Day 1: Flight to Ashgabat
Flight to Ashgabat from your city.
Day 2: Arrival in Ashgabat. Drive to Kow Ata Lake via Geokdepe
Early arrival in Ashgabat International Airport. Meeting and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at “AkAltyn” 4* hotel.First half of the day will be spend sightseeing the major landmarks of Ashgabat which includes: Park and Monument of Independence, Arch of Neutrality, a 75m- high monument with a revolving golden statue of the first President Turkmenbashy. Hit the viewing platform of the Arch of Neutrality to see the beautiful panorama of Ashgabat. Continue tour to the historical and archaeological site “Ancient Nisa – the Residence of Parthian Kingdom” UNESCO site from 2007. The Parthian Empire was one of the most powerful and influential civilizations of the ancient world, and a brilliant rival of Rome which prevented the expansion of the Roman Empire to the east. In the afternoon drive to Kow Ata Underground Lake which is located 107 km to the west from Ashgabat. A warm hydrogen sulphide lake lies in a cave at the Kopet Dag mountain foothills. 276 steps lead into the lake.On your way down you will admire marvelous grapes and lines of stalactites and see bat’s bevies. This cave impresses with its greatness. It has the length of 250 m, width 50 m, depth of 65 m. The lake is available all year round because of constant temperature of water (33-37◦C) and air.
En route visit the Geokdepe fortress (Siege of Geokdepe) where in 1881, defending their Independence, the Turkmens showed courageous resistance to the invading Russian army. Continue driving to Kowata. Arrival and explore the site. Return to Ashgabat. On the way back stopover to visit “Ruhy” Mosque one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. Arrive in Ashgabat. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Visit Oriental Bazaar. Drive to Darvaza
Morning drive by 4WD (270 km, 3 h) to Derveze across the Garagum desert.En route stop to visitthe famous Oriental Bazar -Jygyldyk (Tolkuchka in Russian - open on Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundaysonly) where it is sold almost everything: camels, carpets, cars (Sundays only) and etc. where is possible to find plenty of souvenirs such as carpets, aladjas, handcrafts, felts, embroideries, jewelers and etc. It is also one of the best places to meet face-to-face with Turkmen culture and people.
Continue drive to Darvaza and make the next stopover to visit Yerbent Nomadic village where you can enjoy seeing the local life in the desert - Turkmen yurts, dromedaries, tamdyr (mud oven) and many others. Arrive at Darvaza and explore the gas craters, first full of water, and second the sulfur - muddy. Leave the road and venture in the desert to see the flaming Gas Crater. Explore the flaming Gas Crater at sunset. Having dinner (barbecue).Overnight in tents. (D).
Day 4: Drive to Dashoguz via Koneurgench
Morning continue trip to Dashoguz across Garagum desert by 4WD (370 km & 5 h). En route stop to visit Koneurgench - the capital of Khorezmshahs (3-16th cc.) inscribed into the World Heritage Book of UNESCO.Koneurgench (known as Gurganch in the past) is the largest historical and archaeological park in the north of Turkmenistan. It is a large reserve with numerous ruins and monuments on the territory of modern Kunyaurgench. Such great Muslim scholars as al-Biruni, al-Khorezmi and Avicenna once worked here.
Sightseeing of the old city: Portal of Caravansaray (11-14th cc.), Il Arslan Mausoleum (12th c.), Mausoleum of Khorezm shahSultan Tekesh (13th c.), Academy of Horezm (3-13th cc.), Mausoleum of TurabekHanum, Minaret of KutlugTimur (14th c.) - one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia, Najmeddin Kubra (13th c.) and Soltan Ali (15th c.) Mausoleums. After sightseeing of Koneurgench continue driving to Dashoguz. Arrive and accommodation in “Uzboy” 3* hotel. Overnight. (B)
Day 5: Arrival in Ashgabat. Drive to Mary.
Morning transfer to the airport of Dashoguz for a flight to Ashgabat.Upon arrival driveto Mary (370km, 4,5 h) with en route stop at Abiverd Medieval Town Ruins (20th c. BC - 16thc. AD).Arrival and accommodation in “Margush” 3* hotel.Short walking tour in Mary.Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Explore Ancient Merv. Drive to Turkmenabat
Morning tour to Ancient Merv known as Mary ShahuJahan-King of the World for about 300 years became the biggest city in Asia, inscribed into the monuments list of World Heritage Book, protected by the UNESCO. Sightseeing of Ancient Merv includes: Gyz Gala &Oglan Gala (6-7th cc.), Complex of Askhabs (8-14th cc.), Giaur Gala (4th c. BC), Buddist Complex (4-6th cc.), Erk Gala (6th c. BC), Soltan Gala (11th c.), SoltanSanjar Mausoleum (12th c.), IbnZeid Mausoleum (12th c.). After tour of Ancient Merv drive to Turkmenabat.Arrival and accommodation at “Jeyhun” hotel.Overnight.
Day 7: Drive to Koytendag Nature Reserve
Drive to Koyten village to explore the Koytendag Nature Reserve, which offers dinosaur footprints, a vast network of caves and Turkmenistan’s highest peak. The region has some fine historical monuments and holy places as well.En route stop to visit “Astana-Baba” Mausoleum in Atamyrat.Crossing Amudarya River.Arrival in Koyten.Accommodation in the hostel.Overnight.
Day 8: Explore Koytendag
Morning drive by 4WD along the Koytendag mountain gorge.Koytendag is the home of the highest mountains in Turkmenistan, the deepest lake, the longest caves and the most majestic natural waterfalls in the country. Koytendag Nature Reserve is a huge geological research center, the pride of which is the rocky plateau with hundreds of dinosaur footprints. Explore “Forty Girl`s Gorge”, “Plateau of Dinosaurs”. Lunch outdoors.Visit of Umbar-Dere Waterfall. Return to the hostel. Excursion to the Kaynar BabaLake.Overnight at the hostel.
Day 9: Drive back to Turkmenabat. Flight to Ashgabat
Morning drive by 4WD back to Turkmenabat.Evening flight to Ashgabat. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel “AkAltyn” 4*. O/N.
Day 10: Flight to Home
Transfer to the International Airport of Ashgabat for a flight to your city. Farewell. End of tour.
