Silk Road Secrets: A 15-Day Turkmenistan Expedition

Welcome to Turkmenistan and the start of your fifteen-day expedition along the hidden routes of the Silk Road. Upon arrival at Ashgabat International Airport, your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. After check-in and a short rest, you will set out to discover the capital. Ashgabat is often called the "white marble city", and its monuments, fountains and broad avenues make a striking first impression.

You will begin at Independence Park, where the Independence Monument rises among statues, fountains and carefully tended gardens. Next, you will visit the Arch of Neutrality, whose viewing platform offers a panorama of the city and the Kopetdag Mountains. Your tour continues to the Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, an elegant building modelled on the classical Ottoman style. In the afternoon, you will visit the State Museum, where exhibits trace the history of Turkmenistan from the Stone Age to the present day. Highlights include Parthian ivory rhytons from Nisa and finds from the Bronze Age culture of Margiana. Your guide will also brief you on the long route ahead and answer any questions. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with traditional Turkmen dishes. Overnight at your hotel in Ashgabat.

After breakfast, you will drive west from Ashgabat along the northern slopes of the Kopetdag range. Your first stop is an Akhal-Teke horse farm, where you will meet the famous "golden horses" of Turkmenistan and learn about their history and care. Next, you will visit Geok-Tepe, the site of the last great fortress of the Turkmen tribes, which fell to Russian forces in 1881. Today the site is marked by a memorial and the beautiful Saparmurat Hajji Mosque.

The journey continues to Kow-Ata, an underground lake set deep inside a limestone cave. A long staircase leads you down to the warm, mineral-rich water, which is ideal for a relaxing swim. In the afternoon, you will climb into the mountains on a winding road toward the village of Nokhur. Nokhur is one of the most traditional villages in Turkmenistan, with its own customs, dialect and way of life. You will see stone houses built on the hillsides and the old cemetery, where graves are marked with the horns of wild mountain goats. Your hosts will welcome you with tea and a home-cooked dinner. Overnight at a guesthouse in Nokhur.

After breakfast with your host family, you will continue your journey through the Kopetdag Mountains. The road winds through valleys and passes, offering beautiful views of rocky peaks, green slopes and small villages. Today you will visit the Syunt-Khasardag Nature Reserve, a protected area known for its rich plant life and rare animals.

The reserve is home to wild pistachio trees, juniper, wild grapes and many medicinal plants. If you are lucky, you may see wild goats, mountain sheep or birds of prey soaring above the cliffs. Your guide will tell you about the efforts to protect the unique ecosystem of this mountain region. Later in the day, you will drive through the area known as the Lunar Mountains, where bare, eroded hills create a strange and beautiful landscape. The soft colours of the hills change throughout the day, making this a wonderful place for photography. You will stop for a picnic lunch in a scenic spot along the way. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in the town of Serdar, also known as Gyzylarbat. Overnight at your hotel in Serdar.

Today is a full day of travel and discovery in western Turkmenistan. After breakfast, you will leave Serdar and head west toward Balkanabat, an oil town at the foot of the Balkan Mountains. Along the way, you will visit the Parau Bibi Mausoleum, built high on a mountain slope. According to legend, a holy woman named Parau Bibi took refuge here, and the mountain opened to protect her from enemies. Today, women in particular come here to pray for health and the blessing of children.

After the visit, you will continue to the Gozli Ata shrine, the mausoleum of a respected 14th-century Sufi teacher. The complex is surrounded by an old cemetery and is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the region. Your guide will explain the local customs and the role of Sufi saints in Turkmen culture. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at Yangykala Canyon, whose limestone cliffs glow in red, pink and white. The canyon walls were shaped over millions of years from the bed of an ancient sea. Watching the sunset here is one of the highlights of the entire journey. Dinner will be prepared at camp. Overnight in tents near the canyon.

Rise early to see the sunrise over Yangykala Canyon, when the cliffs light up in soft colours. After breakfast at camp, you will drive toward Kemal Ata, a hill and sacred site in the desert. Here you will see the shrine of Kemal Ata and the old cemetery, as well as wide views over the desert plains. Your guide will tell you the legends connected with this place and its role in local spiritual life.

