Undiscovered Turkmenistan
Suggested Itinerary
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Overview
Home to ancient ruins, marble clad cities and a rich mix of traditional and modern cultures, this undiscovered gem is also blessed with a wealth of natural attractions including the colourful Yangikala Canyons, the Kopetag Mountains and the Dinosaur Plateau.
Staying in a mixture of hotels, pilgrim rest houses, camping spots and an overnight train, this remarkable journey really gets beneath the surface of one of the world’s most enigmatic destinations. You’ll start in Ashgabat,...
Home to ancient ruins, marble clad cities and a rich mix of traditional and modern cultures, this undiscovered gem is also blessed with a wealth of natural attractions including the colourful Yangikala Canyons, the Kopetag Mountains and the Dinosaur Plateau.
Staying in a mixture of hotels, pilgrim rest houses, camping spots and an overnight train, this remarkable journey really gets beneath the surface of one of the world’s most enigmatic destinations. You’ll start in Ashgabat, home to the world’s highest concentration of marble buildings, before going on to explore the mountains and valleys of Karakala. A visit to the once important Silk Road city of Dehistan is then followed by walks amongst the beautiful sandstone landscapes of the Yangikala Canyons.
After visiting the stunning UNESCO ruins at Merv, once one of the greatest cities on earth, board your overnight train to the remote southeast of the country and head to Koyten Village. This is the entry to the Dinosaur Plateau reach via 4x4 and an uphill hike. End the trip by heading back to the comfort of your hotel in Ashgabat before your onward flight.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Suggested Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.
DAY 1: ARRIVE ASHGABAT: CITY TOUR
DAY 1: ARRIVE ASHGABAT: CITY TOUR
Upon arrival in Ashgabat this morning, you will be met by your driver and guide and taken to your hotel to check in before hitting the ground running with a city tour. Discover the Turkmen capital’s main sights with your guide from the vibrant Tolkucha Bazaar, for a glimpse of local life and perhaps a spot of shopping, to the city’s overly grand constructions such as the Mosque of Spirituality, the Orthodox Church of Alexander and the statue of Lenin. In the afternoon, drive out to Old Nisa to see this ancient Parthian city and the Turkmenbashy Mosque and Mausoleum.
DAY 2: ASHGABAT - LAKE KOW ATA - NOHUR - KARAKALA NATURE RESERVE
DAY 2: ASHGABAT - LAKE KOW ATA - NOHUR - KARAKALA NATURE RESERVE
Leaving Ashgabat you’ll first stop at the Kowata underground lake, where you can swim in the warm waters known locally for their healing properties. Continue on to the Kopetdag Mountains and the tribal village of Nohur for lunch before arriving to the Karakala Nature Reserve. There is the opportunity for some short walks before spending the night camping in tents near the Koshdemir waterfall.
DAY 3: KARAKALA NATURE RESERVE - DEHISTAN - BALKANABAT
DAY 3: KARAKALA NATURE RESERVE - DEHISTAN - BALKANABAT
The mountains and valleys of Karakala and their rocky appearance make for a beautiful drive as you head to Dehistan to visit the ancient silk road city. Once connecting Khorezm with Iran, the city was as important as Merv and Konye Urgench, the remains of mosques and minarets from the 9th to 13th centuries along with mausoleums give useful insight into the scale of the ancient city and its past importance. Continue on to Balkanabat for the night.
DAY 4: BALKANABAT - YANGIKALA CANYON - GOZLI ATA
DAY 4: BALKANABAT - YANGIKALA CANYON - GOZLI ATA
This morning drive north to the canyons of Yangikala and Yangisuw. The ravine dissecting Yangikala canyon was once an ancient seabed and you can now see the layers of sandstone with their pink, green and white hues. There will be time for a walk in the canyon and to visit the white canyon of Yangisuw before travelling on to the pilgrim rest house at Gozli Ata for your overnight.
DAY 5: GOZLI ATA - TURKMENBASHI - ASHGABAT
DAY 5: GOZLI ATA - TURKMENBASHI - ASHGABAT
The shrine of Gozli-Ata lies in a natural bowl surrounded by layers of pink and white rock. This morning, visit the mausoleum of the renowned 14th century sufi Gozli-Ata before driving through this spectacular landscape to the city of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea to catch your flight back to the capital.
DAY 6: ASHGABAT - MERV - MARY
DAY 6: ASHGABAT - MERV - MARY
Returning to the airport in time for your short flight to Mary this morning, you will be met on arrival and taken east to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Merv. It was one of the main cities along the ancient Silk Road and believed at one time to be the largest city in the world. After exploring the site, which encompasses the ruins of five ancient cities, you will head back to Mary for a look around the Regional Museum which showcases an array of archaeological finds dating as far back as the 3rd millennium BC through to the late 14th century. For the rest of the evening you have ‘day use’ of the Mary hotel until you are transferred to the train station, at around midnight, to board your overnight train.
