Turkmenistan Explorer Tour

BREAKFAST

Transfer to Ashgabat Airport .

06:30 – Flight to Mary

07:10 – Arrival in Mary

Drive to Ancient Merv historical site.  Located from Mary city 30 km.

Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum most majestic architectural monument of Merv is Sultan Sanjar mausoleum called "Dar-al-Akhir" ("Otherworld"). His whole appearance it represents the highest achievements and flourishing Seljuk power. Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum is located in the center of the settlement Sultan Kala. Nearby are large monumental buildings - the palaces of Seljuk rulers and a mosque.

Great and Less Kiz fortress small fortresses with corrugated, if folded in the crease, napodobye accordion, walls. They put on the earthen ramps with mild slope. Small windows are hidden in the folds of the walls. At the top of the wall terminate toothed battlements, which are almost did not survive.

Gyaur Kala fortress In Turkic languages, "Gyaur" means "infidel", referring to those who do not practise Islam. The name of the fortress in ancient Merv, Gyaur-Kala - "Fortress of the Infidels" - was given by the Arabs who conquered it in the early 8th century. However, the fortress itself dates back much earlier, to the 4th-3rd centuries BC.

Erk-Kala fortress was the center of ancient Merv. The fortifications of Erk-Kala have sagged under earth drifts but nevertheless, have preserved their height and power. This distinguishes Erk-Kala from other fortresses. Now the height of the fortifications with steep slopes and precisely cut out towers reaches 25 - 29 m.

Yusuf Khamadany Mosque this complex was built on the burial site of Abu-Yakub Yusuf ibn Ayub born in the city of Hamadan (western Iran). Above his tomb the mausoleum, which has not survived, was erected. The destroyed structure was partially restored and reconstructed in the 19th century. The tomb of the dervish symbolizes a crypt from black marble decorated with a floral ornament and inscriptions. There is a chapel in the western corner of the mausoleum with central aivan. It is the basic part of the complex. Today Yusuf Khamadani mosque is an important Muslim temple, the place of worshipping.

Sultan Kala fortress in the 11th-12th centuries Merv became the capital of Great Seljuk state and reached the highest prosperity. By the order of Seljuk sultan Melik-shakh the city was surrounded by a fortification and moat.This fortress with the area of over 400 hectares is known as Sultan-Kala - the Fortress of Sultans. In the northeastern part of Sultan-Kala Shakhriar-ark citadel with palace complexes of sultans, administration buildings and a military barracks - was constructed.

Mohammed ibn-Zeid Mausoleum is an outstanding monument of Sultan-Kala. It is relatively small but arouses admiration by its original architectural solution. The interior of the mausoleum has a unique wall inscription in Arabian language. The letters skillfully carved from burnt bricks boldly stand out on the background of the vegetative pattern made of plaster. It’s says that the mausoleum erected above the tomb of Mohammed ibn - Zeid, the representative of Shiit branch of Islam, the descendant of caliph Ali in the fifth generation in 1112-1113.

History, Flora and Fauna of Mary Region in the Mary History Museum The Mary History Museum was established as the Mary Museum of History and Revolution in 1968. Its first exposition opened in 1974. When Turkmenistan gained independence, the Museum in 2008 moved into a new white-marbled building in the center of Mary.

Transfer to Mary Airport .

20:15 – Flight to Ashgabat,

20:55 –Upon arrival in Ashgabat, then transfer to the hotel.

Night at the hotel.

BREAKFAST 

Transfer to Ashgabat Airport

06:20 - Flight to Turkmenbashy

07:20 - Arrival in Turkmenbashy 

Upon arrival and drive to Yangikala Canyons (170 km, 3 hours), one of Turkmenistan’s scenic highlights.

