Turkmenistan Uncovered: Silk Road Heritage & Desert Wonders

Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. Completion of formalities. Transfer to the hotel. We discover Ashgabat, the “City of Love,” known for its impressive white-marble architecture and wide boulevards. We begin with the UNESCO-listed ruins of Old Nisa, the former capital of the Parthian Empire, set against the scenic
Kopet Dag mountains.

Enjoy a 2-hour walk from Ashgabat Park along the historic Makhtumkuli Avenue to Lenin Square, home to the Lenin monument that survived the 1948 earthquake. We continue to the lively Gulistan Bazaar (the Russian market), a Soviet-era landmark where you can immerse yourself in local life and browse stalls of dried fruit, the
famous Turkmen melons, carpets, and traditional souvenirs. After sightseeing, we meet a family devoted to reviving women’s crafts: embroidery and felting. Dinner with the family.

Accommodation: Hotel Hotel Olimp 4 in Ashgabat or similar
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. We start the day with a visit to the Ashgabat Carpet Museum to learn about the craftsmanship and symbolism of traditional Turkmen carpet weaving (inscribed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity), from a miniature keychain carpet to the world’s largest handmade masterpiece. After
the museum, we attend a lecture on the art of carpet weaving, which may be given by an art historian. We then go on a photo hunt for “göl” patterns in the city’s architecture as part of the “Find the Ornament” city quest.

After lunch, we visit the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, dedicated to national heroes and historical tragedies and then enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the observation deck of the Palace of Happiness. We continue along the Archabil Highway to see the Makhtumkuli monument and finish the tour at Independence
Park and the monumental buildings. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit the Geok Depe equestrian hippodrome to see the legendary Akhal-Teke horses, famed for their speed, endurance and shimmering coats, with the chance to ride, feed, and photograph them. At the farm, we take part in a workshop on weaving the “alaja” (an amulet of colored threads that wards off
evil and brings luck) and on baking churek bread. On the way back to Ashgabat, we visit the impressive complex in the village of Kipchak to see Turkmenistan’s largest mosque, the “Turkmenbashi Spiritual Mosque” and the “family mausoleum of the first president.” Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we continue to Mary (360
km). Hotel check-in. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion to the ancient Merv complex. Ancient Merv lies about 30 km from Mary, near the modern town of Bayramaly. Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar: the most majestic architectural monument of Merv, called “Dar al-Akhir” (“the Other World”). Its appearance reflects the highest achievements and the heyday of Seljuk power.
Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala fortresses
Gyaur Kala fortress: In the Turkic languages, “gyaur” means “unbeliever,” referring to those who do not profess Islam. The name of this fortress in ancient Merv, Gyaur Kala (“Fortress of the Unbelievers”), was given by the Arabs who conquered it in the early 8th century. The fortress itself, however, dates from a much earlier period, the 4th–3rd centuries BC.
Erk Kala fortress was the center of ancient Merv. The fortifications of Erk Kala have settled under accumulated earth deposits but have nevertheless kept their height and power, which distinguishes Erk Kala from other fortresses. Today the fortifications, with steep slopes and precisely carved towers, reach a height of 25–29 m.
Yusuf Hamadani Mosque: this complex was built on the burial site of Abu Yaqub Yusuf ibn Ayyub, who was born in the city of Hamadan (western Iran). A mausoleum was erected over his tomb but has not survived. Today the Yusuf Hamadani Mosque is an important Muslim place of worship.
Sultan Kala fortress: In the 11th–12th centuries, Merv became the capital of the Great Seljuk state and reached its highest prosperity. By order of the Seljuk sultan Malik Shah, the city was surrounded by fortifications and a moat.
This fortress, covering more than 400 hectares, is known as Sultan Kala, the “Fortress of the Sultans”
Mausoleum of Muhammad ibn Zeid: an outstanding monument of Sultan Kala. It is relatively small but inspires admiration with its original architectural design. Inside the mausoleum is a unique wall inscription in Arabic. The letters, skillfully carved from baked brick, stand out boldly against a floral stucco pattern.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Bayramaly, where guests can test their culinary skills by baking the national Turkmen samsa in a tamdyr (clay oven). After lunch, we head to Ashgabat. Hotel check-in.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we visit the open-air Tolkuchka bazaar, a living embodiment of traditional culture where you can buy handmade silk and wool items, discover antique carpets and silver jewelry and explore traditional spices and oils.
Lunch at a restaurant.
In the afternoon, we begin our expedition from Ashgabat along the main north–south highway, following the traditional route across the Karakum Desert. On this first day we cover 260 km, stopping along the way at the desert village of Erbent and at two gas craters about 100 m from the main road, one filled with water and the other with mud, both bubbling with natural gas seeping up from underground. On reaching the border between Turkmenistan’s northern and southern regions, we turn off the main road for an exciting eight-kilometer off-road adventure. Driving on, we end up a couple of hundred meters from the blazing crater. Dinner and overnight in tents (wild camping).

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

We wake up to breakfast at the camp, take a last look at the mesmerizing blazing crater and then set off for Ashgabat.
Arrival in Ashgabat and check-in at the hotel. Free time or continue to explore local market.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

From the hotel, we head to the airport for departure on an international flight.