Turkmenistan 9 days

Kuala-Lumpur - Ashgabat T5-802 04-40 10-10
Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. You will be met by our representatives and transferred to the hotel. Check in at 14:00. 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. However, it has either been established that the fortress at Nissa was a royal residence or a mausoleum. The ruins of the ancient settlement Nissa are located 18 km from Ashgabat at Bagyr village. Afternoon you will have an Ashgabat city tour. You will see the Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferries Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and Park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat Olympic Stadium and Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex. Overnight in Ashgabat. Overnight at a hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Mary. You also see the ruins of Seyitjemalledin mosque in Anau. The mosque was built in 1456 when Abu-ibn-Kasim Baber Bahadurkhan ruled in Khorasan (1446-1457). Construction of the mosque was financed by Bahadurkhan’s vizier, Muhammed Hudaidot, who also selected a site of construction–near the grave of his father, sheikh Jemaleddin, a native of Anau. The square central hall (with the sides of 10.5 meters) was crowned with a dome. In later periods, the Seyit-Jemaleddin mosque was partially reconstructed. By the nineteenth century, the subsidence of land had already damaged the building heavily, and during the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake it was destroyed completely. Now, only the lower parts of the portal and some fragments of the walls are extant. On the way visit Abiwerd which was once an important trading town of North Khorasan. It was a key link on the Great Silk Road between Nisa and Merv, and also enjoyed ties in Nishapur, across the Kopetdag Mountains to the south. Then you will see all the major buildings of Mary in the downtown. Also, visit Mary Bazaar to see a variety of local products. and the Russian Orthodox church (one of the oldest in Turkmenistan). Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Merv to explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, 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, you will visit Mary 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. Flight to Ashgabat. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Nokhur village in the western Kopetdag Mountains on 4x4 vehicles (157km, 2h). Arrive and lunch at a local family home in Nokhur to experience the extraordinary culture enjoying the hospitality of locals. One is the town’s cemetery, where each grave is protected by the huge horns of the mountain goats that locals consider sacred - indeed many houses in the village have a goat’s skull hanging on a stick outside to ward off evil spirits. Just beyond is the pilgrimage site of Kyz Bibi. A fat-trunked plane tree, surrounded by a small metal fence, is covered with small scraps of cloth representing wishes. From here, a flight of concrete steps leads up to a tiny cave, just a few centimetres across, on the side of the hill. The cave is surrounded by more pieces of material, some of which have been fashioned into tiny cribs, suggesting the nature of the wishes made here. Then drive to Karakala (129km, 2h) via the Syunt-Khasardag nature reserve to see Moon Mountain. You will experience the Moon's surface on Earth with outstanding landscapes. Drive to Balkanabat (278km, 4h). Overnight in a hotel in Balkanabat.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to pilgrimage sight Gozli-Ata on the way to drive to Yangykala Canyons, one of the scenic natural objects of Turkmenistan. The word expression “Yangy kala” translates from Turkmen as “fire fortress”. Indeed, the sheer cliffs of white, yellow, ocher, purple and red colours, fancily carved by winds and rains, are very similar to the stone castles from a fantasy. Explore the Canyons. Overnight at a hotel in Turkmenbashi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Flight from Turkmenbashi to Ashgabat at 08:40. Visit 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, as well as 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. Afternoon drive to Darvaza burning Gas Crater which is one of the top international tourist destinations. Stopping in the village of Yerbent and observing the village life adds a special excitement to this trip. The area is rich in natural gas. Burning for more than 50 years, Darvaza Gas Crater shines like a pearl in the middle of the Karakum desert. Besides Darvaza Gas Crater, you will also see water and mud craters. One of the most vivid and addictive features of this trip is the fresh air of the desert and experiencing the nomadic life in person. At night, while the light of the Gas Crater hits the sky, you will camp in the Turkmen national yurt or private tents and barbecue for dinner. This unique landscape in the world will fascinate you and you will want to come again.

Picnic-style breakfast in Darvaza. Morning drive back to Ashgabat. Check it at hotel at noon. Later drive to visit Horse Farm 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. There are over 35 beautiful horses on the farm. Per superstition, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon. After visiting the horse stable, transfer to your hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to visit "Altyn Asyr" Oriental Bazar (opens on Wen, Thurs., Sat, Sun) - Jygyldyk located 20km to the north of Ashgabat. It is one of the largest open bazaars in the world filled with colourful rugs, jewellery, carpets, silk and national Turkmen costumes and animals in other parts.Free time. Overnight at hotel.

Aşgabat - Kuala-Lumpur T5-803 06-15 17-05.
Transfer to the Ashgabat International Airport. Departure