- Short description
- Basic Information
- Program
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Short description
This comprehensive journey through Turkmenistan covers all the country's most important and fascinating sites. We'll travel with private transport exclusively 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 the city of Mary, where we'll explore the Ancient Merv archaeological complex, an important stop on the Silk Road.
Next, we'll visit the fire craters of Darvaza. We'll sleep in yurts or tents next to the largest crater and enjoy a barbecue by the crater in the evening. On the way, we'll stop at the desert Turkmen village of Yerbent.
We continue to Türkmenbaşy, the largest city and port on the Caspian Sea, which we'll reach by night train from Ashgabat. From there, we'll travel by bus through Yangykala Canyon—a vast area with 60-100 meter high rocks colored in pink, red, and yellow. This remarkable place sees almost no visitors. We'll also visit the city of Balkanabat for an overnight stay.
In the village of Geok Tepe, we'll see the old mosque and an Akhal-Teke horse farm. We'll visit the underground lake Kow Ata and swim in its mineral waters. We'll also explore the authentic village of Nokhur, close to the Iranian border.
All photos and travel stories are from our journey to Turkmenistan.
Basic Information
Dates: April 15-22, 2026; September 29 - October 6, 2026;
Duration: 6 nights/8 days;
Group: 7-8 people;
Price: 1,595 euros/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 it); 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 in Turkmenistan and back. We can arrange your airfare from your home country to Ashgabat, or you can meet the group in Istanbul. We'll take care of whichever option you choose.
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 get 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's 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 offers an overview of the key aspects of the trip. If you require customized solutions based on your specific case and circumstances, please contact us via email. We can arrange flight tickets from any location worldwide to the trip's starting point. Furthermore, we can handle hotel transfers and any necessary documents. Our team will provide assistance throughout the entire organization process. Feel free to reach out to us without hesitation 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, our program begins with a city tour. We'll see the Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque and stroll through the parks and squares of the capital. The main attraction in Ashgabat is the enormous marble city—the largest in the world, recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.
We'll also explore the Turkmenbashy Mosque and the Kipchak Mausoleum. In the evening before sunset, we've planned a special walk to a viewpoint with beautiful views of the city at night.
We'll also explore the archaeological complex of Nisa, where you can see remains of brick structures—fortifications, palaces, temples, a ceremonial hall, and a treasury. These ruins belong to an ancient Persian civilization known for its similarities to ancient Roman and Greek cultures. The elegant architecture demonstrates the wealth and power of both secular and religious authorities in these lands. Excavations began in the 20th century, and some continue today. Nisa is believed to have been the first capital of this ancient Persian 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 functioning as an important trade and communications center in the region.
Hotel: AkAltyn hotel (4 stars);
Meals included: no meals included today;
Day 3: Ashgabat–Mary (Merv)
In the morning, we depart by bus toward the city of Mary (350 km).
In the afternoon, we'll explore Merv (near Mary), one of the most famous cities on the Silk Road. 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 mausoleum 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 at the unique Turkmen village of Yerbent, almost buried in the Karakum Desert.
As evening approaches, we'll begin to see the gas craters that are the main reason for our visit. Some are filled with water, others with mud. All bubble with gas that 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 in the late evening. We'll have a picnic right next to 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 for a rest at the hotel—you'll have the opportunity 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 journey is comfortable in sleeping cars. This train is unique—in the morning it passes along the Caspian Sea and arrives at a beautifully renovated station almost by the sea in the city center. This station serves only this train, making 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 toward Yangykala Canyon. We'll travel and walk through it, stopping at various spots for photos and panoramic views. This is a place very few people have heard of—and even fewer have seen. It's an extensive area with rocks 60–100 meters high, colored in pink, red, and yellow. The site is prehistoric (5.5 million years old), as evidenced by the red limestone rocks—remnants of massive coral reefs from the ancient Paratethys Sea.
In the evening, we arrive in Balkanabat—yet another intriguing Turkmen city. We'll spend the night here.
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 for herbs and local products.
Our next stop is Kou Ata Cave, where an underground lake filled with warm mineral water awaits—you can swim here. The 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 extremely 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 and spend the night at the hotel.
Hotel: AkAltyn Hotel (4 stars);
Meals included: breakfast;
Day 8: Departure from Ashgabat
See the schedule.
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 suit you. You can also join the list for future trips—just send us your names. It's that simple!
Ask for more information
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