5-Day Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva to Bukhara: Darvaza, Ashgabat, Nohur, Kow-Ata & Merv

This 5-Day Khiva to Turkmenistan Tour takes you from the Shavat–Dashoguz border to Darvaza Gas Crater, Ashgabat, Kow-Ata, Mary, Ancient Merv, and the Farap border.

5-Day Khiva to Turkmenistan Tour in Ashgabat

Ancient Merv on a Turkmenistan Tour from Khiva

Kow-Ata underground lake on 4 day Turkmenistan tour

Tour Details

Tour route	Khiva → Dashoguz → Darvaza → Ashgabat → Kow-Ata → Nokhur → Mary → Ancient Merv → Farap border
Tour duration	5 days / 4 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 or group route
Starting point	Khiva, Uzbekistan
Finish point	Farap border / transfer to Bukhara if required
Main highlights	Darvaza Gas Crater, Ashgabat, Kow-Ata, Nokhur, Mary, Ancient Merv

5-Day Khiva to Turkmenistan Tour Highlights

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Khiva → Shavat / Dashoguz Border → Darvaza

In the morning, transfer from Khiva to the Shavat — Dashoguz border. After passing the Uzbek side of the border, guests will be met on the Turkmen side by a guide who will assist with the necessary formalities.

After crossing the border, continue to Dashoguz for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, stop at a local market or shop to buy products for dinner in the desert and get a first impression of local everyday life.

Then travel into the Karakum Desert to the Darvaza Gas Crater, known as the “Gates of Hell”. Upon arrival, guests will be accommodated in a yurt camp and take an introductory walk to the crater.

In the evening, dinner will be prepared at the camp with shashlik and grilled vegetables. After dinner, guests can approach the crater again to enjoy the view of the burning crater in the darkness.

Overnight: yurt camp near Darvaza Gas Crater

Route: Khiva → Shavat / Dashoguz border → Dashoguz → Darvaza

Meals: lunch in Dashoguz, dinner at the yurt camp

Day 2: Darvaza → Karakum Craters → Yerbent → Ashgabat

After breakfast at the yurt camp, depart toward Ashgabat. On the way, visit two more natural sites in the Darvaza area: the mud crater and the water crater. These places show different natural features of the Karakum Desert and provide interesting photo opportunities.

Continue to the village of Yerbent, where guests can taste camel milk and learn more about life in the desert area.

By lunchtime, arrive in Ashgabat. Check in at the hotel, take a shower, change clothes, and rest after the overnight stay in the desert.

After a short rest, lunch will be arranged at a traditional restaurant in Ashgabat. The main dish will be Turkmen pilaf inside a pie, served with salads and first courses.

After lunch, begin the Ashgabat sightseeing program. Visit the Independence Monument, the Arch of Neutrality, the largest indoor Ferris wheel, and other monuments and architectural ensembles of the capital.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of Ashgabat’s restaurants. The final point of the day will be a visit to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking evening Ashgabat.

Overnight: hotel in Ashgabat

Route: Darvaza → mud crater → water crater → Yerbent → Ashgabat

Meals: breakfast at the yurt camp, lunch and dinner in Ashgabat

Day 3: Arkadag → Kow-Ata → Nokhur → Mountain Rest

After breakfast, leave Ashgabat toward Kow-Ata via the city of Arkadag. On the way, guests will see modern urban districts and the natural landscapes of the Kopet Dag foothills.

The first main stop of the day is the underground lake Kow-Ata, one of the most unusual natural places in Turkmenistan. Guests can descend into the cave, see the underground lake, and, if desired, swim in the warm mineral water.

After visiting Kow-Ata, lunch will be arranged at a place known for local shashlik, salads, and other dishes.

Then continue to the mountains of Nokhur. Guests will get acquainted with the village of Nokhur, its atmosphere, traditions, and mountain way of life. The route then continues higher into the mountains, where beautiful views of the surroundings open up.

A stop at a mountain camp will be arranged in a picturesque place. Guests will enjoy traditional-style rest and a master class in preparing a national dish, such as gazanlama or traditional pilaf. Live traditional music with dutar performance will also be arranged.

After dinner prepared together with the guests, return to Ashgabat.

Overnight: hotel in Ashgabat

Route: Ashgabat → Arkadag → Kow-Ata → Nokhur → Ashgabat

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch near Kow-Ata, dinner during the mountain rest program

Day 4: Ashgabat → Bazaar → Mary

After breakfast, visit one of Ashgabat’s city bazaars. Guests can buy souvenirs, sweets, dried fruits, spices, local handicrafts, and other keepsakes from Turkmenistan.

After the bazaar, drive toward the city of Mary. The transfer takes several hours, with stops for rest along the way.

Upon arrival in Mary, lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant. After lunch, enjoy a light walk around the city, including the city market, the old Orthodox church if available for viewing, and the main streets of Mary.

This day is intentionally calmer so guests can rest after the previous busy days and prepare for the visit to Ancient Merv.

After the walk, check in at the hotel, enjoy free time, dinner, and overnight in Mary.

Overnight: hotel in Mary

Route: Ashgabat → city bazaar → Mary

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch in Mary, dinner in Mary

Day 5: Ancient Merv → Bayramaly → Turkmenabat → Farap Border

After breakfast, go on an excursion to Ancient Merv, one of the most important historical centers of the Great Silk Road and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the excursion, guests will see ancient settlements, fortress walls, mausoleums, and architectural monuments that help imagine the scale of this legendary city. For centuries, Merv was a major cultural, trade, and scientific center of the region.

The program includes the main sites of the historical complex: the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, Erk-Kala and Gyaur-Kala, Greater and Lesser Gyz-Kala, the Askhab complex, and other monuments of Ancient Merv.

After the excursion, lunch will be arranged in Bayramaly.

After lunch, continue toward Turkmenabat. Upon arrival, guests will have an early dinner with a traditional Turkmen pie and other local dishes.

After dinner, continue to the Farap border. After passing the Turkmen side of the border, the tour ends. If necessary, a transfer to Bukhara can then be arranged.

Finish: Farap border / transfer to Bukhara if required

Route: Mary → Ancient Merv → Bayramaly → Turkmenabat → Farap border

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch in Bayramaly, early dinner in Turkmenabat

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

What Can Be Included

Border meeting on the Turkmen side
Guide assistance during the route
Transport according to the program
Yurt camp accommodation near Darvaza
Hotel accommodation in Ashgabat and Mary
Meals according to the agreed program
Excursions and sightseeing according to the itinerary
Assistance with travel planning and border route coordination

Good to Know

This tour starts from Khiva and crosses into Turkmenistan via the Shavat / Dashoguz border.
The tour can finish at the Farap border with onward transfer to Bukhara if required.
Border crossing procedures and timing may vary.
Visa and LOI requirements should be confirmed before the trip.
The route can be adjusted depending on travel dates, group size, and border arrangements.

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.

The mountain village of Nokhur

Travel conditions

What the price covers

Included in the price

airport meet-and-greet in Ashgabat and all transfers on the itinerary
licensed English-speaking guide
3★ hotels, twin rooms
all ground transport including the 4×4 to the Darvaza crater
daily breakfasts and the meals listed in the itinerary
entrance fees to the listed sites
letter of invitation (LOI) and visa support
medical insurance for the whole tour
24/7 support in Ashgabat

Not included

international flights
consular fee of $110–130, paid by the traveller
lunches and dinners other than those listed
optional excursions and extra services
personal expenses and souvenirs
tips for the guide and driver, at your discretion

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	$1 800	$1 165	$1 045	$835	$750	$740	$685	$665	$635

Single supplement: $70

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.