4 Day Tour: Shavat – Darvaza – Ashgabat – Nisa – Merv – Farap
This compact yet very rich 4 day route crosses Turkmenistan from the Shavat border near Khiva all the way to the Farap border, packing in almost all of the country's key highlights. With two nights in the marble capital Ashgabat and visits to the Darvaza Gas Crater, ancient Nisa, the Silk Road city of Merv, museums, monuments and lively bazaars, this itinerary gives you nearly 80% of Turkmenistan's main sights in just four days. It delivers the feeling of a much longer, deeper journey with perfect efficiency.
DAY BY DAY
Day 1 — Khiva (Shavat Border) → Dashoguz → Darvaza Gas Crater
We meet you at the Shavat border crossing near Khiva (Uzbekistan), complete all formalities and transfer to Dashoguz for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we begin the journey to the world-famous Darvaza Gas Crater, the "Gates of Hell" (about 300 km, 7 hours across the Karakum Desert). By dusk you arrive at Darvaza with plenty of free time to admire the perpetually burning crater. A traditional kebab dinner is served at a nearby yurt camp, and you spend an unforgettable night under the desert sky in comfortable yurts or tents while your guide shares the legends of Darvaza.
Day 2 — Darvaza → Ashgabat (Nisa, museums & city tour)
After breakfast at Darvaza we continue across the Karakum Desert towards Ashgabat (about 271 km, 4.5 hours), stopping at the curious Water and Mud craters and a desert village where locals raise goats and camels. After lunch in Ashgabat you enjoy a comprehensive tour of the gleaming white-marble capital, a Guinness World Record holder. Highlights include the National Museum of Turkmenistan, the Carpet Museum, the Neutrality Arch, the Independence Monument, the Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, the UNESCO site of Nisa, the Akhal-Teke horse stables and the Olympic City. Dinner at a traditional Turkmen restaurant and overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 3 — Ashgabat – Flexible City Experiences
After breakfast this flexible day can be tailored to your interests in Ashgabat. We suggest the vast Tolkuchka (Altyn Asyr) Bazaar, one of Central Asia's largest open-air markets full of Turkmen rugs, textiles and jewelry, perfect for souvenirs. You can also walk a section of the famous Health Path (Saglyk Yoly) along the foothills of the Kopet Dag mountains for scenic views, or explore modern shopping malls such as Berkarar and Ashgabat Shopping Center. Your guide is happy to add any other places of interest you may have in mind. Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 4 — Ashgabat → Merv (Mary) → Turkmenabat → Farap Border
After breakfast we drive to Ancient Merv, the heart of the Silk Road and one of the most important archaeological sites in Central Asia, a must-see in Turkmenistan. We explore its main monuments, including Kyz Kala, Gyaur Kala, Erk Kala, the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum and Yarty Gyuzyk, with time for walking, photography and souvenirs. We then take the modern Ashgabat–Turkmenabat autobahn, arriving in Turkmenabat around 19:00–21:00 for dinner. After dinner we drive to the Farap border, which works 24 hours, so you can cross at any convenient time. If needed we can arrange a reliable Uzbek taxi to wait for you on the other side.
- Invitation letter support and foreigner registration in Turkmenistan
- Accommodation in standard rooms
- Ashgabat city tour
- Transport and guide
- Meals at Darvaza and the yurt night stay at Darvaza
- All breakfasts
- All expenses of the driver/guide, including fuel, meals, accommodation and transfers to and from the border meeting points
- All taxes
- The tour starts and ends at the Turkmenistan border
- You will see everything possible within the available time; the tour can be adjusted on the go
- 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 (tips are welcomed)
11 STOPS
- 01KhivaDay 1
- 02Shavat BorderDay 1
- 03DashoguzDay 1
- 04Darvaza Gas CraterDay 1
- 05AshgabatDay 2
- 06Old NisaDay 2
- 07AshgabatDay 3
- 08Ancient MervDay 4
- 09MaryDay 4
- 10TurkmenabatDay 4
- 11Farab BorderDay 4
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- 4 Day Tour: Shavat – Darvaza – Ashgabat – Nisa – Merv – Farap
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- Ashgabat · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 TMT
