Private/Group Tour Highlights
- Enjoy a picnic lunch to admire the landscape of the outstanding white, pink and orange limestone formations of Yangykala Canyons.
- Swim in the Kov Ata underground lake located in the largest cave of Kopetdag mountains.
- Take in the mysterious glow of the Darvaza flaming gas crater with an astounding sunset picnic dinner.
- Learn of the most intricate handicrafts of the region, carpet making in Ashgabat.
- Witness history in Merv with numerous, ancient monuments, such as the Arab tombs of the Prophet’s companions.
Tour Overview
Experience all the must-sees of the country with a tour of the Key Sites of Turkmenistan. Yampu Travelers will experience all of the can’t miss attractions of Turkmenistan including the city of Ashgabat, Ancient Merv, Kov Ata Underground Lake, and Arvada Flaming Gas Crater.
Beginning in the capital of Turkmenistan, explore the wonders of Ashgabat with an informative introduction to the region while visiting the National Museum before following the ancient Silk Road to the ancient cities of Merv and Mary. Here, visitors will get a sense of Turkmenistan’s importance in world trade through ancient mausoleums, palaces, and tombs.
Following the history lesson in Merv and Mary, Yampu travelers will explore Turkmenistan’s beautiful landscape with explorations of Balkanabat’s deep caves and underground lakes as well as taking the astounding views of Yangykala Canyons before looking into “The Gates of Hell”, Darvaza Flaming Gas Crater.
Inclusions
Exclusions
International airfare (unless specifically included), airport departure taxes that must be paid on-site, gratuities, meals not mentioned, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals, early / late check-out, room service, visa fees/services, and other personal items or services not mentioned.
Package Price: From £$ 5050
Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.
Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.
Trip Type:
All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!
Tour Itinerary
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Overnight International Flight to Ashgabat
Overnight International Flight to Ashgabat
Ashgabat Sightseeing Tour with Visit to National Museum
Upon read more...
Upon arrival to Ashgabat, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, start sightseeing of Ashgabat visiting independence-period parks and monuments, including the Neutrality Square, and Independence Park. Then visit the National Museum of Turkmenistan, whose halls are dedicated to various themes and historical periods. Demonstrating a rich collection of artifacts from all over Turkmenistan, including ivory rhytons from Old Nisa, the museum will also offer us reconstruction models of most of the sites that we are going to visit. The rest of the time is free at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Ashgabat. ...read less
Ashgabat - Mary
After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Mary by following traditional route of the ancient Silk Road between Nissa and Merv. En-route visit ruins of 15c mosque and holy shrine in Annau (15 km from ASB) and the medieval Abiverd fortress (ca100km from ASB). Once you arrive to Mary, check in at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Mary.
After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Mary by following traditional route of the ancient Silk Road between Nissa and Merv. En-route visit ruins of 15c mosque and holy shrine in Annau (15 km from ASB) and the medieval Abiverd fortress (ca100km from ASB). Once you arrive to Mary, check in at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Mary.
Ancient Merv & Mary Museum Tour, Lunch & Dinner Included
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After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Ancient Merv. Consisting of a series of cities succeeding one another as capitals of the famous oasis, Ancient Merv is the only site of its kind in Central Asia.
Being an architectural site as well as archaeological, Merv offers numerous standing monuments, such as the oldest of still standing corrugated mud-brick "keshks" - Great and Little Kiz Kalas, the magnificent Seljuk mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammad ibn Zaid, the palace and keshk in the royal Seljuk citadel of Shahriar Ark, Arab tombs of the Prophet’s companions, and others.
After sightseeing drive back to Mary for lunch at a local restaurant before a visit to the Mary Museum. In the evening, take a return flight to Ashgabat.
Domestic Flight to Ashgabat
Upon arrival to Ashgabat, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
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Transfer to Balkanabat with Kov Ata Underground Lake Tour, Lunch Included
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After breakfast at the hotel, drive towards Balkanabat, the capital of Western Turkmenistan. On the way, we will stop at Kov Ata underground lake to visit the largest cave of Kopetdag mountains (80m below sea level) and swim in the lake if you wish (water temperature 30-33 C all-year-round). Reaching Archman town, we drive about 30km up to the mountains towards Nokhur mountain village. Visit main street with "Giant trees", local tribal cemetery, and Kyz bibi shrine. Then drive back to the main road and continue to Balkanabat. Transfer to the hotel on arrival.
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Yangykala Canyons, Lunch Included
After breakfast in the morning, drive to Yangykala canyons. Yangikala means "fiery fortress", which consists of white, pink and orange limestone formations, so amazing that we cannot break away from their sight. Enjoy the scenery during a Picnic lunch (lunchboxes taken from BLB) before continuing on to Turkmenbashi. En-route visit Gozli Ata shrine. Once you arrive in Turkmenbashi you will check in to your hotel and enjoy the reminder of the day at leisure.
