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Thanks to our super compelling Turkmenistan itinerary — which includes a domestic flight and takes you to every corner of the country — our Turkmenistan expeditions have become one of our most popular trips.
It might not have the world-class Silk Road sites of Uzbekistan, the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, the lively bazaars of Tajikistan, and its deserts and landscapes aren’t necessarily better than other neighboring countries.
But there’s one thing that makes Turkmenistan stand out: along with Eritrea and North Korea, it’s one of the strictest dictatorships in the world, and that makes traveling there utterly fascinating.
Turkmenistan is the ultimate country for true adventurers and lovers of quirky stuff.
Join us on discovering with the least visited countries in Asia.
October 6th to 13th, 2026
€1790
8 days, 8 nights
Tour leader to be confirmed
Note that we always keep the itinerary flexible, and it may be subject to change, depending on the political situation.
1 – Oct 6th: Arrival in Ashgabat & train to Mary
2 – Oct 7th: Mary & Merv
3 – Oct 8th: Flight to Dashoguz & Kunya Urgench
4 – Oct 9th: Darwaza Crater
5 – Oct 10th: Ashgabat & Turkmenbashi
6 – Oct 11th: Yangy Kala, Yanguy Suw & Balkanabat
7 – Oct 12th: Akhal-Teke & Nohur
8 – Oct 13th: Full day in Ashgabat
Most flights into Ashgabat land in the middle of the night, but your first hotel night is included, so you can rest on arrival.
In the morning, we’ll explore several of Ashgabat’s most iconic landmarks, which might include the gleaming Monument of Neutrality, the grand Independence Square, and the striking Alem Cultural Center.
This short city tour offers a first glimpse of the city’s marble avenues and the surreal architecture for which Turkmenistan’s capital is famous.
After lunch, we’ll head to the train station to board a seven-hour journey to Mary, one of the tour’s highlights, offering a chance to travel through the scenic southern countryside alongside local travellers.
Overnight in Mary (but the first night in Ashgabat is also included).
Mary is gateway to the ancient Silk Road city of Merv.
We’ll spend the morning visiting Mary, including its wide avenues and bazaar, the highlight being an intriguing propaganda museum mostly dedicated to Turkmenistan’s Presidents.
Then, we will visit Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which used to be one of the largest cities on earth and a vital crossroads between Persia and Central Asia. It flourished for more than 2,000 years before its destruction by the Mongols.
Overnight in Mary.
The flight to Dasgouzh departs around 1 pm.
Upon arrival, we will drive to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Kunya-Urgench, once a great Silk Road capital, where we’ll visit its minarets, mausoleums and ruins of caravanserais.
Overnight in Dasghouz.
We will spare the first few hours of the day to explore Dashoguz, including its lively bazaar, considered the best in the country.
After lunch, we will drive across the vast Karakum Desert toward one of Turkmenistan’s most famous sights: the Darwaza Gas Crater, aka Door to Hell.
Formed in the 1970s when a Soviet drilling rig collapsed into an underground gas cavern, this immense pit has been burning ever since.
Overnight in a yurt camp next to Darwaza Crater.
In the morning, we’ll start the day by watching the sunrise over Darvaza, followed by breakfast at the camp.
Then, we’ll return to Ashgabat to catch the 5 pm train to Turkmenbashi, an epic journey of about 12 hours that crosses the Karakum Desert.
Overnight on the train.
We arrive in Turkmenbashi around 8 am and head straight into jaw-dropping Yangykala and Yangysuw Canyons, a dramatic maze of multicoloured cliffs and wind-sculpted formations, the most spectacular in all Central Asia.
By late afternoon, we will drive east to Balkanabat, crossing open steppe dotted with small villages and potential herds of camels.
Overnight in Balkanabat.
Day seven is the most culturally immersive day of the expedition. We begin with a visit to an Akhal-Teke horse farm, home to one of the world’s most prized and ancient horse breeds.
From there, we’ll head to Nohur, a picturesque mountain village where you can experience the rural, traditional life of Turkmenistan.
In Nohur, we’ll have dinner at a local restaurant, explore the village market, and visit its fascinating cemetery, renowned for its unique tombs adorned with animal skulls and horns.
Back to Ashgabat in the afternoon.
Overnight in Ashgabat.
On your last day, we’ll visit the remaining sites of Ashgabat.
Before taking you to the airport, we’ll also give free time for shopping, and walking around the bazaar.
Airport transfer and end of the tour.
Letter of Invitation + visa processing
Domestic flight
8 nights of accommodation in secured hotels
Camera permits (see FAQ)
Private transportation: minibus, 4WD or local train when needed
Breakfast
English-speaking Turkmenistan guide
International tour leader
Entrance fees to all places listed in the itinerary
International flights to Ashgabat
Visa fees ($115-$125)
Lunch & dinner
Single supplement (€150)
Travel insurance
October 6th to 13th, 2026
€1790
8 days, 8 nights
Tour leader to be confirmed
For security reasons, the name of the hotels we stay will only be shared upon booking your spot.
The price of the tour includes accommodation in a twin room.
If you are a solo traveler, you will share the room with another like-minded traveler from the group.
If you want a single room, you will have to pay an additional €150.
We will apply for a letter of invitation (LOI) with which you’ll be able to purchase your visa at the border.
For the LOI, all we’ll need is a passport copy, a passport photo and a filled-out form.
Since March 2025, the visa costs $115-$125, depending on nationality, to be paid at the airport to the respective authorities.
Additionally, upon arrival, you’ll also have to pay $33 for a COVID Test, $10 for local tax and $4 for airport bank fees.
Total: $162-$172.
All nationalities are welcome to apply for a Turkmenistan visa.
Most common routes to Ashgabat International Airport (ASB) are via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines and Turkmenistan Airlines), Dubai (Emirates and Fly Dubai) and also Milano (Turkmenistan Airlines).
Taking photos is absolutely restricted in Turkmenistan.
In this tour, we will include camera tickets for Nisa, Merv, Kunya Urgench, Kow Ata lake, and the horse farm.
Any extra tickets you may want/need will be at your own cost.
We will limit it to a maximum of 12-13 people.
To secure your spot on the tour, we require a deposit.
We accept payments in both Euros and US dollars. All details will be shared upon booking your spot.
Yes, if you want to join any of our expeditions, you must purchase travel insurance, this is non-negotiable, and it must be with IATI.
Why do we have to book it with IATI?
Against the Compass has been a partner with IATI for a very long time. We know their CEO, the marketing team and we do a lot of collaborations together so in the unlikely case something happened, we’d know what to do.
Moreover, IATI Insurance covers all the countries where the FCDO advises against all travel.
You may also benefit from a 5% discount if purchasing it from the below link.
Get a quote here to claim your discount
Please check our General Conditions.
However, specific conditions might apply depending on the destination. Example: when the trip includes airfare.
Full details will be shared upon booking your spot.