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. ...
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 reached 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 your arrival in Ashgabat in the very early hours of the morning, your local guide and driver will be waiting to receive you at the airport and take to you directly to your hotel, where you’ll be able to head straight to your room to catch up on some sleep. After a leisurely breakfast and morning, your guide will return to collect you in the afternoon for an introductory tour of the city. Discover the Turkmen capital’s curious sites including the vibrant Tolkucha Bazaar for a glimpse into local life, and perhaps a spot of shopping, and the various overly grand constructions such as the Mosque of Spirituality, the Orthodox Church of Alexander and the statue of Lenin.
Day 2 Ashgabat - Lake Kow Ata - Nohur - Karakala Nature Reserve: Underground Lake & Tribal Village Lunch
Day 2 Ashgabat - Lake Kow Ata - Nohur - Karakala Nature Reserve: Underground Lake & Tribal Village Lunch
Leaving Ashgabat, you’ll first stop at the Kow Ata underground lake, where you can swim (if you wish) in the warm waters that maintain a temperature between 33°C and 37°C and are known locally for their healing properties. You’ll then continue on to the Kopetdag Mountains and the tribal village of Nohur for lunch before arriving to the Karakala Nature Reserve. This afternoon, you can enjoy some short walks, before spending the night camping in your tent pitched near the Koshdemir waterfall.
Day 3 Karakala Nature Reserve - Dehistan – Balkanabat: Valleys & Ancient Silk Road City
Day 3 Karakala Nature Reserve - Dehistan – Balkanabat: Valleys & Ancient Silk Road City
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 its mausoleums give useful insight into the scale of the ancient city and its past importance. Then, continue on to Balkanabat for the night.
Day 4 Balkanabat - Yangikala Canyon - Gozli Ata: Colourful Canyons
Day 4 Balkanabat - Yangikala Canyon - Gozli Ata: Colourful Canyons
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 walking 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 stay.
Day 5 Gozli Ata - Turkmenbashi - Ashgabat: Sufi Shrine & Caspian Sea
Day 5 Gozli Ata - Turkmenbashi - Ashgabat: Sufi Shrine & Caspian Sea
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: UNESCO World Heritage & Overnight Train
Day 6 Ashgabat - Merv – Mary: UNESCO World Heritage & Overnight Train
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 - Koytendag: Medieval Mausoleums & Rural Village
Day 7 Amudarya - Koytendag: Medieval Mausoleums & Rural Village
You will pull into the train station at around 11:30am this morning where your guide will be waiting to meet you and begin the drive towards Kugitang village (also known as Koyten). En route, you can 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 local Turkmens. After settling into your Koytendag guesthouse there is the option to go for a walk through Koyten village, and around the Unabi tree (Chinese fig-tree) grove and local lake - during warmer weather, a dip in the water is also possible. Head back in time for dinner at your guesthouse.
Day 8 Koytendag: Dinosaur Plateau
Day 8 Koytendag: Dinosaur Plateau
After an early breakfast, jump into your 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 1km (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, a holy shrine in a grotto with a freshwater spring. In the afternoon you’ll return to your guesthouse in Kugitang village.
Day 9 Koytendag - Turkmenabat - Ashgabat
Day 9 Koytendag - Turkmenabat - Ashgabat
After an early start and breakfast, you will begin the long day’s 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 back 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 decadent Divan Hotel, built in 1996, was renovated over the pandemic and is one of the few hotels located within near the Independence Monument and government buildings in the city centre. It has 128 rooms, all with air-conditioning, colour TV and ensuite bathrooms. There is also a restaurant on site, a lobby bar, a business centre and other leisure and fitness facilities including a health club with sauna, swimming pool and tennis courts. Other restaurants and cafes can also be found within a 20-minute walk.
Yangykala Wild Camping, Yangikala Canyons
Wild camping in Turkmenistan provides a unique chance 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 camping stay comfortable and hassle-free under the care of your qualified team. During your time camping you'll enjoy typical Turkmen breakfasts and dinners served at camp with picnic lunches taken on excursions. Travellers should be aware that the wild campsite is very basic with no real toilet or washing facilities.
Nebitchi Hotel, Balkanabat
The Nebitchi Hotel is centrally located and offers 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 bathrooms, air conditioning, satellite TV and a mini bar. Additional hotel features include a seasonal outdoor 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.
Koyten Guesthouse, Koyten (Kugitang)
This humble guesthouse enjoys a lovely location by the local Kattakel Lake. The small complex consists of around six cottages each with a bedroom, living room, kitchen and ensuite bathroom and shower. The guesthouse provides simple but clean and surprisingly comfortable accommodation given its location, even boasting air conditioning.
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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