Monday 25th September – Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

• Arrive at your convenience into Ashgabat – the capital city of Turkmenistan which is well connected from many countries within the Stans, Middle East, Europe and Asia.
• Transfer to Ashgabat Hotel.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Head out for dinner for your first taste of the local cuisine and enjoy some Georgian wine.
• Overnight in Ashgabat Hotel

Tuesday 26th September – Ashgabat

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and the first stop of the day is at Independence Park with its long array of monuments, including the Neutrality Arch, a 75-metre-high rocket-shaped tower with a gold statue of former leader Niyazov.
• Drop by the Monument of Constitution – standing 185 metres tall it is the second tallest structure in the nation.
• Tour the Saparmurat Turkmenbashy Olympic Stadium and Park – an architectural wonder with cohesive white marble aesthetics. It was recently reconstructed between 2013 – 2017 for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The same colours are used on the national football teams’ jersey.
• The Olympic 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 throughout your tour.
• Head to the Alem Centre to ride the Wheel of Enlightenment – the largest indoor Ferris Wheel in the world. Entrance is $1.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local Lezzert restaurants in air-conditioned yurts to experience a legit Turkmen feast.
• Visit the University Bookshop – here you can find a multitude of books written by and about the president of Ashgabat and Turkmenistan. Postcards and stamps area available, as well as posters of the president holding dogs and riding horses. If you’re lucky, they might even have a copy of the Ruhnama in store – the religious textbook written by Turkmenbashy.
• Stop by the Russian Bazaar – one of the country’s largest and oldest covered markets.
• Take a walk down communist lane in true YPT style as we visit Lenin Park – now called Ashgabat Park located in the very heart of the city. A Lenin and Pushkin monument still stands nearby.
• Dinner and drinks at a local pub popular with locals. Here they serve tasty shashlicks and cheap local frosty draught beer.
• Overnight in Ashgabat

Wednesday 27th September – Ashgabat – Nisa – Ashgabat: Turkmenistan Independence Day!

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel and head to the UNESCO site of Nisa Fortress located just outside of Ashgabat. This was once the capital of the Parthian empire – a major power from the mid 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD stretching from Turkey to Afghanistan. Archaeological excavations in two parts of this site has revealed richly decorated architecture and unique religious functions.
• We’ll head a little north to Kipchak to visit the resplendent Turkmenbashy Mosque and Mausoleum – the resting place for Saparmyrat Nyýazow, the leader of Turkmenistan from 1985 to 2006. This Mausoleum was built and completed two years before his death.

Afternoon

• Return to Ashgabat for lunch
• Drive onto Anau Mosque – this medieval mosque was constructed in the 15th century, but was mostly destroyed by the great Ashgabat earthquake in 1948. It is one of the only mosques in the world to have images of dragons.
• Explore the Anau Fortress – standing on a hill with diameter of about 300 meters. It was built by the Parthians, and is said that it was once in the power of the Arabs, and then destroyed the Mongols before being restored again.
• Afterwards, we will visit a pilgrim site, drink tea with the locals, and hear their stories and experiences. This is a real opportunity in such a meaningful place.
• Check into the Yyldyz Hotel and head for dinner at the Panoramic Restaurant – the newest and most expensive hotel in Turkmenistan, where you can have a legit 5-star restaurant experience for 1-star prices, complete with 360 degree views of the city.
• Tour highlight – Attend the Turkmenistan Independence Day performance as special guests at the Kopetdag Stadium – if you have seen the Mass Games in North Korea, this is the Turkmenistan edition! There will be multiple performances involving local popular artists, traditional folk songs and synchronised dances. The President himself will be attending this event. This concert is one usually tourists aren’t given access to, with YPT you won’t miss out on this.
• Overnight at Yyldyz Hotel.

Thursday 28th September – Ashgabat – The Gates of Hell

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and we’ll head to the International Akhalteke Equestrian Complex to spectate the famous Turkmen breed horse races. These horses are among the oldest breeds, notorious for their endurance, intelligence, and golden coat. There are currently only 6,600 Akhal-Tekes in the world, mainly within Turkmenistan. The complex has stables for over 600 horses. It also homes the 114 owners of the horses as well as a kindergarten for 160 students, 2 markets, a playground as well as a social-cultural centre.

Afternoon

• Stop by the Berkarar Shopping Centre for lunch – this is Ashgabat’s super fancy shopping centre located by prominent monuments. Here you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and grab a good coffee in a trendy cafe. This will also be your best opportunity to buy any supplies you may want for our night camping at the Gates of Hell.
• Begin our 250km journey to the Darvaza (Gates of Hell) on the way stopping at two lesser-known craters. One full of mud, one full of water, and both formed 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, and in time to experience dusk turn to dark at this breathtaking site.
• Dinner and overnight camping in yurts near the crater.

Friday 29th September – The Gates of Hell – Ashgabat

Morning

• Breakfast in camp and return to Ashgabat
• 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.

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