Short tour in Turkmenistan is a trip starting from Ashgabat to Darwaza gas crater including excursions in Ashgabat and Merw, ending in Bukhara.
Enjoy the trip to the must-see places in Turkmenistan for a memorable vacation!
Flight to Ashgabat
Early morning arrival at Ashgabat International Airport ( ETA 01:00 am).
Migration formalities usually
take 30 min to 60 min: PCR test, visa/passport control, and baggage claim. Please
come out of the terminal, the driver meets with a signboard with your name.
Transfer to the hotel. Extra night. Resting time after the flight.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Half day free/ Morning at leisure
12:00 Transfer
to Darwaza crater and change from the asphalt road to the Karakum
desert track, continue 10 km deep inside.
In 1971, geologists accidentally found an
underground cavern filled with natural gas. To avoid poisonous gas discharge,
it was decided to burn the gas. Geologists hoped the fire would go out in a few
days, but it has been burning ever since. Locals have named the cavern The Gate
- Darwaza. The views are impressive, especially at sunset when the sunlight and burning crater evoke incredible feelings.
Camp-style dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.
Breakfast at the yurt camp.
Transfer to Ashgabat, on arrival in Ashgabat, start sightseeing:
- Anau mosque ruins of the 15th century and Anau culture remains of the Bronze Age in the suburban area of Ashgabat;
- Ahalteke horse stables, where you will have an opportunity to see the most beautiful horses in the world. Archeologists and historians proved that horses were handled on the territory of Turkmenistan a minimum of five thousand years ago. The specialists note that the foothill lands of Kopetdag made favorable ecological conditions for the birth of strapping and wanton horses.
Afternoon arrival in Ashgabat.
Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
09:00 Start Ashgabat city tour, visiting
- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, with four minarets reminding the Blue Mosque of Istanbul, was built in honor of Ertogrul, the father of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.
- Independence Park with the Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that is considered the highest building in the country);
- Neutrality Arch - a unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun;
- National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique expositions from Ancient Merv and Nissa.
- Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (tens of thousands of people). There are beautiful gardens and fountains near the mosque.
- Ancient Nissa (18km from Ashgabad), UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation is 1 millennium BC–1 millennium BC).
Transfer to the hotel.
Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight.
Take-away breakfast
Transfer to Ashgabat Airport
06:20 Departure for Mary by morning flight.
07:00 Arrival at Mary Airport.
Transfer to Ancient Merv (UNESCO), visiting:
- Historical park with Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, Mohammed bin Said Mausoleum,
- Medieval castles – “Kesk” fortresses (6th-7th centuries) and others.
- History Museum of the Merv region.
Transfer to the land border, Farab - Alat. Border crossing, migration formalities ( visa/ passport control).
The driver meets at the Uzbekistan side of the border. Transfer to Bukhara.
Arrival in Bukhara. Transfer to the hotel.
End of the tour.
Accommodation:
| Darwaza |
|
Standart:
Darwaza yurt camp
Comfort: Darwaza yurt camp |
| Ashgabat |
|
Standart:
Ak Altyn
Comfort: Sport |
-The tour is published on June 16, 2026 and the rates as per program and conditions specified are actual for 180 days ( 6 month) from the date of publication.
All the rates will be subject to change if the request is after 180 days from date of publication because any changes in the seasonal tariffs for hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may cause the increase of rates.
- By request, the itineraries can be adjusted for solo traveller or family private tours, please note the tariffs for individual/ private tours may be higher than in group offers.
- If the hotels noted in the program are fully booked or not available for the dates in case of stop-sale dates/ temporary reconstruction works, booked for government delegation, etc.. Tour company reserves the right to book the other hotels of the same category and similar service in case of last-minute booking due to restricted time and high season intensity.
- We highly recommend early booking of Central Asia group tours, family tours about 9- 6 months before the tour dates, and not later than 3 months before the tour dates.
Please note, in case of late booking less than 3 month ahead and last-minute booking less than 10 days ahead the trip it is possible that the itineraries can be changed because of restricted time and high season availability of the hotels and train tickets for the date of booking/ for travel dates.
- Yurt camps, guesthouses, and homestays offer traditional meals; there are quite basic toilet and shower conditions. Single accommodation in the guesthouses, yurts and homestays is not guaranteed and will be subject of availability.
- Please note the international flights Tashkent – Bishkek/ Bishkek - Tashkent, Tashkent – Almaty/ Almaty - Tashkent, Almaty - Dushanbe/ Dushanbe – Almaty are regular flights but can be scheduled not every day, the program can be slightly adjusted as per actual flight details.
- Please confirm your return flights and provide full information ( flight details, passport copies and if required, other documents for visa support) to book the tours. We highly recommend acknowledging the necessary documentation before the trip: valid passport with expiration not later than 6-month, visa / e-visa/ LOI.
- Travel/ medical insurance is not included in the tour packages as it is not obligatory, but we highly recommend all tourists buying the travel/medical insurance in the country of residence.
- Please note that during the national holidays, during the big summits, fairs, festivals, major sport and cultural events, some parts of the roads can be temporarily blocked for delegations and events as per government decrees.
- Check-in 14.00, check-out time 11.00. No early check-in/ late check-out is included unless indicated;
- Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English;
- All the changes in the basic itinerary, the timing for transfers depending on the international flight departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed;
- Please note that the train trip/s can be replaced for transfer/s by car depending on train tickets availability and trains schedule;
- After the date of publication, any changes in the hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may influence the tour prices;
- Anur Tour is not responsible for the force majeure occasions (weather conditions during the tour, repairing-reconstructing works at some parts of roads, government restrictions).
4 days, from: $1195
Season: all year round
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