Turkmenistan
Splendour of Turkmenistan
Splendour of Turkmenistan
Day 1 Ashgabat arrival
Early morning arrival to Ashgabat. Transfer to hotel. Morning visit to the famous Sunday Bazaar-Tolkuchka. The Bazaar in Ashgabat is by far Turkmenistan's No. 1 sight and a visit should not be missed. Most colorfully dressed this is where practically the entire country comes together to trade on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Basically anything and everything importance is traded within the 50 ha of open-air bazaar - from camels and sheep to amulets, antiques, carpets and jewelry. In its authenticity the buzzing Tolkuchka Bazaar easily rivals with the famed Kashgar Bazaar. Late morning excursion of Ashgabat, including a visit of the Arch of Neutrality. Visit the of the city mosque, Ashgabat’s largest Mosque, and the memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1948 earthquake, which completely destroyed the city. Overnight in Ak Altyn Hotel 2*
Day 2 Ashgabat- Mary
After breakfast drive to Mary, some 370 km form Ashgabat. En route visit the Mausoleum of Abu Seyit Mekhnei. Overnight in Margush Hotel
Day 3 Margush
After early breakfast we drive northeast from Mary to Margush / Gonur Depe. Here first agricultural settlements appeared in the old delta of Murgab river as back as 3 millennium BC. Fertile silt coming from mountains, abundance of water and moderate climate had created favorable conditions for good crops and the progress of the ancient economy was continuing for several centuries. The American newspaper "Boston Globe" wrote that before we knew the four oldest centers of the world's civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China, and due to the fantastic results of the Margiana expedition it is quite possible to think that there was another, the fifth center. Picnic lunch. Overnight in Margush Hotel 2*
Day 4 Mary – Turkmenabat
Early morning visit the old city of Merv. Visit the unique series of cities, not built on top of each other, as is so often the case, for instance at Damascus or Jerusalem, but constructed on adjacent virgin sites. The sites of the ancient town Erk-Kala (the fortress- citadel), Gyaur-Kala, Sultan-Kala, Abdulla-khan-Kala correspond to the different periods of Mervs' existence .The monuments we will tour and walk through are the Great and Little Kiz Kalas, the Kiz Bibi mausoleum, the magnificent Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, the Palace and keshk in the Shahriar Ark or Royal Citadel, the mosque of Yusuf Hamdani, the Timurid iwans or Askhab, and the Mausoleum of Muhammad ibn Zeid. Then we will drive to Turkmenabat. Overnight in Turkmenabat g/h
Day 5 Turkmenabat-Dayahatyn
After breakfast drive to Dayahatyn. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight in tents near Caravansarai
Day 6 Dayahatyn-Dashoguz
After breakfast drive to Dashoguz city. Lunch. Overnight in Uzboy Hotel 2*
Day 7 Dashoguz
After breakfast visit Koneurgench. Site exploring. Then visit Izmikshir fortress. Overnight in Uzboy Hotel 2*
Day 8 Dashoguz-Darvaza
Morning free. After lunch drive to Darvaza gas crater. Dinner and overnight in tent near burning crater
Day 9 Darvaza – Ashgabat
After breakfast drive to Ashgabat. Overnight in Ak Altyn Hotel 2*
Day 10 Ashgabat-Dept
Early morning transfer to Airport to take Turkish Airlines flight. See Off
Services included:
Accommodation as mentioned above
Letter of Invitation, Travel pass
ESG except on Day 10
A/C Land transport except on Day 10
Airport Transfers
Entrance fees to the sites mentioned
Camping gear
Lunch on Day 4,7; Full board on Day 6; Dinner on Day 9
Services excluded:
Immigration card - 14 USD
Visa fee
Tipping
Camera fee at sites
2 passport size color pictures for police registration
