Historical Tour 7 Days in Turkmenistan

Welcome to Turkmenistan! Upon arrival at Ashgabat International Airport, you will be met by your English-speaking guide and driver, who will assist with formalities and transfer you to your hotel. After a short rest and time to freshen up, your introduction to the capital begins. Ashgabat is famous for its gleaming white marble buildings, wide boulevards and grand monuments, and it holds a Guinness World Record for the highest density of white marble buildings in the world.

Your first stop is Independence Park, home to the towering Independence Monument and surrounded by fountains, statues of national heroes and landscaped gardens. Next, you will visit the Arch of Neutrality, a 95-metre monument topped with a golden statue that commemorates Turkmenistan's status of permanent neutrality. From its viewing platform you can enjoy sweeping views over the city and the Kopetdag Mountains on the horizon. The afternoon continues with a visit to one of the city's museums, where your guide will introduce you to the country's history, from ancient civilisations to the present day. Throughout the day you will learn how Ashgabat was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1948. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner featuring Turkmen dishes such as plov and dograma. Overnight at your hotel in Ashgabat.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will set off for a full day of exploring Ashgabat and its surroundings. The first visit is the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in Gypjak, one of the largest mosques in Central Asia, known for its golden domes and four soaring minarets. Next, you will drive to ancient Nisa, one of the early capitals of the Parthian Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. Walking among the massive earthen walls and excavated halls, your guide will explain how this fortress once rivalled Rome in power and influence.

In the afternoon, you will visit an Akhal-Teke horse farm to meet the legendary "golden horses" of Turkmenistan. These elegant animals are renowned for their metallic sheen, endurance and speed, and they are a deep source of national pride. You will learn about their history, breeding traditions and the important role they play in Turkmen culture. The journey continues to Kow-Ata, where a staircase leads deep underground to a cave lake fed by warm mineral springs. The water stays at a pleasant temperature throughout the year and is believed to have healing properties. A swim in this natural thermal lake is an unforgettable experience. In the evening, you will return to Ashgabat for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Today you will leave the capital and travel east toward the Mary region, following roads that once formed part of the Great Silk Road. Your first stop is the ruins of the Seyitjemaleddin Mosque near the village of Anau. Built in the 15th century, the mosque was famous for the mosaic dragons decorating its portal, a rare motif in Islamic architecture. Although it was largely destroyed by the 1948 earthquake, the site remains an important place of pilgrimage for local people.

The journey continues to the medieval settlement of Abiverd, an ancient trading town that flourished between the 9th and 13th centuries. Here you can walk across the remains of city walls and imagine the caravans that once stopped here on their way between Persia and Central Asia. Along the route, the landscape changes from the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains to wide plains and desert edges. Your guide will share stories about the local traditions, agriculture and village life of the region. A lunch stop will be made at a local café along the way. You will arrive in Mary in the late afternoon and check into your hotel. The rest of the evening is free to relax or take a stroll around the city centre. Overnight in Mary.

After breakfast, you will travel about 30 kilometres from Mary to Ancient Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once one of the largest cities in the world. Merv was a major oasis city on the Silk Road for more than four thousand years, and its successive cities were built side by side rather than on top of each other. This unique layout allows visitors to explore several different eras of history in a single day.

You will visit Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala, the oldest fortresses, dating back to the Achaemenid and Hellenistic periods. Next, you will explore Sultan Kala, the medieval Seljuk capital, and the magnificent Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, whose massive dome was an engineering marvel of the 12th century. The day also includes the Great and Small Kyz Kala, mysterious fortified mansions with distinctive corrugated walls. Your guide will tell you about the great scholars, poets and rulers who once lived here, as well as the Mongol invasion that ended Merv's golden age. You will also see the mausoleums of companions of the Prophet Muhammad, which remain popular sites of pilgrimage. After the visits, you will transfer to Mary airport for a domestic flight back to Ashgabat. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning you will visit the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the 1948 earthquake and in the conflicts of the 20th century. The complex is an impressive example of modern Turkmen architecture and offers insight into the nation's history and values. After the visit, you will begin your journey north into the vast Karakum Desert, one of the largest deserts in Central Asia.

The road crosses about 260 kilometres of sand dunes, saxaul shrubs and occasional camel herds. Along the way, you may stop at small settlements where you can observe the traditional way of life of desert communities. In the late afternoon you will reach the Darvaza Gas Crater, often called the "Door to Hell" or the "Gates of Hell". This enormous crater, around 70 metres wide, has been burning continuously since the early 1970s, when it was set on fire to burn off natural gas. You will arrive in time to watch the sunset over the desert and see the flames grow more dramatic as darkness falls. In the evening, enjoy a barbecue dinner prepared at camp under a sky full of stars. Overnight in a yurt or tent near the crater.

For those who wish, an early wake-up offers the chance to see the Darvaza Gas Crater once more in the soft light of dawn. The morning visit is a quieter and more reflective experience, with the desert waking up around you. After breakfast at the camp, you will pack up and begin the journey back south to Ashgabat.

On the way you can make short stops for photographs of the dunes and the desert landscape. Your guide will tell you more about the Karakum Desert, its plants and animals, and the people who have adapted to life in such a harsh environment. After arriving in the capital and having lunch, you will visit the National Carpet Museum, which houses one of the finest collections of Turkmen carpets in the world. Here you will learn about the traditional patterns, known as göls, which represent different Turkmen tribes. You will also see one of the largest hand-woven carpets in the world, displayed in the museum. Carpet weaving is a centuries-old craft in Turkmenistan and an important part of the national identity. In the evening, you are free to relax or explore the city at your own pace. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Ashgabat.

Today marks the end of your journey through Turkmenistan. After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some free time depending on your flight schedule. You may wish to take a final stroll through a nearby park or pick up some last-minute souvenirs. Popular gifts include hand-woven carpets, silk scarves, embroidered textiles and traditional Turkmen jewellery.

Please make sure you have checked out of your room before the agreed time. Your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby at the scheduled time. You will then be transferred to Ashgabat International Airport for your departure flight. Our team will assist you with check-in and any final arrangements. If you need to keep any receipts for purchased carpets or souvenirs, please have them ready, as they may be requested at customs. We hope the memories of ancient cities, desert landscapes and warm Turkmen hospitality will stay with you for a long time. Thank you for travelling with us, and we look forward to welcoming you again in the future.