This 5-day tour is built around the celebration of the old Persian New Year called Novruz (“now” meaning “new” and “ruz” meaning “day”) and is comparable to the beginning of springtime. The tour includes a comprehensive visit of Ashgabat and its post-independence architecture; all three UNESCO historical parks, but also introduces you in great detail to the cultural aspects of the lifestyle of the Turkmen people. Last but not least, it includes an after-dark return trip to Darwaza in the vast Karakum Desert (it is too cold for camping in March).
Accommodation during this tour is in a good Ashgabat 3* standard tourist hotel. Depending on international flight arrival and departure times, extra hotel room night(s) can be booked at the start and/or end of the tour. Meals are only included on 2 occasions, when no other opportunities for such meals are absent. Overland transport is by comfortable town and off-road vehicles whereby every guest has a window seat. Domestic flights (operated by Turkmenistan Airlines using exclusively Boeing aircraft) are used where large distances need to be covered and time can be better spent.
With this tour design we have aimed to give maximum freedom to individual preferences and budgets. Two extensions can easily be added to this tour for an even more complete experience of Turkmenistan.
Accommodation during this tour is in a good Ashgabat 3* standard tourist hotel. Depending on international flight arrival and departure times, extra hotel room night(s) can be booked at the start and/or end of the tour. Meals are only included on 2 occasions, when no other opportunities for such meals are absent. Overland transport is by comfortable town and off-road vehicles whereby every guest has a window seat. Domestic flights (operated by Turkmenistan Airlines using exclusively Boeing aircraft) are used where large distances need to be covered and time can be better spent.
With this tour design we have aimed to give maximum freedom to individual preferences and budgets. Two extensions can easily be added to this tour for an even more complete experience of Turkmenistan.
1. Turkmenistan Nowruz Holiday Special Tour (5 days)
Standard tour dates 18-22 March 2022
Standard tour dates 18-22 March 2023
Day 1: Arrival Ashgabat - Ashgabat
Arrival by flight between midnight at 07;00h (depending on airline used). Transfer to hotel for luggage drop off and breakfast.
09:00h Departure from hotel lobby for city tour, including visits of Independence Park, Neutrality Arch, Ferris Wheel, Wedding Palace Viewpoint, Stairs of Health Park, Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum, and Ertogrul Ghazi Mosque. 18:00h return to hotel. Traditional Turkmen lunch included. Evening at leisure. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: Ashgabat
10:00h Departure from hotel for visit of Anau Mosque ruins and private Akhalteke horse farm.
Early afternoon departure by jeeps for after-dark trip to Darwaza (4-hour drive one-way). BBQ dinner in our yurt camp by Darwaza. Midnight return to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Day 3: Ashgabat - Dashoguz - Ashgabat
08:30h Departure from hotel lobby for transfer to airport. Morning flight to Dashoguz (50 min.). Day trip to Kunya Urgench (UNESCO). Evening flight to Ashgabat and transfer to city. 20:30h return to hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight in hotel.
Day 4: Ashgabat - Nowruz celebrations
08:30h Departure from hotel lobby for full morning visit of Nowruz celebrations near Ashgabat. Afternoon visit of National Museum and Nissa (UNESCO). 18:00h return to hotel. 19:00h departure from hotel for city-by-night tour. 21:30h return to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Day 5: Ashgabat - Mary - Ashgabat - departure Ashgabat
08:30h Departure from hotel lobby for transfer to airport. Morning flight to Mary (40 min.). Day trip to Merw (UNESCO) and visit to Mary town center and bazaar. Evening flight to Ashgabat and transfer to city. 20:30h return to hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight in hotel.
Transfer to airport. Departure by flight between midnight and 08:00h (+1), depending on airline used.
NOWRUZ SPECIAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
4 pax and more | 1050$ | ||
single supplement | 155$ | ||
Extension Caspian Sea and Yangikala Canyons
(immediately before or after the set tour program)
Day 1: Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi
Transfer from hotel to airport for mid-morning flight to Turkmenbashi. Visit Turkmenbashi town bazaar and Russian-orthodox church. Transfer to Caspian Sea coast. 16:00h arrival at seaside hotel. Rest day at leisure.
Day 2: Turkmenbashi-Ashgabat
08:00h departure from hotel lobby for day trip to Yangikala Canyons (4-hour drive one way). Picnic lunch at canyon viewpoint included this day. Return to Turkmenbashi and transfer to airport for late evening flight to Ashgabat. Return to hotel around midnight.
EXTENSION 2D CASPIAN, 2-pax basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
twin room basis | 500$ | ||
single supplement | 50$ | ||
1 pax supplement | 195$ | ||
excursion guide | 200$ | ||
Extension Kugitang Mountains and Dinosaur Plateau
(immediately before or after the set tour program)
Day 1: Ashgabat - Turkmenabad - Koyten
Transfer from hotel to airport for early morning flight to Turkmenabad. Drive to Koyten village (8-hour drive). Opportunity to individually explore the surrounding village and lake-side hills on foot. Dinner at base lodge.
Day 2: Koyten
Visit of Dinosaur Plateau and Kyrk Gyz pilgrim cave and gorge. Visit Owadan Dere Gorge with view on Airy Baba Peak. Picnic lunch included this day. Dinner at base lodge.
Day 3: Koyten - Turkmenabad - Ashgabat
10:00h departure for return drive to Turkmenabad. Transfer to airport for late evening flight to Ashgabat. Transfer to city. Return to hotel around midnight.
EXTENSION 3D KUGITANG, 2 pax basis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
twin room basis | 620$ | ||
single supplement | 75$ | ||
1 pax supplement | 290$ | ||
excursion guide | 300$ | ||
Services included in standard tour prices:
- Visa support (Letter of Invitation, State Registration, Travel Pass)
- Airport and train station transfers as mentioned in the table under “program”
- Overland transport as per program per AC vehicles as in the table under “itinerary”; 1-3 passengers per regular sedan car; 4-7 passengers per regular minibus; 1-4 passengers per jeep
- Domestic airline tickets (economy seats, Boeing 737 aircraft) as in the table under “itinerary”
- Accommodation based on twin-shared hotel room, including breakfast as in the table under “accommodation”
- Fixed meals (lunch and/or dinner) where such meals are otherwise unavailable, indicated in table under “meals”
- English-speaking local guide-interpreter services as mentioned in the table under “guide”
- Entrance fees to sites mentioned in the table under “program” (museum visits are excluding guided museum tour)
- Entrance fees to sites mentioned in the table under “program” (museum visits are excluding guided museum tour)
- Bottled drinking water en route 1,5l pppd
Supplementary (“comfort”) services available for standard tours:
Services never included in standard tour and extension tour prices:
Services included in extension tour prices:
Supplementary services available for extension tours:
Contact details
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Deadline for sign-up 16 February 2022
Deadline for sign-up 16 February 2023
Deadline for sign-up 16 February 2022
Deadline for sign-up 16 February 2023
