About This 5-Day Turkmenistan Tour
This 5-day Turkmenistan round-trip tour from Ashgabat brings together some of the country’s most contrasting experiences in one circular itinerary: the burning Darvaza Gas Crater, the white-marble capital, the dramatic landscapes of Yangykala Canyon and the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ancient Merv.
Begin in Ashgabat before travelling north into the Karakum Desert for an unforgettable night beside the Darvaza Gas Crater, staying in a traditional Turkmen yurt or comfortable tent.
Return to Ashgabat and then fly west to Turkmenbashi on the Caspian coast. From there, travel across the desert to the colourful cliffs of Yangykala Canyon, before continuing to Balkanabat and taking an overnight train back to the capital.
The journey then turns east towards Ancient Merv, one of the great historical centres of the Silk Road. A cultural visit to Turkmen Ojagy adds an ethnographic experience with Alabay dogs, Bactrian camels, traditional Turkmen clothing and bread baking before the final return to Ashgabat.
This itinerary is well suited to travellers who want to experience desert landscapes, modern architecture, Silk Road history and traditional Turkmen culture within one 5-day circular journey.
Tour Route
Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) → Ashgabat → Darvaza Gas Crater → Water Crater → Mud Crater → Ashgabat → Turkmenbashi → Yangykala Canyon → Balkanabat → Overnight Train → Ashgabat → Ancient Merv → Turkmen Ojagy → Mary → Ashgabat → Ashgabat International Airport (ASB)
Tour Highlights
- Start and finish at Ashgabat International Airport
- Explore the white-marble architecture of Ashgabat
- Cross the Karakum Desert
- Watch sunset at the Darvaza Gas Crater
- Enjoy a traditional BBQ dinner in the desert
- Stay overnight in a Turkmen yurt or comfortable tent
- Visit the Water and Mud craters
- Fly from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi
- Experience the Caspian coast
- Optional visit to Gozli Ata
- Explore the colourful Yangykala Canyon
- Travel overnight by train from Balkanabat to Ashgabat
- Discover UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv
- Visit the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum and Kyz Kala fortresses
- Experience Turkmen culture at Turkmen Ojagy
- Meet Alabay dogs and Bactrian camels
- Try traditional Turkmen clothing
- Join a bread-baking experience at a tamdyr oven
- Return to Ashgabat for your international departure
Day 1 – Ashgabat and Darvaza Gas Crater
Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport
Upon arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (ASB), complete customs and immigration formalities.
Our guide or driver will meet you at the arrivals area and recognise you using the photograph provided in advance.
Breakfast and Refreshment Stop
Transfer to a local restaurant for breakfast and time to refresh before beginning the sightseeing programme.
Ashgabat City Highlights
Start with a morning orientation tour of Ashgabat, often recognised for its distinctive white-marble architecture.
Discover monumental buildings, wide modern avenues and carefully landscaped parks.
Lunch
Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.
Drive into the Karakum Desert
In the afternoon, leave Ashgabat and travel north towards Darvaza.
The journey covers approximately 270 km and takes around 3.5 hours.
Please note that some sections of the road are rough and uneven, so parts of the journey may be bumpy.
Darvaza Gas Crater
Arrive at the spectacular Darvaza Gas Crater towards sunset.
Watch the desert gradually darken as the glow of the burning crater becomes more visible.
BBQ Dinner and Desert Evening
Enjoy a traditional open-air BBQ dinner prepared by our team at the campsite.
After dark, spend time near the crater and enjoy excellent opportunities for night photography beneath the desert stars.
Overnight at Darvaza
Stay overnight in a traditional Turkmen yurt or comfortable tent campsite near the crater.
Overnight: Darvaza campsite.
Day 2 – Darvaza, Desert Craters and Ashgabat
Optional Sunrise Experience
Travellers who wish to wake early can make an optional pre-dawn visit to the crater.
See the flames against the changing morning light before sunrise over the Karakum Desert.
Breakfast and Departure
Enjoy breakfast at the camp before beginning the journey back to Ashgabat.
The drive covers approximately 270 km and takes around 3.5 hours.
Some sections of the road remain rough and uneven, so the journey may be bumpy.
Water Crater and Mud Crater
On the way back to the capital, stop briefly at the Water Crater and Mud Crater.
