TURKMENISTAN NOWRUZ ESSENTIAL TOUR

Arrival into Ashgabat International Airport, where our local team will meet you and transfer you to the hotel for early check-in and some rest after your flight.

Later, we begin exploring Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s striking capital city, known for its vast boulevards, monumental architecture and white marble buildings.

We first visit the ancient fortress of Nissa, once one of the capitals of the Parthian Empire and now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back over 2,000 years, Nissa offers an insight into the region’s importance along ancient trade and cultural routes.

Our Ashgabat city tour includes some of the city’s most iconic landmarks and monuments, giving a first glimpse into one of the world’s most unusual and isolated capitals.

• Visit the ancient Parthian fortress of Nissa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Explore the Monument of Independence and surrounding park complex
• See the famous Arch of Neutrality and the Constitution Monument
• Pass the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium and the city’s enormous flagpole
• Visit the Wedding Palace and Ferris Wheel
• Visit the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex
• See the Alabay Monument, dedicated to Turkmenistan’s national dog breed
• Visit the Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the country

After breakfast, we leave Ashgabat and head towards the city of Mary, stopping along the way to experience Nowruz Bayram celebrations.

Nowruz, marking the beginning of spring and the Persian New Year, remains one of the most important cultural celebrations across Central Asia. Throughout the day, we experience traditional music, local customs and regional festivities, offering a unique insight into Turkmen culture beyond the capital.

Along the route, we will see traditional crafts, local performances and community gatherings as celebrations take place across the region.

• Experience local Nowruz Bayram celebrations and cultural festivities
• Watch regional folk performances and traditional music
• See demonstrations of Turkmen carpet weaving and jewellery making
• Try a variety of traditional Turkmen dishes and seasonal foods
• Witness traditional wrestling demonstrations and local sporting contests
• Drive through changing desert landscapes on the journey to Mary

We arrive into Mary in the evening and check into our hotel.

After breakfast, we spend the morning exploring Mary, one of Turkmenistan’s major regional cities and an important gateway to the ancient Silk Road.

We visit the local bazaar, where traders sell everything from textiles and spices to fresh produce and household goods, offering a glimpse into daily life away from the capital. We also visit one of the oldest Russian Orthodox churches in Turkmenistan before continuing to the ancient city of Merv.

Once known as the “Queen of the World”, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop along the Silk Road. Today, its vast archaeological remains stretch across the desert, revealing centuries of history shaped by empires, traders and scholars.

• Explore Mary Bazaar and experience local daily life
• Visit one of Turkmenistan’s oldest Russian Orthodox churches
• Discover the ancient city of Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visit the Greater and Lesser Kyz Gala fortresses
• Explore Erk Gala and Gyaur Gala, some of the oldest sections of ancient Merv
• Visit the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, one of the region’s most impressive Seljuk-era monuments
• Learn about Merv’s importance as a major centre of the Islamic world and Silk Road trade routes
• Explore historic mausoleums, archaeological sites and ancient city walls spread across the desert landscape

In the evening, we board the overnight train to Kerki, travelling across the Turkmen countryside as we continue further east.

Early in the morning, we arrive into Kerki before continuing towards the remote Koytendag Valley, one of Turkmenistan’s most fascinating and lesser-visited regions.

Surrounded by mountains, caves and dramatic landscapes, Koytendag is home to some of the country’s most unusual natural and historical sites. Today’s journey takes us deep into eastern Turkmenistan, close to the border with Uzbekistan.

One of the highlights of the day is the famous Dinosaur Plateau, where hundreds of prehistoric footprints remain preserved in stone, dating back over 145 million years.

• Drive through the rugged landscapes of the Koytendag region
• Visit the Dinosaur Plateau, home to remarkably preserved dinosaur footprints
• Learn about the geological history of the area and the prehistoric creatures that once roamed here
• Enjoy lunch surrounded by mountain scenery and remote landscapes
• Explore Kyrk Gyz Cave, linked to local legends and folklore
• Visit the Umbar-Dere Waterfall, hidden within the rocky terrain of the valley
• Experience life in one of Turkmenistan’s more remote rural regions

In the evening, we arrive into Koyten village and check into a traditional local guesthouse.

