Classic tour to Turkmenistan

Duration: 5 days 4 nights

You will visit: Merv, Mary, Ashgabat, Darvaza gas crater. Day 1

Bukhara - border - Merv - Mary After you pass the Uzbek-Turkmen border, you will be met by a guide. The transfer will take you to the hotel. Day 2 After breakfast, you will visit:

• Merv (300 km, 4-5 hours). Merv is an ancient city that was a major center of international trade and crafts on the Great Silk Road. A sightseeing tour of Merv includes:

• The Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (12th century), which, according to many people, is the most magnificent architectural monument of Merv. This mausoleum amazes with its architectural solutions, which indicate amazing craftsmanship for that time;

• Bolshaya Kyz-Kala and Malaya Kyz-Kala (8th-19th centuries) - these unique fortresses are built of adobe bricks and have no known archaeological analogues;

• Erk-Kala (6th century BC) - the residence of ancient Merv and its oldest building. The walls of the fortress are almost 30 meters high. You can climb them to admire the beautiful view of the surroundings;

• Gyaur Kala (4th-3rd centuries BC) - the second oldest settlement in Merv. It is famous for its thick walls, each of which is 2 km long. After the excursion, you will be transferred to the hotel. Day 3 Mary - Ashgabat In the morning you will be taken to Mary airport for your flight to Ashgabat. When you arrive in Ashgabat, you will be met and taken to the hotel (check-in at 12:00). Then take a guided tour of Ashgabat with a driver:

• Old Nisa – an impressive archaeological site located just 13 km from the city. Nisa was the capital of the Parthian Empire, founded in the 3rd century BC, and remained in power for almost 500 years. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site;

• Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. It is also called the Turkmenbashi Spirituality Mosque and the Kipchak Mosque. The mosque includes a mausoleum containing the tombs of former President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov and his immediate family;

• The Monument of Neutrality – a 95-metre tower topped with a golden statue of the first President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi), which turns to follow the sun. Take the funicular to the top to visit a small museum and enjoy panoramic views of the city;

• Independence Park, including the yurt-shaped Independence Monument, which houses the Museum of National Values. The museum is surrounded by magnificent fountains, 27 statues of key historical figures of Turkmenistan and a golden sculpture of Saparmurat Niyazov;

• The Lenin Monument, which stands on a base decorated with traditional Turkmen ornaments. After the tour, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Ashgabat. Day 4 Ashgabat - Darvaza - Ashgabat In the morning you will have free time. Then the driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel in Ashgabat and take you to the Darvaza gas crater (280 km, 4-5 hours). Along the way, stop to take photos of the dunes and camels along the way. Admire the mud and water craters. You will arrive at the Darvaza gas crater in the evening to enjoy a breathtaking sunset view and then admire the flames of the crater highlighting the blackness of the sky. The diameter of the fiery crater is about 80 meters and the depth is 30 meters. Seeing this “Gateway to Hell” with your own eyes is an incomparable experience. Then you will enjoy a delicious dinner cooked on a campfire near the crater.

After dinner, you will be transferred to your hotel in Ashgabat. Day 5 Ashgabat, departure Check out from the hotel by noon. You will be transferred to Ashgabat International Airport for your flight to your next destination. End of the classic tour in Turkmenistan.

Silk Road Cities Tour in Turkmenistan

Duration: 4 days

You will visit: Ashgabat, Mary, Merv.

Day 1

Ashgabat. Arrive in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. You will be met at the airport by a driver and taken to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel after 14:00. Free time and rest at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Ashgabat. In the morning, meet your driver and guide at the reception at your hotel in Ashgabat. City tour during which you will visit the following sights and monuments:

• Old Nisa - an impressive archaeological site just 15 km from the city. Nisa was the capital of the Parthian Empire, founded in the 3rd century BC and reigning for almost 500 years. Today, this monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

• Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque - the largest mosque in Central Asia. Also known as the Turkmenbashi Spirituality Mosque and the Kipchak Mosque, it includes a mausoleum containing the tombs of former President Turkmenbashi and his immediate family.

