Natural sights of Turkmenistan

Day 2: Ashgabat city tour – Gokdere valley – 25 km

First half of the day will be spent sightseeing the major landmarks of Ashgabat - the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan. Ashgabat is a relatively young city in 25.05.2013 city was included Gunnies Book of records as a white marbled city on the world. Within this tour you will visit Ruhyyet Palace, Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, building of Constitution, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and park of Independence and other beauty sights of Ashgabat. Drive to Gokdere valley. One of the best natural sights near the Ashgabat. There are many children rest complexes. Overnight at Grand Turkmen Hotel hotel.

Day 4: Explore the Koytendag – 35km

Breakfast. After breakfast drive by 4WD cars up the Koytendag valley to visit the Dinosaur Plateau. The formation process of Dinosaur Plateau is described as follows: about 145-150 million years ago, at the end of the Jurassic period, there existed a shallow lagoon bottom – one of the habitats of huge dinosaurs. Lunch at sight. Drive to “Kyrk Gyz” Cave. Kyrk Gyz Cave means "Forty Girls’ Cave", a name that refers to a local legend of forty girls who once retreated there, in order to avoid rape and murder by bandits. Drive to Umberdere waterfall. Dinner. Overnight at Koytendag rest center.

Day 6: Turkmenabat – Ashgabat – Gas Crater – 50 min flight

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning flight to Ashgabat. Transfer to the hotel. Rest and free time at the lobby of the hotel. After lunch, drive to Gas Crater (268km) dubbed by locals as "The Door to Hell". The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. En-route we cross Karakum desert, will make a stop at small nomad village and in the evening watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater. Dinner at Gas Crater. Overnight in a camp.

Day 7: Gas Crater – Ashgabat – Kow Ata - Nokhur – 460 km

Picnic style breakfast. Drive to visit Kow-Ata underground lake, which is located 107 km from Ashgabat. The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means "father of caves". The water has a constant temperature of 33-37°C. (You should swim in a lake, it is very useful for your health). Lunch at the sight. Then drive to Nokhur. The village itself fills a small depression valley in the mountains of the Kopet Dag Range, and the houses are build with local boulders cemented with mud. Apart from the main street through the middle of the town, the streets are so narrow that they only just fit a car between the high stone retaining walls on each side. Dinner at homestay. Overnight at homestay.

Day 9: Yangikala Canyons – Gozli Ata – Turkmenbashy city- 180km

Picnic style breakfast. Drive to Gozli Ata. He was reportedly a respected Sufi who lived in the early part of the 14th century. His mausoleum is a brick building with twin white domes, standing in an old graveyard containing many nicely carved stone tombs. The twin-domed structure of the mausoleum is necessary to accommodate the length of the tomb: a triangular prism perhaps three ordinary graves long. Drive to Turkmenbashy city. Explore “Awaza” national tourist zone. More than 30 hotels, resorts and cottages was built since 2007. Overnight at the hotel.