4 Day Turkmenistan Tour: Ashgabat – Turkmenbashy – Yangykala – Darvaza – Kunya-Urgench
This comfortable four-day journey is designed for travelers who want to experience the highlights of Turkmenistan without overnight stays in yurts or long desert drives, with all three nights spent in a hotel in Ashgabat. You will explore the marble-white capital and its museums, fly to the Caspian coast to discover the multicolored cliffs of Yangykala Canyon, enjoy a BBQ dinner under the stars at the flaming Darvaza Gas Crater, and visit the ancient Silk Road city of Kunya-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the perfect short trip blending nature, history, and Turkmen hospitality.
DAY BY DAY
Day 1 — Arrival in Ashgabat & Full-Day City Tour
Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport around 10:50 AM, where our friendly guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel for check-in. In the afternoon you set off on a full city tour of Ashgabat, recognized by the Guinness Book of Records for the world's highest concentration of white marble buildings. Highlights include the National Museum of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen Carpet Museum, iconic monuments such as the Arch of Neutrality, the Independence Monument and Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, the UNESCO site of ancient Nisa, the legendary Akhal-Teke horse stables, and the modern Olympic City. The day ends with dinner of authentic local dishes at a traditional Turkmen restaurant, followed by an overnight stay in Ashgabat.
Day 2 — Turkmenbashy & Yangykala Canyon
Take an early morning flight to Turkmenbashy and enjoy a short tour of this Caspian seaside city upon arrival. You then drive to the majestic Yangykala Canyon, one of Turkmenistan's most breathtaking natural wonders, where multicolored cliffs carved by time and wind offer unforgettable panoramic views and a true paradise for photographers. In the evening you fly back to Ashgabat for an overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 3 — Ashgabat Bazaar & Darvaza Gas Crater
After breakfast, this flexible day can be tailored to your interests, with suggestions including the vast Tolkuchka (Altyn Asyr) Bazaar, a scenic walk along the Health Path (Saglyk Yoly) in the foothills of the Kopet Dag, or modern shopping malls. In the afternoon you head into the Karakum Desert on a roughly four-hour drive to the legendary Darvaza Gas Crater, the famous "Door to Hell," stopping en route at the Yerbent nomadic village and the desert's water and mud craters. By the flaming crater you enjoy a BBQ dinner under the stars and a one-hour camel ride in caravan style, then drive back to Ashgabat for an overnight stay.
Day 4 — Kunya-Urgench (UNESCO) & Border Transfer
Take a morning flight to Dashoguz, then drive to Kunya-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest and most important cities of Central Asia. With your guide you explore the main monuments, including the 60-meter Kutlug-Timur Minaret, the Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum and the Il-Arslan Mausoleum. After lunch you transfer to the Shavat / Khojayli border, arriving around 16:00, where the tour ends.
- Invitation letter support and foreigner registration in Turkmenistan
- Accommodation in standard rooms (3 nights in Ashgabat)
- Ashgabat city tour
- Transport and guide
- All breakfasts and meals at Darvaza
- All expenses of the driver and guide, including fuel, meals and accommodation
- Domestic flights as per the itinerary (Turkmenbashy and Dashoguz)
- All taxes
- The tour starts and ends at the Turkmenistan border
- 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)
- Tips (tips are welcomed)
6 STOPS
- 01AshgabatDay 1
- 02TurkmenbashiDay 2
- 03Yangykala CanyonsDay 2
- 04AshgabatDay 3
- 05Darvaza Gas CraterDay 3
- 06Kunya-UrgenchDay 4
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- Ashgabat · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 TMT
