The Great Journey to the Heart of Asia: Turkmenistan

Day 1
Meeting of tourists at the international airport of Ashgabat.
Check-in at the hotel.
City tour of Ashgabat: Wedding Palace, Arch of Neutrality, Independence Park, Ferris Wheel, Constitution Tower, Memorial Complex.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Excursion to Old Nisa - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the first capitals of the Parthian Empire.
Visit to the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque - the main mosque of Turkmenistan, the largest in Central Asia, accommodating 10,000 worshippers at a time.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Mary at 06:20.
Excursion to Ancient Merv (40 km east of Mary) - one of the oldest regions in Central Asia.
- Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar - the mausoleum of one of the most famous Seljuks, Sultan (12th century).
- Little and Great Gyz Kala - from the 6th century, the estate-fortress was one of the important trade points on the Great Silk Road.
- Mausoleum of Ibn Zeid, Sardoba - a pilgrimage site (12th century).
- Erk-Kala and Gyaur-Kala.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Ashgabat at 19:35.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3
In the afternoon, drive through the Karakum Desert to the famous Darvaza Gas Crater (280 km).
Sightseeing tour and walk around the "Door to Hell" - Darvaza Gas Crater.
Dinner.
Overnight in a Turkmen yurt.

Day 4
Breakfast.
Drive to the city of Old Konye-Urgench (4 hours).
Lunch at a local cafe.
Excursion to the historical sites of Konye-Urgench (UNESCO 2005):
- Mausoleum of Il-Arslan - the oldest building in the city (11th century).
- Mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh (12th century).
- Kutlug-Timur Minaret - (12th-14th centuries) - the tallest minaret in Central Asia.
- Mausoleum of Turabek Khanum (12th-14th centuries).
- Mausoleum of Najmuddin Kubra and Sultan Ali.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Ashgabat at 20:00.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5
Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to the mountain village of the Nokhur tribe with a visit to the tribal cemetery, waterfall, and the old "chinar" tree (3 hours).
Lunch with a local family.
Drive to the natural underground lake Kov-Ata (1 hour).
Arrival in Ashgabat.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6
Early transfer to the airport for a flight to Turkmenbashi at 06:30.
Upon arrival, depart for the Yangykala Canyon (3 hours).
Lunch by the fire.
Return to Turkmenbashi.
Dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time.
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Ashgabat.