From marble-clad capital to ancient desert fortresses, Turkmenistan reveals a Silk Road legacy wrapped in mystery. Explore the gleaming cityscape of Ashgabat, wander through the UNESCO-listed ruins of Merv, and marvel at natural wonders like the fiery Darvaza Gas Crater and the painted cliffs of Yangikala Canyon.
In remote mountain villages, traditions remain unchanged for centuries, while in bustling bazaars, carpets and silks still tell the stories of nomadic tribes. Long closed to most of the world, Turkmenistan has only recently opened its doors to a small number of visitors – making a journey here a rare privilege.
We’ve been there ourselves and take you to places few travellers have ever seen – personally accompanied, with an experienced local guide by your side.
Highlights at a Glance
Our Programme
Turkmenistan – Along the Hidden Paths of the Silk Road (8 days)
The programme is displayed without fixed prices. Every journey is tailored individually to your wishes and travel dates. Get in touch – we will create a personal proposal for you.
Arrival in Ashgabat
You will be met at the airport by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, time to rest before exploring Ashgabat, often dubbed the „white city“ for its striking marble architecture. This afternoon’s city tour includes highlights such as the Alem Cultural Centre, the Arch of Neutrality and the Memorial Complex. In the evening, a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Ashgabat → Ancient Nisa → Darvaza Gas Crater
Further exploring Ashgabat: impressive parks, city squares and the striking Ertugrul Gazi Mosque. Visit to a local stud farm to see the renowned Akhal-Teke horses, then the ancient site of Nisa – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former capital of the Parthian Empire. Stop at Kipchak to see the grand mosque and mausoleum complex. After lunch, drive north through the Karakum Desert towards the flaming gas crater at Darvaza, passing bubbling mud and water craters along the way. Overnight in simple tents to experience the glow of the „Door to Hell“ under the stars.
Return to Ashgabat
Drive back to Ashgabat, the marble-clad capital nestled between mountains and desert. The afternoon is yours: explore the city’s elegant parks and monuments, or head to the lively Russian Bazaar for spices, textiles, fresh fruit and caviar.
Kow-Ata Cave → Nokhur → Balkanabat
Kow-Ata, an underground lake hidden in a vast limestone cave – warm mineral waters (33–37 °C) offer a unique swim. Continue to the mountain village of Nokhur, a remote community with deep-rooted traditions, stone houses and narrow alleys, shaped by centuries of isolation. In the afternoon, continue to Balkanabat.
Yangikala Canyon → Turkmenbashi → Ashgabat
Early morning departure to the spectacular Yangikala Canyon – colourful limestone formations once part of an ancient seabed, glowing in shades of red, pink and white. Picnic amid this natural amphitheatre. Continue to the Caspian coast at Turkmenbashi, then an evening domestic flight back to Ashgabat.
Mary
Drive east to Mary, stopping at the 15th-century Seyit Jamal-ad-Din Mosque in Annau and the ancient site of Abiward. Visit the Mary Museum with its jewellery, carpets, a decorated yurt and outstanding artefacts from Merv and Margiana.
Ancient Merv
Explore Old Merv – once a thriving Silk Road metropolis, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the fortresses of Gyz Gala and Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, and the Mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Ibn Zeid. Visit the nearby site of Margush, the fifth centre of ancient civilisation in Central Asia. In the afternoon, return to Ashgabat.
Departure
Transfer to Ashgabat Airport. Turkmenistan leaves a vivid picture: ancient cities, warm encounters, and the many impressions along the Silk Road.
Important Notes
- Should an accommodation be fully booked at your travel time, we will reserve an equivalent alternative.
- The order of activities may vary depending on the best travel day.
- Turkmenistan requires a visa with a letter of invitation – we coordinate this for you.
- We recommend taking out travel cancellation and interruption insurance for all journeys.
Turkmenistan has captured your imagination?
Let’s plan your Silk Road journey together. Write to us – we’ll reply personally.
Enquire about this journeyHighlights at a Glance
Our Programme
The Wider Silk Road (15 days) – “Where Empires Met”
The programme is displayed without fixed prices. Every journey is tailored individually to your wishes and travel dates. Get in touch – we will create a personal proposal for you.
