3-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Farap to Dashoguz: Merv, Ashgabat, Darvaza & Kunya-Urgench

This 3-Day Farap to Darvaza Tour takes you from the Farap border through Ancient Merv and Ashgabat to Darvaza Gas Crater, Kunya-Urgench, and Dashoguz.

3-Day Farap to Darvaza Tour in Turkmenistan

Ancient Merv on the 3-Day Farap to Darvaza Tour

Darvaza Gas Crater on a 3 day Turkmenistan tour

Tour Details

Tour route	Farap → Ancient Merv → Ashgabat → Darvaza → Kunya-Urgench → Dashoguz border
Tour duration	3 days / 2 nights
Tour price	Price confirmed for your dates and group size — the final price depends on the tour format (group or private) and, for group tours, on the number of travellers.
Tour type	Private tour
Starting point	Farap border, Uzbekistan / Turkmenistan
Finish point	Dashoguz border
Main highlights	Ancient Merv, Ashgabat, Old Nisa, Akhal-Teke horses, Darvaza Gas Crater, Kunya-Urgench
Accommodation	Hotel in Ashgabat and yurt camp near Darvaza

3-Day Farap to Darvaza Tour Highlights

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Farap → Ancient Merv → Ashgabat

The route begins at the Farap border between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Your licensed guide will meet you on the Turkmen side and assist with border and visa formalities.

After crossing the border, continue toward Ancient Merv, one of the largest cities of the Great Silk Road and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In different historical periods, Merv was an important administrative, trade, and cultural center of Central Asia.

During the visit, you will see the main monuments of the archaeological complex, including Erk-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, Sultan-Kala, the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, and the Greater and Lesser Kyz-Kala. These sites help show the long history and former scale of this legendary Silk Road city.

Lunch will be arranged at a restaurant near the archaeological complex. After the excursion, transfer to Ashgabat. Dinner at a restaurant in Ashgabat and overnight at the hotel.

Overnight: hotel in Ashgabat

Route: Farap border → Ancient Merv → Ashgabat

Distance: Farap → Merv: 260–280 km; Merv → Ashgabat: about 350 km

Time on the road: approximately 9–11 hours total driving time

Meals: lunch near Merv, dinner in Ashgabat

Day 2: Ashgabat → Darvaza Gas Crater

After breakfast at the hotel, start a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat. The program includes Old Nisa, the ruins of the ancient capital of the Parthian Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will also visit the Akhal-Teke horse stables to learn about the legendary horse breed, one of the symbols of Turkmenistan. The city tour continues with the Independence Monument, the Arch of Neutrality, and other important landmarks of the capital.

A visit to the Russian Bazaar is also included. Here guests can buy souvenirs and purchase food products for dinner in Darvaza.

After lunch at a restaurant serving traditional cuisine, continue into the Karakum Desert to the Darvaza Gas Crater, which has been burning for more than half a century. Along the way, enjoy the desert landscapes and the possibility of seeing camels.

Upon arrival, explore the area around the crater. Dinner will be cooked over a fire, followed by overnight in traditional Turkmen yurts under the starry sky of the Karakum Desert.

Overnight: yurt camp near Darvaza Gas Crater

Route: Ashgabat → Old Nisa → Ashgabat sightseeing → Karakum Desert → Darvaza

Distance: Ashgabat → Darvaza: about 260 km

Time on the road: approximately 4–5 hours

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch in Ashgabat, dinner at Darvaza

Day 3: Darvaza → Kunya-Urgench → Dashoguz Border

After breakfast at the Darvaza yurt camp, travel to the northern part of Turkmenistan to visit Kunya-Urgench, one of the most important historical centers of Central Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the excursion, you will see the Mausoleum of Turabek Khanum, the Mausoleum of Tekesh, the Mausoleum of Il-Arslan, and the Kutlug-Timur Minaret, which is one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia.

After the visit to Kunya-Urgench, continue to Dashoguz for lunch. In the afternoon, proceed to the border. Your guide will stay with you until the end of the Turkmen side and assist with the crossing.

Finish: Dashoguz border

Route: Darvaza → Kunya-Urgench → Dashoguz border

Distance: Darvaza → Kunya-Urgench: about 270 km; Kunya-Urgench → Dashoguz: about 100 km

Time on the road: approximately 5–6.5 hours total driving time

Meals: breakfast at the yurt camp, lunch in Dashoguz

View more Turkmenistan tours, read our Darvaza travel tips, or contact Ashgabat Tour to customize this route.

Included

Invitation letter to Turkmenistan
Licensed guide throughout the route
Transport throughout the route
Overnight in yurts near Darvaza
Dinner and breakfast in Darvaza
Hotel accommodation in Ashgabat with breakfasts included, double occupancy
Entrance tickets to all visited sites along the route
Visit to Akhal-Teke horse stables
Personal travel insurance

Not Included

Visa cost at the border and related taxes
Full board, except dinner and breakfast in Darvaza
Additional hotel services
International flights before and after the tour
All expenses not specified under included services
Tips for guides and drivers, approximately $10–15 per day each, optional but appreciated

Interested in This Tour?

Send us your travel dates, number of travelers, nationality, and preferred route. We will help you confirm availability, prepare the itinerary, and guide you through the next steps.

PERSONALISED QUOTATION

Ask about this tour

Send your preferred dates, nationality and group size. Our local team will reply with availability, visa guidance and a confirmed quotation.

Ashgabat after dark

Frequently asked

What to know before you book

Do I need a visa for Turkmenistan?

Yes. The visa is issued only against a letter of invitation (LOI), which we arrange. It takes 10–15 working days, so book 6–8 weeks ahead.

How much does the visa cost?

The consular fee is $110–130 and is paid by the traveller when the visa is issued, at the embassy or the border. It is not part of the tour price.

What do you need for the invitation?

A passport scan valid for at least six months, a photograph, a completed form and confirmed travel dates.

What does the price depend on?

Mostly on group size: the fixed cost of the guide and transport is shared between everyone, which is why the per-person price falls as the group grows.

Can I travel alone?

Yes. You can book a private tour for one, or join a guaranteed departure at the flat group rate, which is considerably cheaper.

Can the itinerary be changed?

Yes, until the tour is confirmed. Domestic flight and train schedules and border procedures affect the order of the days.

Group size	1	2	3	4	6	8	10	12	15
Price per person	$1 080	$705	$630	$505	$460	$445	$410	$405	$380

Single supplement: $30

Prices are per person in a twin room, 3★ hotel. Medical insurance and the letter of invitation (LOI) are included. The consular fee of $110–130 is paid separately.