DAY 7: AMUDARYA - KUGITANG VILLAGE - KOYTENDAG
DAY 7: AMUDARYA - KUGITANG VILLAGE - KOYTENDAG
You will pull into the train station at around 11:30 am where your guide will be waiting to meet you and begin the drive towards Kugitang village (also known as Koyten). En route, you will visit the medieval architectural monuments of the Alamberdar Mausoleum (X-XI cc.) and the Astanababa complex (XI-XVII cc.), both highly revered pilgrimage sites for the locals. After settling into your guesthouse in Koytendag there is the option to go for a walk through Koyten village, and around the Unabi tree (Chinese fig-tree) grove and local lake. Lunch is included during the transfer today and dinner will be served at the guesthouse.
DAY 8: KOYTENDAG: DINOSAUR PLATEAU EXCURSION
DAY 8: KOYTENDAG: DINOSAUR PLATEAU EXCURSION
After an early breakfast, jump into the 4x4 and head up to the Kugitang valley to visit the Dinosaur Plateau and other interesting natural sites around the area. To reach the dinosaur plateau, which is home to over 400 clear dinosaur footprints that became extinct about 145 million years ago, there is a hike up the hill of approximately 1 km (around 1-2 hours) from the scenic Hojapil village. Then, drive to a ravine which, after a 15-minute walk, will bring you to the Kyrk Gyz (forty maidens) cave or grotto, a holy shrine with a freshwater spring. In the afternoon we’ll return to the Kugitang village.
DAY 9: KOYTENDAG - TURKMENABAT - ASHGABAT
DAY 9: KOYTENDAG - TURKMENABAT - ASHGABAT
After an early start and breakfast, you will begin the journey towards Turkmenabat, a drive of around seven to eight hours with a quick lunch stop en route. Once in the city, board your evening flight to Ashgabat and head straight to your hotel for a much needed rest.
DAY 10: DEPART ASHGABAT
DAY 10: DEPART ASHGABAT
Depending on your departure flight time, you may have a morning at leisure for some last-minute shopping or relaxation before being taken to the international airport for your onward flight, where your tour in Turkmenistan ends.
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION
Divan Hotel, Ashgabat
The modern, high-end hotel built in 1996 was renovated over the pandemic and is one of the few hotels located within the city, near the Independence Monument and government buildings. The hotel has 128 rooms, all with air-conditioning, colour TV and private bathrooms. There is also an on-site restaurant, lobby bar, business centre and other leisure and fitness facilities including a health club with sauna, swimming pool and tennis courts. Other restaurants and cafes can be found within a 20-minute walk for more variety.
Yangykala Wild Camping, Yangikala Canyons
Wild camping in Turkmenistan provides a unique experience to sleep under the stars in one of the least visited countries in Central Asia! Tents, mattresses and sleeping bags are provided to make your stay comfortable. The wild campsite is basic with no real toilet or washing facilities. You will be well looked after by our fully qualified, highly skilled staff and breakfast and dinner are included. Turkmen cuisine, mainly based on meat, pilav, Turkmen bureg, chorba (soup) and the refreshing soft drink Chal.
Nebitchi Hotel, Balkanabat
The Nebitchi Hotel is centrally located and the best available option in Balkanabat. It follows the usual Soviet-meets-Western theme that can be seen all over Turkmenistani establishments. The hotel is comprised of three floors and all rooms feature en suite facilities, an A/C, satellite TV and a minibar. Additional hotel features include a seasonal outdoor swimming pool as well as restaurant and bar. Meals should usually be ordered in advance.
Pilgrim Resthouse, Yangikala Canyons
A simple rest house for the use of pilgrims coming to visit the shrine of the sufi Gozli-Ata. A stay here provides a great opportunity to meet local people. Made from a simple brick structure, the ground level has several rooms, both storage room and residential. The second level has a covered veranda which is used during warmer seasons. Rooms are dormitory style, divided by gender with floor mattresses and bedding provided. Toilet facilities are outdoors and there is a well for water.
Mary Hotel, Mary
Mary Hotel is a three-star hotel located in the heart of Mary, ideally situated opposite the town's bazaar. The hotel is made up of 175 spacious rooms decorated in luxurious colours of beige, cream and gold. Each room is fitted with ensuite bathroom facilities and an air conditioning system. The six-floor building has an onsite restaurant that offers a variety of traditional dishes, a fitness centre, a swimming pool and a sauna for guests to enjoy at their own leisure. Additionally, the hotel has an onsite hairdresser and chemist. The pool is only open during the height of the peak season and services become limited towards the end and just before the summer season. Although services and facilities at the Mary hotel are not what they once were, it remains the best option in the city.
Koyten Guesthouse, Koyten (Kugitang)
This hunble guesthouse has a lovely location by the lake. The small complex consists of around six cottages each with a bedroom, living room, kitchen and ensuite bathroom and shower. The cottages are located a few hundred metres from the local Kattakel Lake. The guesthouse provides simple but surprisingly comfortable and clean accommodation given its location, even boasting air conditioning.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
GUIDELINE PRICE & WHAT’S INCLUDED
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WILD MILES
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Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
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Natalie is our Central Asia expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
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