• The Arch (Monument) of Neutrality is a 95-metre tower topped by a golden statue of former President Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi) that rotates to face the sun. A funicular ride to the top of the monument offers a small museum and panoramic views of the city.

• Independence Park, which includes the Independence Monument, built in the form of a yurt, which houses the Museum of Independence, where the country's national treasures are kept. The area around the monument is decorated with luxurious fountains, 27 statues of significant historical figures of Turkmenistan and a golden sculpture of Niyazov himself.

• The Lenin statue is unique in that it stands on a large platform richly decorated with traditional Turkmen ornaments. • The National Museum of History and Ethnography, displaying over half a million items from all regions of the country, including rare and priceless artefacts dating from ancient times to the Middle Ages.

• Gulistan Bazaar (also known as the Russian Bazaar), one of the oldest markets in the city, is a lively place to buy various snacks and mingle with local shoppers. Overnight at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Tour duration: 6 hours

Day 3

Ashgabat – Mary – Merv – Mary. Take a morning flight to Mary (370 km, 40 min). Upon arrival, you will be met by a guide and driver who will accompany you on the journey to Merv (40 km, 40 min), the oldest trading center on the Great Silk Road. During the excursion you will visit the following attractions:

• Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (12th century), which many consider the most magnificent architectural structure of Merv. This mausoleum amazes with its walls, symmetrical proportions and domed roof, which demonstrates the amazing architectural skill of that time.

• Big Kyz-Kala and Small Kyz-Kala (8-9 centuries) - these fortresses are built of clay bricks, in a unique style and have no known archaeological analogues.

• Mausoleum complex of Askhabs (9-12 centuries) - built for the first two companions of the Prophet Muhammad, today is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Turkmenistan.

• Erk Kala (6th century BC) - the oldest fortress of ancient Merv, the remaining walls of which are almost 30 meters high. From above you will have a magnificent view of the surrounding area.

• Gyaur Kala (3rd century BC) is the second oldest fortress in Merv, with walls stretching for 2 km.

• Beni Mahan Mosque (7th-9th centuries), also called Juma Mosque, is located in the center of Gyaur Kala fortress, along with an intact cistern that has survived to this day.

• Mausoleum of Muhammad ibn Zeid (12th century) is a famous Sufi shrine with Arabic inscriptions carved into its walls. After completing the sightseeing tour of Old Merv, return to Mary where you will visit the Mary History Museum. Housed in a three-story marble building, it has six main exhibition halls housing artifacts from various historical periods. Overnight at a hotel in Mary. Tour duration: about 6 hours

Day 4

Mary – Uzbekistan border (Farap/Alat). Morning transfer to the border crossing with Uzbekistan (270 km, 4 hours). End of the tour.

Ancient cities of Turkmenistan

Duration: 6 days You will visit: Ashgabat, Merv, Kunya Urgench.

Day 1

Arrive in Ashgabat Arrive in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. You will be met at the airport by a driver and transferred to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel after 14:00. Free time to relax in the hotel and enjoy its facilities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Ashgabat.

In the morning, meet your driver and guide at the reception of your hotel in Ashgabat. City tour during which you will visit the following sights and monuments:

• Old Nisa - an impressive archaeological site just 15 km from the city. Nisa was the capital of the Parthian Empire, founded in the 3rd century BC and in power for almost 500 years. Today, this monument is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque is the largest mosque in Central Asia. Also known as the Turkmenbashi Spirituality Mosque and the Kipchak Mosque, it includes a mausoleum containing the tombs of former President Turkmenbashi and his immediate family.

• The Arch (Monument) of Neutrality is a 95-meter tower topped by a golden statue of former President Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi) that rotates to face the sun. A funicular ride to the top of the monument offers a small museum and panoramic views of the city.

• Independence Park, which includes the Independence Monument, built in the form of a yurt, which houses the Museum of Independence, where the country's national treasures are kept. The area around the monument is decorated with luxurious fountains, 27 statues of significant historical figures of Turkmenistan and a golden sculpture of Niyazov himself.

