This 4-day Turkmenistan transit tour from Khiva to Khiva or Nukus via Darvaza<\/strong> combines the Karakum Desert, Ashgabat and UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench in one circular overland journey.<\/p>\n Enter Turkmenistan through the Shavat border<\/strong> 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The following day, travel south to Ashgabat<\/strong>, stopping at the Water and Mud craters along the way. Explore the capital\u2019s distinctive white-marble architecture before staying overnight at a hotel.<\/p>\n Day three provides a fuller exploration of Ashgabat before you board the 20:30 overnight train to Dashoguz<\/strong>. On the final day, visit Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before choosing the most convenient border crossing for your onward journey to Khiva, Urgench, Nukus or Muynak<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Khiva \u2192 Shavat Border \u2192 Dashoguz \u2192 Darvaza Gas Crater \u2192 Water Crater \u2192 Mud Crater \u2192 Ashgabat \u2192 Overnight Train \u2192 Dashoguz \u2192 Kunya-Urgench \u2192 Shavat Border (Khiva \/ Urgench) or Hojaili Border (Nukus \/ Muynak)<\/strong><\/p>\n At approximately 10:00 AM<\/strong>, meet our local guide inside the main hall of the Shavat Border Control Terminal<\/strong> on the Turkmen side.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Travel to Dashoguz<\/strong> for a traditional local lunch.<\/p>\n Afterwards, visit the local bazaar to experience everyday city life and purchase fresh fruit, snacks or other supplies for the desert journey.<\/p>\n Leave Dashoguz and travel south towards Darvaza through the Central Karakum Desert<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The journey 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 parts of the drive may be bumpy.<\/p>\n Arrive at the Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong>, also known as the Door to Hell<\/strong>, towards sunset.<\/p>\n Watch the desert gradually darken as the glow of the burning crater becomes 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 near the crater and enjoy opportunities for photography beneath the desert sky.<\/p>\n Stay overnight 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 Experience the changing morning light as the flames remain visible before sunrise over the Karakum Desert.<\/p>\n Enjoy breakfast at the yurt camp before beginning the journey south towards Ashgabat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The route covers approximately 270 km<\/strong> and takes around 3.5 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Some sections of the desert road are rough and uneven, so the journey may be bumpy in places.<\/p>\n On the way to Ashgabat, make short stops at the Water Crater<\/strong> and Mud Crater<\/strong>.<\/p>\n These unusual geological features offer another perspective on the landscapes of the Karakum Desert.<\/p>\n Upon arrival in the capital, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.<\/p>\n After lunch, begin exploring Ashgabat<\/strong>, Turkmenistan\u2019s distinctive white-marble capital.<\/p>\n The programme can be adapted to your pace and interests and may combine modern architecture, historical monuments and cultural sites.<\/p>\n Stay overnight at a hotel in Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Hotel in Ashgabat.<\/p>\n After breakfast, continue your private exploration of Ashgabat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The day is designed to cover the remaining major landmarks and cultural sites at a comfortable pace.<\/p>\n Your guide can adjust the programme according to your interests and the places already visited on Day 2.<\/p>\n Pause for a relaxed lunch at a local restaurant before continuing the afternoon sightseeing programme.<\/p>\n Continue exploring the capital through the afternoon, with the itinerary adapted to available time and your personal preferences.<\/p>\n Before the train departure, choose between a sit-down dinner at a local caf\u00e9 or restaurant, or prepare travel snacks and takeaway food for the overnight journey.<\/p>\n Transfer to Ashgabat Railway Station<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Board the overnight train to Dashoguz, departing at 20:30<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Travel in a comfortable 4-berth compartment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Spend the night aboard the train.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Overnight train to Dashoguz.<\/p>\n Arrive in Dashoguz at 08:45 AM<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Meet your private driver at the railway station and refresh before beginning the day\u2019s programme.<\/p>\n Travel approximately 100 km<\/strong> from Dashoguz to Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The drive takes around 1.5\u20132 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Kunya-Urgench was an important centre of historic Khorezm and is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n Explore the principal monuments of the historical park with your guide.<\/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 in Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Choose the most convenient crossing according to your onward route in Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n Travel south via Dashoguz<\/strong> towards the Shavat border crossing.<\/p>\n The journey covers 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 Hojaili\u2013Kunya-Urgench border crossing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The journey covers 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 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.<\/p>\n After crossing into Uzbekistan, continue towards your chosen destination.<\/p>\n End of Tour Services<\/strong><\/p>\n This 4-day Khiva to Khiva or Nukus tour via Turkmenistan<\/strong> combines the Darvaza Gas Crater, Ashgabat and UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench in one circular overland journey. Enter through Shavat, spend a night in a traditional yurt near Darvaza, explore Ashgabat, travel overnight by train to Dashoguz, and finish through either the Shavat border for Khiva or the Hojaili border for Nukus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2112,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[111],"product_tag":[],"dts_route_point":[125,123,122,124,105,113,229,112],"class_list":["post-2110","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, Dashoguz and Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h2>\n
Meet at the Shavat Border<\/h3>\n
Dashoguz Stop<\/h3>\n
Drive Across the Karakum Desert<\/h3>\n
Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h3>\n
BBQ Dinner and Desert Evening<\/h3>\n
Overnight at Darvaza<\/h3>\n
Day 2 \u2013 Darvaza, Desert Craters and Ashgabat<\/h2>\n
Optional Sunrise Experience<\/h3>\n
Breakfast and Departure<\/h3>\n
Water Crater and Mud Crater<\/h3>\n
Lunch in Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Ashgabat City Tour<\/h3>\n
Overnight in Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Day 3 \u2013 Full Ashgabat Tour and Overnight Train to Dashoguz<\/h2>\n
Breakfast and Ashgabat City Tour<\/h3>\n
Lunch<\/h3>\n
Afternoon Ashgabat Discovery<\/h3>\n
Dinner Options<\/h3>\n
Transfer to Ashgabat Railway Station<\/h3>\n
Overnight Train<\/h3>\n
Day 4 \u2013 Dashoguz, Kunya-Urgench and Uzbekistan Border<\/h2>\n
Arrival in Dashoguz<\/h3>\n
Drive to Kunya-Urgench<\/h3>\n
Kunya-Urgench Historical Tour<\/h3>\n
\nSee one of the most impressive surviving medieval minarets in Central Asia.<\/p>\n
\nVisit the historic mausoleum known for its elaborate geometric ceiling decoration.<\/p>\n
\nExplore two significant medieval monuments distinguished by their characteristic conical domes.<\/p>\n
\nSee a surviving reminder of Kunya-Urgench\u2019s role on the historic Silk Road trade routes.<\/p>\nLunch in Kunya-Urgench<\/h3>\n
Border Transfer Options<\/h2>\n
Option A \u2013 Shavat Border for Khiva or Urgench<\/h3>\n
Option B \u2013 Hojaili Border for Nukus or Muynak<\/h3>\n
Border Formalities and Exit<\/h3>\n
No scheduled departure dates are currently available. Contact Darwaza Travel to request a private tour or choose your preferred travel date.<\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"