8 DAYS 7 NIGHTS ASHGABAT– GOKDEPE AKHALTEKE HORSE FARM –ASHGABAT-MARY-MERV– HORSE RIDING ADVENTURE
About tour
8-day, 7-night tour of Turkmenistan focusing on the majestic Akhalteke Horses, the ancient Silk Road city of Merv, and the mesmerizing Darvaza Gas Crater often blends culture, history, and adventure. Spend time at the farm learning about the "Heavenly Horses"—a breed with 5,000 years of history and a national symbol of Turkmenistan. You'll get to meet, feed, and interact with these beautiful, unique horses. Meet the famous horses and the horsemen. You will have an introductory riding session (approx. 2-3 hours) to assess your skills and allow you to bond with your chosen Akhal-Teke. This is often a ride around the local area or to a nearby scenic spot. Enjoy a full-board local cuisine. Best Season: Horse riding tours are typically best in the spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October)
Itinerary
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Arrival to Ashgabat international airport in the early morning by Turkmenistan Airlines. Tour guide will meet you with “Ak yol travel” signboard at meeting area and transfer to the hotel. Upon arrival check in and overnight at the hotel. Breakfast is at the hotel. Ashgabat is a relatively young city in 25.05.2013 city was included Gunnies Book of records as a white marbled city on the world. City tour in Ashgabat with visits of Ertogrul Gazi Mosque it honors Ertogrul, the father of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. Independence Park, this Park is one of the city’s attractions, embodying the spirit of modern Turkmenistan.Arch of Neutrality is a viewing platform. Night at the hotel.
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Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Gokdepe, about 50 km west of Ashgabat. Visit the Gokdepe Fortress and Ruhy Mosque Mosque. Continue to the nearby Akhal-Teke horse farm – home to the world-famous Turkmen horses. Learn about the breeding traditions and history of Akhal-Teke horses. Return to Ashgabat city. night tour of Ashgabat's illuminated monuments to see the city's unique architecture at its most spectacular. Night at the hotel.
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Drive about 50 km from Ashgabat to a private Akhal-Teke horse farm. Meet the famous horses and the horsemen. You will have an introductory riding session (approx. 2-3 hours) to assess your skills and allow you to bond with your chosen Akhal-Teke. This is often a ride around the local area or to a nearby scenic spot. Enjoy a full-board lunch and dinner featuring local cuisine. Say goodbye to the horses. Arrive back in Ashgabat.
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Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Nisa Fortress, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire, located near Ashgabat. Explore the National Museum of Turkmenistan, home to a rich collection of artifacts, including treasures from Nisa. Begin the drive north into the Karakum Desert towards the Darvaza Gas Crater (approx. 4-5 hours). Pass through desert landscapes and stop to see other, smaller mud and water craters. You may also stop at the small desert settlement of Yerbent to see semi-nomadic life.Arrive at the Darvaza Gas Crater, known as the "Door to Hell." Witness the spectacular, perpetually burning crater as the sun sets. Enjoy a traditional BBQ dinner under the stars next to the flaming pit. Camping in traditional Yurts near the crater.
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Enjoy a picnic breakfast and one last view of the Darvaza crater in the morning light. Drive back to Ashgabat (approx. 4-5 hours). Optional visit to the Carpet Museum to see the world's largest hand-woven carpet. Carpet museum opened in 1994. It has a rich collection of Turkmen carpets from the medieval through to the 20th century, including over 1000 carpets from the 18th and 19th centuries and one of the biggest hand -made carpets in the world. Night at the hotel.
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Early morning transfer to Ashgabat airport, first morning flight to Mary at 06:30/07:10 (flight time could be changed). Visits to the Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding Farm in the Mary region are listed as a unique experience for horse enthusiasts as part of tours to the city and the ancient ruins of Merv. These visits allow you to witness the elegance and beauty of the famous racehorses. Upon arrival excursion to an Ancient Merv– Merv, located at the former banks of the Murghab River, was the most important Silk Road hub in the region, and particularly thriving as regional capital under Seljuk governor Sanjar. Merw is the collective name of five urban centers that existed under various different names in different periods from the VI c BC up to the XVIII c AD. The capital competed with the cities of the Islamic world such as Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Guided tour: Gyz Gala, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, the Mausoleum of Soltan Sanjar, Ashabs, Yusup- Hamadani and Ibn Zeid Mausoleum. Returning to Mary, visiting History Museum. In the afternoon, we enjoy an immersive cultural experience at Gadymy Turkmen Ojak, an ethno guesthouse where we savor freshly baked Turkmen bread, witness traditional cuisine preparation, embroidery, wool spinning, and carpet making. We’ll also enjoy a folk-dance performance espacially organized for the group. Short walking tour within the central part of Mary City which has The Regional Mosque of Mary Province, The Central Theater of Mary, The Convention & Conference Center “Ruhiyet Koshgi”, Central Park & Monument of Mollanepes-the National Classic Poet who lived in Mary in XVIII-XIXcc. Afterwards transfer to Mary airport, flight for Ashgabat at 20:15/20:55 (flight time could be changed) arrival and transfer to hotel. Night at the hotel.
