TURKMENISTAN
tour to Turkmenistan
May 2 - 8, 2027
Turkmenistan

Dates: May 2 - 8, 2026

Duration: 7 days / 6 nights

Number of participants: 7 – 12

Cost per person:
— 2,190 USD with 12 participants, or
— 2,350 USD with 10–11 participants, or
— 2,490 USD with 8–9 participants, or
— 2,590 USD with 6–7 participants.

Early booking discount: 10% (until December 2, 2026).

Everything is included (including domestic flight and 3 meals a day), except for:
- International flights to and from Ashgabat,
- Medical insurance,
- Turkmenistan visa.
(Cost of visa organization for Russian citizens: 210 USD, including: Visa fee (160 USD), Migration tax (15 USD), PCR test (30 USD), and Bank fee (5 USD). This amount is to be paid in cash in US dollars at Ashgabat airport. To obtain a visa, it is necessary to submit a completed application, a copy of the passport, and a 5x6 photo in electronic form at least 3 weeks before departure. Based on these documents, an invitation letter will be issued, upon which we will obtain a visa upon arrival.

Estimate cost of the Moscow - Ashgabat - Moscow flight: from 500 USD.

Single supplement: 440 USD (available throughout the entire itinerary).


TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to Turkmenistan

Day 1. May 2, 2027 (Sunday). ASHGABAT

Arrival in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan — one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Check-in at the Sport Hotel and rest.

Recommended flights:
— S7 Airlines, flight S7-3235, departure from Moscow on May 2 at 09:55, arrival in Ashgabat at 16:00,
— or any other flight arriving in Ashgabat no later than 01:00 AM on May 3.

Meals included: dinner
Accommodation included: Sport Hotel in Ashgabat or similar


Day 2. May 3, 2027 (Monday). ASHGABAT – TURKMENBASHI – KARA BOGAZ GOL – YANGYKALA CANYON (200 km)

In the morning, transfer to the airport for a local flight from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi at 6:20 (the flight lasts 1 hour. Flight schedules may vary). Upon arrival in Turkmenbashi, we will head to the amazing lake, once a bay of the Caspian Sea. In translation, "Kara Bogaz" means "black throat" or "black trap." The Caspian Sea waters rushed into Kara Bogaz through a narrow strait, ranging from 200 to 1000 meters wide, at a tremendous speed of up to 1 meter per second. Where the waters went was unclear, and this created fears about the place. Now it is understood that the lake is surrounded by a scorching desert, and the water simply evaporates. Depending on the water level in the lake, it now resembles the Dead Sea or the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia.
Next, we will head north to see the amazing natural wonder - the Yangykala Canyon, known as the "Grand Canyon of Central Asia," a stunningly beautiful place with formations of pink, white, and yellow sandstone, breathtaking views, and the captivating rock formation known as the "crocodile's mouth." The canyon is located in the Balkan Region of Northwest Turkmenistan. From the Turkmen language, Yangi-kala translates to "fiery fortresses." These canyons got their name due to the predominant red color of the rocks that form the mountain ranges and cliffs. The canyons offer an incredibly beautiful sight, especially stunning at sunset when everything around is painted in fiery tones. Here we will set up our tented camp and prepare dinner over an open fire.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: tents


Day 3. May 4, 2027 (Tuesday). YANGYKALA CANYON – BALKANABAD – DURUN – NOHUR – KOV-ATA – ASHGABAT (600 km)

After breakfast, on the way to Balkanabad we will visit the Gozli Ata shrine. It is said that Gozli Ata was a respected Sufi who lived in the early 14th century.
Balkanabad or Nebit-Dag (Oil Mountain) is the capital of Turkmenistan's oil and gas industry. The city's symbol is a monument in the shape of an oil derrick silhouette against the backdrop of the mountain. A brief tour of the city’s main attractions followed by a transfer to the village of Durun (the drive will take approximately 4–5 hours). In this village, we will visit a local resident whose family has been engaged in traditional carpet weaving for generations. Here, you’ll see how Turkmen women hand-weave carpets and share fascinating details about this ancient craft.
Next, we will travel to the village of Nohur. The road to this "paradise corner" is long and challenging with ascents, descents, and mountainous serpentine roads. However, all the hardships of the journey are forgotten upon seeing this beautiful place surrounded on all sides by high mountains.
In Nohur, there is an ancient plane tree with a hollow large enough to accommodate several people. On the outskirts of the village, there is a special place for making wishes called Gyz-bibi, a narrow crack in the rock that locals believe is one of the doors to paradise. Make a wish, and it will surely come true. Additionally, there is an unusual cemetery here, where all tombstones are adorned with the horns of argali sheep.
We will then visit the underground lake of Kov-Ata, located 107 km from Ashgabat. The Turkmen name Kov-Ata means "Father of Caves." At first glance, this underground chamber looks like a magnificent auditorium. The cave floor is covered with clusters of dissolved limestone (stalagmites) and filled with warm, flowing water of emerald color. The water maintains a constant temperature of 33–37°C, and swimming is allowed for up to 30-40 minutes.
Afterward, we return to Ashgabat for accommodation at our Sport hotel and relaxation.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Sport Hotel in Ashgabat or similar