Yangiqala Canyons via Balkan Mountains - Impressive white, green and red limestone formations rise up from the desert sands. These cliffs are the remains of massive coastline and seabed of the pre-historical Parathetys Sea. This surreal landscape is impressive at any time of day, but sunset and sunrise offer particularly spectacular views. The area is reachable only by 4-wheel drive, passing through the Balkan Mountains and a vast highland area where camels, sheep and horse’s graze. 

Gozli Ata Mausoleum (67km, 2hrs). Gozli Ata (“All-Seeing Father”) was a well-respected 14th century Sufi saint who was killed during a Mongol invasion. His grave, along with the adjacent grave of his wife, is considered one of the holiest sites in Turkmenistan today. 

Night at the pilgrim house

BREAKFAST 

09:00 - drive to Serdar town (400 km) . On the way visit: 

Kemal-ata is a hill in the vicinity of the provincial town of Old Crimea. It contains the remains of some foundations and several tombstones with the names of sheikhs. Kemal-ata is popularly known among the people as the grave of Mamai. Defeated by Dmitry Donskoy in 1380, Mamai fled to Kaffa (Feodosia) where the Genoese promised him to save, but treacherously killed him. It should be noted, however, that the word "mamai" has become in the Old Crimea and its environs, to some extent, a household name: many other hills and mounds are called simply mamai.Ornament Kemal - Ata is stone educations, many of which are on canyon slopes.

Western Turkmenistan - Small and Big Balkhan. Big and Small Balkhan - ridges in the west of Turkmenistan, near the Caspian Sea, the mountains extended from the West on the East on 60 kilometers, width - 20 kilometers. The highest point - the mountain Arlan of 1880 meters above sea level. In a mountain landscape ridges, deserts, and mountain steppes dominate.

Parau Bibi this is the Mausoleum of Parau Bibi, which dates perhaps to the 11th century. It is now one of the most important centres of shrine pilgrimage in Turkmenistan. A legend surrounding the place, similar to the tales governing several other mountain shrines across Turkmenistan, is that Parau Bibi was a maiden of great virtue. When faced with the prospect of capture by an approaching enemy raiding party, Parau Bibi prayed that the mountainside should open up and take her, in order to preserve her honour. It did so, and the local people, so the story runs, built the mausoleum on that very spot.

Upon arrival in Serdar town  and check-in hotel

Night at the hotel.

BREAKFAST 

09:00 - after breakfast drive to Dekhistan historical site (300 km) . On the way visit:

The Lunar Mountains in Turkmenistan are one of the country’s most unique and striking natural features. Located in the Karakum Desert, these mountains are named for their otherworldly, moon-like appearance, with jagged rock formations, vast salt flats, and stark, barren landscapes. They stand in contrast to the surrounding desert, creating a surreal and almost alien terrain that has captivated explorers and researchers alike. The mountains are relatively small but have an extraordinary and unique landscape. The area is characterized by dramatic rock formations, salt flats, and barren hills that give it its moon-like appearance. 

The ancient settlement of Dekhistan is located at an altitude of 161 meters above sea level, located in the northern part of the Masrian plain and in the southern part of the Choganly plain, in the northwestern part of the Khurmen sands, 16.7 kilometers north-west of the village of Madau, 41.3 kilometers to the north-east from the small village of Indyrlan in the Etrek etrap of the Balkan velayat. Dekhistan has also another name - Misrian. Together with the neighbouring ancient Mashad graveyard, Dekhistan is called Mashad - Misrian by Turkmens. Usually, to save time you have to take a ninety's minutes air craft flight to Nebitdag, then to go to Kumdag about forty kilometres by car; the next step is to drive further about a hundred kilometres sout- hward, along the road depressing with its monotonous sights, past desert and takyrs with poor flora, through vast valleys.Dekhistan or Misrian is not only an ancient city itself, but all the adjacent province, in other words - the Misrian oasis, which several centuries after inexactly known disaster, remained hardly noticeable signs. In this connection it is worth being noted that ancient monuments of history and culture were not the only things to attract attention of scientists of the XX century to these lands.