• The Lenin statue is unique in that it stands on a large platform richly decorated with traditional Turkmen ornaments.

• The National Museum of History and Ethnography, displaying over half a million items from all regions of the country, including rare and priceless artefacts dating from ancient times to the Middle Ages.

• Gulistan Bazaar (also known as the Russian Bazaar), one of the oldest markets in the city, is a lively place to buy various snacks and mingle with local shoppers. The tour also includes a trip to the Akhal-Teke Stables (approximately 1 hour from Ashgabat), where you will learn about the care and training of these purebred Turkmen horses, known for their incredible speed, agility and graceful beauty. Overnight at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Tour duration: 6 hours

Day 3

Ashgabat – Mary – Merv – Ashgabat Morning flight to Mary (370 km, 40 min). Upon arrival, you will be met by a guide and driver who will accompany you on the trip to Merv (40 km, 40 min), the oldest trading center on the Great Silk Road. During the excursion, you will visit the following attractions:

• The Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (12th century), which many consider to be the most magnificent architectural structure in Merv. This mausoleum amazes with its walls, symmetrical proportions and domed roof, which demonstrates the amazing architectural skill of its time.

• Greater Kyz-Kala and Lesser Kyz-Kala (8th-9th centuries) - these fortresses are built of clay bricks, in a unique style and have no known archaeological analogues.

• The Mausoleum Complex of the Askhabs (9th-12th centuries) - built for the first two companions of the Prophet Muhammad, today it is one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in Turkmenistan.

• Erk Kala (6th century BC) - the oldest fortress of ancient Merv, the remaining walls of which are almost 30 meters high. From above you will have a magnificent view of the surroundings.

• Gyaur Kala (3rd century BC) - the second oldest fortress of Merv, the length of its walls is 2 km.

• Beni Mahan Mosque (7th-9th centuries) - also called Juma Mosque, is located in the center of the Gyaur Kala fortress, along with an intact cistern that has survived to this day.

• Mausoleum of Muhammad ibn Zeyd (12th century) - a famous Sufi shrine with Arabic inscriptions carved on the walls. After completing the Old Merv sightseeing tour, return to Mary where you will visit the Mary History Museum. Housed in a three-story marble building, it has six main exhibition halls housing artifacts from various historical periods. Then transfer to the airport to catch an evening flight back to Ashgabat. Overnight in Ashgabat. Tour duration: about 6 hours

Day 4

Ashgabat – Kunya Urgench Departure by morning flight to Dashoguz (570 km, 50 min). Upon arrival in the city, you will be met at the airport by a driver and guide. Then transfer to Kunya Urgench, the ancient capital of the Khorezm Empire (120 km, 1 hour 30 minutes). During the tour you will visit the following attractions:

• Tyurabek Khanum Mausoleum (14th century) - the burial place of the Mongolian princess, as well as the Said Ahmed Mausoleum (14th century) - the tomb of the leader of the Golden Horde.

• Kutlug Timur Minaret (11th-13th centuries) with a height of 62 meters, which is the tallest minaret in Central Asia.

• Khorezmshah Mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh of the 12th century.

• Kirk Molla Hill - a fortress, famous for its covering an area of ​​three hectares, which includes the famous Mamun Library (8th-9th centuries) and an ancient cemetery, believed to have healing properties.

• Mausoleum of Fakhreddin Razi (the so-called Mausoleum of Arslan II, 13th century) is one of the oldest and most unique structures in all of Central Asia.

• Mausoleum of Najmaddin Kubra (12th century), the founder of the Kubrawiyya Sufi order, which is an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims. • Mausoleum of Sultan Ali (16th century) is an unfinished building intended for a powerful Turkmen ruler, but remained unfinished due to the ongoing war. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5

Ashgabat. Flight to Ashgabat. Free time for walking and shopping in the shopping centers of Ashgabat.

Day 6

Ashgabat.

Check out from the hotel before noon. Transfer to the airport. Return home.