Ancient Merv

Instead of building on top of the old city, each new ruler built a new one next to it. That is why you can walk from Erk Kala, founded more than 2,500 years ago, to Gyaur Kala and on to the Seljuk city where Sultan Sanjar is buried. In the 12th century Merv was one of the largest cities in the world.

Our guides show the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, the ribbed mud-brick walls of Great and Lesser Kyz Kala, Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala, and, when there is time, the Mausoleum of Muhammad ibn Zayd. Some tours add Türkmen Ojagy, a small ethnographic complex nearby.

Merv is near the town of Bayramaly in Mary Province, about 38
  east of Ashgabat. It lies on the road to the Farap border, so we usually visit it on the way to or from Bukhara in Uzbekistan. The site is large and open with little shade. Bring a hat and water.