About This 4-Day Khiva to Khiva or Nukus Transit Tour
This 4-day Turkmenistan transit tour from Khiva to Khiva or Nukus via Darvaza combines the Karakum Desert, Ashgabat and UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench in one circular overland journey.
Enter Turkmenistan through the Shavat border near Khiva and travel via Dashoguz into the Central Karakum Desert. Spend your first night in a traditional Turkmen yurt beside the glowing Darvaza Gas Crater.
The following day, travel south to Ashgabat, stopping at the Water and Mud craters along the way. Explore the capital’s distinctive white-marble architecture before staying overnight at a hotel.
Day three provides a fuller exploration of Ashgabat before you board the 20:30 overnight train to Dashoguz. On the final day, visit Kunya-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before choosing the most convenient border crossing for your onward journey to Khiva, Urgench, Nukus or Muynak.
This route is particularly suitable for travellers who want to enter Turkmenistan from Khiva, experience Darvaza and Ashgabat, visit Kunya-Urgench and return to Uzbekistan without retracing the entire journey by road.
Route
Khiva → Shavat Border → Dashoguz → Darvaza Gas Crater → Water Crater → Mud Crater → Ashgabat → Overnight Train → Dashoguz → Kunya-Urgench → Shavat Border (Khiva / Urgench) or Hojaili Border (Nukus / Muynak)
Tour Highlights
- Enter Turkmenistan through the Shavat border from Khiva
- Stop in Dashoguz for lunch and a local bazaar visit
- Cross the Central Karakum Desert
- Watch sunset at the Darvaza Gas Crater
- Enjoy a traditional BBQ dinner
- Overnight in a Turkmen yurt beside Darvaza
- Visit the Water Crater and Mud Crater
- Explore Ashgabat’s white-marble architecture
- Enjoy a full additional day of sightseeing in Ashgabat
- Travel overnight by train from Ashgabat to Dashoguz
- Explore UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench
- Visit the Kutlug-Timur Minaret and Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum
- Choose between Shavat for Khiva / Urgench or Hojaili for Nukus / Muynak
Day 1 – Shavat Border, Dashoguz and Darvaza Gas Crater
Meet at the Shavat Border
At approximately 10:00 AM, meet our local guide inside the main hall of the Shavat Border Control Terminal on the Turkmen side.
As you complete migration and passport formalities, the border officers will contact our team. Your guide will enter the terminal and recognise you using your photograph.
Dashoguz Stop
Travel to Dashoguz for a traditional local lunch.
Afterwards, visit the local bazaar to experience everyday city life and purchase fresh fruit, snacks or other supplies for the desert journey.
Drive Across the Karakum Desert
Leave Dashoguz and travel south towards Darvaza through the Central Karakum Desert.
The journey covers approximately 300 km and takes around 4–4.5 hours.
Please note that some sections of the road are rough and uneven, so parts of the drive may be bumpy.
Darvaza Gas Crater
Arrive at the Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as the Door to Hell, towards sunset.
Watch the desert gradually darken as the glow of the burning crater becomes increasingly visible.
BBQ Dinner and Desert Evening
Enjoy a traditional open-air BBQ dinner freshly prepared by our team at the yurt camp.
After nightfall, spend time near the crater and enjoy opportunities for photography beneath the desert sky.
Overnight at Darvaza
Stay overnight in a traditional Turkmen yurt at the crater camp.
Overnight: Darvaza yurt camp.
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.
Experience the changing morning light as the flames remain visible before sunrise over the Karakum Desert.
Breakfast and Departure
Enjoy breakfast at the yurt camp before beginning the journey south towards Ashgabat.
The route covers approximately 270 km and takes around 3.5 hours.
Some sections of the desert road are rough and uneven, so the journey may be bumpy in places.
Water Crater and Mud Crater
On the way to Ashgabat, make short stops at the Water Crater and Mud Crater.
These unusual geological features offer another perspective on the landscapes of the Karakum Desert.
Lunch in Ashgabat
Upon arrival in the capital, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Ashgabat City Tour
After lunch, begin exploring Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s distinctive white-marble capital.
The programme can be adapted to your pace and interests and may combine modern architecture, historical monuments and cultural sites.
Overnight in Ashgabat
Stay overnight at a hotel in Ashgabat.
Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat.
Day 3 – Full Ashgabat Tour and Overnight Train to Dashoguz
Breakfast and Ashgabat City Tour
After breakfast, continue your private exploration of Ashgabat.
The day is designed to cover the remaining major landmarks and cultural sites at a comfortable pace.
Your guide can adjust the programme according to your interests and the places already visited on Day 2.
Lunch
Pause for a relaxed lunch at a local restaurant before continuing the afternoon sightseeing programme.
Afternoon Ashgabat Discovery
Continue exploring the capital through the afternoon, with the itinerary adapted to available time and your personal preferences.
Dinner Options
Before the train departure, choose between a sit-down dinner at a local café or restaurant, or prepare travel snacks and takeaway food for the overnight journey.
Transfer to Ashgabat Railway Station
Transfer to Ashgabat Railway Station.
Board the overnight train to Dashoguz, departing at 20:30.
Travel in a comfortable 4-berth compartment.
Overnight Train
Spend the night aboard the train.
Overnight: Overnight train to Dashoguz.
Day 4 – Dashoguz, Kunya-Urgench and Uzbekistan Border
Arrival in Dashoguz
Arrive in Dashoguz at 08:45 AM.
Meet your private driver at the railway station and refresh before beginning the day’s programme.
Drive to Kunya-Urgench
Travel approximately 100 km from Dashoguz to Kunya-Urgench.
The drive takes around 1.5–2 hours.
Kunya-Urgench was an important centre of historic Khorezm and is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kunya-Urgench Historical Tour
Explore the principal monuments of the historical park with your guide.
Kutlug-Timur Minaret
See one of the most impressive surviving medieval minarets in Central Asia.
Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum
Visit the historic mausoleum known for its elaborate geometric ceiling decoration.
Mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan
Explore two significant medieval monuments distinguished by their characteristic conical domes.
Caravanserai Gate
See a surviving reminder of Kunya-Urgench’s role on the historic Silk Road trade routes.
Lunch in Kunya-Urgench
Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant in Kunya-Urgench.
Border Transfer Options
Choose the most convenient crossing according to your onward route in Uzbekistan.
Option A – Shavat Border for Khiva or Urgench
Travel south via Dashoguz towards the Shavat border crossing.
The journey covers approximately 130 km and takes around 2 hours.
This option is suitable for travellers continuing towards Khiva or Urgench.
Option B – Hojaili Border for Nukus or Muynak
Travel north to the nearby Hojaili–Kunya-Urgench border crossing.
The journey covers approximately 35 km and takes around 45 minutes.
This option is suitable for travellers continuing towards Nukus or Muynak.
Border Formalities and Exit
Upon arrival at the selected border terminal, our team will escort you and assist with Turkmen customs and departure immigration formalities in accordance with official border permit regulations.
After crossing into Uzbekistan, continue towards your chosen destination.
End of Tour Services
