Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to visit “Altyn Asyr” Oriental Bazar (opens on Wen, Thurs., Sat, Sun) – Jygyldyk located 20km to the north of Ashgabat. It is one of the largest open bazaars in the world filled with colourful rugs, jewellery, carpets, silk and national Turkmen costumes and animals in other parts.

Alternatively, visit Gulistan Baazar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets and a must-visit for any traveller to Ashgabat.  The ground floor of the bazaar is dedicated to fresh produce, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products. There are also stalls selling spices, nuts, dried fruits, and other food items. The second floor of the bazaar is home to a variety of shops selling clothing, and souvenirs.

In the afternoon, you will drive to the Darvaza burning Gas Crater (276km, 4h), a top international tourist destination. The area is rich in natural gas and the crater has been burning for over 50 years, making it shine like a pearl in the middle of the Karakum desert. You will also see water and mud craters. The trip provides an opportunity to experience the fresh air of the desert and the nomadic life. You will camp in the Turkmen national yurt or private tents and barbecue for dinner while enjoying the light of the Gas Crater in the night sky. This unique landscape will fascinate you and make you want to come back again.

Picnic-style breakfast in Darvaza. Drive to Ashgabat. Afternoon, visit the National Museum of History & Ethnography. The museum has a rich collection of ancient artefacts from Turkmenistan. More than 500,000 exhibits are displayed here. It has 9 halls, each dedicated to a certain period or theme. The museum reveals the variety of Turkmenistan’s landscape its flora and fauna, fossils and rare geological finds. The Hall of Independence illustrates the modern development of the country. The Hall of Ancient History presents a collection of flint tools from the Mesolithic era (50,000 years B.C.), used by primitive people in Western Turkmenistan, along with Neolithic ceramics and ornaments from the first human settlements along the northern slopes of Kopet-Dag. Overnight at 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 which was once 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.

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, 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 either been established that the fortress at Nissa was a royal residence or a mausoleum. The ruins of the ancient settlement Nissa are located 18 km from Ashgabat at Bagyr village.

Then, 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.

Later drive to visit Horse Stable to see a national pride of the 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. After sightseeing, transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport. Departure.