About this tour
This tour is designed for travelers entering Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan.
Duration: 6 days
Route: Ashgabat – Mary – Gonur Depe – Ak Molla – Damla – Darvaza – Dashoguz
An off-road expedition across the most remote landscapes of Turkmenistan — from Ashgabat and ancient Merv to the desert worlds of Gonur Depe, Ak Molla and Damla. Travel by 4×4 vehicles through the Karakum Desert, explore Bronze Age heritage and the semi-nomadic way of life, and conclude at the legendary Darvaza Gas Crater before exiting northern Turkmenistan.
Transport
4×4 SUVs (4 seats), groups up to 3 travelers per vehicle:
- Mitsubishi Pajero
- Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Program
Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport.
Follow the “VISA” sign. In the customs area, near the visa counter, you will be met by your guide holding a name sign. The guide will assist with visa issuance and the PCR test. The total cost of visa formalities and testing is approximately USD 120–130 per person, payable in cash (US dollars in good condition). All procedures take about one hour.
After passport control and baggage claim, transfer to a centrally located hotel (20–30 minutes) with immediate check-in available. Time to rest after the flight.
In the afternoon, visit the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, dedicated to the heroes and victims of World War II, the Geoktepe Battle, and the 1948 earthquake.
City tour of modern Ashgabat: Yyldyz Hotel and the Wedding Palace (Bagt Koshgi) with panoramic city views, followed by a drive past Independence Park, the Ruhnama Monument, Constitution Monument, Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center, the Magtymguly Monument, and the Neutrality Arch.
Evening drive to Mary via the new highway.
Overnight at hotel in Mary.
Breakfast at the hotel and departure.
Drive to Bayramaly to visit Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site), known as the “Queen of Cities.” Highlights include:
- Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (last ruler of the Great Seljuk Empire)
- Yusuf Hamadani Mosque (renowned Sufi teacher of Central Asia)
- Erk Kala (founded 6th century BCE; later citadel of Hellenistic Antiochia Margiana)
- Mausoleums of the Ashabs (companions of Prophet Muhammad)
- Medieval Ice House (7th century)
- Greater and Lesser Gyz Kala (“Maiden Fortresses,” 7th–12th c.)
- Mausoleum of Muhammad ibn Zayd
Picnic lunch during the excursion.
Continue by 4×4 vehicles to Gonur Depe — the largest Bronze Age archaeological site in Central Asia.
Explore Gonur Depe, the ancient center of the Margiana oasis (c. 3000 BCE), believed to be linked to early Zoroastrian culture.
Accommodation: tents
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast, depart deep into the Karakum Desert.
The track gradually dissolves into landscapes of sand dunes, vast horizons, and absolute silence. Stop in the village of Mirzachirla to experience life on the edge of the sands, where traditions remain largely unchanged.
Continue west to Ak Molla, a remote semi-nomadic settlement. Camels graze freely, yurts stand beneath endless skies, and life follows a traditional rhythm.
At sunset, the desert glows in warm tones. Dinner at camp and an evening under the stars.
Accommodation: tents
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast, continue across the Karakum along ancient caravan routes. Endless plains, low dunes, and immense skies create a feeling of total isolation.
By midday arrival in Damla, a small desert settlement amid pristine nature. Introduction to local life and lunch in an authentic setting.
Free time for walks, observation, and photography. Dinner under the open sky.
Accommodation: tents or yurts
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Morning immersion in the life of Damla. Then off-road drive through the Karakum to one of Turkmenistan’s most iconic sights.
By evening arrival at the Darvaza Gas Crater (“Door to Hell”), formed during Soviet-era drilling and burning continuously for decades.
Dinner in the desert and observation of the crater after dark. Evening campfire performance by a bakhshi (traditional bard) playing the dutar.
Accommodation: yurt camp
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Early rise to view the Darvaza crater in morning light. After breakfast, drive across the Central Karakum to Dashoguz.
The route crosses sections of broken surface; travel is by 4×4 vehicles with short stops en route.
Lunch and transfer to the Dashoguz–Shavat border crossing.
Assistance with border formalities.
Continue into Uzbekistan.
Price
1/2 DBL price
On requestIncluded / Excluded
- - Transportation: SUVs
- Accommodation
- Visa support
- Water along the way
- Entrance fees
- Guide
- Tourist registration
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Visa fee: USD 85
Immigration fee: USD 14
Additional hotel services
Tips for guide and driver
Personal expenses
Photography and videography fees
Meals outside the program
International flights
Insurance
