Available spots: 7
Short description
This comprehensive journey through Turkmenistan covers the country’s most important and fascinating sites. We’ll travel exclusively with private transport for our group, including one domestic flight and an overnight train journey from Ashgabat to Türkmenbaşy on the Caspian Sea coast.
We begin in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s capital—recognized by Guinness as the city with the most marble buildings in the world. We’ll visit the archaeological complex of Nisa before continuing to Mary, where we’ll explore the Ancient Merv archaeological complex, a major stop on the Silk Road.
Next, we head to the fire craters of Darvaza. We’ll sleep in yurts or tents beside the largest crater and enjoy a barbecue by the flames in the evening. On the way, we’ll stop in the desert Turkmen village of Yerbent.
We then continue to Türkmenbaşy, the largest city and port on the Caspian Sea, reached by night train from Ashgabat. From there, we’ll travel by bus through Yangykala Canyon—a vast landscape of 60–100 meter-high rocks in pink, red, and yellow. This remarkable place receives almost no visitors. We’ll also spend a night in Balkanabat.
In Geok Tepe, we’ll see the old mosque and visit an Akhal-Teke horse farm. We’ll also swim in the mineral waters of the underground lake Kow Ata and explore the authentic village of Nokhur, near the Iranian border.
All photos and travel stories are from our journey to Turkmenistan.
Basic Information
Dates: September 29–October 6, 2026; April 22–29, 2027
Duration: 6 nights / 8 days;
Group: 7–8 people;
Price: 1,595 euros per person;
The price includes:
Guides: company and local guide;
Transport: comfortable, air-conditioned bus with local driver as per the program; one domestic flight in Turkmenistan (Mary–Ashgabat); night train tickets from Ashgabat to Türkmenbaşy; all airport transfers;
Accommodation: 4 nights in 4-star hotels, 1 night in a sleeping car, and 1 night in a yurt or tent in Darvaza.
Hotel rooms are double occupancy with breakfast included. The program lists the specific hotels for each day.
Meals: The program specifies which meals are included each day.
Entrance tickets: all entrance fees for museums and sites.
Taxes/insurance: daily accommodation tax collected at each hotel in Turkmenistan; visa processing services for obtaining a Turkmen visa (the visa fee itself is not included).
The price does not include: international flight tickets (we will arrange them); Turkmenistan immigration fee (approximately $14, paid separately at the airport); Turkmen visa ($87/€79); "Travel Assistance" insurance (we can arrange it if you don’t have one); "Trip Cancellation" insurance; all lunches; personal expenses;
(1) Flight tickets with Turkish Airlines:
The group will fly from Istanbul to Ashgabat and back. We can arrange your airfare from your home country to Ashgabat, or you can meet the group in Istanbul—whichever works best for you.
Outbound:
Istanbul 01:10 - Ashgabat 06:55;
Return:
Ashgabat 09:05 - Istanbul 11:15;
Visas and fees:
To obtain a Turkmen visa, you’ll need:
Letter of Invitation (LOI) from Turkmenistan — We provide this, and the cost is included in the package price. Processing takes 14 business days. To request the invitation, send us a clear scan of your passport, 2 color photos, and a completed visa application form (we’ll provide this when you register). The invitation must be issued in advance, as it is required to obtain your visa at Ashgabat airport. The Turkmen visa itself costs $87 and is issued at the airport; this fee is not included in the package price. Migration fee — $14, paid at Ashgabat airport upon arrival; this fee is not included in the package price.
We handle all necessary documents!
This program provides an overview of the trip’s key details. If you need a solution tailored to your specific circumstances, please contact us via email. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to the trip’s starting point, as well as airport/hotel transfers and any required documents. Our team will support you throughout the entire planning process. Feel free to reach out via email!
Program
Day 1: Flights to Ashgabat
Today we fly to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (see the schedule).
Day 2: Arrival in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan; Nisa
We arrive in Ashgabat this morning. After transferring to the hotel for a short rest, the program begins with a city tour. We’ll visit the Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque and stroll through the capital’s parks and squares. The main attraction in Ashgabat is its vast marble city—the largest in the world, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.
We’ll also explore the Turkmenbashy Mosque and the Kipchak Mausoleum. In the late afternoon, we’ve planned a walk to a viewpoint with beautiful night-time views of the city.
We’ll also visit the archaeological complex of Nisa, where you can see the remains of brick fortifications, palaces, temples, a ceremonial hall, and a treasury. These ruins belonged to an ancient Persian civilization, often compared to the cultures of ancient Rome and Greece. The refined architecture reflects the wealth and power of both secular and religious authorities in the region. Excavations began in the 20th century and continue today. Nisa is believed to have been the first capital of this civilization, which developed along the Kopet Dag mountain range in present-day Turkmenistan and Iran. The city served as a barrier to Roman expansion while also acting as an important center for trade and communication.
