The West-to-East Karakum Expedition
About tour
This 11-day expedition is a rugged, off-road odyssey through the heart of Turkmenistan’s most dramatic landscapes. It transitions from the white-marble opulence of Ashgabat through the Balkan Mountains, along the Caspian Sea, and deep into the Karakum Desert via the ancient Uzboy riverbed. This route requires a 4x4 vehicle and involves significant wild camping and nomadic homestays. Begin in Ashgabat, the capital city known for its opulent architecture and vibrant culture. Kow-Ata underground lake . The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means Father of caves. Nohur (also known as Nokhur or Nokur) is a remote and picturesque village located in the Kopet Dag Mountains of southern Turkmenistan. The Lunar Mountains in Turkmenistan are one of the country’s most unique and striking natural features.Sumbar Valley is a particularly dear and memorable place. The ancient settlement of Dekhistan is located at an altitude of 161 meters above sea level, located in the northern part of the Masrian plain and in the southern part .Gozli Ata, one of the holiest Sufi pilgrimage sites in Turkmenistan.Yangysuw and then the breathtaking Yangykala Canyons.Kemal-ata is a hill in the vicinity of the provincial town of Old Crimea.Koymat a scenic semi-nomadic settlement surrounded by milk-white cliffs.Melegoch cross the desert toward the Uzboy River (a dry ancient riverbed). This area is famous for traditional camel breeding and falconry.Ygdykala explore the remains of a Parthian fortress (1st century BC) perched on a high cliff overlooking the dry riverbed.Balishem a small desert outpost for a quick lunch and water top-up. Darvaza- Gas Crater, which is a huge flaming crater.
Itinerary
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Arrival at Ashgabat International Airport, followed by a transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
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Today, we continue our sightseeing tour of Ashgabat. First, we visit the National Museum of Turkmenistan. Then, we explore the Independence Monument, the Neutrality Monument, the Bagt Koshgi (Wedding Palace), the Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center, and the Ertugrul Gazi Mosque.
After the sightseeing tour, enjoy some free time at the hotel to relax at your leisure.
After dinner, enjoy a nighttime sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, admiring the city’s magnificent illuminated buildings and monuments.
Overnight at the hotel in Ashgabat.
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BREAKFAST
08:00- drive to the Moon Mountains of Karakala (Lunar and Martian landscapes).The Lunar Mountains in Turkmenistan are one of the country’s most unique and striking natural features. Located in the Karakum Desert, these mountains are named for their otherworldly, moon-like appearance, with jagged rock formations, vast salt flats, and stark, barren landscapes. They stand in contrast to the surrounding desert, creating a surreal and almost alien terrain that has captivated explorers and researchers alike. The mountains are relatively small but have an extraordinary and unique landscape. The area is characterized by dramatic rock formations, salt flats, and barren hills that give it its moon-like appearance.Visit the local botanical garden and Sumbar Valley.Blue or yellow hills, behind them gray hills, even further away a strip of blue mountains, and above them a blue sky... And right behind this fantastic landscape is the transit center of Magtymguly (formerly Karakalla), spread out in the subtropical valley of the Sumbar River, with scattered white houses, plantations of subtropical crops and an endless green ribbon of pomegranate orchards.In the history of the Turkmen people, the Sumbar Valley is a particularly dear and memorable place: the poet and philosopher Magtymguly-Fraghi spent his early years here. Among the revered sites in the valley are well-preserved architectural monuments dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries: the Shikh-Ovezberdy, Magtym-myazzem, and Shikh-Attarveli mausoleums. These monuments are rectangular mausoleums with double domes, constructed of baked brick. Among them, the Magtym-myazzem mausoleum stands out—as locals call this ancient structure, standing alone in the Sumbar River valley, near the village of Magtym-gala in the Magtymguly etrap. Sheltered from the flat part of the country by two ridges, the Sumbar River valley is a unique natural reserve.Night at the Guest House or tentMeals: Breakfast at Nokhur village / Lunch at Karakala / Dinner at under the stars. -
BREAKFAST
Today after breakfast drive to Dekhistan Historical site, old Silk Road city.
