Tours and itineraries

We have created the best possible itineraries to maximise your stay in Turkmenistan, covering a wide variety of places such as the stunning city of Ashgabat, the deep Karakum desert ancient city of Merv, the far Northern Dashoguz area with its Uzbek peoples and culture, the flaming gas crater of Darvaza as well as much more. The price includes all guide and transport services including internal flights, coach rides through the desert, full guide service, meals, hotels in the cities (4 star hotel in Ashgabat), nights away such as at a Stud farm in the countryside sleeping in a traditional Turkmen yurt as well as visits to attractions such as the tallest Minaret in central Asia, the regions largest Mosque, the world's largest Bazaar and so much more, an unforgettable experience is absolutely guaranteed!

Return flights from Beijing to Ashgabat cost approximately 6600 Chinese RMB
Return flights from London to Ashgabat cost approximately £420
(Prices subject to change, we can get these tickets for you or you can buy them yourself)
You will also have to pay the visa issuing fee, at Ashgabat airport this is US$81 cash only.

ITINERARY

We have designed itineraries that will show you the very best Turkmenistan has to offer, also allowing free time to wander around and soak up as much of Turkmenistan's unique atmosphere as possible. The tours enter the country from either London or Beijing. Flights from both destinations arrive on the same day so the group will assemble in Ashgabat after being met by our local guides at Ashgabat Airport. Unlike our tours to North Korea there are no restrictions on what nationalities can join the trip. However as in North Korea journalists are not permitted to travel on tourist visas.

May Tour Itinerary

Tuesday	PM: Flight T5-604 from Beijing arrives (16:40), meet local guide at airport, transfer to hotel. Free time in the evening overnight in Nissa Hotel Ashgabat. Dinner provided
Wednesday	AM: Flight T5-424 from London arrives (07:40), Group assembles. Ashgabat city tour including Blue Mosque, Arch of Neutrality, rotating gold statue of the Turkmenbashi, Independence Park, etc Lunch in the city
	PM: Old Nisa fortress (Ancient ruined capital of the Parthians), Geoke Depe fortress, On to Kow Ata underground sulphur lake for a swim in the year-round warm and medicinal waters (60m below the ground, in darkness and with bats flying in the cave!) Local Stud farm, dinner and overnight at the farm (your choice of Yurts, regular rooms, or sleeping under the stars!) All meals provided
Thursday	AM: A chance to ride the fabled Ahal-Teke Turkmen horses then to the enormous Gypjak mosque where the works of the Turkmenbashi are displayed alongside the Koran, Bokurdag semi-nomadic village to for lunch and a look at how people live in the desert.
	PM: Turkmenistan National Museum detailing the turbulent history of the country and its tribes, take a cable car ride up into the Kopet Dag mountains on the Iranian border for a Panoramic view of Ashgabat and some stunning mountain scenery. Rest of the afternoon free time. Overnight in Nissa hotel Ashgabat. Breakfast and Lunch provided
Friday	AM: Domestic flight to Mary (45 mins), tour of the city and lunch in a local restaurant
	PM: The ancient city of Merv, a place of immense historical importance until its annihilation by the Mongols in the 13th Century, now a fascinating UNESCO world heritage site. Dinner back in Mary and then some free time in the evening before the overnight train back to Ashgabat. All meals provided
Saturday	AM: arrive at Ashgabat station, return to Hotel. Turkmen Carpet Museum
	PM: World of Turkmen Fairy Tales (Known to the locals as ‘Disneyland’) Free time in Ashgabat, shopping, Turkish baths, relaxing, or just wandering around, Saturday night is the busiest in terms of nightlife Overnight in Nissa Hotel Ashgabat. Breakfast provided
Sunday	AM: Breakfast in Ashgabat after an early arrival, then to Tolkuchka Bazaar, the largest Bazaar in the world, truly massive in scale and the main focal point for weekends in the capital. Anything from snacks to carpets can be bought here, an unforgettable shopping experience! Don’t miss the famous ‘Camel Winch’
	PM: Flight to Turkmenbashi City on the Caspian sea coast (1 hour) Regional history museum, Japanese war memorial (an odd place for one but here it is anyway!), Caspian Sea cruise in old Soviet-era pleasure boat, dinner at the beach and overnight stay in Hotel Serdar on the coast. All meals provided
Monday	AM: Local bazaars and check out the docks, have a walk around the quasi-Mediterranean town previously known as Krasnovodsk. This is the best place in the country to stock up on caviar!
	PM: flight back to Ashgabat, last chance for souvenirs, photos, etc
Tuesday	AM: 01:00 flight departs from Ashgabat Sapamurat Turkmenbashi the Great Airport to Beijing. PM: 17:15 flight departs to London

