Golden Sands Adventure

After barbeque breakfast drive to Damla village.

Damla located 100 kilometres east of the famous Darvaza crater.

The people in these oases are unique in their hospitable culture,traditions and dress. We will have every opportunity to take part in felting, yurt set-up, observing the preparation of traditional meals as well as expanding your musical talents by learning to play the dutar. Most buildings in the Central Karakum settlements are flat roof and in summer yurts are pitched in front of every house.The location of the settlement is on a plane area in the middle of sandy hills. That gives opportunity-gathering rainwaters there and inhabitants use gathered rainwater for their daily lives. Damla means ‘water drop’ in Turkic languages. The name of the village is closely connected with their water supplies. Here you’ll taste national cuisine and feel the colour of life people of sands.

Overnight in tent or guesthouse.

After a hearty breakfast, we take some time to explore the Damla.

The people in these oases are unique in their hospitable culture,traditions and dress. We will have every opportunity to take part in felting, yurt set-up, observing the preparation of traditional meals as well as expanding your musical talents by learning to play the dutar. Most buildings in the Central Karakum settlements are flat roof and in summer yurts are pitched in front of every house. We continue our off-road drive in the late afternoon on a sweltering plateau cut to pieces by the advancing dunes, only meeting scattered shepherd families at the salt-water wells once every 50 km. After a 4-hour drive we reach the settlements of Akmolla and Murzechirla. In the cooler evening hours we will set up camp and make more new friends.

Continue to Gonur Depe, the main site of Zoroastrian Margush or Margiana.

Located some 60 km north of Merv, it is the centre of a great 4000-year old fire-worshipping civilization. Perhaps older than Mesopotamia and known only to a few experts, Margush is famous for it's rare seals and unusual burial practices. The capital temple-city of Togolok is the sole entirely excavated site of this size in Central Asia and the visitor can stroll through its ancient alleyways and shrines littered with shards. We will camp and dine with the international team of archaeologists enjoying the wide-open spaces and the same spectacular stars enjoyed by civilizations thousands of years ago.

Overnight in tent.

After breakfast drive to Ancient Merv.

Ancient Merv was the most important Silk Road hub in the region, and particularly thriving as regional capital under Seljuk governor Sanjar. Merw is the collective name of five urban centers that existed under various different names in different periods from the VI c BC up to the XVIII c AD.Today, Merv occupies a territory of more than 1200 ha and forms the biggest archeological site in Central Asia. The importance of the site was recognized in 1999 by UNESCO, which awarded Merv World Heritage status.

The Seljuk capital, consisting of a shahristan (medieval citadel) and a rabat(outskirts of the medieval city), considerably exceeded Damascus and Jerusalem in size. Today the Seljuk citadel is called SultanKala. It has an oval shape and occupies about 630 hectares. Its layout is still visible in aerial pictures. Among all city sites of Merw, perhaps the most significant is the medieval  Seljuk city. 

Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum most majestic architectural monument of Merv is Sultan Sanjar mausoleum called "Dar-al-Akhir" ("Otherworld"). His whole appearance it represents the highest achievements and flourishing Seljuk power. Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum is located in the center of the settlement Sultan Kala. Nearby are large monumental buildings - the palaces of Seljuk rulers and a mosque.

Great and Less Kiz fortress small fortresses with corrugated, if folded in the crease, napodobye accordion, walls. They put on the earthen ramps with mild slope. Small windows are hidden in the folds of the walls. At the top of the wall terminate toothed battlements, which are almost did not survive.

Mausoleums of ashkhabs. Original set of graves from the time of the Arab invasioninto Central Asia in the early years after the death of Mohamed. The graves of two askhabs(companions/campaigners of the Prophet) are of Al KhakamGifari (died in 670) and Bureyda Al Aslami (died in 681).

Gyaur Kala fortress In Turkic languages, "Gyaur" means "infidel", referring to those who do not practise Islam. The name of the fortress in ancient Merv, Gyaur-Kala - "Fortress of the Infidels" - was given by the Arabs who conquered it in the early 8th century. However, the fortress itself dates back much earlier, to the 4th-3rd centuries BC.