The ancient settlement of Dekhistan is located at an altitude of 161 meters above sea level, located in the northern part of the Masrian plain and in the southern part of the Choganly plain, in the northwestern part of the Khurmen sands, 16.7 kilometers north-west of the village of Madau, 41.3 kilometers to the north-east from the small village of Indyrlan in the Etrek etrap of the Balkan velayat. Dekhistan has also another name - Misrian. Together with the neighbouring ancient Mashad graveyard, Dekhistan is called Mashad - Misrian by Turkmens. Usually, to save time you have to take a ninety's minutes air craft flight to Nebitdag, then to go to Kumdag about forty kilometres by car; the next step is to drive further about a hundred kilometres sout- hward, along the road depressing with its monotonous sights, past desert and takyrs with poor flora, through vast valleys.Dekhistan or Misrian is not only an ancient city itself, but all the adjacent province, in other words - the Misrian oasis, which several centuries after inexactly known disaster, remained hardly noticeable signs. In this connection it is worth being noted that ancient monuments of history and culture were not the only things to attract attention of scientists of the XX century to these lands.
Night at the tent
Meals: Breakfast at Karakala / Lunch at Guest house or nature place / Dinner at under the stars.
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BREAKFAST
09:00 - After breakfast drive to Turkmenbashy.
Turkmenbashi (formerly called Krasnovodsk), It is situated on the Caspian Sea and has some magnificent sandy beaches. In recent times, it has become a major transport center, with developed oil refining and construction industries. Turkmenbashi serves as the starting point for many excursions into the surrounding mountains and coastal resort towns. Here, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the sun shines warmly throughout the year, with golden sands gently crunching underfoot and the waves of the warm sea lapping at the beach.
Free day at Caspian Sea.
Visit a bazaar where you can buy fresh, dried, or smoked seafood, such as sturgeon, caviar, sprats, or other fish from the Caspian Sea region.
Night at the hotel
Meals: Breakfast at Dekhistan / Lunch at Guest house or nature picnic / Dinner at Turkmenbashy.
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BREAKFAST
After breakfast drive to Yangykala Canyon. On the way visit:
Gozli Ata, one of the holiest Sufi pilgrimage sites in Turkmenistan.
Afternoon drive to Yangysuw and then the breathtaking Yangykala Canyons. The red, pink, and yellow rock formations were once the bottom of the Tethys Ocean.
Overnight at the Camping at Yangykala (Unforgettable sunset/sunrise views).
Meals: Breakfast at hotel / Lunch at Gozli Ata pilgrime house / Dinner at under the stars.
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BREAKFAST
Today after walking Yangykala Canyon drive to Kemal Ata.
Drive to a remote canyon featuring a sacred spring and thousands of volcanic "spheres"—massive, perfectly round boulders scattered across the landscape.
Kemal-ata is a hill in the vicinity of the provincial town of Old Crimea. It contains the remains of some foundations and several tombstones with the names of sheikhs. Kemal-ata is popularly known among the people as the grave of Mamai. Defeated by Dmitry Donskoy in 1380, Mamai fled to Kaffa (Feodosia) where the Genoese promised him to save, but treacherously killed him. It should be noted, however, that the word "mamai" has become in the Old Crimea and its environs, to some extent, a household name: many other hills and mounds are called simply mamai.Ornament Kemal - Ata is stone educations, many of which are on canyon slopes.
Wild camping near Kemal Ata.
Meals: Breakfast at Yangykala Canyon / Lunch picnic style / Dinner at under the stars.
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BREAKFAST
Today adventure to Koymat, Melegoch and Ygdykala.
Koymat a scenic semi-nomadic settlement surrounded by milk-white cliffs.
Melegoch cross the desert toward the Uzboy River (a dry ancient riverbed). This area is famous for traditional camel breeding and falconry.
Ygdykala explore the remains of a Parthian fortress (1st century BC) perched on a high cliff overlooking the dry riverbed.
Wild camping in the dunes.
