Golden Sands Adventure

Welcome to Turkmenistan! On arrival at Ashgabat International Airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After check-in and a short rest, you will set off to explore the capital, often called the "white marble city". Ashgabat is known for its gleaming buildings, golden domes and grand monuments, which create a unique atmosphere.

Your first visit is the State Museum, the largest museum in the country. Here you will see artefacts from ancient Nisa and Merv, Bronze Age finds from Margiana and exhibits on Turkmen culture and traditions. The museum provides an excellent introduction to the history of the country before your desert adventure begins. Next, you will visit Independence Park, home to the Independence Monument and statues of famous figures from Turkmen history. You will also drive along the city's main avenues and see its impressive government buildings and monuments. Your guide will tell you about the history of Ashgabat and its reconstruction after the 1948 earthquake. You will also receive a briefing on the off-road journey ahead. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner. Overnight at your hotel in Ashgabat.

After breakfast, you will leave Ashgabat and head north into the Karakum Desert in 4x4 vehicles. After visiting the area near Darvaza, you will leave the paved road and travel about 100 kilometres off-road to the nomadic village of Damla. The journey takes you across sand dunes and clay plains, offering a true sense of the vastness of the desert.

On arrival in Damla, you will be welcomed by local families who live by breeding camels, sheep and goats. This is a unique opportunity to take part in traditional activities. You will learn how felt is made from sheep's wool, a craft that has been practised by Turkmen nomads for centuries. You may also help to set up a traditional yurt, learning how the wooden frame and felt covers are assembled. In the kitchen, your hosts will show you how to prepare local dishes and bake bread in a clay tamdyr oven. These hands-on experiences offer a deep insight into the life of desert communities. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner with your hosts under the desert sky. Overnight in a yurt in Damla.

After breakfast, you will continue your off-road journey across the desert plateau. The route takes you through dunes, sandy valleys and wide clay plains, where you may see camels grazing freely. Your first stop is the settlement of Murzechirla, a small oasis community.

Here you will meet local families and learn how they find water and care for their animals in the desert. The journey then continues to the village of Akmolla, where you will meet shepherd families who move their flocks between wells and pastures. You will learn about the traditional seasonal migrations and the skills needed to survive in the desert. Your hosts may invite you to share tea and bread and tell you stories of desert life. This is a wonderful opportunity to take photographs of people and landscapes, always with permission. Your guide will help you communicate and explain local customs. Lunch will be served along the way. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner with a local family. Overnight in a guesthouse or yurt in Akmolla.

After breakfast, you will travel south-east across the desert toward the ancient delta of the Murghab River. In the afternoon, you will reach Gonur Depe, the centre of the Bronze Age Margiana civilisation, which flourished around four thousand years ago. Gonur Depe is one of the most important archaeological sites in Central Asia.

You will explore the remains of a palace, temples, fire altars and a royal necropolis. The site was excavated for many years by the archaeologist Viktor Sarianidi, whose discoveries changed our understanding of the ancient history of the region. Your guide will explain the history of Margiana and the theories about the religion and culture of its people. During the excavation season, you may have the opportunity to meet members of the archaeological team and learn about their work. This is a rare chance to see archaeology in action. In the evening, you will camp near the site and enjoy dinner under the stars. The silence of the desert and the ancient ruins create an unforgettable atmosphere. Overnight at a camp near Gonur Depe.

After breakfast at camp, you will drive to Ancient Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest cities of the Silk Road. Merv was inhabited for more than four thousand years, and its successive cities were built side by side. This makes it possible to explore many different periods of history in one place.

You will visit Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala, the oldest fortresses, which date back to the Achaemenid period. Next, you will see Sultan Kala, the Seljuk capital, and the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, a masterpiece of 12th-century architecture. Its huge double dome was once covered with turquoise tiles and could be seen from far across the desert. You will also visit the Kyz Kala mansions, with their distinctive corrugated walls. Your guide will tell you about the rulers, scholars and poets who lived in Merv and its destruction by the Mongols in 1221. After the visits, you will drive to the city of Mary and check into your hotel. After several days in the desert, you can enjoy the comfort of a hot shower and a good bed. Overnight in Mary.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Mary airport for a domestic flight to Ashgabat. On arrival, you will drive west toward the Kopetdag Mountains to visit the Kow-Ata underground lake. The lake lies deep inside a cave, and you will reach it by walking down a long staircase.

The water is warm all year round and is rich in minerals, making it a pleasant place for a swim. Many local people believe the water has healing properties. After the visit, you will continue to an Akhal-Teke horse farm, where you can see the famous golden horses of Turkmenistan. These horses are known for their shining coats, elegance and endurance. You will learn about their history and the important role they play in Turkmen culture. If you wish, you may have the opportunity to take photographs with the horses. In the evening, you will return to Ashgabat and check into your hotel. Enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the end of your desert adventure. Overnight in Ashgabat.

Today your Golden Sands Adventure comes to an end. After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some free time depending on your flight schedule. You may wish to take a final walk through the city or visit a souvenir shop.

Please make sure to 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 assist you with your luggage and check-in for your onward flight. If you have purchased carpets or handicrafts, please keep your receipts and certificates ready for customs. During this journey, you have crossed the Karakum Desert, stayed with nomadic families and explored the ancient ruins of Gonur Depe and Merv. You have also experienced traditional crafts such as felt-making and yurt building. We hope these experiences have given you a true understanding of desert life in Turkmenistan. Thank you for travelling with us, and we hope to see you again soon.