Four days entering Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan at Farab: Mary and the ruins of Merv, two nights in Ashgabat with Nisa and the Gypjak mosque, and an evening trip out to the burning Darvaza crater.
4 days, 3 nightsDuration
4-star hotels · breakfastStay and meals
Twin share · land only, flights extra
Overview
Four days entering Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan at Farab: Mary and the ruins of Merv, two nights in Ashgabat with Nisa and the Gypjak mosque, and an evening trip out to the burning Darvaza crater.
Trip highlights
01The ruins of Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
02Two nights in Ashgabat, the white-marble capital
03Nisa and the Turkmenbashi Ruhy mosque
04Dusk and dinner at the Darvaza gas crater
05Hotel nights throughout, no camping
Day-by-day itinerary
The route
Mary → Ashgabat
2 cities.
The route2 cities.
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Explore the daily plan, including overnight stops and meals.
Your guide and driver meet you on the Turkmen side of the Alat–Farab border, where the visa is issued against your invitation letter, and drive you to Mary.
Mary is a modern city on the Murghab river, and the base for visiting Merv. The afternoon takes in the regional museum, with finds from the ancient site, the Russian Orthodox church and the local bazaar.
Border crossing at Farab
Mary regional museum
The Orthodox church and bazaar
overnight
Mary
Border formalities can take 1–2 hours.
What's included
Included in your trip9 items covered in this fare
Your hotels
4-star hotel accommodation
Meals
Daily breakfast included
Lunch in Ashgabat on day three and barbecue dinner at Darvaza
Transport
All transport during the tour as set out in the itinerary
Border pickup at Farab and airport transfer in Ashgabat
Entrance fees
Entrance tickets to the monuments and museums named in the itinerary
Guide
A licensed local guide throughout
Visa
Turkmenistan visa support: the letter of invitation needed to obtain a tourist visa
Other
Round-the-clock assistance from the local team
Plan and pay separately7 items not covered by this fare
Not included
International flights
The Turkmenistan visa fee, paid on arrival
The migration and registration tax charged on entry
Lunches and dinners other than those named as included
Any health or entry test in force at the time of travel
Travel and medical insurance
Tips and personal expenses
Hotels and meals
Accommodation4-star hotel accommodation
MealsDaily breakfast included
Mary1 night
Hotel confirmed before travel
Ashgabat2 nights
Hotel confirmed before travel
Your hotel names are confirmed before you travel. Where alternatives are listed, the confirmed property will be a 4-star hotel of the same standard.
Attractions we visit
A planned visit does not automatically include an admission ticket. Check the inclusions and your booking summary for ticket costs.
En route
Merv
Darvaza
DarvazaDay 3
Before you go
Visa and entry
Every visitor to Turkmenistan needs a visa, and a tourist visa can only be issued against a letter of invitation arranged through a registered tour operator. We arrange the letter; allow several weeks for it to be approved.
With the approved letter the visa itself is issued on arrival, at the airport or the land border, and the visa fee and migration tax are paid there in US dollars cash. Bring clean, undamaged notes.
Independent travel is tightly restricted, so you will be accompanied by your guide for the whole programme.
Border crossings
Land borders can take one to two hours, with thorough baggage checks on both sides. At Shavat–Dashoguz there is a neutral zone of about a kilometre and a half, crossed by a local minibus for a small fare.
Your guide and driver meet you on the Turkmen side and see you to the border at the end.
Photography
Photography of government buildings, military and police sites, and some monuments in Ashgabat is restricted. Your guide will tell you where it is and is not allowed.
Common questions
Do we sleep at Darvaza on this tour?
No. The crater is visited in the evening with dinner at the rim, and you return to your hotel in Ashgabat the same night, so the whole tour is in hotels.
Can I travel to Turkmenistan independently?
Only on a transit visa, which is hard to obtain and short. A tourist visa requires a letter of invitation through a tour operator and a guide for the whole stay, which is exactly what this programme provides.
Is the Darvaza gas crater still burning?
Yes. The Turkmen government has spoken about extinguishing it and reports suggest the fire has become smaller, but it continues to burn and is the centrepiece of every visit to the Karakum.
Which currency is used?
The Turkmen manat. Hotels and a few shops take cards, but most places do not; bring US dollars in clean notes for the visa fee and to exchange at official rates.
Policies & booking terms
Booking terms
Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified.
All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased prior to departure.
Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, taxes, or supplier costs.
Guests are responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, and any required vaccinations.
Cancellations or amendments are subject to the applicable cancellation policy outlined in the package.
The company is not liable for delays, cancellations, or changes due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
All travelers must adhere to the local laws and customs of the destinations visited.
No refunds will be issued for unused services, including but not limited to meals, accommodations, or activities.
The company reserves the right to modify the itinerary or substitute hotels of similar standards if necessary.
All special requests (e.g., room preferences, dietary requirements) are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
Guests are responsible for any additional costs incurred due to personal expenses, such as phone calls, laundry, or minibar charges.
Check-in and check-out times are subject to hotel policies and may vary by property.
Dates & prices
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