November Tour Itinerary

Tuesday	PM: Flight T5-604 from Beijing arrives (16:40), meet local guide at airport, transfer to hotel,. Free time in the evening overnight in Nissa Hotel Ashgabat. Dinner provided
Wednesday	AM: Flight T5-424 from London arrives (07:40), Group assembles. Ashgabat city tour including Blue Mosque, Arch of Neutrality, rotating gold statue of the Turkmenbashi, Independence Park, etc Lunch in the city
	PM: Old Nisa fortress (Ancient ruined capital of the Parthians), Geoke Depe fortress, On to Kow Ata underground sulphur lake for a swim in the year-round warm and medicinal waters (60m below the ground, in darkness and with bats flying in the cave!)Local Stud farm, dinner and overnight at the farm (your choice of Yurts, regular rooms, or sleeping under the stars!) All meals provided
Thursday	AM: A chance to ride Turkmenistan's famed Ahal Tekke horses or just relax in the countryside, then we set out across the desert to the town of Erbent where we stop for lunch, milk a camel here if you like!
	PM: Continuing across the sandy Karakum desert to the spectacular Darvaza gas crater, gas prospecting during the Soviet days has left an unusual legacy of burning craters that have been alight for nearly 2 decades now. Best seen at night so we will set up camp and have a barbeque for the evening meal in these unique and bizarre surroundings. Overnight in the middle of the desert. All meals provided
Friday	AM: On our way back to Ashgabat we will stop at the Bokurdag village for a view of desert life and locally cooked lunch
	PM: The Gypjak Mosque (Largest in the region), followed by the National Museum in Ashgabat and a cable car ride into the mountains. Return to the city centre and free time in the late afternoon/evening Overnight in Nissa Hotel Ashgabat, Breakfast and Lunch provided
Saturday	AM: Turkmen Carpet Museum, World of Turkmen Fairy Tales (Known locally as ‘Disneyland’!) then take a cable car up into the Kopet Dag mountains for a panoramic view over the city and along the Iranian border
	PM: National Museum, Free time in Ashgabat, shopping, relaxing, or just wandering around. Saturday night is the best for experiencing Ashgabat’s nightlife Overnight in Nissa Hotel Ashgabat. Breakfast and lunch provided
Sunday	AM: Tolkuchka Bazaar, the largest Bazaar in the world, truly massive in scale and the main focal point for weekends in the capital. Anything from snacks to carpets can be bought here, an unforgettable shopping experience! Don’t miss the famous ‘Camel Winch’
	PM: Flight to Dashoguz (1.5 hours) brief tour of this city in the far North of Turkmenistan, right on the Uzbek border, very different to Ashgabat this place mixes Turkmen, Uzbeks, and also a large amount of Koreans! Overnight in Uzboy Hotel. All meals provided.Konye Urgench, once a major silk route stopping point, successive ravagings by Genghis Khan and Tamerlane have left a collection of fascinating ruins here, an enormous Minaret towers over the several mosques and ancient Mausoleums in the area, a bleak and evocative site. Dinner in Dashoguz city. Overnight in Uzboy Hotel Dashoguz. All meals provided
Monday	AM: Konye Urgench, once a major silk route stopping point, successive ravagings by Genghis Khan and Tamerlane have left a collection of fascinating ruins here, an enormous Minaret towers over the several mosques and ancient Mausoleums in the area, a bleak and evocative site.
	PM: Brief stop at local Bazaar then flight back to Ashgabat, last chance for souvenir shopping, photos etc. Overnight in Nissa Hotel, breakfast and lunch provided
Tuesday	AM: 01:00 flight departs from Ashgabat Sapamurat Turkmenbashi the Great Airport to Beijing. PM: 17:15 flight departs to London