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Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan
Turkmenistan, hailed as the weirdest country in the world, is once again welcoming visitors after several years of closed borders. We have the privilege of being among the first to set foot in this fascinating land, and we are eager to explore its capital, Ashgabat, with its lavish buildings of gold and marble, exuberant landmarks, and bizarre monuments. With 80% of the country covered by desert, we look forward to savoring the beauty of its vast and arid landscapes. And, of course, the highlight of our trip is spending a night at the Gates of Hell! Rumors say that Darvaza Crater, the fiery crater of natural gas, may be closed to visitors soon, making this a rare opportunity to witness its blazing spectacle up close. Would we really want to miss such a once-in-a-lifetime experience?
- Trip dates: September 10th - 17th 2023
- 8 days
- 7 nights
itinerary
Day 1: Khiva.
We meet in Khiva, the hidden gem of Uzbekistan’s three main Silk Road cities. You can easily reach by taking an affordable domestic flight from Tashkent. Overnight in Khiva.
Day 2: Darwaza Crater.
Crossing the Uzbek-Turkmen border from Dashoguz. We’ll explore this soviet-style border town before a 4h drive South to Darwaza. Overnight in Darwaza crater, the Gates of Hell.
Day 3:Â Ashgabat.
Early drive to Ashgabat and afternoon in the capital. Overnight Ashgabat.
Day 4: Yangy Kala Canyon & Turkmenbashi.
Early morning flight to Turkmenbashi and visit Yangy Kala Canyon and Balkanabat. Sleep in Balkanabat.
Day 5: Ashgabat.
Early 4h drive to Ashgabat, and finish visiting the capital. Overnight Asghabat.
Day 6: Mary & Merv.
Morning flight to Mary. Visit the city & the ancient ruins of Merv. Grab early lunch and drive out to Farap Border before it closes. Sleep in Bukhara.Â
Day 7: Bukhara.
Day in Bukhara evening train to Samarkand. Overnight Samarkand.
Day 8: Samarkand.
Day in Samarkand. You can choose to return to Tashkent and fly out that same afternoon or continue your Uzbekistan travels.
Included
Not included
Hotels
Shared rooms in 3star & 4star hotels when available. Camping in Darvaza crater.Transport
Private van, or 4WD and driver.Domestic Trains and Flights
All local transportation is included.Entrance Fees
All entrance fees to sites on your itinerary.Permits, Clearances and Visa Approval
We'll apply for your tourist visa so you can pick it up on arrival, as well as all the necessary permits and clearances for your visit.Meals
All breakfasts are included.
FAQ
HOW DO I GET A VISA FOR TURKMENISTAN?
We will arrange your letter of invitation and registration so you can easily pick up your visa on arrival at the airport in Ashgabat.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET THERE?
Wander Expedition doesn’t book flights for you and is ultimately not responsible for your flight connection, but we can offer guidance and support when you research the best options for you.
You will be likely flying to and from Tashkent and then connecting to Khiva, where our Expedition starts and from Samarkand, where we will be finishing.
IS TURKMENISTAN SAFE?
Turkmenistan is one of the safest destinations we’ve traveled to in Wander Expedition! It’s a fantastic first experience in Central Asia for those of you that want to explore the most secluded side of this region.
WHO IS THIS EXPEDITION FOR?
This Expedition is for everyone looking to have a fun time, explore an off the beaten path country, make new travel friends and memorable travel stories. Turkmenistan is the perfect combination of stunning raw outdoors, weird modern monuments and cities and rich Central Asian culture. It’s also one of our most affordable Expeditions and a great opportunity to experience this closed off land!
WHAT IS THE PRICE?
Wander Expeditions is not a traditional travel agency where the first to pay is the first to go. We take you to stunning destinations, but we know the people you share it with is even more important when you travel. That’s why we have a refined selection process where we filter and vet candidates to ensure that groups are fun, balanced, diverse and interesting! We make sure candidates are on the same page and share our values of being fun, flexible and fearless, so we can guarantee everyone will have an amazing experience. We create travel families, so #trusttheprocess. Halfway through our process, we share the price with all pre-selected applicants. It only takes 15 min to apply, so you literally have nothing to lose! What are you waiting for to join the Wander Fam?
how to join?
If you want to be one of the fortunate people selected for our Turkmenistan Expedition:
- Make sure the dates work with you before you start the selection process.
- SAY YES and complete our online application form below.
- Once you’ve applied and signed up to Wander Expedition, we’ll update you as you move on in the selection process. Check your Spam folder regularly in case the automated emails go there!
TRIP DATES
September 10th - 17th 2023
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