Turkmenistan
Dates:
17 - 29 March 2025
Duration:
13
days
Group:
12
ppl
Ashgabat → Mary → Merv → Ashgabat → Konye → Urgench → Dashoguz → Darwaza → Ashgabat → Nohur → Karakala → Dekhistan → Balkanabat → Yangikala → Gozli Ata → Turkmenbashi → Ashgabat
Day 1: Ashgabat
Arrive in Ashgabat and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have the opportunity to explore the city. Overnight at Ak Altyn Hotel or similar.
Day 2: Ashgabat
After a briefing with your tour guide spend the day exploring Ashgabat including Independence Park and Neutrality Arch with time to enjoy a traditional Turkmen lunch. Ashgabat is a city of grandiose monuments, giving an insight into the nation building efforts that took place after the breakup of the Soviet Union, and a good place to start getting to grips with Turkmenistan. Overnight at Ak Altyn Hotel or similar.
Day 3: Mary (360 kms)
After breakfast we travel east stopping first at the Seyitdzhemaliddin Mosque at Anau; dating from the 15th century the mosque was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1948, but has since been restored. We will also visit the remains of the once important city of Abiverd, before arriving in Mary in time to visit the Regional Historical Museum. Overnight at Hotel Mary or similar.
Day 4: Merv - Ashgabat
Visit the ancient site of Merv, the most important in Turkmenistan dating back 2500 years, with an array of surviving mosques and citadels. Return to Mary for a visit to the bazaar before taking a late evening flight to Ashgabat. Overnight at Ak Altyn Hotel or similar.
Day 5: Navrus Bayram Festival - Kow Ata Underground Lake
This morning we travel out of Ashgabat to join in the celebrations of the Navrus Festival; this is held to mark the most important holiday in the entire region. In the afternoon we visit the Kow Ata underground lake before returning to Ashgabat for a night time tour of the city. Overnight at Ak Altyn Hotel or similar.
Day 6: Konye - Urgench - Dashoguz
This morning we take a flight to Dashoguz and on arrival transfer by road to Konye - Urgench, an ancient capital of the land of Khorezm, with beautiful mausoleums. After visiting its key sites we return to Dashoguz to visit the lively bazaar. The rest of the day is at leisure with no organised activities. Overnight at Hotel Dashoguz or similar.
Day 7: Darwaza (280 kms, approx. 4 hrs)
After the morning at leisure we depart by jeep to travel along the highway through the Karakum Desert to Darwaza, a burning gas crater where flames literally leap from the ground. We set up camp here, and over a barbeque dinner watch the sun go down, the crater lighting up the night sky with its fires. Overnight camping.
Day 8: Ashgabat (310 kms)
After breakfast we set off for our return to Ashgabat, paying a visit to a desert village on the way. On arrival in the city, we will visit the Sunday Bazaar before heading to the National Museum and onto the ruins of the ancient Parthian fortress at Nisa. Overnight at Ak Altyn Hotel or similar.
Day 9: Nohur - Karakala (250 kms)
Today we leave Ashgabat and head to the west of the country. Our first stop will be at a stables housing some of the famous Akhal –Teke horses greatly prized by the people of Turkmenistan. We continue to the village of Nohur whose inhabitants believe that they descend from the armies of Alexander the Great. Leave Nohur behind and drive through walnut and pomegranate groves to the “Moon Mountains”, a series of rather striking barren hills. Overnight camping.
Day 10: Dekhistan - Balkanabat (200 kms)
An early start takes us alongside the Iranian border so we can expect to encounter several checkpoints along the way. We will stop to view the ruins of Dekhistan, once an important state in its own right, before continuing on to Balkanabat. Arrive early evening and check in to your hotel. Overnight at Nebitchi Hotel or similar.
Day 11: Yangikala - Gozli Ata (200 kms- approx. 7 hrs)
After a visit to the local bazaar to stock up on supplies, we drive to the Balkan Mountains and the canyons of Yangikala, home to some of the best scenery in Turkmenistan. We explore on foot and take a picnic lunch among the cliffs. When the sun sets we drive to the pilgrimage site of Gozli Ata. Overnight at a local pilgrim house (multi-share accommodation).
Day 12: Turkmenbashi - Ashgabat (150 kms)
We drive today to Turkmenbashi with time to visit the port and the fish market before taking a flight back to Ashgabat. Overnight at Ak Altyn Hotel or similar.
Visit the UNESCO-listed Konye-Urgench
Experience colourful Navrus Bayram Festival
Travel through a miscellany of incredible landscapes
Witness timeless local traditions
See awe-inspiring flaming gas crater in the sparse grandeur
Explore the mosques and citadels in the 2500-year-old Merv
Pascal Adolphe & Family
Australia
The World of Discoveries team made organising a complex holiday to the Qatar World Cup a breeze. My initial contact, Michael, managed to bring the cost of the holiday in line with my budget where other travel agents told me or would be impossible. On the ground we had a great experience on the desert tour and generally had a ball. Thank you
Jeff & Cathy Sisler
Canada
We came across WOFDI last spring when we were trying to figure out how to attend the World Cup. The staff at WOFDI organized game tickets and accommodation for us. Communication was excellent throughout. They provided airport transfer and cultural tours as well. Wonderful experience!
Susan & James, USA
USA
As avid sports enthusiasts, particularly in tennis, my husband and I have eagerly awaited the opportunity to venture out again after years of staying home due to the COVID situation. We decided it was time to break free and fulfill our dream of visiting France to witness the thrilling Roland Garros tournament. While we typically prefer organizing our own travels, we recognized that exploring a vast country like France warranted the expertise of a travel agency. Our aim was to take a tour that encompassed attending the male semifinal and final matches, as well as visiting Normandy's Landing Beaches, the renowned wine regions of Champagne and Bordeaux, and ending up with a few relaxing days at the beach. After some initial hesitation, we entrusted World of Discoveries (Wofdi) with our travel plans, and it turned out to be a remarkable decision. Wofdi meticulously designed a comprehensive itinerary that not only fulfilled our desires but surpassed our expectations. The knowledgeable guides who accompanied us throughout the journey, the seamless transport arrangements, and the exceptional attention to detail demonstrated by the Wofdi team left us in awe. Looking back on our trip as we now bask in the delightful sunshine of Nice, we can confidently say that every aspect was flawlessly planned and executed. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire team for making our European summer vacation truly unforgettable.
Anna Buck
Great Britain
Wow ! Thank you WODFI Wow ! Wow! Wow! Varya and Mike - Thank you so so much for an unbelievable 6 days in Germany for the Euros. You helped us escape travel chaos and landed us some fabulous seats at the opening ceremony and Englands first match. The hotels were fabulous. Great breakfasts and positions. Constant updates from the WODFI team added to the smooth running of my Franks perfect 50th birthday present. A highlight was the welcome party in the oldest brewery in Munich. Loved it. Will most definitely contact you again, thank you so much . Anna and Andy ❤️
John Campbell
Scotland
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Karen Stowell
Australia
Varya and her team made everything run smoothly. We had World Cup tickets already purchased but could not marry with accommodation. Varya came up with an itinerary included flights, transfers and hotels, supported by 24 hour help, which was tested on several occasions. We have no hesitation in recommending WofDi, and foresee using their services again. Thank you so much for so much