These unusual geological sites provide another perspective on the varied desert landscape.
Lunch in Ashgabat
Enjoy lunch after arriving in Ashgabat.
Ashgabat City Tour
Spend the afternoon exploring the city’s remaining landmarks, museums or local bazaars that were not visited on the first day.
The programme can be adjusted to your interests and can also provide time for souvenir shopping.
Overnight in Ashgabat
Stay overnight at a hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat.
Day 3 – Turkmenbashi, Yangykala Canyon and Overnight Train
Morning Flight to Turkmenbashi
Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for the morning flight to Turkmenbashi, departing at 10:40 AM.
Meet your driver after arrival at the coastal airport.
Lunch
Enjoy fresh seafood or a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.
Drive towards Yangykala
Leave Turkmenbashi and travel east into the desert towards the canyon region.
Optional Gozli Ata Visit
If time permits, make a short visit to Gozli Ata, one of Turkmenistan’s well-known pilgrimage sites, located among striking white and pink cliffs.
Yangykala Canyon
Continue towards the dramatic Yangykala Canyon, approximately 160 km from Turkmenbashi.
Explore the plateau and admire the vast red and pink limestone formations, shaped on the ancient floor of the Tethys Ocean.
Drive to Balkanabat
Leave the canyon in the late afternoon and travel towards Balkanabat.
The drive takes approximately 2.5 hours.
Dinner
Enjoy a warm dinner at a local restaurant in Balkanabat.
Overnight Train to Ashgabat
Transfer to Balkanabat Railway Station.
Board the overnight train to Ashgabat, departing at 21:10.
Accommodation is provided in a comfortable 4-berth compartment.
Overnight: Overnight train to Ashgabat.
Day 4 – Ancient Merv and Turkmen Ojagy
Arrival in Ashgabat
Arrive in Ashgabat at 06:15 AM.
Meet your private driver at the railway station.
Drive to the Mary Region
Depart Ashgabat in the morning along the modern high-speed motorway towards the Mary region.
The journey covers approximately 360 km.
Breakfast En Route
Stop at a roadside restaurant for a fresh, warm breakfast.
Ancient Merv Guided Tour
Explore the vast archaeological park of Ancient Merv, one of the great historical centres of the Silk Road and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar
Visit the 12th-century Seljuk mausoleum, famous for its monumental architecture and double-dome construction.
Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala
See the distinctive mud-brick fortresses with their characteristic corrugated walls, dating from approximately the 7th to 12th centuries.
Askhabs Mausoleums and Ancient Sardoba
Visit the sacred burial sites associated with the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.
The surrounding area also includes medieval public baths and an ancient sardoba, a traditional desert water-storage structure.
Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala
Explore the ancient citadels and take in panoramic views across the archaeological landscape.
Ancient Merv contains many additional ruins, and smaller historical sites within the park can be visited on request depending on available time and personal interest.
Turkmen Ojagy Ethnographic Experience
After the historical tour, visit the nearby Turkmen Ojagy complex for a cultural experience and traditional lunch.
Alabay Dogs and Camels
Meet Alabay dogs, one of Turkmenistan’s most recognised national breeds, and take photographs with Bactrian camels.
Traditional Turkmen Clothing
Try authentic Turkmen costumes, including traditional telpek hats and silver-decorated clothing, for photographs inside a traditional yurt.
Bread-Baking Experience
Take part in a hands-on demonstration at a traditional tamdyr clay oven and learn how Turkmen chorek flatbread is prepared.
Dinner in Mary
Enjoy a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant in Mary.
Overnight in Mary
Stay overnight at a hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Mary.
Day 5 – Mary to Ashgabat and Departure
Breakfast and Check-out
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Mary and check out.
Drive Back to Ashgabat
Depart Mary in the morning and travel west along the modern high-speed motorway towards Ashgabat.
The journey covers approximately 360 km and takes around 3.5–4 hours.
Farewell Lunch in Ashgabat
Arrive in the capital and enjoy a farewell lunch at a city restaurant.
Final Ashgabat Sightseeing
Depending on your international flight schedule, enjoy a flexible final drive through Ashgabat.
This can include architectural landmarks, photogenic monuments or cultural sites that were not visited earlier in the programme.
Airport Transfer
Private transfer to Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) for your international departure.
End of Tour Services
