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© SAIGA Tours
Start
May 29, 2027
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2027-05-29
End
Jun 1, 2027
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2027-06-01
Duration
4 days
Price
US$1095.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
Turkmenistan is known for many things - horses, dogs, white marble, neon lights, world records, and you got it - carpets!
Home to the largest carpet in the world, the largest handmade carpet in the world, the largest carpet in the shape of a star, the second largest carpet in the shape of a star, Turkmenistan certainly takes their carpets seriously.
The Turkmen flag is the only flag in the world with carpets on it - yep, not just one carpet, but five of them! And those same five carpets you'll see everywhere in Turkmenistan, representing the five main tribes and the five regions of the country.
And for one day only the Carpet Museum in Ashgabat is open and will be buzzing with events and exhibitions, on this special day that is dedicated to carpets.
This tour is designed for those who want to see the main sights of Ashgabat and the Gates of Hell, with the added bonus of witnessing this ever so Turkmen event!
This tour can be done as it is, however it's also part of a much longer tour starting in Kazakhstan and ending in Pakistan, in a 7 Stans Tour . It can also be split into several sections, which are outlined in the following table.
If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.
If you like the sound of this tour, but would like to see more of Turkmenistan while you're here, check out our slightly longer Turkmenistan Carpet Day Tour , or even longer Turkmenistan Carpet Day Mega Tour .
| Start | End | Days | Price | Single Sup. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
May 8
Astana |
May 13
Almaty |
6 | $1295 | $250 | |
|
May 13
|
May 29
|
17 | $3095 | $800 | |
|
May 13
Almaty |
June 2
|
21 | $3895 | $1000 | |
|
May 13
Almaty |
June 6
|
25 | $4595 | $1200 | |
|
May 12
Almaty |
June 9
Ashgabat |
29 | $5395 | $1400 | |
|
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Budget Tour |
May 29
Ashgabat |
June 1
|
4 | $1095 | $250 |
|
May 29
Ashgabat |
June 5
|
8 | $1595 | $450 | |
| Turkmenistan Carpet Day Mega Tour |
May 29
Ashgabat |
June 9
Ashgabat |
12 | $2295 | $700 |
| Afghanistan and Pakistan June Summer Tour |
June 3
Herat |
June 18
Karachi |
16 | $3695 | $750 |
| 7 Stans Tour |
May 12
Almaty |
June 18
Karachi |
38 | $7995 | $2000 |
INCLUSIONS:
| ✓ | Letter of Invitation |
|
✓ |
Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels (breakfast included), camping at Gates of Hell |
|
✓ |
Transport as per itinerary, beginning and ending in Ashgabat |
|
✓ |
Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary |
|
✓ |
Western and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $150
What is the single supplement? This is paid to guarantee a single room. If you are travelling alone and would like to be roomed with another single traveller, you do not need to pay this.
EXCLUSIONS:
|
⨯ |
Visa fee (can be paid on arrival at the airport or land border, or at an embassy beforehand) |
|
⨯ |
Meals other than breakfast at hotels |
|
⨯ |
Transport to and from Ashgabat at the beginning and end of the tour |
|
⨯ |
Accommodation and any other services before or after the tour |
|
⨯ |
Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Experience the unique festivities of Carpet Day
Explore the glimmering white and gold monuments of Ashgabat
Spend the night mesmerised by the horrendous but exhilirating Gates of Hell
Itinerary
Day 1Sat May 29
Ashgabat
-
Our first day in Ashgabat, you’re going to be in awe of everything that the capital has to offer. We’ll spend the day taking in all the main sites of Ashgabat, including all those crazy monuments you’ve probably seen pictures of, as we begin explaining all the weird and wonderful aspects of Turkmenistan that make it such a special place.
- We’ll start with a driving tour of Ashgabat's main sites, including Independence Park and Independence Monument, the Monument to the Constitution, the Arch of Neutrality, Lenin Park, and a drive-by of the Olympic Complex which was built for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The complex is home to the famous Horse Stadium ( the largest structure in the shape of a horse in the world – you’ll hear plenty more of these records! ), but unfortunately is closed to the public.
- A highlight of the day will likely be the Alem Centre, the complex which houses the Wheel of Enlightenment, the largest indoor ferris wheel (yes, there’s another one). And YES, for just $2.50, you can even take a ride!
- Stop for lunch at Berkarar Shopping Centre, where you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and even have a cappuccino in a hipster café – bet you weren’t expecting that!