Meals: Breakfast at Kemal Ata / Lunch picnic style / Dinner at under the stars.
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BREAKFAST
Today adventure to A long, challenging off-road trek through the deep sands of the Central Karakum Desert.
Balishem a small desert outpost for a quick lunch and water top-up.
Darvaza Arrive at the Gas Crater before sunset. Witness the pit roar with fire—a sight that is most spectacular after dark.
Yurt camp or tent near the crater.
Meals: Breakfast at Ygdykala / Lunch picnic style / Dinner at Darvaza Gas crater
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BREAKFAST BBQ
08:00 - after breakfast drive to Ashgabat . On the way visits:
You'll visit the Darvaza mud crater perched almost conveniently close to the main highway - a mere 200-metre stroll away. The sheer cliffs of this crater proudly display layers of limestone deposits, with a diameter stretching 70 meters and a depth of around 20 metres. A further 24 km southward lies the Darvaza water crater. Much like its mud sibling, this crater is conveniently accessible from the main road – just 150 meters off the beaten track. It stretches 50 meters wide with steep walls leading to a water-filled basin 15 meters below ground level.
Upon arrival in Ashgabat and check-in hotel. Rest time:
16:00 - drive to the Old and New Nisa and Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque
Old and New Nisa 18 km from the city of Ashgabat in the outskirts of Bagir village there is a unique ancient monument, the ruins of ancient settlement Nisa. It used to be the capital of Parthia which had existed from the third century B.C. to the third century A.D. The Historical complex includes two archeologic monuments - Old and New Nisa.
The Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque eleven kilometers to the west of Ashgabat there stands one of the largest mosques in Central Asia and main mosque of Turkmenistan – The Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque. Like all other buildings of the period of independence it differs with its immensity and grandiosity.
Farewell dinner
Night at the hotel
Meals: Breakfast at Darvaza / Lunch local restaurant / Farewell dinner at local restaurant.
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Transfer to the Ashgabat International airport for flight to next destination.
We hope you enjoyed our service and hope you'll come back again.
Included
- Accommodation in mentioned hotels on DBL/TWIN sharing
- Ashgabat - Ak Altyn Hotel 3* or similar - 3 nights
- Nokhur village - Guest House - 1 night
- Karakala - Guest house or tent- 1 night
- Dekhistan - Tent - 1 night
- Turkmenbashy - Charlak Hotel 4* - 1 night
- Yangykala Canyon - Tent - 1 night
- Kemal Ata - Tent - 1 night
- Ygdykala - Tent - 1 night
- Darvaza Gas crater - Camp or tent - 1 night
- Breakfasts at the hotels
- An early check-in hotel
- Services of A/C comfortable transport with professional driver as per the program
- English and Russian speaking guides
- Daily 5 bottles of 0.5l water per person
- Full Board Meals
- Farewell dinner
- Entrance fees to mentioned sights per program (excluding photo and video charges at sights)
- E-visa support to Turkmenistan
- Travel tax
- Handmade souvenir per person
Excluded
- E-visa fee
- PCR nose test 33 USD
- Photo and video charges at sights
- Beverages
- International air tickets to / out of Ashgabat
- Travel Insurance
- Extras, not indicated in inclusions
Additional info
Important information:
The maximum group size is 12 people
Hiking shoes: Your shoes should be comfortable, choose a good waterproof boot, not too heavy, not too stiff and strong for good ankle protection, with a rigid sole, warm clothes, hat, sunscreen,small towel, small first aid bag, warm jacket, toilet paper roll, hand sanitizer, woolen sweater, raincoat, umbrella, sun hat, sun glass ,you can take a piece of soap to wash the head, legs and laundry, torch light and batteries.
Food: We provide you a meal, you can make additions in food to your liking. Vegetarian/Dietary Needs: Because meals are prepared in advance, you must inform our tour operator well ahead of time of any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, allergies). They can usually accommodate with things like simple vegetable plov or grilled vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant, sweet pepper). Breakfast: hot dishes
Customer Support
We have a professional customer support team and always accompany you on every trip.