Today we’ll complete the drive towards the
Today we’ll visit Yangykala Canyon. Until recently most Turkmens didn’t even know that this place existed, and still not many have been there. Wide and vast, the area was once a seabed, and scattered with all sorts of fossils, it stretches as far as the eye can see. In 4x4s, we’ll drive over the canyon walls, through the canyon itself, and up the other side, stopping at a couple of different viewpoints along the way.
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© SAIGA Tours
Start
Sep 26, 2025
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2025-09-26
End
Oct 3, 2025
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2025-10-03
Duration
8 days
Price
US$1495.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
The first couple of days of this tour will be spent in Ashgabat, taking in the city with all its unique monuments and very specific style of architecture, which is nothing like anything you'll find in another country.
We'll also head out of the city of course, and spend a night at the Gates of Hell, before heading west, with stops at the underground lake of Kow Ata, the mountain village of Nokhur, and the resplendent Turkmenbashy Mosque and Mausoleum, and the ancient ruins of Nisa.
Venturing out into the remote desert in the west of the country, we'll visit Yangykala Canyon, before eventually reaching Turkmenbashy on the Caspian coast, from where we will fly back to Ashgabat on Turkmenistan Airlines.
If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.
There are other versions of this tour, whether you want something quicker or something longer and more indepth, check out our Whirlwind Tour or our Mega Tour .
INCLUSIONS:
| ✓ | Letter of Invitation |
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✓ |
Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels (breakfast included), camping at Gates of Hell |
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✓ |
Transport as per itinerary, beginning and ending in Ashgabat |
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✓ |
Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary, including Independence Day events |
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✓ |
SAIGA guide and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $400
EXCLUSIONS:
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⨯ |
Visa fee (can be paid on arrival at the airport or land border, or at an embassy beforehand) |
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⨯ |
Meals other than breakfast at hotels |
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⨯ |
Transport to and from Ashgabat at the beginning and end of the tour |
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Accommodation and any other services before or after the tour |
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
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Any COVID related expenses |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Spend a night at the awe-inspiring Gates of Hell
Stand on the edge of the vast and vibrant Yangykala Canyon
Explore the glimmering white and gold city of Ashgabat
Itinerary
Day 1Fri Sep 26
Ashgabat
- You’re going to be in awe of everything that the capital has to offer. We’ll spend the day taking in all the main sites of Ashgabat, including all those crazy monuments you’ve probably seen pictures of, as we begin explaining all the weird and wonderful aspects of Turkmenistan that make it such a special place.
-
We’ll start with a driving tour of Ashgabat's main sites, including Independence Park and Independence Monument, the Monument to the Constitution, the Arch of Neutrality, Lenin Park, and a drive-by of the Olympic Complex which was built for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The complex is home to the famous Horse Stadium (
the largest structure in the shape of a horse in the world
–
you’ll hear plenty more of these records!
), but unfortunately is closed to the public.
- A highlight of the day will likely be the Alem Centre, which is the complex in which the Wheel of Enlightenment is, the largest indoor ferris wheel (yes, there’s another one). And YES, for just $1, you can even take a ride!
- Stop for lunch at Berkarar Shopping Centre, where you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and even have a cappuccino in a hipster café – bet you weren’t expecting that!
-
In the afternoon we’ll visit the university bookshop, a great chance to pick up some very cool, unique
Turkmenistan swag, including where you can find amazing coffee table books written by and about the president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as ones about Ashgabat and Turkmenistan. You can even get them in English! They also have postcards and posters, and if you're lucky they might even have a copy of the Ruhnama, the book written by Turkmenbashy.
- In the evening, we’ll take a night tour of Ashgabat. With the white marble buildings lit up by brightly coloured neon lights, Ashgabat is a truly spectacular place after dark.
- Spend the night at the Ak Altyn Hotel.