Erk-Kala fortress was the center of ancient Merv. The fortifications of Erk-Kala have sagged under earth drifts but nevertheless, have preserved their height and power. This distinguishes Erk-Kala from other fortresses. Now the height of the fortifications with steep slopes and precisely cut out towers reaches 25 - 29 m.

Ice houses (approximately XV c., Timurid rule)are visible from the road between the medieval and ancient cities of Merv. An extraordinary conical clay construction, built directly on the ground to store tightly packed snow. The original height is hard to determine.

The mausoleum-complex of Hodja Yusuf Hamadani (Hamdani) includes a modern mosque and minaret, the grave and mausoleum of Hodja Yusuf Hamadani (died in 1140), a Timuridiwan(portal) and a prayer hall. It is located not far from the Seljuk citadel. This complex has been largely reconstructed and turned into an important pilgrimage site.  Hodja Yusuf Hamadani was a famous Sufi scholar of the 12th century, and the first of a group of Central Asian Sufi teachers who founded the Naqshbandi order. He was born in 1048-49 in a small settlement called Bezendjird, close to the famous Iranian city of Hamadan, when Merw was under Seljuk rule.

Shahriar Ark was constructed - a citadel within the citadel, protected by its own walls and moat. Visiting Shahriar Ark you can see the Kepter Khana- an interesting corrugated structure, which is the best-preserved in the citadel. It’s walls still survive to a height of some 4,5 m, however the original height of the walls is hard to determine. 

Mohamed ibn Zaid, dated by inscription to 1112-13. It is located outside the medieval Seljuk citadel. It is unclear as to whom the mausoleum is actually devoted to. The local legend speaks about Mohamed Said ibnZeidibn Ali ZeinalAbedonibn al- Huseinibn Ali-Talib, who   was a prominent Shia teacher and direct descendant of the Prophet Ali in fifth generation. 

Abdulla khan Kala, constructed in the time of Timurid rule in the region, and was enclosed by massive walls and a moat with massive ramparts. Although one of the strongest and best fortified cities in the area, Abdullakhan Kala never reached the importance of the previous city sites. The remains of the city walls are still impressive, however, the walls, the Timurid palace and other constructions in this citadel, as well as four gates were much better preserved in the 19th century. 

Overnight is at the hotel.

BREAKFAST

Transfer to Mary airport

08:10 - Flight to Ashgabat

08:50 - Arrival in Ashgabat

Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex: greatness of memory. Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex located on a hill towering over the city, the Memorial Complex covers an area of 650 000 metres2. It includes the monument dedicated to World War II, the monuments to the heroes of World War II and the Battle of Gokdepe, and to the victims of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake.

Kow-Ata underground lake . The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means Father of caves. At first glance, this underground area appears like a magnificent auditorium: the overall length of the cave is 230 m, its height reaches 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm and gushing water is clear and emerald colored. The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. (You should swim in a lake). 

Gokdepe Mosque is a significant religious and historical landmark located in Gokdepe. Built in the 1990s, it is sometimes referred to as the Saparmyrat Haji Mosque in honour of his pilgrimage to Mecca.The mosque is an impressive architectural work, combining elements of modern Islamic design with traditional Central Asian styles. Its white marble facade reflects Turkmenistan’s national preference for this material, which can be seen in many of the country’s modern structures. The mosque is adorned with four minarets, tall and slender, framing a central dome that rises prominently above the building. The dome itself is striking, often described as sparkling turquoise or blue, which is a testament to the mosque’s name ‘Gokdepe’, which means ‘blue hill’ in Turkmen.

Akhalteke Horse Farm the horse farm is located in the countryside area, behind the Geokdepe town, 55km. Excursion at the farm to see the AkhalTeke horse and Turkmen dog Alabay. Akhal-Teke horse farm – home to the world-famous Turkmen horses. Learn about the breeding traditions and history of Akhal-Teke horses. Here, experts will tell you about Akhal-Teke horses. Next to the farm, you can take a horseback ride through the gardens.

Night at the hotel.

Transfer to the Ashgabat International Airport for flight to next destination.

We hope you enjoyed our service and hope you'll come back again.