Young Pioneer Tours
Turkmenistan Independence Day Budget Tour
We have designed this budget tour to be short quick and a little easier on the wallet as you take part in the Independence Day celebrations in Turkmenistan – easily our most favourite nation of “the Stans”.
The tour begins in the ultra-modern capital city of Ashgabat, also known as the “White City” from the abundance of glistening white marble statues and buildings adorned with gold trims. Although statues and pictures of the President for Life, Saparmurat Niyazov – more famously known as “Turkmenbashy” – are still seen on almost every street, park, and at the front of ministry buildings, his successor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has made his own mark on the city.
Here not only will you become one of the small group of foreigners to visit Ashgabat, but you will join the even smaller group of foreigners who have ever had the opportunity to take part in the colourful Independence Day celebrations, getting a truly unique insight into how the Turkmen celebrate their proud day. If you thought an Olympic opening ceremony or the North Korean Mass Games were spectacular, think again.
Once the celebrations in the capital quiet down, we’ll then embark on a drive through the Karakum Desert. Here you’ll explore the Ancient UNESCO world heritage archaeological sites along the Silk Road such as the ancient fortresses, underground thermal springs, an incomplete beach resort, and the very famous Gates of Hell. Turkmenistan is a place oozing in both history and quirkiness.
The LOI application process for Turkmenistan is quite complicated and time-consuming. For the best chance of approval, please get in at least 3 months in advance. Late applications are accepted but the approval rate goes down, in most cases you will get a full refund if the application is rejected.
Sunday September 26th – Ashgabat
Morning
- Arrive early in the morning and meet your guides at Ashgabat International Airport.
- Today you’ll start getting a good feel of the country as we take a driving tour of Ashgabat’s main sites and we begin explaining all the weird and wonderful aspects of Turkmenistan that make it such a special place.
- This will include stops at 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 ride it !
Afternoon
- For lunch today we’ll stop at one of our favourite restaurants, where you can order local food and sit in air-conditioned yurts.
- In the afternoon we’ll visit the university bookshop where you can find a multitude of books written by and about the president of Ashgabat and Turkmenistan. They also have postcards, posters of the President doing things like holding dogs and riding horses, and if you’re lucky, they might even have a copy of the Ruhnama, the book written by Turkmenbashy.
- Dinner and drinks at a local pub, just like a local, where you can have good shashlicks and cheap local draught beer.
- Overnight in Ashgabat.
Monday September 27th – Ashgabat – Nisa – Ashgabat
Morning
- Leaving the city, we’ll visit Nisa, a UNESCO site which was once the capital of the Parthian Empire.
- Visit Anau on the eastern outskirts of Ashgabat and see the remains of Anau Fortress and Sheikh Jemaladdin Mosque which was destroyed in the 1948 earthquake.
- Continue to Kipchak to see the resplendent Turkmenbashy Mosque, where Turkmenbashy is buried beside his mother, father and two brothers in their white marble mausoleum.
Afternoon
- Return to Ashgabat in the afternoon and have some free time to enjoy a beer by the pool at the hotel or take a walk around the old part of the city where the hotel is located.
- 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.
- Tour highlight – Spectate the Turkmenistan Independence Day performance at Kopetdag Stadium – there will be multiple performances involving local popular artists, traditional folk songs and dances. This concert is one usually tourists aren’t given access to, with YPT you won’t miss out on this.
- Overnight in Ashgabat.
Tuesday September 28th – Ashgabat – Darvaza / The Gates of Hell
Morning
- Visit the Akhalteke Horse Sport Complex and see the end of the horse racing season festivities. Horse racing is one of the President’s favourite hobbies and it has become a very important part of Turkmen life. An Akhalteke horse included on the national emblem. We will spectate some races, then the presentations of prize winners in each race category, interspersed with performances of local dancers and singers. If we’re lucky we might even be at the same event as the President himself.
Afternoon
- For lunch we’ll visit Berkarar Shopping Centre, which is Ashgabat’s super fancy shopping centre near all the monuments. Here you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and even have a cappuccino in a proper hipster café! This will also be your opportunity to buy any supplies you want for our night camping at the Gates of Hell.
- Depart Ashgabat and drive 250km north to Darvaza (The Gates of Hell) in 4x4s.
- On the way we’ll stop at two other craters – one full of mud, one full of water, and both formed in the same way as the Gates of Hell.
- Driving the last few kilometres off-road through the desert, we’ll arrive at the fiery crater just before sunset, just in time to experience dusk turn to dark at this breathtaking site.
- Overnight camping near the crater.
Wednesday 29th September – Darvaza / The Gates of Hell – Ashgabat
Morning
- Breakfast at the camp and begin drive back to Ashgabat.
- The tour concludes once arriving in Ashgabat, and transfers to the airport can be made according to your departure flight times.
Afternoon
- If you have time to explore Ashgabat we can make the following recommendations:
- 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 has continued to encourage people to make the trek. You’ll have time to either walk some of the path if you like, or you can just soak in the atmosphere in the park at the bottom.
- The 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.
- 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.
Tour Extensions
Want to extend your YPT adventure? Join one of our great tour extensions
