2-Day Darvaza Gas Crater Tour from Shavat Border

Day 1 — Shavat Border → Dashoguz → Mud Crater → Darvaza Gas Crater

Approximate driving distance: 300–320 km

09:00 — Arrival at the Shavat Border Crossing between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

After completing the Uzbek border procedures, cross into Turkmenistan, where our professional local guide will be waiting for you on the Turkmen side of the border.

Your guide will welcome you and assist you throughout the necessary immigration, electronic visa and border-entry formalities, helping make your arrival as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Once the formalities are completed, meet your driver and continue to nearby Dashoguz.

Stop in Dashoguz for lunch at a local restaurant, where you can enjoy traditional Turkmen or Central Asian cuisine.

Lunch is not included in the tour price and is payable directly at the restaurant.

After lunch, begin the journey south through the vast landscapes of the Karakum Desert toward Darvaza.

Along the way, stop at the fascinating Darvaza Mud Crater, one of the unusual geological formations found in this remote desert region. The bubbling mud and natural gas activity offer an interesting introduction to the extraordinary geology of the Karakum.

Continue across the desert toward the legendary Darvaza Gas Crater, internationally known as the “Gates of Hell.”

Arrive at the yurt camp near the crater in the late afternoon or early evening.

After settling into your traditional Turkmen yurt, walk to the crater and experience one of Turkmenistan’s most iconic sights. As daylight fades, the flames become increasingly dramatic, illuminating the desert landscape against the night sky.

In the evening, enjoy a freshly prepared BBQ dinner at the campsite.

After dinner, there will be time to return to the crater for spectacular nighttime views and photography before heading back to camp.

Overnight: Traditional Turkmen yurt camp near Darvaza
Meals included: BBQ dinner
Meals not included: Lunch in Dashoguz

Day 2 — Darvaza Gas Crater → Dashoguz → Shavat Border

Approximate driving distance: 300–320 km

Wake up in the peaceful surroundings of the Karakum Desert.

Breakfast will be served at the yurt camp.

Depending on the season and sunrise time, you may have an opportunity to take a final morning walk around the area and enjoy the quiet desert atmosphere before departure.

After breakfast, begin the return journey north through the Karakum Desert toward Dashoguz.

The drive offers another chance to experience the vast, open landscapes of Turkmenistan, with long stretches of desert scenery along the route.

Continue through Dashoguz and onward to the Shavat Border Crossing.

Upon arrival at the border, your guide will assist you with the necessary Turkmenistan exit procedures and help you reach the border checkpoint for your onward journey into Uzbekistan.

The tour ends at the Turkmen side of the Shavat Border.

Meals included: Breakfast