The journey then continues to Turkmenbashy, the main port city of Turkmenistan on the shores of the Caspian Sea. After checking into your hotel, you can enjoy some time on the beach and a swim in the sea. The Caspian is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth, and its coastline here is lined with sandy beaches. Later, you will visit the city bazaar, where local traders sell fresh fish, smoked sturgeon and other seafood. The bazaar is also a good place to see local life and buy fresh fruit. In the evening, you can stroll along the seafront promenade as the sun sets over the water. A seafood dinner is a perfect way to end the day. Overnight in Turkmenbashy.

After breakfast, you will travel via Balkanabat to the airport for a domestic flight to Dashoguz in northern Turkmenistan. The flight passes over the vast Karakum Desert and offers an impressive view of its endless sands. On arrival, you will be met by your local guide and begin a tour of the city.

Dashoguz is the regional centre of northern Turkmenistan and lies close to the border with Uzbekistan. The region was historically part of Khorezm, an ancient civilisation that grew up along the lower reaches of the Amu Darya River. You will visit the city's main square, parks and monuments, as well as the local bazaar. The bazaar is a colourful place where you can see traditional clothes, hats and local produce. Your guide will tell you about the history, culture and traditions of the Dashoguz region, which differ in many ways from the rest of the country. You may notice differences in dialect, cuisine and dress. If time allows, you may also visit the regional museum to see artefacts from ancient Khorezm. In the evening, you will check into your hotel and enjoy dinner. Overnight in Dashoguz.

After breakfast, you will drive to Kunya Urgench, the former capital of Khorezm and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city reached its peak in the 12th and early 13th centuries, before it was destroyed by the Mongols. Today, its surviving monuments are among the finest examples of medieval architecture in Central Asia.

You will visit the Gutlug Timur Minaret, which rises around 60 metres above the plain and is one of the tallest in the region. Next, you will see the Mausoleum of Turabek Khanum, with its spectacular mosaic dome. You will also visit the Mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh, the Mausoleum of Il-Arslan and the Mausoleum of Najmeddin Kubra, a great Sufi teacher. Many pilgrims visit these sites, and you may see them walking around the holy places or performing traditional rituals. After lunch, you will drive south across the Karakum Desert toward Darvaza. In the evening, you will arrive at the Darvaza Gas Crater, a vast burning pit that has been on fire since the 1970s. The glowing crater against the night sky is an unforgettable sight. Enjoy a barbecue dinner at camp. Overnight in a yurt or tent near the crater.

After breakfast at camp, you will begin a true desert adventure across the heart of the Karakum. The route follows sandy tracks over dunes and across clay plains called takyrs, which crack into patterns in the dry heat. You will travel in 4x4 vehicles driven by experienced local drivers who know these desert tracks well.

Along the way, you will stop to admire the landscape, take photographs and look for signs of desert wildlife. You may see camels, lizards, desert tortoises and birds such as larks and wheatears. Your guide will explain how plants such as saxaul and sand acacia survive in this harsh environment. A picnic lunch will be served in the shade of the dunes. In the afternoon, you will arrive at Damla, a traditional pastoral village deep in the desert. The villagers keep camels, sheep and goats and live much as their ancestors did. You will be welcomed by a local family and invited to share tea and bread baked in a clay tamdyr oven. In the evening, enjoy dinner with your hosts. Overnight in a yurt or guesthouse in Damla.

After breakfast in Damla, you will have time to observe the morning routine of the village. You may see women baking bread, children helping with the animals and men taking the camels to pasture. Afterwards, you will continue your journey across the desert toward the village of Akmolla.

The drive takes you through quiet dunes and grazing land, where shepherds move their flocks between wells. On arrival in Akmolla, you will meet local families and learn about their way of life. Lunch will feature traditional lamb dishes, prepared according to old recipes passed down through generations. You may have the chance to see how dishes such as gowurma or ichlekli, a meat pie baked in hot sand, are prepared. This is also a wonderful day for photography, as you can capture daily Turkmen life in a natural setting. Please remember to ask permission before photographing people, which your guide will help with. In the evening, you can enjoy the silence of the desert and a sky full of stars. Dinner will be served with your hosts. Overnight in Akmolla.

Today is a gentle day of travel and rest. After breakfast, you will take a short drive across the desert to the oasis settlement of Murzechirla. The landscape is peaceful, with low dunes, scattered shrubs and occasional herds of camels.

