This 3-day Kunya-Urgench and Darvaza Gas Crater tour from Khiva<\/strong> combines the medieval heritage of northern Turkmenistan with an overnight desert experience beside the famous Darvaza Gas Crater.<\/p>\n Starting at the Shavat Border<\/strong>, travel to UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench<\/strong> to explore its remarkable Silk Road monuments. The journey then continues through Dashoguz and the ancient ruins of Izmukshir Fortress<\/strong> before crossing the Central Karakum Desert to Darvaza.<\/p>\n Spend the evening beside the burning crater, enjoy a traditional BBQ dinner and stay overnight in a Turkmen yurt. On the final day, travel back across the desert to Dashoguz before returning to Uzbekistan through the Shavat Border.<\/p>\n This route is particularly suitable for travellers staying in Khiva or Urgench<\/strong> who want to visit Kunya-Urgench and Darvaza without travelling south to Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Khiva \/ Shavat Border \u2192 Kunya-Urgench \u2192 Dashoguz \u2192 Izmukshir Fortress \u2192 Darvaza Gas Crater \u2192 Dashoguz \u2192 Shavat Border \/ Khiva<\/strong><\/p>\n At approximately 10:00<\/strong>, meet our local guide inside the main hall of the Shavat Border Control Terminal<\/strong> on the Turkmen side.<\/p>\n While you complete migration 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 Depart the border and travel towards Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>, approximately 96 km<\/strong> away.<\/p>\n The drive takes around 1.5 hours<\/strong>.<\/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 Enjoy a traditional lunch upon arrival in Kunya-Urgench or en route in Dashoguz, depending on the exact timing of the day.<\/p>\n Explore the main monuments of the historic archaeological park.<\/p>\n Kutlug-Timur Minaret<\/strong> Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum<\/strong> Mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan<\/strong> Caravanserai Gate<\/strong> After the tour, drive back to Dashoguz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Enjoy a brief evening orientation drive through the city to experience local life before dinner at a local restaurant.<\/p>\n Stay overnight at a hotel in Dashoguz.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Hotel in Dashoguz.<\/p>\n At 08:00<\/strong>, enjoy breakfast at the hotel before beginning the day\u2019s programme.<\/p>\n Visit the lively Bai Bazaar<\/strong> in Dashoguz.<\/p>\n Walk through the local market, experience everyday life and purchase fresh fruit, snacks or other supplies for the journey into the desert.<\/p>\n Depart Dashoguz and travel approximately 25 km<\/strong> to the ancient Izmukshir Fortress<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Explore the massive clay ruins of this historic site, known as the birthplace of the medieval scholar Al-Zamakhshari<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Continue towards Darvaza through the Central Karakum Desert<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The drive covers approximately 300 km<\/strong> and takes around 4\u20134.5 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Please note that some sections of the road are rough and uneven, so the journey may be bumpy in places.<\/p>\n Stop for a traditional lunch at a roadside teahouse in a local settlement before continuing deeper into the desert.<\/p>\n Arrive at the spectacular Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong>, also known as the Door to Hell<\/strong>, towards sunset.<\/p>\n Watch the surrounding desert gradually darken as the flames become increasingly visible.<\/p>\n Enjoy a traditional open-air BBQ dinner freshly prepared by our team at the yurt camp.<\/p>\n After nightfall, spend time beside the burning crater and enjoy opportunities for evening photography beneath the desert sky.<\/p>\n Spend the night in a traditional Turkmen yurt<\/strong> at the crater camp.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Darvaza yurt camp.<\/p>\n Travellers who wish to wake early can make an optional pre-dawn visit to the crater.<\/p>\n See the flames against the early morning light as sunrise gradually illuminates the Karakum Desert.<\/p>\n Return to the yurt camp for breakfast, pack your belongings and begin the return journey across the Karakum Desert towards Dashoguz.<\/p>\n The drive covers approximately 300 km<\/strong> and takes around 4\u20134.5 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Arrive in Dashoguz<\/strong> and enjoy a farewell lunch at a traditional local restaurant.<\/p>\n This is an opportunity to sample regional dishes before continuing to the border.<\/p>\n After lunch, take a short drive to the Shavat Border Checkpoint<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The transfer takes approximately 15\u201320 minutes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n At approximately 15:00<\/strong>, arrive at the border terminal.<\/p>\n Our team will escort and assist you with Turkmen customs and departure immigration procedures in accordance with official border regulations.<\/p>\n End of Tour Services<\/strong><\/p>\n This 3-day Kunya-Urgench and Darvaza Gas Crater tour from Khiva<\/strong> combines UNESCO-listed history, desert landscapes and a yurt overnight near the burning Darvaza crater. Travel from the Shavat Border to Kunya-Urgench, Dashoguz and Izmukshir Fortress before crossing the Karakum Desert and returning to Khiva.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[111],"product_tag":[],"dts_route_point":[105,120,113,112,108],"class_list":["post-1988","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 Shavat Border, Kunya-Urgench and Dashoguz<\/h2>\n
Meeting at Shavat Border<\/h3>\n
Drive to Kunya-Urgench<\/h3>\n
Lunch<\/h3>\n
Kunya-Urgench Historical Tour<\/h3>\n
\nSee the impressive medieval minaret, one of the defining landmarks of Kunya-Urgench.<\/p>\n
\nVisit this important medieval mausoleum, renowned for its intricate geometric ceiling decoration.<\/p>\n
\nDiscover two distinctive medieval monuments featuring characteristic conical domes.<\/p>\n
\nSee a surviving reminder of Kunya-Urgench\u2019s historic role along the Silk Road trade routes.<\/p>\nReturn to Dashoguz<\/h3>\n
Overnight in Dashoguz<\/h3>\n
Day 2 \u2013 Dashoguz, Izmukshir Fortress and Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h2>\n
Breakfast<\/h3>\n
Bai Bazaar<\/h3>\n
Izmukshir Fortress<\/h3>\n
Journey Across the Karakum Desert<\/h3>\n
Lunch En Route<\/h3>\n
Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h3>\n
BBQ Dinner and Desert Evening<\/h3>\n
Overnight at Darvaza<\/h3>\n
Day 3 \u2013 Darvaza, Dashoguz and Return to Khiva<\/h2>\n
Optional Sunrise at Darvaza<\/h3>\n
Breakfast and Departure<\/h3>\n
Dashoguz and Farewell Lunch<\/h3>\n
Transfer to Shavat Border<\/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":"