Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Off the Grid
Destinations
Turkmenistan

From the moment you cross over the border from Uzbekistan, your tour in Turkmenistan is full of adventure, excitement and wonder. In just nine days, you’ll explore several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, set up camp in the heart of the desert by a molten lava crater, discover medieval villages amid modern towns and spend time in the white-marbled city of Ashgabat, the capital and largest city in the country - all while following traditional routes through the desert or along the old Silk Road. Discover history, discover culture, discover Turkmenistan. 

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Door to Hell: To see the flaming crater at its most impressive when lit up at night, travelers will set up camp in the desert village of Darvaza.
  • Desert Drives: Deep in the Karakum Desert, travelers will discover sweeping sand dunes and plains of dusty takyrs.
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Explore the archaeological park of Merv and discover relics ranging from ancient to post-medieval times.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Dashoguz

Begin your adventure through Turkmenistan at the Uzbekistan border. After meeting your guide,  go through customs and drive to the border town of Dashoguz, the capital of the northern region of Turkmenistan, to check into your hotel and stay overnight.

Hotel Options
About

Renovated in 2009, the two-star Uzboy Hotel is a basic yet convenient stop-off for tourists travelling through the Dashoguz region of Turkmenistan. Some of the most important historical monuments in the country are located nearby, such as the architecturally-impressive Kunya-Urgench, Butentau and scattered ruins of ancient settlements.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 2

Darvaza (Door To Hell)

Today you’re off and away, as you enjoy breakfast and then head northwest toward Kunya-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the medieval capital of the Muslim Khorezmshah Empire. Explore the monuments, mosques and mausoleums of this glorious city, then take off south on the traditional route across the Karakum desert to the desert village of Darvaza. Here, your drivers will set up camp for the night as you tour the nearby flaming crater, an incredible molten lava cavity caused by natural hot gasses in the ground. After exploring the vast circumference of this crater, head back to camp for a dinner of delicious nomadic food and an overnight stay in your tent.

Hotel Options
About

With only 350 inhabitants and not a hotel in sight, the only way to stay in the tiny Turkmen village of Darvaza is to camp, spending the night under the stars in a tent and sleeping bag. Located in the middle of the Karakum Desert, this tiny settlement is famous for its ‘Door to Hell’, a natural field of gas that has burnt bright ever since it was lit by Soviet petroleum engineers in 1971.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Darvaza (Door To Hell)
Darvaza (Door To Hell)

Day 3

Damla

After breakfast, it’s time to pack up camp and head east towards the heart of the Karakum desert, the village of Damla. Head over high sand dunes and across plains of dusty, hard-packed clay - a natural phenomenon called “takyrs” - for an incredible three-hour drive deep into the desert where Damla sits. Spend the rest of the day exploring this traditional rural village, home to cattle, sheep, goats and camels, before staying overnight in a national house.

Hotel Options
About

Damla is a tiny, isolated village located deep into Turkmenistan’s vast Karakum Desert. With only around 60 houses and sparse amenities available, the only way of staying in this remote region is by pitching up your own roof for the night – in the form of a traditional yurt.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 4

Ashgabat

After a farewell to Damla over breakfast, you’ll set off through the desert once again, this time toward Ashgabat, the capital city of Turkmenistan and a soon-to-be gem of Central Asia known for its impressive white marble buildings. On the way, make a short stop at Yerbent, a metropolis – so to speak – within the desert, where you can see traditional houses set against satellite dishes and modern, urban living. You’ll arrive in Ashgabat in the late afternoon, just in time to settle into your hotel and spend the evening exploring.  

Hotel Options
About

This modern five-star hotel in Ashgabat boasts an impressive 229 rooms and is located within a half-mile radius of the city’s major local attractions including the Parliament of Country and range of museums and theaters. It combines local fashions of marble and magnificent fountains with the first-class service for which this French hotel chain is renowned.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

About

Yyldyz Hotel, built in 2013, is located in the foothills of Kopetdag, which offers sprawling views of the city.  The hotel has 155 guest rooms and is a 20 minute drive from the airport.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Ashgabat
Ashgabat

Day 5

Mary & Merv

This morning, you’re heading east along one of the former Silk Road routes, stopping to visit the former medieval city of Bagabad, home of a Timurid-period citadel and the ruins of the famous Seyit Jemaleddin mosque. Afterward, you’ll continue to Mary, a city in the Karakum desert and a famous archaeological site. Here, you’ll have some time to explore the city before staying overnight.