- We are here for Indepedence Day, and each year the specific events that we are invited to change slightly. Over time we've gotten a pretty good idea of what will happen, however since COVID, there have not been the same big events that there used to be. On top of that, with the increase in use of social media and sharing things online, the government has also become stricter about outside access to high level events. This is of course very frustrating after a decade of working to gain access to things, however this is just how it is. Of course, we will absolutely be attending anything that we are able to, however we cannot guarantee any specific events.
Day 2Sat Sep 27
Independence Day, Nisa, Kipchak, Ashgabat
-
Happy Independence Day!
- Today we’ll start off by leaving the city, to visit Nisa, a UNESCO site which was once the capital of the Parthian Empire.
- We’ll then continue on to Kipchak to see the resplendent Turkmenbashy Mosque and Mausoleum, where Turkmenbashy is buried beside his mother, father and two brothers in their white marble mausoleum. There aren’t too many Turkmenbashy related sites still around, but this one is truly spectacular.
- Depending on our exact timing, we will most likely be able to witness the aerial section of the military parade, which includes several very impressive flyovers performed by various aircrafts.
- Returning to Ashgabat in the afternoon we will play things by ear depending on independence day events, and may do some more sight-seeing in Ashgabat.
- Regardless of what else has happened for independence day, there is yet to be a year where there has not been an epic fireworks show in the evening.
- We will have a night drive around Ashgabat, exploring all the amazing buildings lit up in different colours, and will make our way to our favourite viewing spot - a restaurant with spectacular 360 degree views of the city. Here we will spend the evening taking in the view of the night lights, and will of course have prime position for the fireworks show.
Day 3Sun Sep 28
Ashgabat, Gates of Hell
-
This morning we will have free time.
- After lunch we’ll drive 250km north to Darvaza, The Gates of Hell.
- One the way we’ll make a few stops – including to see a salt lake, two other craters (one full of mud, one full of water), and of course maybe for a toilet (not a luxurious one!).
- Crossing the sand dunes to get to Darvaza, we’ll arrive in time to watch the sunset over the fiery crater and experience dusk turn to dark at this breathtaking site.
- Set up tents near the Gates of Hell and camp near the fiery crater.
Day 4Mon Sep 29
Gates of Hell, Kow Ata, Nokhur, Serdar
-
Drive back towards Ashgabat, and
those finishing the tour here
will have some free time and be driven to the
airport.
- The rest of the group head west to Kow Ata, an underground thermal cave lake which is said to have many medical attributes, but is also used by locals as a swimming hole and makes for a very fun and relaxing swim.
- After a refreshing swim in the cave lake, we'll sit down and chill for a while with some shashlik from one of the restaurants just outside the entrance to the cave.
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We’ll continue driving west, away from Ashgabat, to the village of Nokhur, situated in the Kopet Dag mountains. Unlike the rest of Turkmenistan, even during the Soviet Union and the era of Turkmenbashy, this village were largely left to their own devices and as such live a much more traditional lifestyle than most Turkmens.
- Here we’ll visit Nokhur Cemetery, where each grave is adorned with the horns of a mountain goat and a small market next to a wishing tree where you can buy all sorts of natural teas and potions.
- Keep driving to the town of Serdar where we’ll spend the night in a local hotel.
Day 5Tue Sep 30
Balkanabat, Avaza, Turkmenbashy
-
Today we’ll complete the drive towards the
Caspian Sea
, arriving in Turkmenbashy in the late afternoon.
- We’ll stop in Balkanabat on the way for some lunch and a quick look at a monument to the caravans of the Silk Road.
- Arriving in Avaza in the afternoon, this is the epitome of bizarre modern day Turkmenistan. Although the facilities are extravagant and the buildings futuristic, the town is somehow best described as a ghost town.
- We’ll have dinner at the one café that will be open, and from there you can explore the amusement parks, beaches, and hotels of Avaza, and if you’re game, take a swim in the notoriously cold Caspian Sea.
- Overnight in Turkmenbashy.
