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Season: April-June and August-October
Duration: 22 days / 21 nights
Conditions: Each member of group must have his own outfit, raincoat, sleeping bag, medical and accident insurance.
Day 1:
Arrival & Transfer to hotel
Arrival in Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2:
Full day SS of Ashgabat.
Full Day SS of Ashgabat includes: New built mosque “Turkmenbashynyn Ruhy Metjidi” which is biggest in Central Asia & Mausoleum Complex of the tombs of Turkmenbashy and his parents with his brothers.
Old Nissa-The Sanctuary of Parhian Kings (Nissa is situated in 15 km to the west of Ashgabat & founded in the III century B.C. Nissa was the capital of Parthian Empire which lasted for about 600 years and was the biggest cpmpetitor for the Rome Empire. Here there were the palace & temple buildings, the depositories & the treasury of the Parthian Kings. During the Old Nissa excavations the monumental constructions are exposed-the temples (round & tower). Taking into consideration the great scientific-cultural meaning, the site of the ancient town is declared the historical-cultural preserve. At present the scientific & cultural community of the republic recommends to inscribe the old Nissa into the monuments list,protected by the UNESCO.)
Park dedicated to Turkmen horses-the pride of Turkmen, Arch of Neutrality, Presidential Square, Gulsitan Bazar, Monument of Lenin which was erected in 1927 and was one those few monuments which survived the earthquake of 1948, Monument of Independence.
Day 3:
Half Day SS in Ashgabat & Transfer to STB
Half Day SS of Ashgabat.: “Jygyldyk” (Tolkuchka) Oriental Bazar where there are Carpet/Souvenir section, Camels section and etc. It is also one of the best places to meet face-to-face with Turkmen culture and people. After Bazar transfer to the hippodrome to watch Sunday Horse Race- the great opportunity to see Turkmen Horses in action which accompanied with a great deal of enthusiastic shouting.
After SS transfer to Sekizyab Valley’s Tourist Center (STC). En route stop to visit “Saparmyrat Khadji” mosque located 40 km to the west of Ashgabat. (In the Geokdepe historical & cultural center 3 independent zones are distinguished :inside the fortress-memorial zone to hold rituals, outside the fortress-public zone for serving guests, pilgrims, tourists & archaeological zone-places of excavations & excursions. In its turn, memorial zone is divided into 2 parts. The first part is a large park, laid out in traditions of an ancient Central Asian gardens (Tchar-Bag) with canals, rituals grounds, alley of heroes & main square, in the center of which there will be a monument to defenders of the fortress. The second part of the memorial zone is an architectural ensemble, which consists of a mosque, buildings of medresse & local historical museum with a picture, demonstrating a heroic defense of Geokdepe in January,1881.)
O/N in the yurta at the STB.
Day 4:
Full Day Exploring the Valley
Full Day explore the mountains and gorges of valley Sekizyab. O/N in the yurta at the STC.
Day 5:
Transfer to Shamengli. Familiarize with Horses & Carpets
Morning transfer to Shamengli Horse Farm. En route to visit underground lake “Kow Ata” which is located in 95 km to the west of Ashgabat (Some information about underground lake: Size of cave: length 250 m, depth 60 m, average width 25 m. Size of lake: length 75 m, max. width 23 m, max. depth 14 m. Volume of the lake - 6500 cubic meter) Familiarize with Turkmen Horses-Akhalteke and carpet factory of the farm. Excursion on the horseback around the farm. O/N in the yurta.
Day 6:
Exploring Gas Craters of Garagum Desert
Drive to Derveze. En route stop for a lunch at Kekirdek village where to familiarize with the life of nomad people. Proceed the way to visit water based, clay based and burning gas craters. O/N in the tent near the burning crater.
Day 7:
SS of Kone Urgench. Flight to Ashgabat
Morning drive to Dashoguz. En route stop to visit Koneurgench-the capital of Khorezmshahs (III-XVI cc) . SS of the old city which includes: Portal of Caravansaray (XI-XIV), Mamun Minaret (X-IX), Il Arslan Mausoleum (XII), Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum (XIII), Academy of Horezm (III-XIII), Kutlug Timur Minaret (XIV)-one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia, Turabek Hanum Mausoleum (XIV). After SS proceed to Dashoguz. Arrival and flight to Ashgabat.
Day 8:
Drive to Mary
Half Day Rest. Afternoon drive to Mary. En route to visit Abiverd Medival City. O/N in Mary.
