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Private, on your own dates · Turkmenistan

Discover Turkmenistan

The fullest Turkmenistan programme: Ashgabat and Nisa, the night train to the Caspian, the coloured canyons of Yangikala, the underground lake of Kow Ata, the mountain village of Nokhur, and a night at the Darvaza crater.

The route2 cities, 1 nights in each.
Loading map…
6 days, 5 nightsDuration
2 citiesWhere you sleep
Hotel accommodation in a twin or double room with daily breakfast, in the hotel class you choose, A night in a yurt camp at Darvaza, with barbecue dinner and breakfastMeals

Twin share · land only, flights extra

Why this journey

Discover Turkmenistan goes well beyond the capital and the crater. It takes the overnight train west to the Caspian Sea and spends two days crossing some of the least visited landscapes in Central Asia before looping back for a night in the Karakum at Darvaza.

The first two days are in Ashgabat: the marble city, the National Museum, Independence Park, the Neutrality Monument and the earthquake memorial on arrival, then Nisa, the mosque-mausoleum at Gypjak and an Akhal-Teke stable, with lunch, before the evening train to Turkmenbashi on the coast.

From Turkmenbashi the route visits the Caspian resort of Awaza and then the Yangikala canyon, cliffs banded in pink, white and red, where lunch is a picnic, and the Sufi shrine of Gozli Ata. After a night in Balkanabat, the road back east passes the mountain village of Nokhur, whose graves are decorated with the horns of wild sheep, and Kow Ata, a cave where you can swim in a warm underground lake.

After a free morning in Ashgabat, the afternoon drive reaches Darvaza for a barbecue and a night in a yurt camp beside the burning crater. The last morning leaves early for Dashoguz and the Uzbek border. Visa support, hotels, the night train, the camp and its meals, the picnic, transport, guiding and entrance fees are included.

Trip highlights

  • 01The Yangikala canyon and the Caspian coast
  • 02A swim in the warm underground lake of Kow Ata
  • 03The mountain village of Nokhur
  • 04A night beside the Darvaza gas crater
  • 05Ashgabat, Nisa and an overnight train across the desert

Day-by-day itinerary

What's included

Included in your trip10 items covered in this fare
Hotels2
  • Hotel accommodation in a twin or double room with daily breakfast, in the hotel class you choose
  • A night in a yurt camp at Darvaza, with barbecue dinner and breakfast
Transport3
  • All transport during the tour as set out in the itinerary
  • Overnight train Ashgabat–Turkmenbashi
  • Airport pickup in Ashgabat and transfer to the Dashoguz–Shavat border
Entrance Fees1
  • Entrance tickets to the monuments and museums named in the itinerary
Guide1
  • A licensed local guide throughout
Visa1
  • Turkmenistan visa support: the letter of invitation needed to obtain a tourist visa
Other1
  • Round-the-clock assistance from the local team
Meals1
  • Lunch in Ashgabat on day two and a picnic lunch at Yangikala
Plan and pay separately7 items not covered by this fare
Not included7
  • 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

Your hotels

Hotels are named on your confirmation — all are of the stated category.

6 go inside0 walk through0 exterior only
On the route6 places
AshgabatEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
TurkmenbashiEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
BalkanabatEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
NokhurEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
DarvazaEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
DashoguzEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside

Turkmenistan

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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.

The Darvaza camp

  • The night at Darvaza is spent in a yurt camp in the Karakum desert with simple shared facilities. Dinner and breakfast in the camp are included.
  • Nights in the desert are cold outside summer; bring a warm layer and a torch.

Common questions

What is the overnight train like?

It is a Turkmen sleeper train with compartments of berths and bedding. It is basic but clean, and it saves a very long day on the road between Ashgabat and the Caspian.

Is the water at Kow Ata really warm?

Yes, the lake is fed by mineral springs and stays warm all year. It is reached by a long, fairly steep flight of steps, so it is not suitable for anyone who struggles with stairs.

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
  1. Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified.
  2. All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
  3. Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased prior to departure.
  4. Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, taxes, or supplier costs.
  5. Guests are responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, and any required vaccinations.
  6. Cancellations or amendments are subject to the applicable cancellation policy outlined in the package.
  7. The company is not liable for delays, cancellations, or changes due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
  8. All travelers must adhere to the local laws and customs of the destinations visited.
  9. No refunds will be issued for unused services, including but not limited to meals, accommodations, or activities.
  10. The company reserves the right to modify the itinerary or substitute hotels of similar standards if necessary.
  11. All special requests (e.g., room preferences, dietary requirements) are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
  12. Guests are responsible for any additional costs incurred due to personal expenses, such as phone calls, laundry, or minibar charges.
  13. Check-in and check-out times are subject to hotel policies and may vary by property.
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