5-Day Turkmenistan Discovery Tour: Darvaza, Yangykala & Ancient Merv

Hotel accommodation basis: Twin or double rooms unless otherwise agreed

Day 1 — Shavat Border → Dashoguz → Darvaza Gas Crater

Approximate driving distance: 310–350 km

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

After completing the Uzbek exit procedures, cross into Turkmenistan, where your professional local guide will meet you on the Turkmen side of the border.

Your guide will assist with the necessary immigration, electronic visa and border-entry formalities before introducing you to your driver.

Continue to Dashoguz, the principal city of northern Turkmenistan.

Dashoguz City Introduction

Enjoy a short introduction to the city, including a drive through its central streets and a visit to a local bazaar.

The market offers an opportunity to observe daily life and browse regional products before beginning the desert journey.

Stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

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

Journey to Darvaza

After lunch, travel south through the vast Karakum Desert, passing open plains, sandy terrain and scattered settlements.

Arrive in the Darvaza area and settle into your traditional Turkmen yurt camp.

Visit the Darvaza Gas Crater, internationally known as the “Gates of Hell.”

Enjoy the desert scenery as daylight fades and observe the crater from the designated viewing area. The appearance and intensity of the flames may vary.

In the evening, a freshly prepared BBQ dinner will be served at the camp.

After dinner, enjoy the desert atmosphere and nighttime views before returning to your yurt.

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

Day 2 — Darvaza → Ashgabat Sightseeing → Overnight Train to Turkmenbashi

Approximate driving distance: 260–290 km, plus local sightseeing
Approximate railway distance: 557 km

Early risers may visit the crater around sunrise to experience the desert in the morning light.

Return to the camp for breakfast.

After breakfast, depart Darvaza and travel south through the Karakum Desert toward Ashgabat.

Ashgabat City Sightseeing

Upon arrival, begin a concentrated sightseeing program introducing the capital’s monumental architecture and white-marble avenues.

The main visits include:

• Independence Monument — one of the capital’s principal national landmarks, surrounded by landscaped gardens and monumental sculptures.
• Neutrality Monument — a recognisable architectural symbol associated with Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality.
• Central white-marble districts — a panoramic drive through broad avenues, public squares and contemporary architectural landmarks.

Depending on the arrival time, road conditions and railway check-in requirements, additional stops may include:

• Russian Bazaar — time to browse local products, sweets, dried fruits and souvenirs.
• Wedding Palace viewpoint — a photographic stop overlooking part of the capital.

A lunch stop will be arranged during the day.

Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Overnight Train to Turkmenbashi

Transfer to Ashgabat Railway Station in time for boarding.

The currently published departure time for the regular service to Turkmenbashi is 17:50, with arrival the following morning. The timetable and sleeper-berth availability will be reconfirmed for your travel date.

Board the train and settle into your allocated sleeping berth for the overnight journey west.

Dinner is not included. Your guide can help arrange time to purchase food before boarding.

Overnight: Sleeper train to Turkmenbashi
Meals included: Breakfast at the yurt camp
Meals not included: Lunch and dinner

Day 3 — Turkmenbashi → Yangykala Canyon → Balkanabat → Serdar

Approximate driving distance: 450–550 km

Arrive at Turkmenbashi Railway Station in the morning.

Meet your local team and stop at a café for breakfast before beginning the day’s excursion.

Breakfast at the café is payable separately unless included in your confirmed quotation.

Yangykala Canyon

Depart Turkmenbashi and travel toward Yangykala Canyon, crossing the semi-desert landscapes of the Balkan Region.

The scenery gradually opens into an impressive landscape of layered cliffs, eroded formations and broad horizons.

Explore the canyon through a series of accessible viewpoints, selected according to road and local access conditions.

Enjoy time to appreciate the colourful layers and unusual shapes, with stops for photography.

Suitable off-road transportation will be used where required.

A lunch stop or packed meal will be arranged according to the day’s route.

Lunch is not included unless expressly agreed in advance.

Continue to Serdar

After the canyon excursion, return toward the main highway and travel east via Balkanabat.

Continue across western Turkmenistan toward Serdar.

Arrive in the evening and check in at your hotel.

Evening at leisure after a full day of travel.

Overnight: Hotel in Serdar
Meals not included: Breakfast at the café, lunch and dinner

Day 4 — Serdar → Nohur → Kow-Ata → Ashgabat

Approximate driving distance: 280–350 km

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart Serdar and travel east toward the Kopet Dag foothills.

Today’s journey combines mountain village culture, scenic landscapes and a visit to one of Turkmenistan’s best-known underground natural attractions.

Nohur Mountain Village

Continue into the mountains toward Nohur, a traditional community known for its distinctive customs and cultural identity.

During the guided visit, explore:

• Village streets and local architecture
• Mountain surroundings and scenic viewpoints
• The traditional cemetery, with an introduction to the community’s distinctive burial customs
• Local crafts and village traditions

Your guide will introduce the way of life of the community, with time for short walks and photography.

Kow-Ata Underground Lake

Continue to Kow-Ata, a naturally warm underground lake inside a limestone cave.

Descend the staircase into the cave and see the lake in its unusual underground setting.

Guests who wish may bathe in the warm water, subject to local access conditions and personal preference.

A lunch stop will be arranged at a roadside or regional restaurant during the journey.

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

Return to Ashgabat

Continue east toward Ashgabat, passing the Gokdepe area.

Depending on available time, a visit to the Gypjak Mosque may be arranged on the approach to the capital.

Upon arrival, continue the Ashgabat sightseeing program, focusing on visits not completed on Day 2.

Explore the capital’s marble-lined avenues and monumental districts, with stops at the Independence Monument and Neutrality Monument where appropriate.

If timing permits, enjoy a drive through the city’s illuminated evening landmarks.

Transfer to your hotel and check in.

Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat
Meals included: Breakfast
Meals not included: Lunch and dinner

Day 5 — Ashgabat → Ancient Merv → Turkmenabat → Farap Border

Approximate driving distance: 640–720 km

Early breakfast at the hotel or a breakfast box, subject to hotel arrangements.

Depart Ashgabat very early in the morning for the long journey east toward the Mary Region.

Travel through open plains, agricultural areas and oasis landscapes before reaching Ancient Merv, near Bayramaly.

Ancient Merv

Visit Ancient Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the great historical cities of the Silk Road.

The guided excursion concentrates on the principal highlights:

• Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum — a monumental surviving example of Seljuk architecture.
• Kyz Kala — distinctive mud-brick structures recognised for their corrugated walls.
• Erk Kala — an early fortified settlement within the archaeological complex.
• The remains of successive historical settlements — an introduction to the development and scale of the Merv oasis.

Your guide will explain the city’s importance as a centre of trade, culture and political power.

The visit will be focused to allow sufficient time for the onward journey to Farap.

A lunch stop will be arranged during the day.

Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Turkmenabat → Farap Border

After the excursion, continue toward Turkmenabat and onward to the Farap Border Crossing.

Upon arrival, your guide will assist with the necessary Turkmenistan exit and border formalities.

The tour ends on the Turkmen side of Farap Border.

An onward transfer on the Uzbekistan side toward Bukhara can be arranged separately upon request.

This is a demanding travel day. Arrival at Farap depends on road conditions, sightseeing duration and border procedures. An early onward connection from Bukhara should not be scheduled on this day.

Meals included: Breakfast
Meals not included: Lunch and dinner

End of services at Farap Border.

Driving distances are approximate. The order and duration of visits may be adjusted according to road conditions, local access, train schedules, opening hours and border procedures. Train times and sleeper berths must be confirmed for the travel date.