2-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Shavat, Darvaza & Kunya-Urgench
This two-day tour is one of the most popular short trips across northern Turkmenistan, combining the country's greatest highlights in a single compact route. Starting at the Shavat border near Khiva, you cross the Karakum Desert to the world-famous Darvaza Gas Crater, the "Gates of Hell," where you watch the flames at sunset and spend the night in traditional Turkmen yurts. On the second day you explore the ancient UNESCO-listed monuments of Kunya-Urgench before exiting Turkmenistan at the Khojaeli/Nukus border into Uzbekistan.
DAY BY DAY
Day 1 — Khiva/Dashoguz → Darvaza Gas Crater (overnight)
In the morning we meet you at the Shavat border between Khiva and Dashoguz (arrival recommended around 11:00). After the border formalities, we drive to the city of Dashoguz for lunch at a local restaurant. Around 14:00 we head across the Karakum Desert towards the Darvaza Gas Crater, the "Gates of Hell," reaching it around 20:00 with time to explore before dark. After a kebab dinner at the yurt camp, we return to the crater around 22:00 to admire it in deep darkness, with the Milky Way often clearly visible. Overnight in traditional Turkmen yurts at Darvaza.
Day 2 — Darvaza → Kunya-Urgench → Khojaeli/Nukus Border
After breakfast around 07:00 we see the Darvaza Gas Crater one last time, then depart for Kunya-Urgench. If time permits, we stop at the Water Crater and the Mud Crater along the way before continuing across the desert. In the late afternoon we reach Kunya-Urgench, an ancient Silk Road trading center and UNESCO World Heritage site, where we have lunch and explore the main monuments, including the soaring Kutlug-Timur Minaret, the elegant Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum, and the impressive Caravanserai Portal. In the early evening we transfer to the Khojaeli/Nukus border crossing with Uzbekistan, where your Turkmenistan tour concludes.
- Invitation letter support and foreigner registration in Turkmenistan
- Accommodation in standard rooms
- Transport and guide
- Meals at Darvaza and overnight yurt stay at Darvaza
- All breakfasts
- All driver/guide expenses, including fuel, meals, accommodation, and transfers to and from the border meeting points
- All taxes
- The tour starts at the Turkmenistan border and ends at the Turkmenistan border
- You will see everything possible within the available time; the itinerary may be adjusted on the go where feasible
- Visa and other fees at the border (usually no more than $110 per person)
- Meals ($3-8 per meal per person)
- Entrance fees to museums and sites (roughly no more than $10 per day, if any)
- Tips (welcomed but optional)
4 STOPS
- 01KhivaDay 1
- 02DashoguzDay 1
- 03Darvaza Gas CraterDay 1
- 04Kunya-UrgenchDay 2
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- Ashgabat · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 TMT
