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Ashgabat Exploration: Visit the Nissa Fortress, Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque, and iconic city landmarks like the Arch of Neutrality and Wedding Palace.
Cultural Insights: Tour the Turkmen Carpet Museum, showcasing exquisite local craftsmanship.
Ancient Merv: Discover the ruins of Merv, a historic capital of the Islamic world, including the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum.
Natural Wonders: Experience the stunning Kowata Underground Lake, and marvel at the Darvaza Gas Crater, known as the "Door to Hell."
Horse Heritage: Visit a horse farm to see the renowned Akhalteke horses, a symbol of Turkmen pride.
Scenic Journeys: Enjoy picturesque drives through Turkmenistan's landscapes, rich with history and culture.
Local Cuisine: Savor traditional meals, including a BBQ dinner at the gas crater under the stars.
Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. You will be met by our representatives and transferred to the hotel. Morning drive to visit Nissa fortress -the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings. UNESCO declared the fortress a World Heritage Site in 2007. Nissa is described as one of the first capitals of the Parthians. It was founded by Arsaces I (reigned c. 250 BC – 211BC), and is reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian Kings, although it has neither been established that the fortress at Nissa was a royal residence nor a mausoleum. The ruins of the ancient settlement Nissa are located 18 km from Ashgabat at Bagyr village. Drive to visit Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque in Kipchak (the largest mosque in Central Asia).Then you will have an Ashgabat city tour. You will see the Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferries Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and Park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat Olympic Stadium and Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex. Overnight at a hotel.
BF at the hotel. Morning drive to Mary. You also see the ruins of Seyitjemalledin mosque in Anau. The mosque was built in 1456 when Abu-ibn-Kasim Baber Bahadurkhan ruled in Khorasan (1446-1457). Construction of the mosque was financed by Bahadurkhan’s vizier, Muhammed Hudaidot, who also selected a site of construction–near the grave of his father, sheikh Jemaleddin, a native of Anau. The square central hall (with the sides of 10.5 meters) was crowned with a dome. In later periods, the Seyit-Jemaleddin mosque was partially reconstructed. By the nineteenth century, the subsidence of land had already damaged the building heavily, and during the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake it was destroyed completely. Now, only the lower parts of the portal and some fragments of the walls are extant.
On the way, visit Abiwerd, an important trading town of North Khorasan. It was a key link on the Great Silk Road between Nisa and Merv, and also enjoyed ties in Nishapur, across the Kopetdag Mountains to the south.
Drive to Merv to explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum. After sightseeing transfer to Mary airport for a back flight to Ashgabat. Overnight at the hotel.
BF at Hotel. Drive to visit the Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. The Turkmen Carpet Museum is one of the cultural centres of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 carpet exhibits, including rare ones, are exhibited. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet to wear keys and the world's largest hand carpet with a total area of 301 m², which was woven in 2001, and in 2003 it was added to the Guinness Book of Records. Lunch, after drive to Darwaza burning Gas Crater (268km) dubbed by locals as "The Door to Hell". The Darwaza area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 70 meters. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today. In the evening watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater. BBQ dinner at Gas Crater. Drive back to Ashgabat. Overnight at the hotel.
BF at Hotel. Drive to Kowata underground lakewhich is located 107 km from Ashgabat. The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means "father of caves". This underground area seems like a magnificent auditorium: the overall length of the cave is 230 m, its height reaches 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm and gushing water is clear and emerald-coloured. The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. (You should swim in the lake, very useful for your body).
After a drive to the Gokdepe fortressthat was attacked in December 1880 by the Russian Empire Army. The siege of Gokdepe lasted 23 days, after which the city was taken by storm. Visit Geokdepe Mosque (Saparmyrat Hajy) which was built in 1995 to commemorate the defeat and is noted for its mint-turquoise blue coloured roof and white marble structure.
Later drive to visit Horse Farm to see a national pride of Turkmen people - Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began to breed Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great, and Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are over 35 beautiful horses on the farm. Per superstition, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon. Overnight at the hotel.
Transfer to the Ashgabat International Airport.
