Kuala-Lumpur – Ashgabat T5-802 04:40-10:10.

Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. You will be met by our representatives.

Drive to visit Nissa fortress – the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings. UNESCO declared the fortress a World Heritage Site in 2007. Nissa is described as one of the first capitals of the Parthians. It was founded by Arsaces I (reigned c. 250 BC – 211BC) and is reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian Kings. However, it has either been established that the fortress at Nissa was a royal residence or a mausoleum. The ruins of the ancient settlement Nissa are located 18 km from Ashgabat at Bagyr village.

Afternoon, you will have an Ashgabat city tour. You will see the Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferris Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and Park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, and Ashgabat Olympic Stadium.  Overnight at a hotel in Ashgabat.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Mary. You also see the ruins of the Seyitjemalledin mosque in Anau. The mosque was built in 1456 when Abu-ibn-Kasim Baber Bahadurkhan ruled in Khorasan (1446-1457). Construction of the mosque was financed by Bahadurkhan’s vizier, Muhammed Hudaidot, who also selected a site of construction–near the grave of his father, sheikh Jemaleddin, a native of Anau. The square central hall (with sides of 10.5 meters) was crowned with a dome. In later periods, the Seyit-Jemaleddin mosque was partially reconstructed. By the nineteenth century, the subsidence of land had already damaged the building heavily, and during the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, it was destroyed completely. Now, only the lower parts of the portal and some fragments of the walls are extant.

On the way, visit Abiwerd, which was once an important trading town of North Khorasan. It was a key link on the Great Silk Road between Nisa and Merv, and also enjoyed ties in Nishapur, across the Kopetdag Mountains to the south. Then you will see all the major buildings of Mary in downtown. Also, visit Mary Bazaar to see a variety of local products, and the Russian Orthodox church (one of the oldest in Turkmenistan). Overnight at the hotel in Mary.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Merv to explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum. After sightseeing, you will visit the Mary History Museum is a history museum of Mary, located in the centre of the city. The exposition of the museum reflects the history and culture of Mary from ancient times to the present day and is unique in the size and content of the exhibits. Drive back to Ashgabat. Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Nokhur village in the western Kopetdag Mountains on 4×4 vehicles (157km, 2h). Arrive and lunch at a local family home in Nokhur to experience the extraordinary culture, enjoying the hospitality of locals. One is the town’s cemetery, where each grave is protected by the huge horns of the mountain goats that locals consider sacred – indeed, many houses in the village have a goat’s skull hanging on a stick outside to ward off evil spirits. Just beyond is the pilgrimage site of Kyz Bibi. A fat-trunked plane tree, surrounded by a small metal fence, is covered with small scraps of cloth representing wishes. From here, a flight of concrete steps leads up to a tiny cave, just a few centimetres across, on the side of the hill. The cave is surrounded by more pieces of material, some of which have been fashioned into tiny cribs, suggesting the nature of the wishes made here.

Then drive to Karakala (129km, 2h) via the Syunt-Khasardag nature reserve to see Moon Mountain. You will experience the Moon’s surface on Earth with outstanding landscapes. Drive to Balkanabat (278km, 4h). Overnight in a hotel in Balkanabat

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to pilgrimage sight Gozli-Ata on the way to drive to Yangykala Canyons, one of the scenic natural objects of Turkmenistan. The word expression “Yangy kala” translates from Turkmen as “fire fortress”. Indeed, the sheer cliffs of white, yellow, ocher, purple and red colours, fancily carved by winds and rains, are very similar to the stone castles from a fantasy. Explore the Canyons. Overnight at a hotel in Turkmenbashi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Flight from Turkmenbashi to Ashgabat.

Visit Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia, featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. The Turkmen Carpet Museum is one of the cultural centres of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 carpet exhibits, including rare ones, are exhibited. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet to wear keys, as well as the world’s largest hand carpet with a total area of 301 m², which was woven in 2001, and in 2003 it was added to the Guinness Book of Records.

Afternoon drive to Darvaza burning Gas Crater, which is one of the top international tourist destinations. Stopping in the village of Yerbent and observing the village life adds a special excitement to this trip. The area is rich in natural gas. Burning for more than 50 years, Darvaza Gas Crater shines like a pearl in the middle of the Karakum desert. Besides the Darvaza Gas Crater, you will also see water and mud craters. One of the most vivid and addictive features of this trip is the fresh air of the desert and experiencing the nomadic life in person. At night, while the light of the Gas Crater hits the sky, you will camp in the Turkmen national yurt or private tents and barbecue for dinner. This unique landscape in the world will fascinate you, and you will want to come again. Overnight in a Camp.

Picnic-style breakfast in Darvaza. Morning drive back to Ashgabat. Check in at noon.

Visit the National Museum of History & Ethnography. The museum has a rich collection of ancient artefacts from Turkmenistan. More than 500,000 exhibits are displayed here. It has nine halls, each dedicated to a certain period or theme. The museum reveals the variety of Turkmenistan’s landscape, its flora and fauna, fossils, and rare geological finds.  After visiting, the “Halk Hakydasy” Memorial Complex opened in Ashgabat in 2014 to honour victims of war and the 1948 earthquake. Located on a hill, it features monuments, a landscaped park, and the Watan Mukaddesligi Museum, inspired by the Turkmen flag. Exhibits use sound, light, and dioramas to depict the Battle of Gokdepe, World War II, and the earthquake. The complex symbolises the Turkmen people’s courage and helps educate future generations about their nation’s history.  Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Our journey continues to the historic town of Gokdepe, passing through the newly built city of Arkadag — Turkmenistan’s first “smart city,” nestled at the foot of the majestic Kopetdag Mountains. Then visit Gokdepe Horse Stable to see a national pride of Turkmen people – Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began to breed Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great and Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. Then visit Gokdepe fortress that was attacked in December 1880 by the Russian Empire Army and visit Geokdepe Mosque (Saparmyrat Hajy), which was built in 1995 to commemorate the defeat. You’ll then be welcomed by a local family called “Turkmen Hospitality,” offering a warm and authentic glimpse into Turkmen culture and traditions. You’ll try on traditional Turkmen clothing, watch and participate in carpet weaving and felt mat making using special wool, and learn to cook national dishes like dograma and ishlekli. You’ll also bake traditional bread and prepare the sweet treat pishme, a golden fried pastry served with tea. The experience ends with a shared lunch — a delicious meal that you helped prepare — enjoyed in true Turkmen style: with warmth, stories, and hospitality.  Last stop will be Gulistan Bazaar, which is one of the largest and oldest covered markets and a must-visit for any traveller to Ashgabat.  The ground floor of the bazaar is dedicated to fresh produce, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products. Stalls also sell spices, nuts, dried fruits, and other food items. The second floor of the bazaar is home to a variety of shops selling clothing and souvenirs. Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat.

Ashgabat – Kuala-Lumpur T5-803 06:05-17:15

Transfer to the Ashgabat International Airport. Departure.