress, cave “Div-Govok” and stream.
Head back to Camp and to Ashgabat city.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09: Depart Ashgabat
Transfer to the Ashgabat International Airport to board a flight back to home.
| City | Night (s) | Hotel / Camp |
| Ashgabat | 01 | Archabil hotel |
| Darvaza | 01 | Camp |
| Damla | 01 | Camp |
| Ashgabat | 01 | Archabil hotel |
| Yangykala | 01 | Camp |
| Ashgabat | 01 | Archabil hotel |
| Dark Gorge | 01 | Camp |
| Ashgabat | 01 | Archabil hotel |
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– 08 Nights accommodation
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– Entry Tickets
– Local English-speaking guide
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by private vehicle.
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways.
– All present government taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.