Day 4. May 5, 2027 (Wednesday). ASHGABAT – HORSE FARM – MAUSOLEUM OF TURKMENBASHI – DARVAZA

After breakfast, we will drive to the Horse Farm, where you will get acquainted with the pride of the Turkmen people – the Akhal-Teke horses. There will be a traditional tea break, a short Akhal-Teke horse show program, and photo opportunities.
We will also stop at the Mausoleum of Turkmenbashi, the first president of Turkmenistan, and the unusual mosque located nearby, which is adorned not with verses from the Quran, but with sayings of Turkmenbashi.
After that, we will continue our journey to see the Darvaza Gas Crater, marvel at the fantastic view of the crater, feel its heat, and listen to the wind and the sound created by this giant furnace. We will spend the night in yurts near the crater.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: overnight in a yurt near the crater


Day 5. May 6, 2027 (Thursday). DARVAZA – ASHGABAT – CARPET MUSEUM

In the morning, we will observe the crater and take photographs. Then we will visit two more craters — one mud volcano and another filled with turquoise-colored water.

Upon returning to Ashgabat, we will check into our hotel. After lunch, we will visit the Carpet Museum, where you can explore the history of the carpet industry in Central Asia. This museum houses the largest collection of Turkmen carpets among all museums. It has a rich collection of Turkmen carpets ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, including over 1,000 carpets from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Sport Hotel in Ashgabat or similar


Day 6. May 7, 2027 (Friday). ASHGABAT – MERV – MARY – ASHGABAT

Early morning transfer to Mary. Visit the History Museum to see artifacts from Margush and Merv, then explore the Ancient Merv Historical Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Once a major Silk Road hub, Merv rivaled Baghdad, Cairo, and Damascus. Tour includes Gyz-Gala, Erk-Gala, Sultan-Gala, mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar, Yusuf Hamadani, and Ibn-Zeyd.
Merv was settled as early as the 3rd–2nd millennium BC. By the turn of the era, it was a key Parthian center (60 km²). In the 3rd century, Christians appeared here, leaving a necropolis and possibly the ruins of Haroba-Koshuk. After the Arab conquest, Merv thrived under the Abbasids as a center of learning with ten libraries. In 813–818, Caliph Al-Ma'mun made it the de facto capital of the Caliphate.
Its golden age came in the mid-12th century under Sultan Sanjar, when it became the Seljuk capital—surpassing Constantinople and Baghdad in size and earning titles like "Mother of the World." With up to 500,000 residents by 1210, it was one of the world's largest cities. However, the Mongols destroyed it in 1221. The Timurids partially revived it in the 15th century, but it never regained its former glory, and the settlement shifted to modern-day Mary.
In the evening, we return to our hotel in Ashgabat.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Sport Hotel in Ashgabat or similar


Day 7. May 8, 2027 (Saturday). ASHGABAT – NISA – NATIONAL MUSEUM – AIRPORT

Today after the breakfast we head to Nisa, once the capital of the Parthian Empire. In 2007, the ancient fortresses of Nisa were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as outstanding universal values. The fortresses of Nisa were recognized by UNESCO not only as cultural monuments but also as objects of the "cultural landscapes" category.
Next, we’ll visit the National Museum of Turkmenistan, home to unique collections of paintings, graphics, and sculpture, showcasing not only Turkmen fine art but also masterpieces by renowned Russian and Western European artists.
After lunch, transfer to the airport. International flight home.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation included: no

Recommended flights:
— S7 Airlines, flight S7-3236, departure from Ashgabat on May 8 at 17:10, or
— any other flight from Ashgabat to any city departing after 17:00 on May 8.

* The order of the program may be changed in the interests of the expedition due to weather conditions, depending on road conditions or for safety reasons.