Night at the tent 

BREAKFAST 

08:00 - after breakfast drive to Nokhur village (350-400 km). On the way visit: 

Visit the Sumbar valley in the Syunt-Khasardag reserve. From the north, the Sumbar valley is protected by the Syunt, Hasardag and Issak mountains, from the south by the low Montjukly Mountains and is on a unique subtropical zone. If you look at the surroundings from the top of the Karaelchi ridge, you can see that the entire area is completely covered with hills. But perhaps the most interesting view of this landscape is the so-called Lunar Mountains. "Lunar mountains" - a fantastic threshold of the Sumbar valley, where the town of Makhtumkuli (Kara-Kala) stretches between the ridges of the Kopetdag. Those are small hills, from one to eight meters in height, containing a very large amount of salt deposits and therefore devoid of vegetation.

Nohur (also known as Nokhur or Nokur) is a remote and picturesque village located in the Kopet Dag Mountains of southern Turkmenistan, near the border with Iran. Known for its stunning natural beauty and unique cultural traditions, Nohur offers a glimpse into a way of life that has remained largely untouched by modernity.The village is nestled in a deep valley surrounded by rugged mountains, providing breathtaking views of dramatic cliffs, lush greenery, and terraced landscapes. Traditional stone houses with flat roofs and wooden beams characterize the architecture of Nohur, blending harmoniously into the surrounding environment. Narrow streets wind through the village, giving it a timeless and serene atmosphere.

Night at the guest house

BREAKFAST

09:00 - after breakfast drive to Ashgabat (150 km). On the way visit:

Underground lake Kov-Ata, located 107 km from Ashgabat.The Turkmen name Kov-Ata means Father of Caves. At first glance, this underground space looks like a magnificent auditorium: the total length of the cave is 230 m, the height reaches 20 m, and the width in some places reaches 57 m.The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and the warm, gushing water is clear and emerald in color. The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. (You should take a swim in the lake). 

The Geok-Tepe fortress was completed rapidly. It measured 1450x670 meters, covering an area of 1 square kilometer. The fortress walls stretched over 4 km, with a height of 6-7 meters and a thickness at the base of 8 meters. In 1879, the Russian army under General Lazarev first attempted to capture the fortress. An expedition of over 7,000 people, including 4,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and artillery with 16 cannons, was organized. However, due to poor planning and underestimating the fortress defenses, the Russians were defeated and retreated. The main attractions in Gokdepe are the Saparmurat Hajji Mosque and the ruins of the Geok-Tepe fortress.

Akhalteke Horse Farm the horse farm is located in the countryside area, behind the GeokDepe town, 55km. Excursion at the farm to see the Akhal Teke horse and Turkmen dog Alabay. Akhal-Teke horse farm – home to the world-famous Turkmen horses. Learn about the breeding traditions and history of Akhal-Teke horses. Here, experts will tell you about Akhal-Teke horses. Next to the farm, you can take a horseback ride through the gardens.

Upon arrival in Ashgabat and check-in hotel.

Night at the hotel

BREAKFAST

Transfer to Ashgabat Airport

10:00 - Flight to Kerki

11:00 - Arrival in Kerki

Drive to the Koytendag.

Koyten Dag Nature Reserve was created to protect the largest remaining Ibex populations in Central Asia. These long-horned mountains goats, as well as a significant number of Urials (Ovis ammon vignei), an endangered mountain sheep species, inhabit the steep canyons and flower covered valleys of the low ridges of the Koyten Dag Mountains, leading to Turkmenistan's tallest peak, Ayrybaba (3,137m).Koyten Dag is also well-known for its "dinosaur plateau" with 438 well preserved fossilized dinosaur footprints, as well as for its caves, considered the most beautiful and interesting caves in the former Soviet Union. The mountain can be discovered via numerous climbing and trekking routes located along the entire ridge.

