This 5-day Turkmenistan transit tour from Ashgabat to Bukhara via Gonur Depe<\/strong> combines the country\u2019s modern capital, UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Karakum Desert and one of Turkmenistan\u2019s most remarkable Bronze Age archaeological sites.<\/p>\n Begin with a private tour of Ashgabat<\/strong> before flying north to Dashoguz and exploring the medieval monuments of Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>. Continue across the Central Karakum Desert to the famous Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong>, where you will spend the night in a traditional Turkmen yurt.<\/p>\n After returning to Ashgabat, travel east along the motorway to discover UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv<\/strong> and experience traditional culture at Turkmen Ojagy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n On the final day, venture off-road into the desert to visit Gonur Depe<\/strong>, the archaeological centre of ancient Margiana. From there, continue through Bayramaly and Turkmenabat, stop beside the Amu Darya River and cross the Farap border<\/strong> for your onward journey to Bukhara.<\/p>\n This route is ideal for travellers seeking an in-depth Ashgabat to Bukhara overland tour through Turkmenistan<\/strong>, combining major landmarks with lesser-visited archaeological sites.<\/p>\n Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) \u2192 Ashgabat \u2192 Dashoguz \u2192 Kunya-Urgench \u2192 Dashoguz \u2192 Darvaza Gas Crater \u2192 Water Crater \u2192 Mud Crater \u2192 Ashgabat \u2192 Ancient Merv \u2192 Turkmen Ojagy \u2192 Mary \u2192 Gonur Depe \u2192 Bayramaly \u2192 Turkmenabat \u2192 Amu Darya River \u2192 Farap Border \u2192 Bukhara<\/strong><\/p>\n Upon arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (ASB)<\/strong>, complete customs and immigration formalities.<\/p>\n Our guide or driver will meet you in the arrivals area and recognise you using the photograph provided in advance.<\/p>\n Transfer to a local restaurant for breakfast and time to refresh after your flight.<\/p>\n Begin your journey with a private and flexible exploration of Ashgabat<\/strong>, Turkmenistan\u2019s distinctive white-marble capital.<\/p>\n Your guide can adapt the sightseeing programme to your pace and interests, combining monumental architecture, cultural sites, modern avenues and places connected with the history of Turkmenistan and the Silk Road.<\/p>\n The programme includes comfortable breaks for a traditional lunch and a relaxed dinner at local restaurants.<\/p>\n Stay overnight at a hotel in Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Hotel in Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Transfer to Ashgabat Domestic Airport for an early morning flight to Dashoguz<\/strong>, with departure at approximately 06:00 AM<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Your hotel will prepare a breakfast box for the journey.<\/p>\n Upon arrival in Dashoguz, meet your local driver.<\/p>\n Travel approximately 100 km<\/strong> 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Explore the principal monuments of the archaeological park.<\/p>\n See one of the most impressive surviving medieval minarets in Central Asia.<\/p>\n Visit the historic mausoleum known for its elaborate geometric ceiling decoration.<\/p>\n Explore important medieval monuments distinguished by their characteristic conical domes.<\/p>\n See a surviving reminder of Kunya-Urgench\u2019s role as an important trading centre on the Silk Road.<\/p>\n Return to Dashoguz<\/strong> for a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.<\/p>\n Afterwards, visit the local bazaar to purchase fresh fruit, snacks and supplies for the journey into the desert.<\/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 Some sections of the road are rough and uneven, so parts of the drive may be bumpy.<\/p>\n Arrive at the famous Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong>, also known as the Door to Hell<\/strong>, towards sunset.<\/p>\n Watch the desert darken as the glow of the burning crater becomes increasingly visible.<\/p>\n Enjoy a traditional BBQ dinner freshly prepared by our team at the yurt camp.<\/p>\n Depending on the season, dinner can be served outdoors or inside a heated yurt.<\/p>\n Spend the evening near the crater, enjoying the desert sky and opportunities for night photography.<\/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 walk to the crater.<\/p>\n Experience the changing morning light over the Karakum Desert while the flames remain visible before sunrise.<\/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 The drive includes further stretches of rough desert road.<\/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 Spend the afternoon visiting any major landmarks, museums or cultural sites that were not covered on the first day.<\/p>\n You may also visit the Russian Bazaar<\/strong> to look for local products, handicrafts and souvenirs.<\/p>\n Enjoy a relaxed evening in Ashgabat with dinner at a recommended local restaurant.<\/p>\n Stay overnight at a hotel.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Hotel in Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Ashgabat and check out.<\/p>\n Depart Ashgabat along the modern high-speed motorway towards the Mary region.<\/p>\n The journey covers approximately 360 km<\/strong> and takes around 4 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Explore Ancient Merv<\/strong>, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the great historical cities of the Silk Road.