Day 9:
Full Day Exploring Margush & Old Merv
Morning drive to visit Margush Country (Gongur Depe-capital of Margush)-Bronze Age Civilization Sites & Birthplace of Zorastrism.
Lunch as a picnic. After SS of Margush drive back to Mary. En route stop to have SS of Old Merv: Gyz Gala & Oglan Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Giaur Gala (IV BC), Buddist Complex (IV-VI), Beni Makhan Mosque-first Mosque build in Central Asia (VII), Erk Gala (VI BC), Soltan Gala (XI), Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum (XII), Ibn Zeid Mausoleum (XII). O/N in Mary.
Day 10:
Drive to Koytendag
Transfer Mary-Koytendag. En rouite visit Astana Baba Mausoleum (XII cc) and Local Museum of Atamyrat). Overnight Koytendag Tourist Base (KTB).
Day 11:
Full Day Exploring Koytendag
Full Day Trekking Expedition. Visits to “Kyrk Gyz” Gorge and cave (most visited by pilgrims), Plateau of Dinosaurs (one of Turkmenistan’s more unusual sights. The inclined plateu, some 500m long and 200 m wide contain more than 400 footprints of Dinosaurs. In the Koytendag mountains were discovered more than 2500 in total, dating from the Jurassic period), Waterfalls of “Umbar Dere” Gorge. O/N at KTB.
Day 12:
Full Day Trekking. Visits to Caves & Gaynar Baba
Full Day Trekking. Visits to “Garlyk” Caves (one of the great attractions of Koytendag; beneath the limestone hills lie one of the most extensive networks of caves in Central Asia lasting in some parts more than 50km . There are references in ancient Greek texts to caves in these mountains, but the complex was not properly explored until the second half of the 20th century) and “Gaynar Baba” –hydrogen sulphate water spring- popular local bathing place. O/N at KTB
Day 13-14:
Full 2 Days Trekking & Hiking
Full 2 Days Trekking and Hiking. Climb “Ayrybaba”-highest peak in TM (3137 m) via Oyjamyrat & Nowparak canyon. Several rare species are inhabited here, including the spiral-horned markhor goats and the urial, a mountain sheep. The hiking in Koytendag does not require any special equipment and if done at the right hours of the day is feasible for anybody with normal condition. First overnight is under canvas and for the second night return to the KTB.
Day 15:
Flight to Ashgabat
Transfer to Turkmenabat via Hojambaz. Flight to Ashgabat. Arrival and accommodation
Day 16:
Drive to Nohur
Morning visit the new built cable way lifted Mountain Center located close to Ashgabat. Afternoon drive to Nohur Mountain Village located deep in the Kopetdag Mountains (it is around 150 km and takes 2,5 hours direct driving). En route stop to visit Kow Ata Underground Lake. O/N at the Guest House in the village.
Day 17:
Full Day Trekking
Full Day Trekking. Visit to “Gyz Bibi Pilgrimage site, The Great Tree – oldest tree in the village thought to be 300-500 years old, Khur-Khuri Waterfalls,Dow Oyi Caves, Ai Dere Canyon and etc. O/N at guest house
Day 18:
Drive to Magtymguly (Garrygala)
Drive to Garrygala (it is around 90 km and takes 2,5 hours direct driving) via mountains and villages with short trekking stops on Ay Dere Canyon, Syunt-Hasardag Nature Reserve, Sumbar Valley.
O/N at the guest house in Garrygala.
Day 19:
Drive to Dehistan
Drive to Dekhistan (Mashad-Messirian Mediavl Town Ruins which dates I-XVII cc) via Balkanabat. En route stop to visit pilgrimage site of Paraw Bibi Shrine. O/N under canvas next to the portal of the Great Mosque of XIII cc and Minarets of XI cc in the “left town” which gives unforgettable views of the stars with a feeling of the night from 1001 Shehrizada’s Tales.
Day 20:
Drive to Turkmenbashy
Drive to Turkmenbashy. En route stop to visit Mollagara resort and its salt lake. Arrival and short SS of Turkmenbashy. O/N at Turkmenbashy
Day 21:
Flight to Ashgabat. Last Day in Turkmenistan
Morning visit to Guwlymayak (dried up lake where it is used to get salt for centuries) and/or surroundings of Turkmenbashy with its nice sandy beaches. Afternoon flight to Ashgabat. Flight# T5-244. Departure at 12.00. Arrival at 13.00. Free time or visits to the museums of Ashgabat (National Museum of History, Museum of Turkmen Carpets or Museum of Fine Arts).
Day 22:
Flight to home.
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