3-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Shavat Border, Darvaza, Ashgabat & Merv
This compact yet immersive 3-day journey blends desert landscapes, ancient Silk Road cities, and the white-marble capital of Turkmenistan. From the medieval monuments of Kunya-Urgench you cross the Karakum Desert to reach the blazing Darvaza Gas Crater at sunset, spend a night in a yurt camp, then discover elegant Ashgabat and the UNESCO ruins of Merv. It is a complete taste of Turkmenistan, from natural wonder to living history.
DAY BY DAY
Day 1 — From Uzbekistan to the Heart of the Desert
Your journey begins early in the morning at the Shavat border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, where you meet your Turkmen guide. You then explore Kunya-Urgench, the ancient capital of Khorezm, with the Turabek Khanum Mausoleum, the mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan, the soaring Kutlug-Timur Minaret, and the legendary Kyrk-Molla Hill. After a long, peaceful drive across the Karakum Desert, you reach the Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell) at sunset, when its flames glow brightest. The day ends with a campfire dinner and an overnight stay in yurts under a starry sky. Distance of the day: about 500 km.
Day 2 — From Fiery Darvaza to the White Marble of Ashgabat
After an early departure from Darvaza, the road leads to Ashgabat, the world's most marble-clad city according to the Guinness Book of Records. You visit the colorful Russian Bazaar, the UNESCO-listed ruins of Old Nisa, the ancient Parthian capital, and the famous Ahal-Teke horse stables. A walk past the Neutrality Arch and Independence Park reveals the modern, elegant face of the capital. The evening brings well-deserved rest at a comfortable hotel and a chance to admire the city lights. Distance of the day: about 260 km.
Day 3 — Merv: On the Road of the Great Silk Road
After breakfast, an early departure from Ashgabat leads to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Merv, once one of the most important centers of the Great Silk Road. You explore mausoleums and fortresses, including the Mausoleum of Hazrat Yusuf Hamadani, the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, and the Gyz-Gala (Greater and Lesser) and Keshk fortresses. After the excursion, the road leads to the Farab border with Uzbekistan, where the tour calmly comes to an end. Distance of the day: about 450–500 km.
- Invitation letter support and foreigner registration in Turkmenistan
- Accommodation in standard rooms
- Ashgabat city tour
- Transport and guide
- Meals at Darvaza and an overnight yurt stay at Darvaza
- All breakfasts
- All driver and guide expenses, including fuel, meals, and accommodation, plus transfer to the meeting point at the border and farewell at the border
- All taxes
- The tour starts at the Turkmenistan border and ends at the Turkmenistan border
- You will see everything possible within the available time, and the tour can be adjusted on the go as 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 other sites along the tour (roughly no more than $10 per day, if any)
- Tips (tips are welcome)
3 STOPS
- 01Darvaza Gas CraterDay 2
- 02AshgabatDay 2
- 03Ancient MervDay 3
No reviews yet — be the first to leave one.
Leave a review
THIS ROUTE
Drop a short note. A curator replies within one working day with available departures, a draft day-by-day and a fixed quote.
- Tour
- 3-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Shavat Border, Darvaza, Ashgabat & Merv
- Reply
- Within 1 working day
- Office
- Ashgabat · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 TMT