<\/p>\n Visit the monumental 12th-century Seljuk mausoleum, known for its distinctive double-dome construction.<\/p>\n Explore the iconic mud-brick fortresses with their characteristic corrugated walls, dating from approximately the 7th to 12th centuries.<\/p>\n Visit sacred burial sites associated with the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, together with an ancient desert water-storage system.<\/p>\n Explore the massive ancient citadels and enjoy views across the archaeological landscape.<\/p>\n Additional smaller monuments within Ancient Merv can be visited upon request, depending on available time.<\/p>\n After exploring Merv, visit the nearby Turkmen Ojagy<\/strong> complex for a cultural experience and traditional lunch.<\/p>\n Meet Turkmen Alabay dogs<\/strong> and take photographs with Bactrian camels.<\/p>\n Try traditional Turkmen clothing, including telpek hats<\/strong> and silver-decorated garments, for photographs inside a traditional yurt.<\/p>\n Take part in a practical demonstration at a traditional tamdyr clay oven<\/strong> and learn how Turkmen chorek flatbread<\/strong> is baked.<\/p>\n Enjoy a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant in Mary.<\/p>\n Stay overnight at a hotel.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Hotel in Mary.<\/p>\n After breakfast at the hotel, leave Mary and travel into the Karakum Desert towards Gonur Depe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The off-road journey takes approximately 2 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Gonur Depe was an important centre of the Bronze Age civilisation of Margiana<\/strong>, dating approximately from 2300\u20131600 BC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Explore the excavated archaeological remains of this ancient settlement.<\/p>\n Walk through the remains of royal palaces, fire temples and burial sites<\/strong>, gaining an insight into one of Central Asia\u2019s important Bronze Age civilisations.<\/p>\n After returning from the desert, stop in Bayramaly<\/strong> for a traditional local lunch.<\/p>\n Depart Bayramaly at approximately 14:00<\/strong> and travel northeast along the modern Mary\u2013Turkmenabat motorway<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The journey covers approximately 240 km<\/strong> and takes around 2.5 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Near Turkmenabat, make a scenic photo stop beside the Amu Darya River<\/strong>, one of Central Asia\u2019s most important historic waterways.<\/p>\n Continue to the Farap Border Checkpoint<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Upon arrival at the border terminal, our team will escort you and assist with Turkmen customs and departure immigration formalities in accordance with official border regulations.<\/p>\n After crossing into Uzbekistan, continue your journey towards Bukhara<\/strong>.<\/p>\n End of Tour Services<\/strong><\/p>\n This 5-day Ashgabat to Bukhara via Gonur Depe tour<\/strong> combines Ashgabat, UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench, Darvaza Gas Crater, Ancient Merv and the Bronze Age site of Gonur Depe in one overland journey across Turkmenistan. The route also includes Turkmen Ojagy, Mary, Turkmenabat and an Amu Darya photo stop before crossing the Farap border towards Bukhara.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[111],"product_tag":[],"dts_route_point":[125,144,123,122,153,124,105,145,113,143,174,109,173,154],"class_list":["post-2158","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-misc","first","instock","shipping-taxable","product-type-simple"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTour Route<\/h2>\n
Tour Highlights<\/h2>\n
\n
Day 1 \u2013 Arrival and Ashgabat City Tour<\/h2>\n
Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport<\/h3>\n
Breakfast and Transfer<\/h3>\n
Private Ashgabat City Tour<\/h2>\n
Lunch and Dinner<\/h3>\n
Overnight in Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Day 2 \u2013 Kunya-Urgench and Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h2>\n
Early Morning Flight to Dashoguz<\/h3>\n
Drive to Kunya-Urgench<\/h3>\n
Kunya-Urgench Historical Tour<\/h2>\n
Kutlug-Timur Minaret<\/h3>\n
Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum<\/h3>\n
Mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh and Il-Arslan<\/h3>\n
Caravanserai Gate<\/h3>\n
Lunch and Bazaar Visit in Dashoguz<\/h3>\n
Cross the Karakum Desert<\/h3>\n
Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h3>\n
BBQ Dinner and Desert Evening<\/h3>\n
Overnight at Darvaza<\/h3>\n
Day 3 \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
Afternoon Ashgabat Exploration<\/h3>\n
Evening and Dinner<\/h3>\n
Overnight in Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Day 4 \u2013 Ancient Merv and Turkmen Ojagy<\/h2>\n
Breakfast and Check-out<\/h3>\n
Drive to the Mary Region<\/h3>\n
Ancient Merv Guided Tour<\/h2>\n
Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar<\/h3>\n
Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala<\/h3>\n
Askhabs Mausoleums and Ancient Sardoba<\/h3>\n
Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala<\/h3>\n
Turkmen Ojagy Ethnographic Experience<\/h2>\n
Alabay Dogs and Camels<\/h3>\n
Traditional Turkmen Clothing<\/h3>\n
Bread-Baking Experience<\/h3>\n
Dinner in Mary<\/h3>\n
Overnight in Mary<\/h3>\n
Day 5 \u2013 Gonur Depe, Turkmenabat and Farap Border<\/h2>\n
Journey to Gonur Depe<\/h3>\n
Gonur Depe Archaeological Tour<\/h2>\n
Lunch in Bayramaly<\/h3>\n
Drive towards Turkmenabat<\/h3>\n
Amu Darya River Photo Stop<\/h3>\n
Transfer to Farap Border<\/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":"