Great Silk Road-Caravan Route 6 d-5 n

4 stars
Shavat-Dashoguz-Kone-Urgench-Dashoguz-Darvaza Gas Crater-Ashgabat-Mary-Gonurdepe-Sakarchage-Ancient Merv-Turkmenabat-Farap border
Description

Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Itenerary: Shavat-Dashoguz-Kone-Urgench-Dashoguz-Darvaza Gas Crater
-Ashgabat-Mary-Gonurdepe-Sakarchage-Ancient Merv-Turkmenabat-Farap border

Day 1
Shavat border-Dashoguz-Kunya Urgench-Dashoguz

Upon arrival to the border point go through custom procedures and continue drive to Kone-Urgench (261km, 4:35 min), Lunch at Kone-Urgench city.  Drive to Kone Urgench (UNESKO 2005) ancient capital of Khorezm.  Visit mausoleums of II Arslan and Soltan Tekesh, Nejmeddin Kubra, Soltan Ali, Turabek –Khanum (12th c), minaret of Kutlug Timur, Mamun II. After excursion, return to Dashoguz city. Dinner & overnight in hotel.

Day 2
Dashoguz-Darvaza 270 km

In the morning breakfast. Then drive to Cas Crater- Darwaza. On the way to see 2 more creators. It lies in the settlement of Darvaza itself, just off to the west of the main road. First one crater is deep, circular hole; a metal barrier surrounds this somewhat smaller crater. There is no fire here, though it too offers a strong smell of gas. Second, one lies some 18km south of Darvaza, on the west side of the main road and just about visible from it. This crater has neither fire nor a particularly pungent smell. Instead, it is partly filled with water, through which gas bubbles gently up. The settlement was once the site of a sulphur works, which closed in the 1960s. Prospecting for gas during the Soviet period has resulted in a curious series of sights around the area: several large, circular craters, one of which is aflame. To reach the flaming crater, a 4×4 is essential, as is a good driver who knows the route. The gas crater is roughly circular in plan, some 60m in diameter. Its floor crackles with hundreds of small fires, the flames fiercest around the edge. Dinner at Gas Crater. Overnight in a camp/ tents.

Day 3
Darvaza-Ashgabat-Nissa-Horse Farm-  270 km

In the morning breakfast.  After breakfast  drive to Ashgabat, visiting   Gokdepe fortress and horse farm. Gokdepe fortress that was attacked in December 1880 by Russians under General Mikhail Skobelev. The siege of Gokdepe lasted twenty-three days, after which the city was taken by storm. Gokdepe Mosque was built to commemorate the defeat and is noted for its mint-turquoise blue colored roof and white marble structure. Also you will visit Gokdepe museum that dedicated to the war. At the horse farm you can see proud of Turkmen national Akhalteke horses. Over the 30 beautiful horses, you can see at the horse farm. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began breeding Akhalteke horses. A Unique breed in the world that’s not mixed with other breeds. Lunch. After visiting the archeological site “Old Nisa”-Parthian period. After come back to the Hotel. Traditional restaurant dinner. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 4
Ashgabat – Mary-Gonurdepe-Mary 450 km

Early morning breakfast . Transfer to Ashgabat airport. Flight  to Mary (T5-127, 06:15-06:55). Drive to Gonur depe (90km). Driving off-road for what seems several hours and leaving clouds of dust behind, your car climbs a hill from where you can see excavations into the ancient country Margush. The American newspaper “Boston Globe” wrote that before we knew the four oldest centers of the world’s civilization: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China, and now due to the fantastic results of the Margiana expedition it’s quite possible to think that there was another, the fifth center. Lunch box at the sight. Drive back to Mary city. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 5
Mary –Sakarchage – Camel Breeding Farm – Mary

Breakfast. Then drive to Camel Breeding Farm located in Sakarchage village. Enjoy all the pleasure of riding the camel and watching the milking process. Camel milk known as “Chal” is a magical elixir for the human health. You will definitely like this light and refreshing drink. Continue indulging yourself into Turkmen hospitality; share the gorgeous traditional meal with a host Turkmen family. Watch a demonstration of felt making and try making one yourself!
In the second half of the day, return to Mary. Check-in to the hotel.
Sightseeing city tour in Mary, walk in beautiful public parks.
Dinner at the restaurant. Overnight in hotel.

Day 6
Mary-Ancient Merv-Turkmenabat-Farap 290  km

After breakfast, then drive to “Ancient Merv”: visit Gyz Gala& Oglan Gala, Complex of Askhabs, Gyaur Gala, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, Sotlan Sanjar Mausoleum etc. After continue to the Turkmenabad city.Lunch in Turkmenabat city.  Transfer to the “Farap” border.(Turkmenabat city-“Farap” border 40 km) cross into Uzbekistan (Alat Bukhara) arrival in old Bukhara (from Uzbek-Turkman border to Bukhara 105km) check-in and overnight in Bukhara

Prices are valid from March till November 2019 in USD per person
Number of Persons Economy hotels 3* Superior Hotels 4*
2 $ 740  per person $ 815  per person
4 $ 550  per person $ 625  per person
6 $ 460  per person $ 535  per person
8 $ 420  per person $ 495  per person
10+1 $ 437  per person $ 520  per person
12+1 $ 410  per person $ 490  per person
14+1 $ 391  per person $ 470  per person
15+1 $ 382  per person $ 460  per person
S/S $ 90  per person $ 120  per person

 

Supplement Services
Full board meals (Lunch 6 & dinner 5 )                    $ 90 per person
Guide services (French, English, Italy, Spain , China & Japan                    $ 50 every day (for group) 
Domestic flight ticket Ashgabat-Mary Economy class                    $ 65 per person
Kunya Urgench                    $ 7 per person
Nissa                    $ 10 per person
Horse Farm                    $ 10 per person
Gonurdepe                    $ 10 per person
Ancient Merv                    $ 10 per person
Camel Farm                    $ 10 per person

 

City Nights Economy Hotels 3*           Superior Hotels 4*
Dashoguz 1 “Uzboy” hotel 3*        “Dashoguz” Hotel 4 *
Ashgabat 1 Senagatchy Hotel 3* or similar              “Ak Altyn “ Hotel 4*
Darvaza 1 Tent                          Yurt
Mary 2 Margush Hotel 3*or similar                 “Mary” Hotel 4*

 

Tour package  (LOI, Register fee., permit fee)
* Hotel stay 
*Tent + sleeping bag and pillow….
* Transport
2 per – sedan
4-8 per – minibus 14 sets
10-15 per – bus – 22-40 sets
* Transfers during the all route
* Daily1.5lt water

* Visa fee
* Migration tax (12$)
* Extra meal, services, Folklore concerts and show  
* Private expenses, gratuities 
* Insurance
* Meals FB
* Domestic ticket: Ashgabat-Mary
* Guide
* Entrance tickets
* Fee for using cameras on monuments
* Tips for driver and guide $ 5 per day per person 
Note: Each Traveler should have 2 photos (5×6) to be presented at the points of entry

 

 

 

 

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