Hotel Options
About

Recently opened in 2011, the comfortable and modern Dayanch Hotel is easily accessed by car from the airport in Mary, Turkmenistan. The rooms sleep two, four, and eight people and all come with private bathrooms and the usual mod-cons.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

About

This three-star hotel is one of the most popular places to stay in the oasis city of Mary, which is situated in the Karakum Desert, on the Murghab River. Close to the ancient and famous ‘Murgab’ site, Margush Hotel offers 28 spacious guestrooms, all of which are relatively modern with this hotel only having opened in 2004.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 6

Mary & Merv

Continue to explore the incredible history of Turkmenistan, as today you take off northeast from Mary towards Gonur Depe, the former capital of the Margust country. Gaze out at unique fields and villages as you drive through the desert, arriving at the former city and archaeological site, the center of a remarkable Bronze Age civilization. Discover some of the city’s hidden treasures before enjoying a picnic lunch, then head back to Mary in the afternoon to check out the local history museum and some more of the city’s great sites.

Mary & Merv
Mary & Merv

Day 7

Ashgabat

Today it’s back to the capital city of Ashgabat - but not before exploring the incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site and archaeological park of Ancient Merv, a reconstructed version of the once-major stop on the Silk Road, portraying time periods from ancient to post-medieval. After learning more about the history of this significant location, explore the ruins of Abiverd, once an important trading town in northern Khorasan. After sightseeing, set off back to Ashgabat for your overnight stay.

Hotel Options
About

This modern five-star hotel in Ashgabat boasts an impressive 229 rooms and is located within a half-mile radius of the city’s major local attractions including the Parliament of Country and range of museums and theaters. It combines local fashions of marble and magnificent fountains with the first-class service for which this French hotel chain is renowned.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

About

Yyldyz Hotel, built in 2013, is located in the foothills of Kopetdag, which offers sprawling views of the city.  The hotel has 155 guest rooms and is a 20 minute drive from the airport.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 8

Ashgabat

Spend the day exploring some of the most significant sites in and around Ashgabat. First, head to the nearby fortress of Old Nisa, the first capital of the Parthian Empire, located on an irregular pentagon hill at the foot of the Kopet-Dag Mountains. Then, head to Kipchak village to visit the biggest mosque in the country and the family mausoleum of the first president. Finally, wrap up the day sightseeing within Ashgabat itself, checking out sites including the incredible white marble statue in the Park of Independence and the Arch of Neutrality, a revolving statue with the first president on top. You will stay overnight once again in Ashgabat.

Ashgabat
Ashgabat

Day 9

Departure

This morning, you depart early in the morning with a transfer to the airport for your flight back home or on to your next exciting destination, putting a close to your incredible adventure tour. 

Suggested Hotel For Day 1

Uzboy Hotel (Dashoguz)

Uzboy Hotel (Dashoguz)


Renovated in 2009, the two-star Uzboy Hotel is a basic yet convenient stop-off for tourists travelling through the Dashoguz region of Turkmenistan. Some of the most important historical monuments in the country are located nearby, such as the architecturally-impressive Kunya-Urgench, Butentau and scattered ruins of ancient settlements. Uzboy hotel offers a range of comfortable guestrooms, with basic amenities included such as en-suite bathrooms, furniture and air conditioning/heating. Elsewhere, guests can enjoy Uzboy’s on-site bar and restaurant and shop that sells local souvenirs and crafts. There is also an indoor swimming pool and a beauty salon open for all guests. There is Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel at a small extra cost.


Suggested Hotel For Day 2

Camping

Camping


With only 350 inhabitants and not a hotel in sight, the only way to stay in the tiny Turkmen village of Darvaza is to camp, spending the night under the stars in a tent and sleeping bag. Located in the middle of the Karakum Desert, this tiny settlement is famous for its ‘Door to Hell’, a natural field of gas that has burnt bright ever since it was lit by Soviet petroleum engineers in 1971. The crater is situated close to the village of Darvaza where you’ll be staying and has a diameter of 230 feet and drops about 70 feet into the earth below. Due to the incredible isolation of this attraction, as well as the nearby village, the best and only way to spend the night here is in tents. You will be supplied your own and helped to set up the campsite, as well as given a soft mattress and sleeping bag to ensure a comfortable - as well as memorable - stay. 