Hotel: AkAltyn hotel (4 stars);
Meals included: no meals included today;
Day 3: Ashgabat–Mary (Merv)
In the morning, we depart by bus for the city of Mary (350 km).
In the afternoon, we’ll explore Merv (near Mary), one of the Silk Road’s most famous cities. This 2,500-year-old site is a UNESCO World Heritage location. We’ll see the first ancient ruins near the town of Bayram Ali. The complex includes five important sites: the ruins of Alexandria Margiana (Erk Kala) and Antiochia Margiana (Gyaur Kala), the mausoleums of Sultan Kala and Sultan Ahmad Sanjar, the tomb of Yusuf Hamadany, the mausoleums of Mohammed ibn Zaid, and the palaces of Gyz Kala.
Four major trade routes passed through Merv: north to Kunya-Urgench, east to Bukhara and Samarkand, south to Herat, and west to Mashhad (in present-day Iran).
Hotel: Hotel Margush or Hotel Mary (3 stars);
Meals included: breakfast;
Day 4: Ashgabat–Darvaza (225 km)
This morning we take a domestic flight to Ashgabat.
In the afternoon, we depart for Darvaza. Along the way, we’ll stop in the distinctive Turkmen village of Yerbent, nearly swallowed by the Karakum Desert.
As evening approaches, we’ll begin to see the gas craters—the main reason for our visit. Some are filled with water, others with mud; all bubble as gas escapes spontaneously. We’ll turn onto a dirt road to reach the largest crater. The eruptions are best observed after dark, which is why we arrive late in the evening. We’ll have a picnic right beside the crater and spend the night in tents or yurts.
Hotel: tents or yurts by the crater;
Meals included: breakfast and dinner;
Day 5: Return to Ashgabat; night train to Türkmenbaşy on the Caspian Sea coast
Today we return to Ashgabat to rest at the hotel, with time for a shower and/or sauna. In the late afternoon, we head to the station for an overnight train journey to Türkmenbaşy on the Caspian Sea coast. The trip is comfortable, with sleeping cars.
This train is unique: in the morning, it runs along the Caspian Sea and arrives at a beautifully renovated station near the waterfront in the city center. The station serves only this route, which makes it a truly unusual place.
Hotel: night train;
Meals included: breakfast;
Day 6 Türkmenbaşy–Yangykala Canyon–Balkanabat (350 km)
Before noon, we’ll walk around the city. In the afternoon, we head to Yangykala Canyon. We’ll travel and walk through the canyon, stopping at different points for photos and panoramic views. Very few people have heard of this place—and even fewer have seen it. It’s a vast landscape of 60–100 meter-high rocks in pink, red, and yellow. The site is prehistoric (5.5 million years old), as shown by the red limestone rocks—remnants of massive coral reefs from the ancient Paratethys Sea.
In the evening, we arrive in Balkanabat—another intriguing Turkmen city—where we’ll spend the night.
Hotel: Hotel Margush or Hotel Mary (3 stars);
Meals included: breakfast and lunch;
Day 7 Nokhur Village on the Iranian Border–Kou Ata Cave–Geok Tepe and Horse Farm–Ashgabat (390 km)
Today, we travel by bus to the village of Nokhur, near the Iranian border, home to the Nokhur Turkmen tribe. We’ll see the centuries-old plane tree by the market, where locals sell herbs and other products.
Our next stop is Kou Ata Cave, where a warm, mineral underground lake awaits—you can swim here. This place is truly unique.
Next is the village of Geok Tepe, where we’ll visit the old mosque and an Akhal-Teke horse farm. This ancient local breed is possibly a direct descendant of the Turkoman horse, which has been used since before 2400 B.C.
In the evening, we return to Ashgabat for an overnight stay at the hotel.
Hotel: AkAltyn Hotel (4 stars);
Meals included: breakfast;
Day 8: Departure from Ashgabat
See the schedule.
Photo galleries
High-quality, royalty-free (RF) photos from the Thousand Voyages Archive, available for download
Photo Story: Places not to miss in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Photo story: The unique cemetery in the village of Nokhur, Turkmenistan
How to join us
Please email us for more information about this trip or to sign up. We’ll respond promptly and keep you updated on all organizational details. If you’re a group of 5–8 people, we can discuss dates that work for you. You can also join the list for future trips—just send us your names. That’s it!
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