After breakfast in the morning, drive to Yangykala canyons. Yangikala means "fiery fortress", which consists of white, pink and orange limestone formations, so amazing that we cannot break away from their sight. Enjoy the scenery during a Picnic lunch (lunchboxes taken from BLB) before continuing on to Turkmenbashi. En-route visit Gozli Ata shrine. Once you arrive in Turkmenbashi you will check in to your hotel and enjoy the reminder of the day at leisure.
Geokdepe Mosque & Darvaza Flaming Gas Crater Tour, Dinner Included
At read more...
At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and privately transferred to the airport for your flight to Ashgabat.
Domestic Flight to Ashgabat
Upon arrival to Ashgabat, drive to Geokdepe (ca 50 km/1 hour) to see the beautiful mosque built in the former Tekke stronghold. This is where the battle between Russians and Turkmens took place in 1881. Move on to a local stud farm in Geokdepe where you can see famous Akhalteke horses. From the horse-farm we drive back to Ashgabat and transfer to the hotel (check-in from 13:00 hrs). later in the afternoon, drive to Darvaza flaming gas crater for an astounding picnic dinner while basking in the crater’s glow. Then drive back to Ashgabat. Overnight at hotel in Ashgabat. ...read less
Ashgabat Turkmen Carpet Museum Tour
In the morning, after breakfast, continue your tour of the city by visiting the Turkmen Carpet Museum, Old Nissa fortress (UNESCO) and Turkmenbashi Ruhy mosque and mausoleum. Today you will also have a chance to visit some sites of Ashgabat that you may have missed on the previous day. Enjoy the remainder of the time at leisure. Overnight at your hotel in Ashgabat.
In the morning, after breakfast, continue your tour of the city by visiting the Turkmen Carpet Museum, Old Nissa fortress (UNESCO) and Turkmenbashi Ruhy mosque and mausoleum. Today you will also have a chance to visit some sites of Ashgabat that you may have missed on the previous day. Enjoy the remainder of the time at leisure. Overnight at your hotel in Ashgabat.
Ashgabat - Home
At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home.
At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Mary, Turkmenistan
Balkanabat, Turkmenistan
Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan
Places You'll See
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Turkmenistan
One of the least known of the ‘Stans” and notorious for its absurd regime, Turkmenistan has an ancient history along the Great Silk Road that once linked the eastern and western worlds through extensive trade. Turkmenistan’s landscape majorly consists of Central Asia’s largest desert, the Karakum, and other peculiar natural sites such as The Darvaza gas crater, also known as the Door to Hell. Known for its carpet-making, be sure to take home an ornate masterpiece as a remembrance of your travels and of the welcoming hospitality of the Turkmens.
Hotel Options
5 Star Properties
Archabil Hotel
Ashagabat , The Five Stans
Five-star hotel “Archabil”, located in the southern part of the picturesque capital of the city of Ashgabat. This sixteen-story luxury building meets modern world requirements. It offers visitors a conference hall equipped with the latest advanced technologies, a restaurant with a panorama, gym, swimming pool, sauna, bath, salt room, and sports grounds.
Mary Hotel
Mary , The Five Stans
Built-in 2015 in the city center, Mary Hotel is the largest hotel in Mary city with 177 rooms. Equipped with classic style, Mary has everything necessary for a pleasant stay. Moreover, the hotel offers 2 rooms for people with limited mobility.
The six-floor hotel has a restaurant, two conference halls, a gym, a swimming pool, and a sauna. There are tennis courts in the adjoining territory. Apart from that, guests may enjoy shopping in the souvenir and the carpet shops.
Attentive and qualified personnel of the Mary hotel provide around-the-clock service. Your stay in this luxurious hotel will not leave you indifferent and you will definitely wish to come back here again.
Nebitchi Hotel
Balkanabat , The Five Stans
The White-marbled 12-storey Nebitchi Hotel is one of the first large-scale projects to make the coast of the Caspian Sea an international center of recreation and tourism with shops, salons, restaurants, an indoor pool, and gym, a sauna and bathhouse, therapeutic mud-baths, bars, and clubs. On the upper floors of the hotel are deluxe suites to provide the utmost comfort for all guests.
Yacht Club
Turkmenbashi , The Five Stans
Dozens of facilities of the Yelken Yacht Club promise uninterrupted entertainment and sports with pleasant places suitable for your every need.
Unlimited excitements are waiting for you with the services that can be used freely for sailing and yachts, outdoor sports areas, and motorized water sports facilities. When you take a break from the sport, the facility turns into a complete life center with different food & beverage areas and special areas that appeal to all age groups.
Testimonials
John P.
Traveled October 2019
I recommend Yampu.
Traveled To
Jean C. - Return VIP Yampu Traveler
Traveled June 2018
Excellent tour in Armenia
Excellent tour in Armenia Great guide and driver Amazing country where nature is extremely present and fantastic.Sceneries admirable. Churches and monasteries illuminate past present and future People very welcoming, lunch with Families excellent food Great museum in Yerevan Please visit and enjoy.
Traveled To
Daniel
Traveled
Responsive and helpful
Traveled To