Suggested Hotel For Day 3

Yurt

Yurt

Damla is a tiny, isolated village located deep into Turkmenistan’s vast Karakum Desert. With only around 60 houses and sparse amenities available, the only way of staying in this remote region is by pitching up your own roof for the night – in the form of a traditional yurt. These portable, tipi-like structures can be put up in a matter of hours, and are comprised of a metal or wooden frame covered in fabric to keep the weather out, such as leather, sheep’s wool or felt. Yurts have been a prominent feature of Central Asian life for thousands of years, and this is your chance to experience in night’s sleep in one yourself. Your Damla village stay will be made all the more memorable as you watch the stunning sun set over the desert, then wake up the next morning as it creeps over the eastern horizon to start a new day. 

Suggested Hotels For Day 4

Yyldyz Hotel

Yyldyz Hotel

Yyldyz Hotel, built in 2013, is located in the foothills of Kopetdag, which offers sprawling views of the city.  The hotel has 155 guest rooms and is a 20 minute drive from the airport.  Yyldyz Hotel's facilities include a fully-fitted spa & beauty salon, sauna, fitness center, 2 indoor swimming pools, 1 outdoor pool with jacuzzi,  tennis courts and a volleyball court.  There are three on-site restaurants offering international fare, spread on the 18th and 19th floors, offering panoramic views of the city. There are also four bars , a tea room, and a disco club.

Sofitel Ashgabat Oguzkent

Sofitel Ashgabat Oguzkent


This modern five-star hotel in Ashgabat boasts an impressive 229 rooms and is located within a half-mile radius of the city’s major local attractions including the Parliament of Country and range of museums and theaters. It combines local fashions of marble and magnificent fountains with the first-class service for which this French hotel chain is renowned. Constructed in 2010 by the Bouygues Construction Company to offer luxury accommodation, this hotel does not fail to deliver. All suites are well-appointed and boast rain showers and TVs in the bath. With three swimming pools, a tennis court, spa, nightclub and bar, the Sofitel provides a full five-star experience of Tajikistan.


Suggested Hotels For Days 5–6

Dayanch Hotel

Dayanch Hotel


Recently opened in 2011, the comfortable and modern Dayanch Hotel is easily accessed by car from the airport in Mary, Turkmenistan. The rooms sleep two, four, and eight people and all come with private bathrooms and the usual mod-cons. If guests have time to kill, there are enough activities at the Dayanch Hotel to keep everyone occupied for the day, with a sauna, bar, restaurant, and a cute little cafe with tables set inside colorful yurts (traditional tents). The hotel is located in the rural area of Sakarchaga and guests can find plenty of amenities such as local cafes and bars in the nearby area. There’s also several nearby households willing to open their doors for visitors to take a peek into their live craft workshops.


Margush Hotel

Margush Hotel


This three-star hotel is one of the most popular places to stay in the oasis city of Mary, which is situated in the Karakum Desert, on the Murghab River. Close to the ancient and famous ‘Murgab’ site, Margush Hotel offers 28 spacious guestrooms, all of which are relatively modern with this hotel only having opened in 2004. What really makes this hotel special is its interior design, such as the impressive white marble at the entrance and pastel tones featured throughout the rooms giving reference to the surrounding desert terrain of Turkmenistan. The hotel also boasts an excellent swimming pool, an all day restaurant serving local and international food, as well as a bar and fitness center.


Suggested Hotels For Days 7–8

Yyldyz Hotel

Yyldyz Hotel

Yyldyz Hotel, built in 2013, is located in the foothills of Kopetdag, which offers sprawling views of the city.  The hotel has 155 guest rooms and is a 20 minute drive from the airport.  Yyldyz Hotel's facilities include a fully-fitted spa & beauty salon, sauna, fitness center, 2 indoor swimming pools, 1 outdoor pool with jacuzzi,  tennis courts and a volleyball court.  There are three on-site restaurants offering international fare, spread on the 18th and 19th floors, offering panoramic views of the city. There are also four bars , a tea room, and a disco club.

Sofitel Ashgabat Oguzkent

Sofitel Ashgabat Oguzkent


This modern five-star hotel in Ashgabat boasts an impressive 229 rooms and is located within a half-mile radius of the city’s major local attractions including the Parliament of Country and range of museums and theaters. It combines local fashions of marble and magnificent fountains with the first-class service for which this French hotel chain is renowned. Constructed in 2010 by the Bouygues Construction Company to offer luxury accommodation, this hotel does not fail to deliver. All suites are well-appointed and boast rain showers and TVs in the bath. With three swimming pools, a tennis court, spa, nightclub and bar, the Sofitel provides a full five-star experience of Tajikistan.


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