Natur- und Kulturreise durch Turkmenistan

Arrive at Ashgabat International Airport, where our representative meets you and takes you to your hotel for an early check-in. Enjoy some free time to rest and settle in. In the afternoon, set out on a comprehensive city tour of Ashgabat and its most iconic landmarks: the elegant Wedding Palace, the modern Yyldyz Hotel, the Ashgabat Ferris Wheel, the Constitution Monument, the Arch of Neutrality, the Independence Monument and Park, the Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque, the Olympic Stadium and the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex. Discover the blend of modern white-marble architecture and cultural heritage that makes Ashgabat unique. Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat.

Ashgabat, Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque

• Ashgabat International Airport → Ashgabat (15 km)

Über Nacht: Ashgabat (Hotel)

Early in the morning, transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for the flight to Turkmenbashi (scheduled at 06:20; flight times may change), with a breakfast box for the early start. On arrival, meet your driver for a short city tour of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian Sea, then drive to the Yangykala Canyons (180 km, about 3 hours), one of Turkmenistan's most striking natural wonders. The name Yangykala means "fire fortress" in Turkmen: the dramatic cliffs, in shades of white, yellow, ochre, purple and red, have been sculpted by wind and rain into shapes that look like fantastic stone castles. Explore the canyons and their unusual formations, then continue to Balkanabat (185 km, about 3 hours). Overnight at the hotel in Balkanabat.

Turkmenbaschi, Yangykala-Schlucht, Balkanabat

• Ashgabat → Ashgabat International Airport (15 km)
• Ashgabat International Airport → Turkmenbaschi (515 km)
• Turkmenbaschi → Yangykala-Schlucht (180 km)
• Yangykala-Schlucht → Balkanabat (185 km)

Über Nacht: Balkanabat (Hotel)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

In the morning, drive to Karakala (Magtymguly) (278 km, about 4 hours), passing through the Syunt-Khasardag Nature Reserve to visit Moon Mountain, where the landscapes look like the surface of the Moon. Afterwards, continue to Nokhur (129 km, about 2 hours), a mountain village in a small valley of the Kopet Dag range. Its narrow streets, flanked by high stone retaining walls, barely fit a car. The Nokhurli people who live here are distinct from other Turkmen tribes, and local legend says that Noah's Ark came to rest here, releasing the animals and planting the seeds that gave the area its unique character. Explore the village's highlights: a majestic old tree, the wish tree Kyz Bibi, where visitors make sacred wishes, and an unusual, isolated cemetery where nearly every grave is marked with a wooden post topped with mountain goat horns. After sightseeing, drive back to Ashgabat (157 km, about 2 hours). Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat.

Magtymguly (Karakala), Nokhur

• Balkanabat → Magtymguly (Karakala) (278 km)
• Magtymguly (Karakala) → Nokhur (129 km)
• Nokhur → Ashgabat (157 km)

Über Nacht: Ashgabat (Hotel)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

After breakfast, visit the Turkmen Carpet Museum in Ashgabat, one of the finest carpet museums in Central Asia. Its around 2,000 exhibits show the designs of the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes, including rare historic carpets, the smallest carpet – made to hold keys – and the world's largest hand-woven carpet, covering 301 m², which entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2003. In the afternoon, set off on an unforgettable journey into the heart of the Karakum Desert to the Darvaza Gas Crater, which has been burning continuously for more than 50 years and fills the desert night with its glow. Explore the nearby water and mud craters, enjoy the fresh desert air and get a taste of traditional nomadic life. Dinner is a barbecue under the light of the burning crater – a truly unique experience. Overnight in a Turkmen yurt or a private tent at the camp near the crater.

Ashgabat, Wüste Karakum, Darvaza-Gaskrater

• Ashgabat → Darvaza-Gaskrater (276 km)

Über Nacht: Darvaza-Gaskrater (Yurt camp)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück, Dinner

Start the day with a picnic-style breakfast at Darvaza before driving back to Ashgabat (about 5 hours). In the afternoon, visit the historic Nisa Fortress, also known as the Sanctuary of the Parthian Kings, 18 km from Ashgabat near Bagyr village. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, Nisa is considered one of the earliest capitals of the Parthian Empire. Founded by Arsaces I (c. 250–211 BC), it is believed to have served either as a royal residence or as a necropolis for the Parthian kings. Next, visit a Turkmen horse farm to see the legendary Akhal-Teke horses, the national pride of Turkmenistan. Bred for more than 5,000 years, they remain a pure and unique breed admired worldwide – famous figures such as Alexander the Great and Darius I coveted them. The farm is home to more than 35 Akhal-Teke horses, and local tradition holds that anyone who touches one of them will recover from illness. Return to Ashgabat. Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat.

Nisa, Ashgabat

• Darvaza-Gaskrater → Ashgabat (276 km)
• Ashgabat → Nisa (18 km)
• Nisa → Ashgabat (18 km)

Über Nacht: Ashgabat (Hotel)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück

After breakfast, transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for your departure flight.

• Ashgabat → Ashgabat International Airport (15 km)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück