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© SAIGA Tours
Start
Jul 1, 2027
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2027-07-01
End
Jul 5, 2027
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2027-07-05
Duration
5 days
Price
US$1.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
This tour is for those joining the 5 Stans Summer Tour , who would like to see more of Turkmenistan while you're there.
This extension will cover the west of the country and some lesser known parts of Ashgabat, whilst the Turkmenistan section of the 5 Stans Summer Tour will cover the famous sites of Ashgabat and the Gates of Hell.
We'll start with some things on the outskirts of Ashgabat, including the ancient ruins of Nisa, and the Turkmenbashy Mosque and Mausoleum. We'll swim in Kow Ata, which is an underground lake, and a great opportunity to see locals relaxing a bit.
Heading west, we'll venture into the mountains where we'll explore the village of Nokhur, including a wishing tree, a local "pharmacy" market and a very unique cemetery. We'll continue our journey west, spending a night in Balkanabat. Next we'll drive out into the desert to see Yangykala Canyon, an old ocean, now a vast canyon with striped coloured walls.
And finally we'll make it all the way to the Caspian coast - well, the former coast anyway (and we'll tell you all about that when we're there), before flying on Turkmenistan Airlines back to Ashgabat to start the 5 Stans Summer 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:
| ✓ | Letter of Invitation |
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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 |
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Western and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $300
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:
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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 |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Stand on the edge of the vast and vibrant Yangykala Canyon
Stand on the world's largest handmade star-shaped carpet , in Turkmenbashy Mosque
Swim with locals in the underground cave lake of Kow Ata
Itinerary
Day 1Thu Jul 1
Nisa, Turkmenbashy Mosque, Ashgabat
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Today we'll start by driving to the outskirts of Ashgabat. On our way we'll pass the new, not-yet-finished "smart" city of Arkadag, which we can't visit but will be able to see as we drive past. We'll also pass the hippodrome, and of course several small monuments and statues.
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Our first stop today will be at Nisa, a UNESCO site which was once the capital of the Parthian Empire. We'll explore the ruins and learn about the different excavations that have been done, and hear the stories of this once spectacular and incredibly important city.
- 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.
- We'll return to Ashgabat and have a bit of free time in the afternoon before heading out for dinner in the evening.
Day 2Fri Jul 2
Kow Ata, Nokhur, Balkanabat
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Checking out of our hotel in Ashgabat, we'll begin heading west, with our first stop at an underground thermal cave lake which is said to have many medical attributes, but is also used by locals as a swimming hole and makes for a very fun and relaxing swim.
- After a refreshing swim in the cave lake, we'll sit down and chill for a while with some shashlik from one of the restaurants just outside the entrance to the cave.
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We’ll continue driving west, away from Ashgabat, to the village of Nokhur, situated in the Kopet Dag mountains. Unlike the rest of Turkmenistan, even during the Soviet Union and the era of Turkmenbashy, the people in this village were largely left to their own devices, and as such live a much more traditional lifestyle than most Turkmens.
- Here we’ll visit Nokhur Cemetery, where each grave is adorned with the horns of a mountain goat and a small market next to a wishing tree where you can buy all sorts of natural teas and potions.
- Back on the road in the afternoon, we'll keep heading west until we arrive in Balkanabat, the capital of the western Balkan region.
- On arrival we'll check into one of our favourite hotels in Turkmenistan, which is in the shape of a giant yurt, and will walk across the road to check out the local Turkmenbashy statue.
Day 3Sat Jul 3
Yangykala Canyon, Turkmenbashy
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Before leaving Balkanabat in the morning, we'll make a quick stop at a supermarket to stock up on snacks and drinks for the day, as we'll spend the whole of today in the desert with nothing in the way of civilisation until the evening.
- We'll also stop at the Caravan Monument - a sand coloured depiction of a camel and travelers making their way through the harsh desert.
- Leaving Balkanabat, we'll venture off the main road for the highlight of today - Yangykala Canyon. Wide and vast, the area was once a seabed, and scattered with all sorts of fossils, it stretches as far as the eye can see. In 4x4s, we’ll drive over the canyon walls, through the canyon itself, and up the other side.
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We'll make several stops along the way, including our favourite, the crocodile mouth. This will be our main stop for the day, and we'll spend plenty of time there
so we can enjoy all the shapes and colours of this spectacular natural phenomenon.
- In the afternoon we'll continue on our way, arriving in Turkmnbashy in the late afternoon.
- We'll have some free time before dinner, during which you can use the hotel gym, pool and sauna facilities, have a beer in the bar, or we may take a walk down to the former shoreline of the receding Caspian Sea.
- Overnight in Turkmenbashy.
- Previously we have included Avaza in this part of our tour itineraries, however it is currently closed to foreigners, as of April 2023. We are working on the assumption that it will not be open before the time of this tour, however if it was, we would rearrange the itinerary in such a way that we'd be able to include a visit there.
Day 4Sun Jul 4
Turkmenbashy, Ashgabat
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This morning we will make our way to Turkmenbashy Airport, which has the airport code KRW, in reference to the Soviet name of the city, which was Krasnovodsk.
- We'll fly back to Ashgabat on Turkmenistan's national carrier and the only option for domestic flights, Turkmenistan Airlines.
- Arriving back in Ashgabat you'll have a chance to have some free time, during which you might want to shop for a tracksuit or a carpet, sit down for a coffee or a beer, go for a stroll, or just have a rest.
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In the afternoon we'll hop on a public bus and explore Ashgabat from a slightly different perspective. This is a great way to interact with locals, and get a first-hand view of how normal Ashgabatians live on a daily basis.
- Using the bus, we'll make our way to Berkarar Shopping Centre, going through the new part of the city, past the Presidential Palace, the Ashgabat Monument, and the 2017 Olympic Complex. We'll then have a chance to explore this incredibly Turkmenistan-style 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!
- We'll catch the bus back to our hotel, before heading out for dinner in the evening.
- Overnight at the Ak Altyn Hotel.
Day 5Mon Jul 5
End of Extension, Begin 5 Stans Tour
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This is the last day of this extension, and today we'll join up with those doing the
5 Stans Summer Tour
, on which we'll spend some more time in Ashgabat and a night at the Gates of Hell.
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.
Other Tours
Turkmenistan Summer Tour
From a fiery crater to a colourful canyon, swimming in a cave lake to exploring a mountain village, and a glistening capital to an ancient city. This tour gives a glimpse of all our favourite spots in Turkmenistan.
5 Stans Summer Tour
Looking for somewhere fun and exciting to spend your summer? Join us on this epic road trip from Ashgabat to Almaty, visiting Silk Road cities, unbelievable mountains, modern cosmopolitan cities, and everything in between.