This 5-day Turkmenistan transit tour from Ashgabat to Khiva or Nukus via Gonur Depe<\/strong> combines some of the country\u2019s most important historical sites, desert landscapes and cultural experiences in one south-to-north overland journey.<\/p>\n Begin with a private exploration of Ashgabat<\/strong> before travelling east along the motorway to UNESCO-listed Ancient Merv<\/strong>. Discover the remains of one of the great cities of the Silk Road and experience traditional Turkmen culture at Turkmen Ojagy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The following day, venture off-road into the Karakum Desert to explore Gonur Depe<\/strong>, an important archaeological centre of the Bronze Age civilisation of Margiana. Return to Ashgabat before turning north into the desert.<\/p>\n Spend an unforgettable evening beside the glowing Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong>, with a traditional BBQ dinner and overnight stay in a Turkmen yurt or comfortable tent.<\/p>\n On the final day, continue north across the Karakum Desert to UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>. After exploring its medieval monuments, choose the most convenient border crossing for your onward journey: Shavat for Khiva or Urgench<\/strong>, or Hojaili for Nukus or Muynak<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This itinerary is ideal for travellers who want to connect Ashgabat with northern Uzbekistan while combining Ancient Merv, Gonur Depe, Darvaza and Kunya-Urgench<\/strong> in one comprehensive route.<\/p>\n Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) \u2192 Ashgabat \u2192 Ancient Merv \u2192 Turkmen Ojagy \u2192 Mary \u2192 Gonur Depe (Margush) \u2192 Bayramaly \/ Mary \u2192 Ashgabat \u2192 Water Crater \u2192 Mud Crater \u2192 Darvaza Gas Crater \u2192 Kunya-Urgench \u2192 Shavat Border (Khiva \/ Urgench) or Hojaili Border (Nukus \/ Muynak)<\/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 tailor the sightseeing programme to your pace and interests, combining monumental architecture, modern avenues, cultural sites and places connected with the history of Turkmenistan and the Silk Road.<\/p>\n The day includes comfortable breaks for a traditional lunch and a relaxed dinner at local restaurants, giving you an opportunity to sample Turkmen cuisine.<\/p>\n Stay overnight at a hotel in Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Hotel in Ashgabat.<\/p>\n Enjoy breakfast at your hotel 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 centres of the Silk Road.<\/p>\n Visit the monumental 12th-century Seljuk mausoleum, recognised for its impressive double-dome construction.<\/p>\n Explore the distinctive mud-brick fortresses with their characteristic corrugated walls, dating from approximately the 7th to 12th centuries.<\/p>\n Visit the sacred burial sites associated with the companions of the Prophet Muhammad and see the ancient desert water-storage system.<\/p>\n Explore the massive ancient citadels and enjoy panoramic views across the archaeological landscape.<\/p>\n Additional smaller historic sites within Ancient Merv can be visited upon request, depending on available time.<\/p>\n After the Merv tour, 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 authentic Turkmen clothing, including traditional telpek hats<\/strong> and silver-decorated garments, for photographs inside a yurt.<\/p>\n Take part in a practical demonstration at a traditional tamdyr clay oven<\/strong> and learn how Turkmen chorek flatbread<\/strong> is prepared.<\/p>\n Enjoy 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, 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 remains of this ancient settlement.<\/p>\n Walk through the remains of royal palaces, temple structures and burial sites<\/strong>, gaining an insight into one of Central Asia\u2019s important Bronze Age civilisations.<\/p>\n On the return journey from the desert, stop in Bayramaly or Mary<\/strong> for a traditional local lunch.<\/p>\n Depart the Mary region and travel west along the modern high-speed motorway back to Ashgabat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The journey covers approximately 360 km<\/strong> and takes around 3.5\u20134 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Arrive in Ashgabat in the evening and enjoy a relaxed dinner at a 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 Spend the morning visiting any sights that were not covered on the first day.<\/p>\n You can also use the time to shop for traditional Turkmen handicrafts or purchase snacks and other supplies for the desert journey.<\/p>\n Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.<\/p>\n In the afternoon, leave Ashgabat and travel north towards Darvaza<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The journey 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 drive may be bumpy.<\/p>\n On the way north, make short photo stops at the Water Crater<\/strong> and Mud Crater<\/strong>.<\/p>\n These unusual geological features reveal another side of the Karakum Desert landscape.<\/p>\n Arrive at the spectacular Darvaza Gas Crater<\/strong> towards sunset.<\/p>\n Watch the desert gradually darken as the glow of the burning crater becomes more intense.<\/p>\n Enjoy a traditional open-air BBQ dinner prepared by our team at the campsite.<\/p>\n After dark, spend time near the crater and enjoy opportunities for photography beneath the desert stars.<\/p>\n Stay overnight in a traditional Turkmen yurt or comfortable tent campsite<\/strong> near the crater.<\/p>\n Overnight:<\/strong> Darvaza campsite.<\/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 and see the flames before sunrise over the Karakum Desert.<\/p>\n Enjoy breakfast at the camp before beginning the journey north towards Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The drive covers approximately 340 km<\/strong> and takes around 5\u20136 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Some sections of the road are rough and uneven, so the journey may be bumpy.<\/p>\n Explore Kunya-Urgench<\/strong>, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important centre of historic Khorezm.<\/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 these important medieval monuments, distinguished by their characteristic conical domes.<\/p>\n See a surviving reminder of Kunya-Urgench\u2019s historic role on the Silk Road trade routes.<\/p>\n Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.<\/p>\n Choose the most convenient border crossing according to your onward journey 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 your selected 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 towards your chosen destination.<\/p>\n End of Tour Services<\/strong><\/p>\n This 5-day Ashgabat to Khiva or Nukus via Gonur Depe tour<\/strong> combines Ancient Merv, the Bronze Age site of Gonur Depe, Darvaza Gas Crater and UNESCO-listed Kunya-Urgench in one comprehensive route across Turkmenistan. The journey also includes Ashgabat, Turkmen Ojagy, a desert yurt night and a choice of Shavat border for Khiva or Hojaili border for Nukus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[111],"product_tag":[],"dts_route_point":[125,144,123,122,153,124,145,113,143,229,154],"class_list":["post-2167","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 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 3 \u2013 Gonur Depe and Return to Ashgabat<\/h2>\n
Journey to Gonur Depe<\/h3>\n
Gonur Depe Archaeological Tour<\/h2>\n
Lunch in Bayramaly or Mary<\/h3>\n
Return to Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Evening and Dinner<\/h3>\n
Overnight in Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Day 4 \u2013 Ashgabat, Desert Craters and Darvaza Gas Crater<\/h2>\n
Breakfast and Check-out<\/h3>\n
Flexible Morning in Ashgabat<\/h3>\n
Lunch<\/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 at Darvaza<\/h3>\n
Day 5 \u2013 Darvaza, Kunya-Urgench and Uzbekistan Border<\/h2>\n
Optional Sunrise Experience<\/h3>\n
Breakfast and 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 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":"