After breakfast at the guesthouse, we drive back to Kerki for our domestic flight to Ashgabat.

Upon arrival, we continue north into the Karakum Desert towards one of Turkmenistan’s most famous landmarks, the Darvaza Gas Crater, often referred to as the “Door to Hell”.

Burning continuously for decades in the middle of the desert, the crater has become one of Central Asia’s most unusual sights. As we travel deeper into the Karakum, the scenery changes dramatically, with vast open desert landscapes, isolated roads and small pockets of nomadic life along the way.

Before reaching the main crater, we also visit nearby mud and water craters scattered across the desert.

• Take a domestic flight from Kerki back to Ashgabat
• Drive deep into the Karakum Desert towards Darvaza
• Visit the famous Darvaza Gas Crater, burning continuously in the desert for decades
• Stop at nearby mud and water craters along the route
• Experience the remote atmosphere of the Karakum Desert
• Enjoy sunset views over the crater as the flames become visible against the night sky
• Experience a traditional desert camp setup in Turkmenistan

In the evening, we enjoy a barbecue dinner and stay overnight in traditional yurts or private tents near the crater.

After breakfast in the desert, we leave Darvaza and drive back through the Karakum Desert towards Ashgabat.

Upon returning to the capital, we visit a local horse stable to learn about the Akhal-Teke horse, widely regarded as the national symbol of Turkmenistan. Known for their speed, endurance and distinctive metallic sheen, the breed has played an important role in Turkmen culture for thousands of years.

Later, we explore Gulistan Bazaar, one of Ashgabat’s largest and oldest markets, where locals shop for everything from spices and textiles to fresh produce and household goods.

• Drive back across the Karakum Desert to Ashgabat
• Visit a traditional horse stable to see the famous Akhal-Teke horses
• Learn about the history and cultural importance of Turkmenistan’s national horse breed
• Explore Gulistan Bazaar, one of the capital’s busiest local markets
• Browse stalls selling spices, dried fruits, textiles, souvenirs and local produce
• Experience another side of daily life in Ashgabat away from the city’s monumental architecture

Early in the morning, we transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for our domestic flight to Turkmenbashi, located on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

From here, we continue across western Turkmenistan towards the spectacular Yangykala Canyon, one of the country’s most impressive natural landscapes. Shaped over millions of years by wind and erosion, the canyon is known for its striking rock formations and layers of red, pink, yellow and white cliffs stretching across the desert.

The name “Yangykala” translates roughly as “Fire Fortress”, a fitting description for the dramatic colours that appear across the canyon walls throughout the day.

• Take a domestic flight from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi
• Drive through the remote desert landscapes of western Turkmenistan
• Explore the dramatic Yangykala Canyon formations
• Take in panoramic views over the colourful cliffs and rock formations
• Learn about the geological history of one of Turkmenistan’s most unique natural sites
• Stop for photographs across the canyon viewpoints and surrounding desert scenery

After exploring the canyon, we continue to Balkanabat for the evening.

After breakfast, we leave Balkanabat and drive towards the remote mountain village of Nokhur, located within the Kopet Dag Range near the border with Iran.

Surrounded by mountains and steep valleys, Nokhur feels completely different from the rest of Turkmenistan. The village is known for its distinct traditions, architecture and customs, with many locals tracing their heritage through stories and legends tied to the region.

We spend time exploring the narrow stone-lined streets, local cemetery and sacred sites before continuing to Kow Ata, one of Turkmenistan’s most unusual natural attractions.

• Drive through the mountain landscapes of the Kopet Dag Range
• Visit the remote village of Nokhur, known for its unique traditions and culture
• Explore narrow village streets and traditional stone-built homes
• Visit the distinctive Nokhur cemetery, where graves are decorated with mountain goat horns
• Learn about local legends connected to Noah’s Ark and the surrounding mountains
• Visit the sacred wish tree of Kyz Bibi
• Explore Kow Ata underground lake, hidden inside a limestone cave system
• Option to swim in the naturally warm underground lake

After the visit, we return to Ashgabat for the evening.

After breakfast, transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for your onward flight.