PACKAGE ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival in Ashgabat early in the morning. Pick up at the airport and transfer to the Sport 5* hotel.
Today we will have sightseeing in Ashgabat including visits to Park and Monument of Independence, Arch of Neutrality, a 95m- high monument with a revolving golden statue of the first President Turkmenbashy. Hit the viewing platform of the Arch of Neutrality to see the beautiful panorama of Ashgabat. Panoramic tour to “Alem” the largest Indoor Ferris wheel. Visiting of the Memorial Complex. Continue tour to the historical and archaeological site “Ancient Nisa – the Residence of Parthian Kingdom” UNESCO site from 2007. Then visiting of Ruhy Mosque and Turkmenbashy Mausoleum in Kypjak. Overnight at Sport 5* hotel.
Day 2: Ashgabat – Anau – Mary – Merv (375 km)
In the morning drive to Mary. Visit on the route Anau pilgrimage place (remains of Seyitjemaletdin mosque XV c.). Continue driving. Arrive in Mary and check in Margush or Merv 3* hotel.
In the afternoon we will have a sightseeing to Ancient Merv known as Mary ShahuJahan-King of the World for about 300 years became the biggest city in Asia, inscribed into the monuments list of World Heritage Book, protected by the UNESCO. Visiting of Gyz Gala & Oglan Gala (6-7th cc.), Complex of Askhabs (8-14th cc.), Giaur Gala (4th c. BC), Buddist Complex (4-6th cc.), Erk Gala (6th c. BC), Soltan Gala (11th c.), Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum (12th c.), Muhammed Ibn Zeid Mausoleum (12th c.), Hoja Yusup Hemedany mosque.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Explore Margush - Gonur Depe (Margiana)
In the morning transfer by 4WD (110km & 2,5 h) to visit Margush Country (GonurDepe - capital of Margush) - Bronze Age Civilization Sites recognized as 5th Civilization of the Earth recently & Birthplace of Zoroastrianism - Fire Worshipping (4-3 mil. BC- 6th c. BC) inscribed in the World Heritage Book.
Overnight at Margush or Merv 3* hotel.
Day 4: Sightseeing in Mary. Drive to Ashgabat (by car)
In the morning visit the Museum of History, sightseeing in Mary city, continue visit to the central bazaar.
In the afternoon, drive to Ashgabat. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Sport 5* hotel.
Day 5: Ashgabat – Darvaza
Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing in Ashgabat, visit to the central bazaar “Gulistan”. Lunch at local restaurant. Drive to Darvaza – old gas recovery field in Central Karakum Desert. En route stopover to visit Erbent Nomadic village where you can enjoy seeing the local life in the desert - Turkmen yurts, dromedaries, tamdyr (mud oven) and many others. Arrive at Darvaza, explore the gas craters, first full of water, and second the sulfur - muddy. Leave the road and venture in the desert to see the flaming gas crater. Arrive and explore the flaming gas crater at sunset. Overnight in yurt.
Day 6: Darvaza – Koneurgench (270 km) – Dashoguz - Ashgabat (by flt.)
In the morning drive to Koneurgench - the capital of Khorezmshahs (3-16th cc.) inscribed into the World Heritage Book of UNESCO.Koneurgench (known as Gurganch in the past) is the largest historical and archaeological park in the north of Turkmenistan. It is a large reserve with numerous ruins and monuments on the territory of modern Kunyaurgench. Such great Muslim scholars as al-Biruni, al-Khorezmi and Avicenna once worked here.Sightseeing of the old city: Portal of Caravansaray (11-14th cc.), Il Arslan Mausoleum (12th c.), Mausoleum of Khorezm shahSultan Tekesh (13th c.), Academy of Horezm (3-13th cc.), Mausoleum of TurabekHanum, Minaret of KutlugTimur (14th c.) - one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia, Najmeddin Kubra (13th c.) and Soltan Ali (15th c.) Mausoleums. After sightseeing drive to Dashoguz city airport to take an evening domestic flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Sport 5* hotel.
Day 7: Ashgabat – Kow-ata – Nokhur - Balkanabat (460 km)
Drive to Balkanabat. En route stop to visit the “Kow-ata” underground lake. A warm hydrogen sulfide lake lies in a cave at the Kopet Dag foothills. 276 steps lead into the lake. On your way down you will admire marvelous grapes and lines of stalactites and see bat’s bevies. This cave impresses with its greatness. It has a length of 250 m, width of 50 m, and depth of 65 m. The lake is available all year round because of the constant temperature of water (33-37◦C) and air.
Next visit to Nokhur mountain village. Sightseeing of Nokhur village and visiting of "Gyz Bibi" Pilgrimage site & its unique cemetery where each tomb has the horns of mountain goats, the Great Tree - oldest tree in the village thought to be 800 years old.
Arrive in Balkanabat city. Overnight in Nebitchi 3* hotel.
Day 8: Balkanabat - Gozli ata – Yangikala – Turkmenbashy (400 km)
Drive to Yangikala where impressive limestone formations rise up from the desert sands. These limestone cliffs are the remains of massive coral reefs from the pre-historical Parathetys Sea.
En route visit Gozli ata - one of the holiest pilgrim sites in Turkmenistan. The mausoleum of Gozliata, located on a low platform against the backdrop of stunning pink and red limestone rock formations.
Arrive and explore Yangikala. Take a picnic among the cliffs. Drive to Turkmenbashy - the biggest port town of Turkmenistan. The town is enclosed with low mountains and faces the Caspian Sea. Overnight in Turkmenbashy 3* hotel.
Day 9: Turkmenbashy - Ashgabat (1 hr. by flt.)
Transfer to the Turkmenbashy airport and take a domestic flight to Ashgabat. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Sport 5 * hotel.
Day 10: Ashgabat - departure
Transfer to the Ashgabat airport according your departure flight time. Farewell. End of program.
TOUR PRICE: 1720 USD per person
Number of travelers: min. 2 persons
PRICE INCLUDES:
1. Letter of invitation (visa support), entry travel pass and visa registration;
2. All transfers with A/C land transportation: sedan type car in the cities, 4 WD car for off road parts;
3. Economy class domestic flight tickets from Dashoguz to Ashgabat and from Turkmenbashy to Ashgabat;
4. Services of local English speaking guide-driver during the whole tour
5. All accommodation (local star & standard), check in/ check out time: 12:00.
Double or twin shared room in hotels, all breakfasts included;
Ashgabat: Sport 5* hotel - 4 nights
Mary: Margush or Merv 3* hotel - 2 nights
Darvaza: traditional yurt (camp style breakfasts included) - 1 night
Balkanabat: Nebitchi 3* hotel - 1 night
Turkmenbashy: Turkmenbashy 3* hotel - 1 night
7. Travel tax per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
PRICE EXCLUDES: International flights, consular fees for Turkmenistan tourist visa (95$ at Ashgabat airport or at the border crossings for most nationalities), migration card paid upon arrival - 14 USD, covid-test upon arrival ($ 33 per person), entrance, photo, video fees at sites (10 USD p.p.), meals (allow 15 USD per person) & other services not mentioned above.
E-mail us to BOOK: turkmensiyakhat@gmail.com
