5-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Merv – Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi – Yangykala – Darvaza
This five-day journey carries you across Turkmenistan from the Farab border near Bukhara to the natural and historical heart of Central Asia. You will cross the legendary Amu Darya River, explore ancient Merv, marvel at the white-marble capital of Ashgabat, and reach the Caspian Sea at Turkmenbashi. The route then sweeps through the otherworldly Yangykala Canyons before ending with an unforgettable night beside the burning Darvaza Gas Crater, the famous "Gates of Hell."
DAY BY DAY
Day 1 — Bukhara – Merv – Ashgabat
We meet at Farab, the border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, then drive to the city of Turkmenabat for lunch. From there we continue to Merv (about 220 km, 5 hours), an ancient city that was once one of the greatest in the Islamic world and ancient Persia, and begin our sightseeing of its ruins. After dinner we head to Ashgabat (about 370 km, 6 hours), check into the hotel and spend the night in the capital.
Day 2 — Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi
After breakfast we set off at 09:00 for Turkmenbashi on the shore of the Caspian Sea, the first Russian city in Central Asia, formerly known as Krasnovodsk (about 600 km, 10 hours). Along the way we visit an Akhal-Teke horse farm, the Kow Ata underground lake and hot springs inside a vast cave, and the romantic mountain village of Nokhur, with lunch at one of these stops. Arriving by evening, we tour Awaza, the newest Caspian resort, or explore Turkmenbashi city, then have dinner and overnight in Turkmenbashi.
Day 3 — Turkmenbashi – Yangykala – Ashgabat
After breakfast we head at 08:00 to the Yangykala Canyons (about 150 km, 3 hours), the most beautiful place in Turkmenistan, with scenery that looks like another planet. We arrive around 11:00 and spend three hours exploring the canyons. At 14:00 we drive back to Ashgabat with lunch on the way, arriving in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay in the capital.
Day 4 — Ashgabat – Darvaza
After breakfast we enjoy a city tour of Ashgabat, the famous white-marble capital. Following lunch we drive north to the Darvaza Gas Crater, also called the "Gates of Hell" (about 300 km, 5 hours). Arriving toward evening, we visit the burning crater, share a dinner prepared by locals and guides, take a guided walk around Darvaza, and spend the night in a yurt beside the crater.
Day 5 — Darvaza – Khiva
After breakfast at Darvaza we drive to the city of Dashoguz on the way to Khiva (about 300 km, 7 hours, road under repair). We arrive in Dashoguz around 14:00 for lunch at a restaurant. At 16:00 we head to the border and on to Khiva, where the tour concludes.
- Invitation letter support and foreigner registration in Turkmenistan
- Accommodation in standard rooms
- Ashgabat city tour
- Transport and guide
- Meals at Darvaza and overnight yurt stay at Darvaza
- All breakfasts
- All driver/guide expenses, including fuel, meals and accommodation, 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 time available; the tour can be adjusted on the go as needed
- 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 as per the tour (roughly no more than $10 per day, if any)
- Tips (tips are welcome)
8 STOPS
- 01BukharaDay 1
- 02Ancient MervDay 1
- 03AshgabatDay 1
- 04TurkmenbashiDay 2
- 05Yangykala CanyonsDay 3
- 06AshgabatDay 3
- 07Darvaza Gas CraterDay 4
- 08KhivaDay 5
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- Ashgabat · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 TMT
