5 Day Tour: Shavat – Darvaza – Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi – Yangykala – Merv
This 5-day Turkmenistan tour leads you from the Shavat border across the country's highlights before exiting through Farab. It begins with a long desert drive to the legendary Darvaza Gas Crater, where dinner and a night in yurts await beneath the stars. You explore Ashgabat's white-marble monuments, museums and bazaars, then travel west to Turkmenbashi on the Caspian coast with stops at Kow Ata and Nohur village. Finally you discover the colorful Yangykala canyons and the ancient UNESCO Silk Road city of Merv.
DAY BY DAY
Day 1 — Shavat – Dashoguz – Darvaza
On arrival you are met at the Uzbekistan border near Shavat and Khiva, and after customs and border formalities we proceed to Dashoguz for lunch. We then begin the long drive to the Darvaza Gas Crater (about 300 km, 7 hours), arriving shortly before sunset at the famous "Gates of Hell", where you have free time to explore the burning crater. After dinner at the nearby yurt camp, you can return to the crater to admire its spectacular glow under the night sky. Overnight in traditional yurts or tents at Darvaza.
Day 2 — Darvaza – Ashgabat
After breakfast we continue to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan (about 271 km, 4.5 hours). Along the way we stop at two more remarkable craters, the Water Crater and the Mud Crater, and pass through a village set in the heart of the desert. After lunch at a local restaurant, you enjoy a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, the stunning white-marble city that holds the Guinness World Record for the most white-marble-clad buildings, visiting its key landmarks and monuments. Dinner at a traditional restaurant and overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 3 — Ashgabat – Kow Ata – Nohur Village – Turkmenbashi
After breakfast we set off on a scenic drive towards Turkmenbashi (about 600 km, 7 hours). En route we visit Kow Ata, a unique underground thermal lake inside a vast cave, where you can take a refreshing swim in its mineral-rich waters. We continue to Nohur, a traditional mountain village known for its distinctive culture and architecture, where you can experience local life. We arrive in Turkmenbashi, a beautiful city on the shore of the Caspian Sea, for hotel check-in, dinner and overnight.
Day 4 — Turkmenbashi – Yangykala Canyons – Balkanabat – Ashgabat
After breakfast we drive to the breathtaking Yangykala Canyons (about 142 km, 2 hours), famous for their vibrant, multi-colored rock formations that resemble a Martian landscape. You spend time exploring and photographing the stunning canyons. From there we journey back towards Ashgabat via Balkanabat (about 147 km to Balkanabat, then 430 km to Ashgabat), a long but incredibly scenic drive. We arrive in Ashgabat in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant and overnight.
Day 5 — Ashgabat – Merv – Farab Border Crossing
After breakfast we travel to the ancient city of Merv (about 388 km, 4 hours), a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the great cities of the ancient Silk Road. We explore its historical ruins, including Gyz-Kala, the Askhab mausoleums, the ancient fortresses of Gyaur-Kala and Erk-Kala, and the impressive Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, and also visit the nearby regional center of Mary. After lunch near Merv and sightseeing, we continue to the Farab border crossing with Uzbekistan (about 291 km, 5 hours, via Turkmenabat), 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 available time; the itinerary may 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 sites along the tour (roughly no more than $10 per day if any)
- Tips (tips are welcome)
12 STOPS
- 01Shavat BorderDay 1
- 02DashoguzDay 1
- 03Darvaza Gas CraterDay 1
- 04AshgabatDay 2
- 05Kow-Ata LakeDay 3
- 06NokhurDay 3
- 07TurkmenbashiDay 3
- 08Yangykala CanyonsDay 4
- 09BalkanabatDay 4
- 10AshgabatDay 4
- 11Ancient MervDay 5
- 12Farab BorderDay 5
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- 5 Day Tour: Shavat – Darvaza – Ashgabat – Turkmenbashi – Yangykala – Merv
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- Ashgabat · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 TMT
