The Highlights of Turkmenistan

Day 1

Departure for Ashgabat

• Departure for Ashgabat.
• The hotel is booked in advance for immediate check-in.

Overnight: Hotel

Day 2

Ashgabat

• Early morning arrival in Ashgabat. Entry visa at the airport, customs formalities.
• Meeting with the guide holding a LATIF sign. Transfer to the hotel, check-in.
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• City sightseeing tour: the Monument of Independence, the Arch of Neutrality and other landmarks.
• Visit to the Carpet Museum.
• Visit to the Russian Bazaar.

Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat

Day 3

Nisa — Kipchak — Darvaza

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Excursion to Ancient Nisa — the capital of Parthia.
• Visit to the largest mosque in Central Asia in the village of Kipchak, the burial place of the First President of Turkmenistan.
• Departure into the Karakum desert to the Darvaza gas crater, formed where a drilling rig collapsed.
• Return to Ashgabat late at night.

Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat

Day 4

Ashgabat: museum and horse farm

• Breakfast at the hotel. Free time.
• Meeting with the guide at the hotel.
• Excursion to the State Museum of History.
• Visit to a private horse farm to see the world-famous Akhal-Teke horses.

Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat

Day 5

Mary and Ancient Merv

• Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Mary.
• Visit to Ancient Merv, a historic city on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Visit to the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin. City sightseeing tour.
• Return to Ashgabat.

Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat

Day 6

Departure

• Transfer to the airport. Departure. End of the programme.