2stan Group Trip

Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. Our representatives will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to visit the National Museum of History & Ethnography. The museum has a rich collection of ancient artefacts from Turkmenistan. More than 500,000 exhibits are displayed here. It has nine halls, each dedicated to a certain period or theme. The museum reveals the variety of Turkmenistan’s landscape, its flora and fauna, fossils, and rare geological finds. You will have an Ashgabat city tour. In 2013 the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat a “white marbled city” – here you can see the biggest number of structures in the world made out of white marble. You will see the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium, Monument and Park of Independence, main flagpole of Ashgabat, Arch of Neutrality, Constitution Monument, Ferris Wheel, Wedding Palace and enjoy a panoramic view of Ashgabat from the top of the hill, Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, Alabay monument and Ertogrul Gazy Mosque. Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to visit Nissa fortress - the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings. UNESCO declared the fortress a World Heritage Site in 2007. Nissa is described as one of the first capitals of the Parthians. It was founded by Arsaces I (reigned c. 250 BC – 211BC), and is reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian Kings, although it has neither been established that the fortress at Nissa was a royal residence nor a mausoleum. After you’ll be welcomed by a local family called “Turkmen Hospitality,” offering a warm and authentic glimpse into Turkmen culture and traditions. You’ll try on traditional Turkmen clothing, watch and participate in carpet weaving and felt mat making using special wool, and learn to cook national dishes like dograma and ishlekli. You’ll also bake traditional bread and prepare the sweet treat pishme, a golden fried pastry served with tea. The experience ends with a shared lunch — a delicious meal that you helped prepare — enjoyed in true Turkmen style: with warmth, stories, and hospitality, and traditional dance performance. Then visit Gokdepe Horse Stable to see a national pride of Turkmen people – Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began to breed Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great and Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. After visiting the Turkmenbashi Ruhi Mosque and Mausoleum, which was the largest mosque in Central Asia when it was built. Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat

Breakfast at the hotel. After drive to Mary (385km, 4hr). After arriving in Mary drive to explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, which was one of the most important capitals of Islam, along with Baghdad, Cairo, and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum. After sightseeing, drive to Mary and visit Mary's History Museum is a history museum of Mary, located in the center of the city. The exposition of the museum reflects the history and culture of Mary from ancient times to the present day and is unique in the size and content of the exhibits, Russian Orthodox church, which was built on 1900 (one of the oldest in Turkmenistan), and Green Bazaar. Overnight at the hotel in Mary.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive back to Ashgabat (385km, 4h). Lunch at the local restaurant. After visiting the “Halk Hakydasy” Memorial Complex opened in Ashgabat in 2014 to honor victims of war and the 1948 earthquake. Located on a hill, it features monuments, a landscaped park, and the Watan Mukaddesligi Museum, inspired by the Turkmen flag. Exhibits use sound, light, and dioramas to depict the Battle of Gokdepe, World War II, and the earthquake. The complex symbolizes the Turkmen people’s courage and helps educate future generations about their nation’s history. Then, visit Gulistan Bazaar, which is one of the largest and oldest covered markets and a must-visit for any traveller to Ashgabat. The ground floor of the bazaar dedicated to fresh produce, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products. Stalls also sell spices, nuts, dried fruits, and other food items. The second floor of the bazaar is home to a variety of shops selling clothing and souvenirs. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to visit the Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia, featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik, and Chodor tribes. The Turkmen Carpet Museum is one of the cultural centres of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 carpet exhibits, including rare ones, are exhibited. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet to wear keys and the world’s largest hand carpet with a total area of 301 m², which was woven in 2001, and in 2003, it was added to the Guinness Book of Records. After lunch, you will drive to the Darvaza burning Gas Crater, which is a top international tourist destination. We will travel across the Karakum Desert in 4x4 vehicles, as the route is unpaved and can be rough in some parts. The drive may be bumpy at times, but it offers a true sense of adventure and leads us to one of Turkmenistan’s most unique and remote places. The area is rich in natural gas, and the crater has been burning for over 50 years, making it shine like a pearl in the middle of the Karakum desert. It’s the largest desert in Central Asia, and though smaller than the Sahara or Arabian deserts. The crater, like a bottomless furnace, spews flames from its fissures, illuminating the surrounding sand. The setting sun paints the sky a deep orange-red and purple. As the light gradually dims, the flames quickly become dazzling. The trip provides an opportunity to experience the fresh air of the desert and the nomadic life. You will have barbecue for dinner while enjoying the light of the Gas Crater in the night sky. This unique landscape will fascinate you and make you want to come back again. Barbeque dinner on sight. Overnight in a yurt camp.

The sky is just beginning to lighten with a pale orange hue; the desert remains a slumbering gray-blue. The flames in the giant crater begin to show their orange, flickering outlines in the dim light. The firelight reflects off the crater walls and the surrounding dunes, like a giant lantern lit on the earth at dawn. Breakfast at the yurt camp. Drive to Dashoguz on 4WD cars 290km, 6hours. Lunch at the local restaurant. Border formalities on both sides. Transfer to the hotel in Khiva 60km. Short walking tour in Khiva. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Khiva

Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour in Khiva: Allakuli Khan Madrasah, Arab Muhammad-khan Madrasah, Mosque Islam Khoja complex, Kalta-minor, Kunya-Ark Citadel, Muhammad Amin-khan Madrasah, Sayid Allauddin Mausoleum, Shergazi-Khan Madrasah, Tash-Khovli Palace. Lunch in a local restaurant. Drive to Bukhara. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour in Bukhara: Poi-Kalyan Ensemble consisting of Minaret Kalon (12c) Djuma Mosque (15c) and functioning Madrassah of Miri-Arab (16 c), Emir-Alim-Khan Madrassah (14c), Ulugbek’s madrassah (15c), Abdul-Aziz’s (17c) Madrassahs. Medieval trading domes: Toqi Zargaron (jewellers), Toqi Telpak-furushon (cap sellers) and Toqi Sarrafon (money exchangers), Lyab-i-Hauz place (16-17c) consisting of Kukeldash and Nadir Devonbegi Madrassahs (16c, 17c) including Khanaqa (ancient hospice for pilgrims) and khauz (pond) of Nadir Divanbegi, ancient Mosque Magok-i-Attari (16c). Overnight at hotel in Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel. Half day sightseeing tour in Bukhara: Mausoleum of Ismail Samani (9-10c)-vault of Bukhara rulers’ dynasty, Chashma-i-Ayub Mausoleum (14c, St. Job’s well), Bolo-Hauz complex (18 c) consisting of Mosque (where Bukhara emirs used to pray) minaret and khauz (pond), royal fortress Ark (6-16 c) with its high fortification walls. Transfer to Bukhara Railway Station. Bullet train from Bukhara to Samarkand 769Ф at 15:03/16:46, 1h, 45min. Meet and transfer to hotel for accommodation. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin our tour from Registan Square – Explore the three iconic madrasahs: Ulugbek, Sher-Dor, and Tilya-Kori. Perfect for photos and soaking in Samarkand’s architectural grandeur, Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum – Visit the mausoleum of Amir Timur with its stunning blue dome and golden interiors. Observatory of Ulugbek – Discover the 14th-century astronomical site and see the giant meridian arc, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis – Walk along the alley of turquoise tombs; one of the most photogenic and spiritual sites in Central Asia. Bibi-Khanym Mosque – Marvel at the massive mosque built by Timur, an architectural masterpiece, Siyob Bazaar – Experience local life, browse spices, dried fruits, nuts, and the famous Samarkand bread, Mausoleum of St. Daniel (Hazrat Daud) – Visit this serene site believed to house relics of Prophet Daniel. Overnight at hotel in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel. Train from Samarkand to Tashkent 711Ф at 08:05/11:55, 3h, 50min. Lunch at the local restaurant. Sightseeing tour in Tashkent: Visit to the museum of Applied Arts, Tashkent subway, Mustakillik Square (Independence Square), Amir Temur Square, Monument to Alisher Navoi, walk in Chor-Su – oriental market (handicraft bazaar). Farewell dinner at the local restaurant. Transfer to the hotel for the rest before departure to the airport. End of the tour