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Today drive to Ashgabat. On the way visit Abiverd fortress. It is historically significant heritage on the same level with other eight reserves of the country: Kunya-Urgench, Nissa, Merv, Dakhistan. The fort has important role for people in order to protect. It had only one door from south side. Moreover, there were a mosque of early 15th century near the central square of the fort, popular in Turkmenistan. Then visit Seyit Jemaletdin mosque, dating back to XV century. In the result of Ashgabat earthquake, the mosque was destroyed, but later it was perfectly reconstructed. Today, on the front of the building you can see the writing telling that this monument was erected under Abul-Kasim Babur, Temurid prince who lead Khorasan during 1447- 1457. Moreover, there are fantastic dragon images on decorating facade arch.Night at the hotel
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Transfer to the Ashgabat International Airport for flight to next destination.
Included
- Accommodation in mentioned hotels on DBL/TWIN sharing
- Ashgabat- Ak Altyn Hotel 3* / Sport Hotel 4* or similar - 5 nights
- Darvaza Gas Crater - yurt - 1 night
- Mary - Margush Hotel 3* / Mary Hotel 4* - 1 night
- • Breakfasts at the hotels
- • Services of A/C comfortable transport with professional driver as per the program
- o 1-2 pax - Sedan car up to 4 seats “Toyota Camry, Kia,Hundai”
- o 3-7 pax – Minivan up to 7 seats “Toyota Siena, Toyota Haice”
- o 8-19 pax – Minibus “Toyota Coaster”
- • 4-5 Days Darvaza tour 4 WD car
- • English speaking local guide
- • Domestic air tickets: Ashgabat-Mary
- • Folklore show “Gadymy Turkmen Ojak”
- • Daily 4 bottles of 0.5l water per person
- • Full Board meals: 7 Lunches / 7 Dinners
- • BBQ style dinner and breakfast at Darvaza crater
- • 2-3 Days lunches and dinners at Akhalteke Horse Farm
- • One horse per traveler for a 2nd and 3rd day horseback riding tour at the Horse Farm
- • 6 days of horseback riding at the Mary Equestrian Sports Complex
- • Utensils and necessary equipment for staying in tents (sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pillows, dining table, chairs)
- • Entrance fees to mentioned sights per program (excluding photo and video charges at sights)
- • Visa support to Turkmenistan, registration and travel pass
- • Porter services
- • Handmade souvenir per person
Excluded
- Visa consular fees and processing expenses 80+15 USD per person, when obtained at land border (subject to change, nationality dependent)
- • Turkmenistan migration tax 14 USD per person
- • PCR nose test 33 USD (subject to change)
- • Photo and video charges at sights
- • An early check-in hotel
- • Beverages
- • International air tickets to / out of Ashgabat
- • Travel Insurance
- • Travel tax 2 USD per night/per person
- • Extras, not indicated in inclusions
Additional info
PRICING: 2026
Hotel 3*
1 pax - 2310 USD
2 pax - 1625 USD
4 pax - 1459 USD
6 pax - 1326 USD
8 pax - 1260 USD
10 pax - 1252 USD
Single Supplement: 210 USD
Hotel 4*
1 pax - 2760 USD
2 pax - 2075 USD
4 pax - 1909 USD
6 pax - 1736 USD
8 pax - 1680 USD
10 pax - 1678 USD
Single Supplement: 280 USD
NOTE:
Check-in after 14:00, check-out before 12:00
Set menu includes salad, soup, main course, bread, tea, coffee & water
We offer tourists traditional Turkmen dishes at the Akhalteke horse farm. Here you can also watch the preparation methods.
We offer at Darvaza Gas Crater BBQ style menu
Dinner is a highlight of the camping experience and is typically a hot, freshly prepared meal
Barbecue (BBQ) or Shashlik: This is the most common and traditional offering. Our guide and driver will prepare "nomad-style kebabs" or grilled skewers (shashlik) over an open fire. Meats are usually lamb or chicken.
Meals are universally accompanied by fresh bread, salads, and sometimes roasted vegetables like potatoes or eggplant.
Dessert in the Desert: Turkmen Melons and watermelons: If traveling during the harvest season (late summer/early autumn), the famous, incredibly sweet Turkmen melon and watermelon is the country's most beloved natural dessert and is often served.
We also offer our customers our national Turkmen drinks: green tea, kefir/ayran, and fermented Camel Milk (Chal)
For breakfast, we offer boiled eggs, yogurt, fruits, jam, bread, tea, and coffee.
Vegetarian/Dietary Needs: Because meals are prepared in advance, you must inform our tour operator well ahead of time of any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, allergies). They can usually accommodate with things like simple vegetable plov or grilled vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant, sweet pepper).
Payment:
Tour payment should be made not less than 10 days prior to tourist group arrival to our bank account as per sent invoice
Cansellation prior to 30 days - no charges apply
Cansellation prior to 29-20 days 50% charge of the tour price
Cansellation prior to 19-10 days - 100 % charge of the tour price
Notes:
If the traveler stays more than 3 working days in Turkmenistan, the travel agency will register and stamp your passport on a local Tourist Board
An express PCR test for Covid-19 will be taken upon arrival. It costs 33 USD (subject to change)
Breakfast box in case of very early morning departures
Customer Support
We have a professional customer support team and always accompany you on every trip.