5-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Shavat, Darvaza, Yangykala & Bajgiran
This five-day journey crosses Turkmenistan from the Shavat border with Uzbekistan to the Bajgiran border with Iran. You begin at the blazing Darvaza Gas Crater for sunset and an overnight yurt stay, then explore Ashgabat's white-marble landmarks, museums, and the ancient ruins of Nisa. From there you travel west to the Kow-Ata underground thermal lake and the mountain village of Nokhur, reaching the Caspian Sea coast and the dramatic Yangykala Canyon before the tour ends at the Howdan (Bajgiran) border.
DAY BY DAY
Day 1 — Shavat – Dashoguz – Darvaza
Meet at the Shavat border with Uzbekistan near Khiva and have lunch in Dashoguz. Then drive about 300 km (around 7 hours, on a road still under repair) to the Darvaza Gas Crater, also called the "Gates of Hell," arriving before sunset. Enjoy free time and dinner at a nearby yurt camp, hear stories about the crater from your guide, and spend the night in a yurt or tent at Darvaza.
Day 2 — Darvaza – Ashgabat City Tour
After breakfast, drive about 271 km (around 4.5 hours) to Ashgabat, stopping at the water crater and the mud crater and at a desert village where goats and camels are raised. Have lunch in the capital, then tour this remarkable white-marble city, which holds the Guinness World Record for the most white-marble buildings. Visit the National Museum, the Carpet Museum, monuments, and the ruins of Nisa (first capital of the Parthian Empire) and Anau. Dinner and overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 3 — Ashgabat – Kow-Ata – Nokhur – Turkmenbashi
After breakfast, depart early for Turkmenbashi on the Caspian coast (about 580 km, around 6.5 hours via Balkanabat). On the way, visit Kow-Ata, a huge cave with a thermal lake at its bottom about 100 km west of Ashgabat, and the mountain village of Nokhur. Continue to Turkmenbashi for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4 — Turkmenbashi – Yangykala – Balkanabat – Ashgabat
After breakfast, drive about 142 km (around 2 hours) to the spectacular Yangykala Canyon. After exploring the colorful canyon, head to Balkanabat (about 147 km, around 2 hours) and then continue to Ashgabat (about 430 km, around 5 hours). Check in and overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 5 — Ashgabat – Free Time – Howdan (Bajgiran) Border
After breakfast, enjoy free time in Ashgabat. During the day, transfer to the Howdan border checkpoint (also called Bajgiran) between Ashgabat and the Iranian town of Bajgiran. The tour ends at the Howdan border checkpoint.
- 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, accommodation, and transfers to and from the border meeting point
- All taxes
- The tour starts 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
11 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
- 11Bajgiran BorderDay 5
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- 5-Day Turkmenistan Tour: Shavat, Darvaza, Yangykala & Bajgiran
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- Ashgabat · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 TMT
