Day 1: Ashgabat – arrival
Arrival in Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel. Free time. Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 2: Ashgabat – Mary – Ashgabat
In the morning transfer to the national airport and flight to Mary (40 min). Visit the ancient city of Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an important center of international trade and craftsmanship located on the Silk Road. Back to Mary. Visit to the historical museum of the region. Transfer to the airport for the evening flight to Ashgabat at 7:00 pm. Estimated arrival is 8pm (to be reconfirmed). Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 3: Ashgabat – Darvaza gas crater
Sightseeing in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, recently listed in the Guinness Book of Records for having more white marble buildings than any other city in the world. During the city tour you will visit the archaeological site of Old Nisa, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum, one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. Visit National History Museum, Neutrality Monument, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, newly built Independence Park. The excursion also includes a stop at the Akhalteke stables.
In the afternoon departure for the Darvaza gas crater located in the middle of the Karakum desert (280 km, 4 hours). The site is famous throughout the world and is nicknamed "The Gateway to Hell". Arrival at the crater and setup of the camp. A delicious meal cooked over a fire will be served for dinner near the burning gas crater. Overnight stay in a tent.

Note: Sleeping bags, pillows and tents for 1 or 2 people will be provided at Camp Darvaza. There is also the possibility of sharing a yurt with 3-5 other members of the group. In both cases, basic toilets and toilets (which include a hot water shower) are located outside.

Day 4: Darvaza – Kunya-Urgench – Shavat border point – Khiva
In the morning departure from the Darzava crater towards Kunya-Urgench. Visit to the mausoleums of Turabek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmuddin-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Visit the Kutlug Timur minaret and the Kyrk Molla hill. After lunch, departure for Shavat-Dashoguz, the border between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Border crossing (if it is not possible to travel by car/minibus, it is possible that a 1.5 km walk will be necessary between the two borders). Meeting with the Uzbek driver and transfer to Khiva (60 km, 1 hour). Hotel accommodation.

Day 5: Khiva - Urgench - Bukhara
After breakfast, city tour of Khiva. Visit Ichan-Qala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the Ichan-Qala fortress visit the Sayeed Alauddin Mausoleum, the Arab-Mukhamadkhan Madrasa, the Oq-Masjid Mosque, the Hodjan Berdi-biya Madrasa, the Shirgazikhan Madrasa, the Abdullakhan Madrasa, the Juma Mosque, the Allakulikhan Madrasa, the Palace Tosh-Khovli, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Islam-Khoja Minaret. At 7.00pm transfer to the national airport, flight* to Bukhara at 9.00pm arriving in Bukhara at 10.00pm (time to be reconfirmed). Arrival in Bukhara, transfer to the hotel.
*subject to availability and possibly replaced by train transfer

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​Day 6: Bukhara

After breakfast, start of the sightseeing tour on foot in Bukhara. Visit to the Lyabi Hauz complex, the Magoki mosque -Actors, at Chor-Minor madrasa, Trade Domes, Kalyan minaret, Kalyan mosque and Miri-Arab madrasa, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasas, Ark fortress, Bolo-Khauz mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma mausoleums -Ayub. Typical Nodir Devan Begi dinner with folk show.