On arrival, you will have time for a desert walk with your guide, who will point out plants, animal tracks and features of the landscape. You will learn how people in this area find water, build their homes and care for their animals. Lunch will be served at a local home, where you will experience the warm hospitality of the oasis. Your hosts may show you their traditional clothes, including colourful dresses, embroidered robes and the tall sheepskin hats called telpek. Women may demonstrate how carpets and felt are made by hand, a skill passed from mother to daughter. You may be invited to try on traditional dress for a memorable photograph. The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the calm atmosphere of the village. In the evening, dinner will be served with your hosts. Overnight in Murzechirla.

Today is a long and rewarding desert crossing. After an early breakfast, you will set off on the tracks heading south-east toward the ancient delta of the Murghab River. The journey takes most of the day, with regular stops to rest, take photographs and stretch your legs.

You will pass small oases, wells and villages, where you can see how life continues in the desert as it has for centuries. Your guide will share stories about the caravans that once crossed these sands carrying silk, spices and other goods. A picnic lunch will be served along the way. As you approach the Murghab delta, the landscape changes, and you will begin to see traces of ancient settlement. In the late afternoon, you will reach Gonur Depe, one of the most important Bronze Age sites in Central Asia. Gonur Depe was the centre of the ancient Margiana civilisation, which flourished around four thousand years ago. You will have time to watch the sunset over the ruins, which is a magical experience. Dinner will be served at camp. Overnight near Gonur Depe.

After breakfast, you will explore Gonur Depe, which dates back to around 2000 BC. The site was excavated over many decades by the archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, who uncovered a palace, temples, fire altars and a large necropolis. Some researchers believe that Gonur Depe may be connected with the early development of Zoroastrian rituals.

Your guide will take you through the remains of the walls and buildings and explain what life was like in this ancient city. You may see fragments of pottery and other traces of the people who once lived here. After the visit, you will drive to Ancient Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest cities of the Silk Road. You will visit the fortresses of Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala, which date back more than two thousand years. You will also see Sultan Kala, the Seljuk capital, and the majestic Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar. Other highlights include the Kyz Kala mansions and the mausoleums of the companions of the Prophet. In the evening, you will continue to the city of Mary and check into your hotel. Overnight in Mary.

After breakfast, you will leave Mary for a day trip to some of the lesser-known sites of the region. Your first stop is the Talkhatan Baba Mosque, built in the 11th century during the Seljuk period. The mosque is famous for its beautiful brick decoration, which is among the finest of its time.

The journey continues to the Yekedeshik cave, a remarkable underground monument carved into a hillside. The cave has two levels and around 44 rooms connected by narrow corridors. Historians believe it may have been used as a Buddhist monastery, a refuge or a place of retreat for Sufi mystics. Your guide will lead you through the rooms and explain the different theories about its origin and purpose. You will need a torch, and comfortable shoes are recommended, as the floors can be uneven. A packed lunch will be served during the excursion. This is a rare chance to see a site that few travellers visit. In the late afternoon, you will return to Mary. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Mary.

After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and begin the journey back to Ashgabat. Your first stop is the Nedirshah Fortress, an 18th-century fortification associated with the Persian ruler Nadir Shah. Its massive clay walls are a reminder of the conflicts that once took place in this region.

Next, you will visit the medieval settlement of Abiverd, which was an important trading town between the 9th and 13th centuries. You will walk among the ruins of the city walls and see the remains of houses and streets. Later, you will visit the ruins of the Seyitjemaleddin Mosque near the village of Anau. Built in the 15th century, the mosque was famous for the images of dragons on its portal. Although it was destroyed by the earthquake of 1948, it remains an important place of pilgrimage. Your guide will explain the history of each site and its role in the history of the region. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Ashgabat and check into your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the end of your expedition. Overnight in Ashgabat.

Today marks the end of your fifteen-day expedition through Turkmenistan. After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some free time depending on your flight schedule. You may wish to visit a souvenir shop or relax before your journey home.

Please check out of your room by the agreed time. Your guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby and transfer you to Ashgabat International Airport. Our team will help you with your luggage and check-in for your international flight. If you have purchased carpets or other handicrafts, please keep your receipts and certificates ready for customs. Over the past two weeks, you have travelled through mountains, canyons and deserts, met nomadic families and explored ancient cities. You have seen places that few travellers ever visit, from Bronze Age Gonur Depe to the mysterious Yekedeshik cave. We hope this expedition has given you a deep and lasting impression of Turkmenistan. Thank you for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure.