Turkmenistan Nature Tour

Welcome to choose our 10 days Turkmenistan tour! Our friendly guide and the driver will greet you at the airport and then escort you to the hotel in a private car. The rest of the day is free for your own exploration.

You can rest in the hotel and prepare for the following journey, or venture out to savor local cuisine, such as Manti. These steamed dumplings are popular in Central Asian countries, made with minced beef or mutton wrapped in thin dough, and paired with onions and other spices to enhance their rich flavors. Locals prefer to eat it with a dollop of sour cream or tomato sauce, making the Manti taste juicier.

► What to Pack:
1. Since Turkmenistan has a continental climate, you can pack layers to cope with the changing weather. Given that we will be camping in the desert, be prepared for the chilly nighttime winds, even if your visit is between June and August. And a woolen sweater will be very useful. 
2. We’ll traverse through the desert in our comfy 4x4 air-conditioned vehicles, but the journey among the sites can be long. Please bring your motion sickness medicine and a dust mask. Also, sturdy hiking shoes are essential for hiking in steep canyons and the ancient Silk Road ruins. 
3. Electricity may be limited at camps, so don’t forget to bring a power bank to keep your devices charged.

Accommodation: Sport Hotel Ashgabat (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, our guide will accompany you to the Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, which honors the father of the first Ottoman Sultan and showcases the typical Turkish architectural style. In the prayer hall, you’ll see paintings, gilded decorations, and stained glass everywhere, reminiscent of the splendid Blue Mosque in Istanbul. As its four minarets soar over 60 meters (197 feet), it’s hard to capture its full grandeur at a close distance, but you can do it by walking across the street! Next, head to the horse stable to appreciate the Akhal-Teke horses, one of the world’s oldest and rarest horse breeds. A foal is valued at around USD 8,000, while a horse aged 4-5 years old may be worth over USD 140,000! You can get familiar with them by touching their silky fur, and if you’re interested in a riding experience (at your own expense), just ask the owner for more details.

In the afternoon, let’s drive 4 hours through the golden Karakum Desert to the Darvaza Gas Crater, stopping by the Mud and Water craters along the way. Take some time to observe resilient acacias thriving in harsh conditions, and sometimes you may even glimpse camels and rare musk deer making their way across the dunes!

★ Darvaza Gas Crater: Earth’s Fiery Scar

Upon arrival at Darvaza Gas Crater, you’ll be astounded by its size! This geological marvel was created through an accident when Soviet geologists drilled for natural gas, causing the ground to collapse and resulting in a pit with a diameter of 70 meters (230 feet), accompanied by large amounts of gas escaping. To reduce the potential risk, the escaping gas was set ablaze, and the geologists had estimated the flames would extinguish in a week, but we’re still captivated by its fiery glow over 50 years later! During nighttime, it’s a really cool experience when you are swept by the desert’s darkness illuminated only by the beating fires. However, the flames are not as glowing as before, and the Turkmenistan government plans to close it due to financial losses, which means you have to witness it now!

Tonight, under a starry sky, you’ll enjoy a BBQ dinner surrounded by crackling flames and stay overnight in a yurt camp. We believe this would become one of your most memorable travel experiences.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Yurt Camp, Darvaza

Today, we will drive westward to uncover relics along the ancient Uzboy River. Once a tributary of Turkmenistan’s largest river, the Amu Darya, the river has been inhabited since the 5th century, once conquered by Roman legions, nomadic tribes, and Genghis Khan’s Mongol army. For unknown reasons, it suddenly dried up in the 17th century, leaving behind a barren riverbed dotted with dispersed relics.

En route, enjoy a picnic lunch at the Guy-Islam desert settlement. In the afternoon, we’ll head to Ygdykala Fortress, a defensive structure made of slate, with its façade covered in clay and plaster. Built during the early Parthian Empire (247-224 BC), it is perched on a 30-meter (98-foot) high hill, and you can climb to the top to overlook the entire Uzboy River. As the sun sets, we’ll drive to seek a suitable camping site nearby, enjoying a picnic dinner and staying overnight here.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp in Ygdykala

After breakfast, embark on a 245 km (152 miles) drive to the Kemal Ata rock formations, where the local Kaitarmysh spring flows through volcanic lava, carving out a variety of whimsical shapes; some look like dolphins and some resemble dinosaur eggs. This miraculous sight is only found in a few places around the globe and is cherished by herdsmen who bring their cattle and sheep to drink. You can also admire a series of intricately adorned tombs related to Kemal Ata, an outstanding figure of Sufism. The tomb blends Islamic artistry with local architectural styles. After meandering through this geological wonder, we’ll have a picnic near the Koymat settlement and also camp in the wild tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp in Koymat

Today begins with a drive to Yangykala Canyon, located 40 km (25 miles) away. Yangykala means “burning fortress” in Turkmen, and you’ll soon see why it is so called when viewing the colorful hills, dominated by red and ochre, rising from the vast desert. How did these rolling rock formations carve? In the prehistoric era, the canyon lay beneath the Caspian Sea, forming tall strata of limestone and sandstone due to the Earth’s movement. Numerous folds subsequently appeared as they have been eroded over millennia. To capture the stones twinkling in the sun, you can ascend to the “Crocodile’s Mouth” viewpoint on a cliff, where you may also spot wild gazelles darting across the rugged terrain.

