Darwaza – Ashgabat – Mary tour from Uzbekistan

Tour itinerary: Khiva – Kunya Urgench – Darwaza – Ashgabat – Mary – Bukhara

Season: all year round

Days: 3 | Nights: 2

3 day Turkmenistan Tour from Uzbekistan will be a great trip to include to the classical Uzbekistan tour. Famous Darwaza gas crater, ancient Nisa, white-marbled Ashgabat and historical sights of Mary and Merw in a short journey to discover world-famous sights of Turkmenistan.

Book the tour and take a memorable Turkmenistan trip!

Day 1

Khiva – Kunya Urgench – Darwaza

Meet the driver at the hotel lobby.

08:00 Transfer to Turkmen – Uzbek Border post Shavat/ Dashoguz.

Pass the border. Border passing formalities (passport and visa control might take 1 to 2 hrs depending on the customs formalities). Meet the guide and driver at Turkmen side of the border.

Transfer to Kunya – Urgench.

Start sightseeing tour with visiting

- Mausoleum of the founder of Sufi sects "Kubra" Nadzhimetdin Kubra (XII-XIII C);

- Mausoleum of Mongolian princess Torebeg-Hanym;

- Minaret Mamun (X-XI);

- Minaret Kutlug-Timur (XII-XIV c, the highest minaret in Central Asia);

- Mausoleum Kyrkmolla (II in BC - III A.D.);

- Mausoleum Arslan II (the oldest building in the city - the date of its bookmark is roughly estimated by XI century).

- Transfer to Darvaza 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 - Darvaza. The views are impressive, especially in sunset and night when the mild sunlight and burning crater evoke incredible and ambiguous feelings.

BBQ dinner and overnight stay in yurt or tent.

Day 2

Darwaza – Ashgabat

Breakfast at the yurt camp.

Transfer to Ashgabat, on arrival in Ashgabat start sightseeing:

- Ancient Nissa (18 km from Ashgabad) UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation of I millennium BC - I millennium BC).

- Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousand people). There are a beautiful garden and fountains near the mosque.

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque with four minarets reminding the Blu Mosque of Istanbul was built in honor of Ertogrul the father of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire,

- Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118 m 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.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3

Ashgabat – Mary – Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport.
08:00 Departure for Mary by flight.

08:40 Arrival in Mary.

Transfer to Mary and to Ancient Merv (UNESCO) for sightseeing in the historical park visiting:

- Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum - the best remaining testimony to Seljuk power at Merv is the 38 m-high Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, located in the center of Sultan Kala. The building was restored with Turkish aid and rises dramatically in the open plain. Sanjar, the grandson of Alp-Arslan, died in 1157, reputedly of a broken heart when, after escaping from captivity in Khiva, he came home to find that his beloved Merv had been pillaged by Turkic nomads.

- Mohammed bin Said Mausoleum;

- Medieval castles – “Kesk” fortresses (6-7 centuries);

- History museum of Merv region.

Continue to the Uzbek- Turkmen border post Alat/Farab. Border passing formalities (passport and visa control might take 1 to 2 hrs depending on the customs formalities).

16:00 Meeting the driver at Uzbekistan side of the border.

Transfer to the hotel in Bukhara. Arrival in Bukhara.

End of the tour.

Price per person:

Person	Standart	Comfort
1	$1245	$1290
2-3	$855	$875
4-5	$755	$775
6-12	$725	$740
Single supplement	$60	$65

Book it!

- Turkmenistan Visa support (Letter of Invitation, State Registration, Travel Pass);

- Accommodation based on shared yurt/private tent in Darwaza camp (incl. sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and pillow);

- Accommodation in standard double/twin rooms in Ashgabat;

- All transfers as per program by comfortable tourist class/SUV transport as per road conditions including transfers to-from airports /borders;

- English-speaking professional licensed local guide/s in Turkmenistan;

- Meals: breakfast at hotel in Ashgabat; camp-style breakfast and BBQ dinner in Darwaza camp;

- Single entry tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums, and natural fees as per program;

- Internal flight Ashgabat – Mary (economy class);

- Tourist tax per person.

- International flights, internal flights in Uzbekistan;

- Accommodation in hotels in Uzbekistan, guide service in Uzbekistan ( can be offered as extra);

- Turkmenistan tourist visa from 85+4 USD per person (subject to change; nationality dependent) and migration tax 10+4 USD per person (subject to change; nationality dependent);

- Photo/video fees (professional camera);

- Meals: lunches and dinners except those specified in the included section;

- VAT; personal/travel insurance; portage, tips, personal expenses, and other services not specified under “Tour Price Includes”.

- 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;

- Please note yurt camps, guesthouses, and homestays offer homemade/camp-style traditional meals; there are quite basic toilet and shower conditions.

- 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).

ACCOMMODATION