The following itinerary is intended as a working guide only and is a subject to variation as a result of local conditions, weather and governmental restrictions. We reserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) the trek at any time if necessary.
Arrive in Ashgabat. Dinner. Night in a hotel.
Transfer to the airport. Flight to Turkmenbashi. Drive to the camp on the shores of the Caspian Sea, known for its salmon fish (black caviar) and rich oil and gas fields. Night in tents.
Day of rest at the Caspian Sea. Motor boat excursion along the sea coast with stops over on the neighboring islands (5 hours). Night in a camp (tents).
Early morning drive by a vehicle from Turkmenbashi to the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Gulf. Visit to the sacred place 'Gezli Ata' and to Yangykala canyon. Camp.
Drive to Yangy-su (25 km), descent to the Gulf Kara-Bogaz-Gol, then along the coast (25-30 km) with the visits to the most remarkable places. Drive to Bolshoi Balkhan mountain Range, which is situated in the west of Turkmenistan. The range is about 70 km long and up to 1800 meters high. The highest point is Arlan mountain (1880 m). The range mainly consists of limestone and sandstone of the Jurassic Period. Night in a camp.
Excursions to the most picturesque and remarkable places: natural springs, caves, gorges, etc. About 10 km walk. Nigh in a camp.
Drive to Dekhistan in the morning. Excursion with the visit of Messarian, and Mashat. Lunch. Drive to Kara-Kala village. Night in a hotel (shower).
Excursions to the most remarkable places: the mausoleums of the 11-15 centuries, sacred places, museum of Makhtumkuli, a famous Turkmenian poet of the 18th century. Visits to the natural objects of sightseeing: Koshdemir waterfall, mountain gorges, Sumbar river. Night in a camp.
Drive through the famous Aidere Gorge where grows the Great 500-years old Shakhoz nut-tree. Then drive by Kuruzhdeisky mountain hairpin-bend road (serpentine) to the Range. Lunch. Walk to the camp about 10-12 km. The scenery is especially beautiful in March through the end of May due to various flowers and herbs covering all the meadows. From the middle of May snakes appear in the region.
Continue walking (10-15km, depending from the group strength and wish). Night in a camp near mountain village Konye-Kombez. It is a very exotic place where locals keep an old life style, traditional handicraft and only national cuisine. It might be possible to accommodate in local houses.
Visits to different historical, natural and ethnographic places, which include both walking and driving. Night in a camp.
Drive via Nokhur along the mountain gorge to Ashgabat with the visit to the sacred place Murche, underground lake Kov-Ata and Geok-Tepinskaya mosque. Accommodation in a private house.
Historic and ethnographic visits in Ashgabat region.
Drive to Mary with the visits to Miana mosque, Abiverd citadel, Altyn-Depe. Accommodation in a private house.
Excursion to the United Historical Museum, Merv, Margush. Night in a camp not far from archeological digs (sites). Friendly dinner and talk with the greatest archaeologists in Central Asia Mr. Sarianidi who discovered ancient land of Margush (120 km)
Drive to Turkmenabat with the visit of the Repetek reserve. Excursion to the museum and reserve. Night in a "Lebal" hotel. Repetsky reserve was organized in 1928 to preserve and observe the natural sandy desert complex. This is one of the hottest places in Central Asia, where maximum temperatures rise up to 50 C. There are may micro relief complexes as well as all the main desert flora and fauna presented in this reserve.
Drive for the excursion to Kerki with the visit to the historical monuments Amul, Sedi-Depe and mausoleums Alamberdan Ishan, Astansbaba. Hotel "Lebap". The remains of a Middle Age fortress Amul make historical monument of the 9-10th centuries. This was a huge strong fortress close to Turkmenabat town. Some of the coins found there date back to the 1-2 centuries AD.
Drive to Dargan-Ata with visits to the Amudarya reserve (great view of Amudarya), remains of Daya-Khatyn caravan-sarai of the 12-th century, citadel, cemetery, Dargan-Ata Middle Age mausoleum-city of 11-12 centuries. Camp.
Drive to Tashauz, the center of Tahsauz region of Turkmanistan. Visit to the ancient town of Izmukshir, with an ancient city wall 1,5 km long. Accommodation in hotel "Tashauz".
Drive to Darvaza with an excursion in Kunya-Urgench (300 km). Night visit to the burning gas hole. Night in a yourt (local house resembling a large tent).
Drive to Damla. Ethnographic program. Night in a yourt.
Drive to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan via Erbent. Accommodation in a private house.
Transfer to the airport. Departure.
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