After a relaxing picnic in the canyon around noon, we’ll continue our drive to one of Turkmenistan’s most revered pilgrim sites, the Gozli Ata Mausoleum. Named after a prominent Sufi spiritual leader believed to be able to perceive souls, this site attracts many young women who come to pray for pregnancy by offering flowers and food. The mausoleum is also surrounded by a large Salor tribal cemetery, featuring tombstones with notches at the top or cups at their bases, which were set to collect rainwater as locals believe that the water can nourish the souls of the departed. Interestingly, the water is often drunk by wild animals like lizards. Then, we’ll enjoy hiking around the colorful canyons in the surrounding area.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Gozli Ata pilgrim house

In the morning, let’s set off for Turkmenbashi, located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, for about 3 hours by car. This important port city is not only vital for Turkmenistan’s economy but also rich in history, as it bears the name of the former president Niyazov; “Turkmenbashi” means “Leader of all Turkmen”. Our guide will first show you around the Awaza Resort, where the contrast between the azure waters of the Caspian Sea and the arid desert landscape in the distance will amaze you. The expansive streets are lined with modern hotels, shopping centers, and water parks adorned with brilliant white marble. You can wander through the artificial rivers and bridges to soak up the serenity with the gentle coastal breeze or explore miniatures of ancient architectural wonders like Old Nisa, Ancient Merv, and Kunya Urgench.

From here, we’ll proceed to the seaport, where you’ll see busy cargo ships constantly navigating the blue water to transit goods to other Central Asian countries. Today’s sightseeing will conclude at the fish bazaar, and you can talk with vendors to learn more about the coastal community culture and wander through stalls selling sturgeon, herring, and caviar. Finally, our driver will escort you to a local hotel for rest.

► Dinner Suggestion (at your own expense):
After recharging yourself, head out to taste local delicacies. Shashlik is a regional favorite, delicately grilled over precious desert wood, which enhances its flavor. For those preferring a vegetarian diet, Batyrma, featuring stewed tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplants, onions, and potatoes, is an ideal choice paired with bread for dipping.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Beyik Yupek Yoly Hotel Turkmenbashi (4 stars) or similar

Bid farewell to Turkmenbashi and enjoy a 4.5-hour private transfer to Dehistan Ruins via the Misrian Salt Plains. Dehistan, once a flourishing oasis city along the ancient Silk Road and a link to many Persian and Arab countries, reached its peak during the reign of the Khwarazmian Empire (1077-1231). Unfortunately, by the early 15th century, the city’s water sources dried up, so it was gradually abandoned and uninhabited. It now presents a desolate landscape, resembling the surface of Mars, with remnants of mosques, minarets, and mausoleums. Among these, the Shir Kabir Mosque-Mausoleum is recognized as the oldest mosque in Turkmenistan, embellished with Arabic inscriptions and swirling floral patterns. What’s more, over 100 brick-making workshops and countless porcelain pieces are found on the site, each showcasing craftsmanship that rivals modern art. You’ll also see remains of the sewage system and ancient bathhouses, which reveal the sophisticated infrastructure that once sustained this bustling community. Tonight, we’ll camp near the site and have a picnic dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp in Dehistan

After breakfast, we’ll drive east for about 5 hours toward Nokhur Village, taking in the tranquil Sumbar River Valley and lunar landscapes of the Kopet Dag Mountains en route. There are different versions of the village’s history. Some villagers believe they are descendants of Alexander the Great, while others say the village was named for Noah’s Ark stopping nearby. Our guide will help you communicate with local elders to uncover which tale holds more truth.

Upon arrival, start our exploration at the local tribal cemetery, and you’ll find each tomb adorned with a giant goat horn. According to local animistic beliefs, these horns symbolize energy and adventurous spirit, which are said to help the souls of the dead find their way to heaven. Another notable site is the Qyz-bibi Shrine, a sacred place for local women, where fabric pieces are hung on bushes and a makeshift cradle is built to pray for having beautiful children. Then learn more about the region’s silk weaving traditions of keteni, a craft used for ceremonial attire and carpets, characterized by golden stripes along the fabric’s edges to enhance its beauty and shine under the sun. When all these activities finish, we’ll camp in the mountain and have dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp in Nokhur Village

Let’s drive 2 hours back to Ashgabat today, stopping by the mysterious Kow Ata Underground Lake nestled in a natural cave. After descending over 200 steps to the lake, you’ll notice the scent of sulfur. The water is in enchanting blue-green hues, maintaining a cozy temperature of 35-37°C (95-99°F) all year round, and you’ll have the chance to soak or swim. When relaxing in the soothing water, you may see some bats playfully gliding above you, as this cave is also home to the largest colony of bats in Central Asia.
Note: If you plan to swim, please change into your swimwear in the car and bring a towel, as the simple changing facilities below have limited storage space.

► Recommended Activities:
Once we arrive in Ashgabat and check into the hotel, you can spend the rest of the day by yourself. Perhaps take a taxi to the Alem Center to see the world’s largest indoor Ferris wheel, a Guinness World Record holder that offers stunning views. Alternatively, head to the Wedding Palace Viewpoint for Ashgabat’s panoramic views along with the surreal octagram appearance of the Wedding Palace nearby, and maybe encounter couples dressing in magnificent ethnic attire.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Sport Hotel Ashgabat (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we will escort you to the airport according to your flight schedule. Hope this Turkmenistan 10 days itinerary could leave you with delightful memories!

If the natural beauty arouses your greater curiosity about Turkmenistan or other Asian countries, don’t hesitate to contact our travel consultant to customize the itinerary so that you can dive into the rich history and culture.

Meals: Breakfast