Arrive in Ashgabat, the Turkmen capital that’s been described as ‘Las Vegas meets Pyongyang.’ Catch a private transfer from the airport, and take some time to rest in your hotel after your long journey. Meet with your new travel friends in the late afternoon, and after a short briefing about the region and the route, you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner that will serve as a delicious introduction to the traditional cuisine of the region. 

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll spend the day touring Ashgabat, a brave new world of marble skyscrapers and totalitarian monuments. Among the towering shapes, imposing statues, and futuristic environs of the city you'll also uncover old Soviet charm, dusty narrow alleys, crumbling 19th-century Russian houses, and lively bazaars, reminding us that even under the shadow of postmodern totalitarianism, poignant remnants remain of the USSR. There’ll be some free time in the late afternoon to explore on your own before we reconvene for dinner.

This morning you’ll leave the steel-glass-and-concrete cityscapes of Ashgabat behind and head to the desert. A 40-minute flight will take you to Mary, an oasis town located in the Karakum Desert. After a quick visit to Mary’s sleepy and archetypically Soviet downtown, you’ll tour the stunningly preserved ancient ruins of UNESCO-listed Merv. Once one of the biggest cities in the world, spend the entire day touring the historical sights and hearing the ancient legends of Merv. Marvel at the towering medieval kalas (fortresses), and splendidly preserved Islamic mausoleums, and gaze at the rickety minarets of some of the earliest mosques of the region. Spend the night in Mary, where you’ll enjoy dinner in a traditional local restaurant. 

In the morning you’ll take a short return flight to Ashgabat. From the airport, head toward the remote Nokhur region, famous for its picturesque villages and traditional architecture. In Gokdepe you’ll stop at the spectacular Saparmurat Hajji Mosque. From the mosque you’ll proceed to a private stud farm, to see the fabled Akhal-Teke horses. Then you’ll travel to Kow Ata, a natural underground thermal lake popular with locals who flock here to enjoy the therapeutic attributes of the salt and mineral heavy holy waters. After a rejuvenating bath at Kow Ata, you’ll wander around remote Nokhur, a picturesque village famous for its unique culture and the peculiar language of its inhabitants. After relaxing over tea, you’ll then head to the Turkmen backcountry town of Serdar for the night. 

Today you will head further inland across Turkmenistan's Wild West. Admire otherworldly landscapes and moving sand dunes near Boydag and tour extremely remote hamlets scattered along the way. In the early afternoon, you’ll arrive in Balkanabat, a quintessentially Soviet town in the barren badlands of western Turkmenistan. Just north of Balkanabat, right in time for a splendid desert sunset, you'll visit the Uly Balkan Gershi massif, a hidden natural treasure of green pastures and flaming red rocks.

Depart from Balkanabat early this morning and head to the Yangykala Canyon, a stunningly wide geological landscape that rivals its more famous American counterpart, the Grand Canyon. With bands of pink, red, and yellow rock searing across the sides of steep walls, Yangykala is a breathtaking sight and one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Central Asia. Continue on to the shores of the Caspian Sea, stopping at the awe-inspiring pilgrimage site of Gözli Ata along the way. In the afternoon you'll reach the lively seaside town of Turkmenbashi, where you’ll enjoy a lazy afternoon on the beach, observe the local fishermen, visit the seafood market, and have dinner at the Pyongyang-meets-Las-Vegas Awaza resort area. You’ll stay in Turkmenbashi for the next two nights.

Explore the Turkmenbashi area today, enjoying the pleasures of the seaside in the morning and a drive through the dystopian badlands surrounding the Garabogazköl depression in the afternoon. This shallow lagoon is characterized by a salinity level comparable to that of the Dead Sea. You'll also visit the abandoned Soviet city of Bekdash before returning for dinner in the evening.

Board a flight to Dashoguz this morning, a frontier town with a diverse population. After a quick drive around Dashoguz, stock up on food at the lively central bazaar. You’ll then start your adventure across the mythical sands of the Karakum Desert towards the most famous sight in the country: the Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as "The Gates to Hell." While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas, leaving a hole 200 feet wide and 66 feet deep. The geologists decided to burn it off, hoping the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days. The gas is still burning. As night falls, you’ll admire the spectacular view of the glowing gas crater and enjoy a shashlik dinner around its edge. 

After a picnic-style breakfast at the camp, you’ll slowly head back to Ashgabat, traveling through a classic desert landscape of moving dunes, camel caravans, nomadic settlements, and ramshackle Soviet outposts. After a reinvigorating rest at the hotel pool in Ashgabat, you’ll drive to Kipchak to visit the shining Turkmenbashi Mosque, where the president of Turkmenistan from 1990 to 2006, the notorious Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov, rests beside his family. While in office, Niyazov banned lip syncing, exiled all dogs from Ashgabat, and renamed the month of September after a largely nonsensical book he wrote. After wrapping your head around these feats you’ll head back to Ashgabat for your final delicious Turkmen dinner.

Enjoy one last lavish Turkmen-style breakfast together, then we’ll take care of your transfer to Ashgabat International Airport. Depart for home or perhaps set off for another unique destination in the region. Until next time!