Tour to Kunya Urgench

Program’s name: Tour to Kunya Urgench

Quantity of days: 5 

Day 1: Ashgabat
Local guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to the city tour. The capital city Ashgabat is famous with its marble-faces public buildings of Turkmenistan. Just imagine yourself in a snow-white city like this when travelling. It was established in 1881 on the foothills of the Kopet Dag Mountain, near the Iran border. Guided tour will take you to the Lenin’s square, Arch of Neutrality and Park of Independence Afternoon, where a white-marble “Eiffel Tower” standing in a beautiful park. Museum of Ethnography and Museum of Fine Arts will provide you amazing tour into the cultural heritage of Turkmen people. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 2: Ashgabat – Merv – Mary
Today we will start day earlier and go on the footsteps of Great Silk Road in the eastern part of Turkmenistan. First site is ancient Abiverd fortress. This settlement has remarkable place in the history together with Merv, Kunya-Urgench, Nissa and Dakhistan. Abiverd is situated on the way from Ashgabat to Mary. Except the fort, there are remains of old Seyit Jamal-ad-Din Mosque dating back to 15^th century. In 1456, Mohammed Khudaiot supported this mosque’s foundaition. Further, continue your way to ancient Mevr. It was one of the largest and most developed cities on the Great Silk Road. Moreover, Mevr had significant role in Islam World on the same level with Cairo, Baghdad and Damascus. You will have a tour to Gyz Gala, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum and Ibn Zeid Mausoleum. After excursion, drive to Mary and check in to a hotel.

Day 3: Mary – Margiana (Margush) – Mary
Today is exciting day to travel to Margush, the center of early development during 5^th century. This site was the oldest human populated area long before than Achaemenian time dating to the Bronze Age, on the territory of Turkmenistan. There are different names, Margush, the meaning is “lowland”. The Greek called Margiana. There were no information about this site until 1970s. Margiana Archaeological Expedition whose leader was Professor Viktor Sarianidi uncovered it. Most of the Bronze Age settlements were located in the north part of today’s oasis, which is turned into a desert. Because climate change deeply cause abundance of some areas, the ruins of ancient settlements are preserved better because there is no human activities in those territories. Like in Margush case. There were found many similarities of Margush with Bactria in nowadays-northern Afghanistan. In accordance with Sarianidi, Bactria and Margush was the center of ancient civilization. There is suggestion that Margush was the birthplace of Zoroastrianism. Drive back to Mary and night in a hotel.

Day 4: Mary – Ashgabat – Darwaza
Arrive to Ashgabat by plane. After arrival, depart to northern Turkmenistan. On the way to Darwaza, we will stop at Bahardok village in order to see the rural life of Turkmen people. Later you will continue to the north and drive through endless Kizil Kum desert. You will visit Gas Grater Darwaza ever-burning big hole in the earth. It is splendid beauty changing its appearance according to the sunlight. Night in a tent.

Day 5: Darwaza – Kunya Urgench – Dashoguz border
After enjoying breakfast at the tent camp, continue to the North district of the country. Here you will visit architectural site of Old Urgench city. It used to be a capital of Khorezm during 10^th-12^th centuries. You will explore the Mausoleum of Najm al-Din al-Kubra, Tyurabek Khanum, Il-Arslan, Tekesh Ibn Hadzhibey. The main site is the Central Asian tallest minaret - Kutlyg Timur. Then travel to Turkmen-Uzbek border checkpoint Shawat.