The Gaynarbaba Lake and Its Health-Giving Waterp; The Gaynarbaba Lake holds some unsolved mysteries and is full of true wonders, which have made it widely popular. It is situated not far from the village of Garlyk at the bottom of the Koytendag. The water temperature in the spring that feeds the lake is +22 C and it never changes. Specialists have ascertained that the Gaynarbaba Lake has its origin in aquifers in the Jurassic and Cretaceous strata. The spring is located in the Garlyk State Reserve and is the only natural habitat in our country for Melanoides Kainarensis, an endemic mollusc species, listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan.Thanks to the high amount of minerals and microelements, including hydrogen sulfide, in the water, it has healing powers. According to experts, the spring water is highly effective in treating skin and nervous, and some other diseases.

Overnight is at base lodge in Koyten.

BREAKFAST

 Koytendag Nature 

The Umbardere Gorge is situated to the south-east of the village of Khojapil, nearby the world-famous natural landmark, the Dinosaur Plateau. The namesake waterfall is a crowning glory of the canyon. Its crystal-clear water cascades to a 25-30 meters drop. Local people attribute healing powers to the water in the fall. The story runs that a blind old man lived there in days gone by. Although born blind, he knew every corner of the Gorge perfectly well and herded a small flock. His name was Umbar. Once, when the shepherd drove his flock to the waterfall and sat under the shade of the old-century plane tree to rest.

The Dinosaur Plateau is a relatively large (200m х 80m) limestone bed which boasts plenty of dinosaur footprints. The site is located nearby the village of Khojapil in the eastern part of Turkmenistan on the border with Uzbekistan. Scientists have counted 2,000-plus footprints there. It is one of the largest repositories of fossilized dinosaur footprints in the world. A small stretch of the Plateau is home to a diverse array of huge three-toed dinosaur footprints ranging from 20 cm to 70 cm. Many of them are clearly visible on the gray limestone background. Scientists believe that the footprints were left by three different types of dinosaurs: Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, and Tyrannosaurus more than 140-145 million years ago in the late Jurassic period.

In the mountains near the village of Khojapil, there is a deep canyon named “Kyrkgyz” (Forty Girls). The unique gorge’s walls are about 200 meters high, and are 15 meters to 300 meters wide. If you walk the gorge along a bubbling spring for several hundred meters, you will find yourself in a large vaulted grotto. There is a beautiful legend about this wonderful place. It says that forty beautiful girls came to the refreshingly cool grotto every day to enjoy a respite and take a swim in the spring. Once, when their village was attacked, the young girls hid themselves in the canyon from the unrelenting foes. Soon after, their hiding place was discovered. The invaders were approaching and the girls started to pray desperately begging to save their lives. Something truly miraculous happened. The rocks opened, the girls went into the passage and then, the rocks closed behind them. The legend has it that the utensils and clothes they left in the grotto turned into stones…

Overnight is at base lodge in Koyten.

BREAKFAST

Transfer to Kerki Airport

12:00 - Flight to Ashgabat

13:00 - Arrival in Ashgabat

Russian Bazaar ; Location and area:Another bazaar you can find in the capital of Turkmenistan is the Russian Bazaar.It is located at 72 Azadi Street in Ashgabat, köçesi Turkmenistan.The russian bazaar is the largest and oldest covered market in Turkmenistan.Gulustan bazaar commodities are rich and diverse, covering food, daily necessities, clothing, crafts and other categories.

The “Berkarar” shopping and entertainment center was opened on December 26, 2014. Today it is the largest shopping complex in Ashgabat, which consists of a 4-story shopping and entertainment center. The Shopping and Entertainment Center features more than 350 brand stores, including. The complex includes the services of a large chain local supermarket, 22 restaurants and fast food outlets (European and Oriental cuisine), a restaurant for special events for 1000 people, gaming attractions, cinemas, sports activities 

Transfer to the Ashgabat International Airport for flight to next destination.

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