This 3-day Bukhara to Khiva via Turkmenistan tour<\/strong> offers an efficient overland route across the country while combining several of Turkmenistan\u2019s most important cultural and natural highlights.<\/p>\n Starting at the Farap Border<\/strong> from Bukhara, the journey continues to UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv<\/strong> before an overnight sleeper train from Mary to Ashgabat. From the capital, travel north through the Karakum Desert<\/strong>, visit the Water and Mud craters and spend the night near the glowing Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong>.<\/p>\n On the final day, continue across the desert to Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, before exiting Turkmenistan towards Khiva via Shavat<\/strong> or Nukus via Khojeili<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This route is particularly suitable for travellers crossing Central Asia overland who want to combine Bukhara, Turkmenistan and western Uzbekistan within one continuous journey.<\/p>\n Bukhara \/ Farap Border \u2192 Ancient Merv \u2192 Mary \u2192 Overnight Train \u2192 Ashgabat \u2192 Darvaza Gas Crater \u2192 Kunya-Urgench \u2192 Shavat Border (Khiva) \/ Khojeili Border (Nukus)<\/strong><\/p>\n At approximately 09:00<\/strong>, meet our local guide inside the main hall of the Farap Border Control Terminal<\/strong> on the Turkmen side.<\/p>\n While you complete immigration and passport procedures, the border officers will contact our team. Your guide will then enter the terminal and meet you directly using your photograph for identification.<\/p>\n After completing the border formalities, depart the terminal and travel southwest through the Karakum Desert region towards the Merv oasis.<\/p>\n The journey covers approximately 380 km<\/strong> and takes around 3.5\u20134 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Stop in Mary for a traditional local lunch before continuing to the archaeological site.<\/p>\n Explore Ancient Merv<\/strong>, one of the most important historical cities along the Silk Road and today a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological park.<\/p>\n During the visit, discover:<\/p>\n Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar<\/strong> Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala<\/strong> Askhabs Mausoleums and Ancient Sardoba<\/strong> Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala<\/strong> Additional minor historical sites within the park may also be visited on request, depending on the available time.<\/p>\n Return to Mary for a brief orientation drive through the city centre.<\/p>\n In the evening, enjoy a traditional dinner at a local restaurant.<\/p>\n Transfer to Mary Railway Station<\/strong> and board the overnight sleeper train to Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Departure:<\/strong> 23:20<\/p>\n Spend the night aboard the train in a comfortable 4-berth compartment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Overnight train from Mary to Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Arrive at Ashgabat Railway Station at 08:05<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Meet your private driver at the platform and transfer for breakfast.<\/p>\n Begin the morning with a private tour of Ashgabat<\/strong>, the capital of Turkmenistan and a city widely known for its striking white-marble architecture.<\/p>\n The programme is flexible and can combine the city\u2019s modern monuments with sites connected to Turkmenistan\u2019s wider Silk Road history.<\/p>\n Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant before leaving the capital.<\/p>\n In the afternoon, depart Ashgabat and travel north into the Karakum Desert<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The journey to the Darvaza area covers approximately 270 km<\/strong> and takes around 3.5 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Please note that some sections of the road are rough and uneven, so parts of the journey may be bumpy.<\/p>\n On the way through the desert, stop briefly at the Water Crater<\/strong> and Mud Crater<\/strong>.<\/p>\n These stops offer an opportunity to see unusual geological features of the Karakum Desert before continuing towards Darvaza.<\/p>\n Arrive at the Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong>, also known as the Door to Hell<\/strong>, towards the evening.<\/p>\n Watch the desert landscape change around sunset as the flames become increasingly visible against the darkening surroundings.<\/p>\n Enjoy a traditional open-air BBQ dinner prepared by our team at the campsite.<\/p>\n After nightfall, return to the crater area for views and photography beneath the desert sky.<\/p>\n Stay overnight in a traditional Turkmen yurt or comfortable tent campsite<\/strong> near the crater.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Darvaza Gas Crater camp.<\/p>\n Travellers who wish to wake early can make an optional pre-dawn visit to the crater.<\/p>\n See the remaining glow of the flames as morning light gradually spreads across the Karakum Desert.