- Avaza is currently closed to foreigners, as of April 2023. We are working on the assumption that it will open before the time of this tour, however there is a chance that it won't. If it is unavailable we will change around the itinerary accordingly and as always we will work with the situation on the ground at the time to ensure that the tour is as well-rounded as possible.
Day 6Wed Oct 1
Yangykala Canyon, Turkmenbashy
-
Today we’ll visit Yangykala Canyon. Until recently most Turkmens didn’t even know that this place existed, and still not many have been there. Wide and vast, the area was once a seabed, and scattered with all sorts of fossils, it stretches as far as the eye can see. In 4x4s, we’ll drive over the canyon walls, through the canyon itself, and up the other side, stopping at a couple of different viewpoints along the way.
- We will take a packed lunch with us so we can enjoy it whilst taking in all the shapes and colours of this spectacular natural phenomenon.
- Returning to Turkmenbashy in the afternoon you'll have some free time before we head out for dinner.
Day 7Thu Oct 2
Turkmenbashy, Ashgabat
- We'll fly on Turkmenistan Airlines (an experience in itself!) back to Ashgabat in the morning.
- We'll spend the rest of the day doing a couple of our favourite quirky things in Ashgabat, starting with a ride up the Kopetdag mountains in a cable car. It reaches almost all the way to the Iranian border and at the top you’ll get spectacular views over the city, the health path and the tv tower.
- We’ll then do a bit of a drive around this mountainous area on the outskirts of the city. We’ll visit the outside of the TV tower, the largest building in the shape of a star in the world. The building itself is off limits, but you can drive almost right up to the entrance for a great view of the tower and spectacular perspective over the city.
- Serdar Yoly, the “health path”. Stretching 28km along the Kopetdag mountain range, this fitness project was instigated by Turkmenbashy, but being a keen health fanatic himself, Gurbanguly continued to encourage people to make the trek. You won’t have time to walk much of the path, but we can just soak in the atmosphere in the park at the bottom. If you would like to arrange to walk all or some of Serdar Yoly, let us know and it can be planned for before the tour.
- For dinner this evening we’ll go to the Yyldiz Hotel – the newest and most expensive hotel in Turkmenistan, where you can have a real 5 Star restaurant experience for 1 Star prices, complete with 360 degree views of the city.
Day 8Fri Oct 3
Ashgabat, End of Tour
- Last day of the tour.
- Transfers to the airport for your flights, or if you'd like to spend longer in Turkmenistan let us know and we can help you arrange something.
Extensions
Horse Farm Day Trip
Turkmenistan is known for their unique Akhal Teke horses, this is your opportunity to experience them up close and even take a ride if you fancy.
Cross the land border at Dashoguz or Konye Urgench
Planning on joining a Turkmenistan tour, but you're already going to be in Uzbekistan and you'd rather cross at a land border? Well, that's what this is for!
Merv Day Trip
For those history buffs who want to see a bit more of the ancient stuff whilst in Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Exclusive access to the epic Independence Day events, plus all the must-sees such as the Gates of Hell and Yangykala Canyon. But that's not all! This mega version of the tour also ventures into the far east to some of the least visited parts of the world.
Other Tours
Turkmenistan Independence Day Whirlwind Tour
For those who want to see the coolest Independence Day in the world, but only have a couple of days to do it in.
Turkmenistan Independence Day Mega Tour
Exclusive access to the epic Independence Day events, plus all the must-sees such as the Gates of Hell and Yangykala Canyon. But that's not all! This mega version of the tour also ventures into the far east to some of the least visited parts of the world.
North Korea Party Foundation Day Short Tour
Come celebrate the founding of the Korean Workers’ Party in Pyongyang on this quick autumn getaway to Pyongyang.
North Korea Party Foundation Day Tour
Come and celebrate the founding of the Korean Workers’ Party with us in Pyongyang, and experience the amazing autumn colours of Mount Kumgang.