Arrival Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent – a modern capital caught between Soviet heritage and Central Asian soul. Exploration of Chorsu Bazaar, historic madrasahs and Independence Square. Evening: a ride on the famous Soviet metro – each station a work of art.
Tashkent → Samarkand
High-speed train to Samarkand – the Timurid capital and one of the world’s oldest cities. Exploration of Registan Square with its three majestic madrasahs, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis – a breathtaking journey through history in blue and gold.
Samarkand
Visit to Afrasiab – the ancient ruined city beneath modern Samarkand. Ulugbek’s Observatory from the 15th century. Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum – the tomb of Timur. Free afternoon to explore the bazaars.
Day Trip to Tajikistan: Seven Lakes
Cross into Tajikistan’s Fann Mountains. The Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) lie like emeralds in wild mountain scenery – each lake a different shade, from deep blue to turquoise green. Picnic in the mountain air. Return to Samarkand in the evening.
Shahrisabz → Bukhara
Drive to Shahrisabz – Timur’s birthplace. The Ak-Saray Palace (“White Palace”) was once one of the largest palaces in the world. Gok-Gumbaz Mosque with its turquoise dome. Continue to Bukhara.
Bukhara
Bukhara – one of the best-preserved old cities in Central Asia (UNESCO). Lyab-i Hauz square with its ancient mulberry tree and traditional teahouses. Visit to a traditional puppet maker. The mighty Ark Fortress, the Kalyan Minaret and the four-towered Chor Minor Mosque.
Bukhara → Khiva (through the Kyzylkum Desert)
Drive through the Kyzylkum Desert – “Red Desert” in Uzbek. Wild camels by the roadside, occasional river oases, endless expanses.
Khiva: Itchan Kala
Exploration of Itchan Kala – the walled inner city of Khiva (UNESCO). With over 50 historic monuments in a small area. Tosh-Khovli Palace, the massive Kunya-Ark Fortress, the Djuma Mosque with 218 wooden columns.
Khiva → Kunya-Urgench → Darvaza Crater
Cross the border into Turkmenistan. Visit Kunya-Urgench – once a major Silk Road city and former capital of the Khwarezm Empire, with the Mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh and the Kutlug Timur Minaret. Continue deep into the Karakum Desert to Darvaza, where the burning gas crater (“Gates of Hell”) creates an unforgettable sight after dark.
Darvaza → Ashgabat
One last look at the glowing crater, then drive through the Karakum Desert past water and mud craters. Arrival in Ashgabat, the white-marble “City of Love” – city tour to Palace Square, Independence Park and Neutrality Arch, an evening drive to see the spectacularly lit city.
Ashgabat → Kov-Ata → Nohur → Balkanabat
A warm swim in the underground Kov-Ata Lake inside a limestone cave. On into the Kopet Dag Mountains to the secluded village of Nohur with its sacred cemetery and legendary old tree. Drive through rugged landscapes to Balkanabat.
Balkanabat → Yangykala Canyon → Turkmenbashi
The Yangykala Canyon – Turkmenistan’s Grand Canyon with layered hues of red, pink and ochre. Continue to the Caspian Sea and the coastal town of Turkmenbashi.
Flight back to Ashgabat
Domestic flight back to Ashgabat. Visit the National Museum with artefacts from the ancient city of Nisa, and the Grand Mosque, one of the largest in Central Asia.
Day Trip to Mary / Merv
Morning flight to Mary. Just 25 km away: ancient Merv, once rival to Baghdad and today a UNESCO World Heritage site – the “Pearl of the East” with the ruins of the Great and Small Kyz Kala. Return flight to Ashgabat in the evening.
Departure
Transfer to Ashgabat Airport. The Silk Road leaves a vivid picture: turquoise domes, the fiery glow of Darvaza, white marble in the desert.
Important Notes
- Crossing into Turkmenistan requires a Letter-of-Invitation-based visa – we support you with this.
- Should an accommodation be fully booked, we will reserve an equivalent alternative.
- The order of activities may vary depending on the best travel day.
- We recommend taking out travel cancellation and interruption insurance for all journeys.
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan have captured your imagination?
Let’s plan your Silk Road journey through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan together. Write to us – we’ll reply personally.
Enquire about this journey