<\/p>\n Return to the camp for breakfast before beginning the journey north towards Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The drive covers approximately 390 km<\/strong> and takes around 5.5 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Some sections of the desert road are rough and uneven, so the journey can be bumpy in places.<\/p>\n Kunya-Urgench was once an important capital of the Khorezm Empire and is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n Explore the main monuments of the archaeological park.<\/p>\n Kutlug-Timur Minaret<\/strong> Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum<\/strong> Mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan<\/strong> Caravanserai Gate<\/strong> Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the border.<\/p>\n The final border transfer can be selected according to your onward journey in Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n Travel south via Dashoguz to the Shavat Border Crossing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The journey is approximately 130 km<\/strong> and takes around 2 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This option is suitable for travellers continuing towards Khiva or Urgench<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Travel north to the nearby Khojeili\u2013Kunya-Urgench Border Crossing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The journey is approximately 35 km<\/strong> and takes around 45 minutes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This option is suitable for travellers continuing towards Nukus or Muynak<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Arrive at your selected border terminal.<\/p>\n Our team will escort and assist you with the Turkmen customs and departure immigration procedures in accordance with official border regulations.<\/p>\n End of Tour Services<\/strong><\/p>\n Travel from Bukhara to Khiva or Nukus via Turkmenistan<\/strong> on this compact 3-day transit journey combining UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv<\/strong>, an overnight train to Ashgabat, the Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong>, the Karakum Desert and historic Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>. Enter through the Farap Border, cross Turkmenistan from east to north, spend a night near Darvaza and continue into Uzbekistan via Shavat for Khiva or Khojeili for Nukus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[111],"product_tag":[],"dts_route_point":[125,123,122,124,145,113,143,174,112],"class_list":["post-1955","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-misc","first","instock","shipping-taxable","product-type-simple"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRoute<\/h2>\n
Tour Highlights<\/h2>\n
\n
Day 1 \u2013 Farap Border, Ancient Merv and Overnight Train to Ashgabat<\/h2>\n
Farap Border Meeting<\/h3>\n
Transfer from Farap to Ancient Merv<\/h3>\n
Lunch in Mary<\/h3>\n
Guided Tour of Ancient Merv<\/h3>\n
\nVisit this remarkable 12th-century Seljuk monument, recognised for its monumental architecture and double-dome structure.<\/p>\n
\nExplore the distinctive corrugated mud-brick fortresses dating from the 7th to 12th centuries.<\/p>\n
\nSee the historic mausoleum complex and an ancient desert water-storage structure.<\/p>\n
\nDiscover the remains of the enormous ancient citadels overlooking the wider archaeological landscape of Merv.<\/p>\nMary City Drive and Dinner<\/h3>\n
Overnight Train from Mary to Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Day 2 \u2013 Ashgabat, Karakum Desert and Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h2>\n
Arrival in Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Ashgabat City Highlights<\/h3>\n
Lunch in Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Drive into the Karakum Desert<\/h3>\n
Water Crater and Mud Crater<\/h3>\n
Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h3>\n
BBQ Dinner and Desert Evening<\/h3>\n
Overnight Near Darvaza<\/h3>\n
Day 3 \u2013 Darvaza, Kunya-Urgench and Border Transfer to Khiva or Nukus<\/h2>\n
Optional Darvaza Sunrise<\/h3>\n
Breakfast and Drive to Kunya-Urgench<\/h3>\n
Kunya-Urgench Historical Tour<\/h3>\n
\nSee the towering medieval minaret, one of the most recognisable monuments of Kunya-Urgench.<\/p>\n
\nVisit the historic mausoleum known for its elaborate geometric ceiling decoration.<\/p>\n
\nDiscover two important medieval monuments distinguished by their characteristic conical domes.<\/p>\n
\nSee a surviving reminder of the historic Silk Road trading routes that once crossed the region.<\/p>\nLunch in Kunya-Urgench<\/h3>\n
Continue to Khiva or Nukus<\/h2>\n
Option A \u2013 Shavat Border for Khiva or Urgench<\/h3>\n
Option B \u2013 Khojeili Border for Nukus or Muynak<\/h3>\n
Border Formalities and Departure<\/h3>\n
No scheduled departure dates are currently available. Contact Darwaza Travel to request a private tour or your preferred travel date.<\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"