- In the afternoon we’ll visit the university bookshop, a great chance to pick up some very cool, unique Turkmenistan swag, including where you can find amazing coffee table books written by and about the former president (and father of the current president, Serdar Berdimuhamedov), Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as ones about Ashgabat and Turkmenistan. You can even get them in English! They also have postcards and posters, and if you're lucky they might even have a copy of the Ruhnama, the book written by Turkmenbashy.
- Spend the night at the Ak Altyn Hotel.
Day 2Sun May 30
Carpet Day, Ashgabat
-
Happy Carpet Day!
-
Today is a very one off opportunity to see the Carpet Museum in Ashgabat in all its glory, with exhibitions, shows, and loads of Turkmens milling around taking part in the festivities. There will be a great atmosphere, and we'll spend most of the day just soaking it in.
- There will be stands set up and a little yurt village, with exhibitions and displays of local food and drinks, carpets of course, historical heroes, and plenty of singing and dancing in traditional clothing. There will be cauldrons of plov, buckets of kumus and chalap, pastries, and who knows what else.
Day 3Mon May 31
Ashgabat, Gates of Hell
-
This morning we will have free time, so you'll have a chance to organise yourself for the evening ahead. We'll be checking out of the hotel in Ashgabat, but you can leave luggage behind for the overnight.
- In the early afternoon, we'll set off on our desert adventure, driving the 250km north to Darvaza, The Gates of Hell.
- One the way we’ll make a few stops – including to see a salt lake, and two other craters (one full of mud, one full of water).
-
Our favourite stop on this drive though is the town of Erbent, where you'll get a real up-close look at how rural Turkmens live - very different to what you've seen so far in Ashgabat and other regional cities and towns. We'll patronise the village shop, no doubt take some photos of some dust, possibly an old motorbike or two, maybe even a camel, and if we're lucky we might bump into some school kids. We will also of course use their toilet (not a luxurious one!) before continuing on our way.
-
Crossing the sand dunes to get to Darvaza, we’ll arrive in time to watch the sunset over the fiery crater and experience dusk turn to dark at this breathtaking site.
- We will either set up tents near the crater, or stay in one of the nearby yurt camps, depending on many factors, including weather. Either way though, we'll spend the evening viewing the fiery crater from every angle, seeing the colour change as the sun sets and the darkness creeps in, until the crater is in full glow. It's completely mesmerising.
Day 4Tue Jun 1
Gates of Hell, Ashgabat, End of Tour
-
We'll wake up this morning at the Gates of Hell. What a place to wake up!
- Make sure you get your fill of fiery pits over breakfast, before we start heading back to Ashgabat, arriving around lunchtime.
- Arriving back in Ashgabat, you will have some free time until you need to be driven to the airport for your departure flight.
- If you'd like to see some more of Turkmenistan while you're there, why not join us on TheTurkmenistan Carpet Day Tour , where we'll also visit Kow Ata, Nokhur, Balkanabat, Turkmenbsahy and Yangykala Canyon, or the Turkmenistan Carpet Day Mega Tour , where we'll visit all those things plus the remote far east of the country. Or if you really want an adventure, check out our 5 Stans or 7 Stans tours.
Extensions
Horse Farm Day Trip
Turkmenistan is known for their unique Akhal Teke horses, this is your opportunity to experience them up close and even take a ride if you fancy.
Cross the land border at Dashoguz or Konye Urgench
Planning on joining a Turkmenistan tour, but you're already going to be in Uzbekistan and you'd rather cross at a land border? Well, that's what this is for!
Merv Day Trip
For those history buffs who want to see a bit more of the ancient stuff whilst in Turkmenistan.
4 Stans Spring Tour
A 17 day adventure through Silk Road settlements, vast mountain ranges, winding valleys, and some of the coolest Soviet stuff that's still around.
Afghanistan and Pakistan June Summer Tour
A good old fashioned road trip, from Herat to Karachi, through some of the least visited parts of these two already exciting countries.
Other Tours
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Tour
Famous around the world for its carpets, naturally Turkmenistan has a whole national holiday to celebrate them. Come and see how Turkmenistan puts on a show for one of their national treasures.
Turkmenistan Carpet Day Mega Tour
From the incredibly Turkmen Carpet Day events in the sparkling city of Ashgabat, to the Dinosaur Plateau in the rugged far east of the country, this tour takes you to every corner of Turkmenistan and we'll show you all our favourite spots.
Venezuela Spring Tour
From Caracas' revolutionary streets to the thunder of Angel Falls and the electric skies of Catatumbo, join us on this epic springtime adventure through Venezuela.
Afghanistan and Pakistan June Summer Tour
A good old fashioned road trip, from Herat to Karachi, through some of the least visited parts of these two already exciting countries.