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© SAIGA Tours
Start
Sep 26, 2025
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2025-09-26
End
Sep 29, 2025
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2025-09-29
Duration
4 days
Price
US$995.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
Beginning and ending in our favourite shiny marble and gold city, the focus of this tour is on exploring Ashgabat and surrounds, and spending a night at the fiery gas crater known as the Gates of Hell.
In Ashgabat we will visit all the amazing monuments in the new part of the city, we'll drive past as many white buildings as your heart desires, learn about all the world records that both the city and the country hold, and get a feel for how modern Turkmenistan functions. We'll also see the city at night, where it transforms from a sparkly and shiny sea of white marble and gold, to a Las Vegas-esque city of colourful lights, each building lit up and changing colours, differently to the next building.
Then to get to the Gates of Hell we will drive through the Karakum Desert, seeing a very different side of life in Turkmenistan. And there is just nothing like a huge fiery pit in the middle of absolutely nowhere, and spending a night there really is something else!
There are also longer versions of this tour for anyone who would like to explore Turkmenistan even more, with both the Original Tour and the Mega Tour . Alternatively, if you'd also like to see some other Stans while you're here, have a look at our 5 Stans Autumn Whirlwind Tour .
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.
INCLUSIONS:
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Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels (breakfast included), camping at Gates of Hell |
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Transport as per itinerary, beginning and ending in Ashgabat |
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Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary, including Independence Day events |
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SAIGA guide and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $200
EXCLUSIONS:
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Visa fee (can be paid on arrival at the airport or land border, or at an embassy beforehand) |
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Meals other than breakfast at hotels |
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Transport to and from Ashgabat at the beginning and end of the tour |
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Accommodation and any other services before or after the tour |
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
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Any COVID related expenses |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Spend the night mesmerised by the horrendous but exhilirating Gates of Hell
Visit all the crazy white and gold monuments of Ashgabat
Itinerary
Day 1Fri Sep 26
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.
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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, which is the complex in which the Wheel of Enlightenment is, 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!
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In the afternoon we’ll visit the state-run 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 president, 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.
- We are here for Indepedence Day, however it is unfortunately very unlikely that tourists will be allowed to attend any special events. With the increase in use of social media and sharing things online, and a larger number of tourists trying to attend each year, the government has become stricter about outside access to high level events. When we first started doing this, getting a group of 10 people together felt like a massive achievement and our presence was so unexpected and confusing that we almost could get away with anything! But it has been getting increasingly more difficult over the years with more and more tourists going at this time of year. This is of course very frustrating after a decade of working to gain access to things, however this is just how it is. Of course, we will absolutely be attending anything that we are able to, however we cannot guarantee any specific events. However, luckily Turkmenistan is such an exciting and interesting place, that there's never a dull moment anyway, regardless of events or no events!
Day 2Sat Sep 27
Independence Day, Nisa, Kipchak, Ashgabat
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Happy Independence Day!
- Today we’ll start off by leaving the city, to visit Nisa, a UNESCO site which was once the capital of the Parthian Empire.
- We’ll then continue on to Kipchak to see the resplendent Turkmenbashy Mosque and Mausoleum, where Turkmenbashy is buried beside his mother, father and two brothers in their white marble mausoleum. There aren’t too many Turkmenbashy related sites still around, but this one is truly spectacular.
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Return to Ashgabat in the afternoon and you'll have some free time to enjoy a beer by the pool at the hotel or take a walk around the old part of the city where the hotel is located, before we set off in the evening.
- Night tour of Ashgabat. With the white marble buildings lit up by brightly coloured neon lights, Ashgabat is a truly spectacular place after dark. We'll make a stop at the Palace of Happiness in the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains, from where you can get a fantastic panorama of the whole city.
- For dinner this evening we’ll go to the Yyldiz Hotel – the newest and most expensive hotel in Turkmenistan, where you can have a real 5 Star restaurant experience for 1 Star prices, complete with 360 degree views of the city.
Day 3Sun Sep 28
Ashgabat, Gates of Hell
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This morning we will have free time.
- After lunch we’ll drive 250km north to Darvaza, The Gates of Hell.
- One the way we’ll make a few stops – including to see a salt lake, two other craters (one full of mud, one full of water), and of course maybe for a toilet (not a luxurious one!).
- 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.
- Set up tents near the Gates of Hell and camp near the fiery crater.
Day 4Mon Sep 29
Gates of Hell, Ashgabat, End of Tour
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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 The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour , where we'll visit Kow Ata, Nokhur, Avaza and Yangykala Canyon, or the Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour , where we'll visit all those things plus the remote far east of the country..
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.
The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour
From Ashgabat to the Caspian, taking the scenic route past the Gates of Hell, Yangykala Canyon and much more.
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Exclusive access to the epic Independence Day events, plus all the must-sees such as the Gates of Hell and Yangykala Canyon. But that's not all! This mega version of the tour also ventures into the far east to some of the least visited parts of the world.
Other Tours
The Original Turkmenistan Independence Day Tour
From Ashgabat to the Caspian, taking the scenic route past the Gates of Hell, Yangykala Canyon and much more.
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Exclusive access to the epic Independence Day events, plus all the must-sees such as the Gates of Hell and Yangykala Canyon. But that's not all! This mega version of the tour also ventures into the far east to some of the least visited parts of the world.
North Korea Party Foundation Day Short Tour
Come celebrate the founding of the Korean Workers’ Party in Pyongyang on this quick autumn getaway to Pyongyang.
North Korea Party Foundation Day Tour
Come and celebrate the founding of the Korean Workers’ Party with us in Pyongyang, and experience the amazing autumn colours of Mount Kumgang.