Golden Triangle

Meeting and transfer to the booked 5* hotel. PM we will go for evening city tour of Ashgabat. There will be transport waiting for you with guide, to take you to the tour. We will explore Ashgabat city (translated from persian as "The City of Love"). Sightseeing will include the "Bagt Koshgi" hill platform with a panoramic view of the city. The Monument of Neutrality, The Independence Park and The Book of Soul (the monument to the book of Ruhnama) written by the first president of Turkmenistan. Ashgabat city has completely different beauty at night. Dinner at local restaurant or at the hotel(optional).

After breakfast, we pack up and check out. We can leave our stuff at storage and then we drive to Bagir village to explore the ruins of the Old Nisa Fortress (UNESCO World Heritage Site), located 15 km from Ashgabat city centre. The earliest Parthian Empire capitals (III c. BC - III c. AD). Located in an atmospheric area at the foot of the Kopet-Dag Mountains. Archeological excavations in two parts of the site have revealed richly decorated architecture, illustrative of domestic, state and religious functions. Situated at the crossroads of important commercial and strategic axes. This powerful empire formed a barrier to Roman expansion while serving as an important communication and trading center between East-West and North-South. We are planning to spend 1-1,5 hours here. Then continue to visit purebred Akhal-Teke horses. In this complex we have chance to see super special horse breeds of president. They are only for breeding and only. This complex hosts more than 600 hundred purebred Akhal-Teke horses. We are able to see some moves and ride one of the horses, which are currently competing and each proving of their greatness. Optional: possible extra show of professional group called "Galkynysh" After photo session we go back to the city for lunch. After, we go to the hotel to take our stuff (if we left in storage) and transfer to airport for flight to Mary (flight time subject to change). On arrival transport will be waiting us for transfer to the 4* hotel. Check in and dinner in the hotel or local restaurant (optional).

Breakfast in the hotel. Today we are going to witness of the largest Bronze Age archeological complex of Central Asia - Gonurdepe/Margush/Margiana (120 km on 4WD, approximately 2 hours of drive). The American newspaper "The Boston Globe" wrote that before we knew only four oldest centers of the worlds civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China and due to the fantastic results of the Margiana expedition it is quite possible to think that there was another, the fifth center. Picnic lunch. Later drive back to Mary

Early breakfast and then check out. Leave our luggage in the storage. We drive to Bayramaly town to visit Old Merv "The Pearl of Seljuk Empire" 11-12 th centuries (UNESCO World Heritage Site). This tour will include: Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum (the last Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire) Yusuf Hamadani Mosque (Yusuf Hamadani was an important figure in religious affairs during Malik Shah, the father of Sultan Sanjar) Erk Gala (was founded in the 6th century BCE, in the 3rd century BCE it became the citadel for the larger Hellenistic city of Antiochia/Margiana. Sultan gala (built in between 800-1400 AD, Sultan gala offers to explore the mudbrick work of Seljuk fortifications) Great and Small Gyz gala (7-12 th centuries), known as "Ladies Fortress". One of the most well preserved fortresses made from mudbrick. Mohammad ibn Zayd Mausoleum (the leader of the Shia movement against the Abbasid caliphate). Return to Mary for lunch. For reinforce our knowledge about what we saw we are going to visit the museum. Mary History Museum (including unique treasuries found in the ancient city of Gonurdepe/Margiana and Old Merv). Transfer to airport for flight to Ashgabat (flight time subject to change). Arrival in Ashgabat and transfer to the hotel.

AM we will check out and drive (50km, 50 min) to Gokdepe village. Gokdepe was the site of the biggest battle for Russian domination in Central Asia in the late 19c. Here we will visit Gokdepe fortress, mosque and museum. After, we are going to local Horse Stud called "Arkadash". Here you will have more time to ride and feed the unique breed of Turkmen Akhal-Teke Horses. Having finished our photo session with horses we head to Ashgabat with stop at Kipchak village to visit biggest mosque of Turkmenistan "The Spirituel Mosque of Turkmenbashi" and the family mausoleum of the first president of Turkmenistan. We drive back to hotel to take our luggages and transfer to airport for flight to Dashoguz (flight time subject to change). Transfer to the 4* hotel and check in. Dinner at local restaurant.

Morning time is breakfast time. Another arranged transport will drive us to Kunya Urgench (2 hour drive, 130 km). Today we will visit the historical ancient city Kunya Urgench (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - once a glorious capital of the medieval Khorezshah Empire, the biggest Muslim empire of the late 12 th and early 13th centuries. We will take a close look at the outstanding 14th century mausoleum of Turabek Hanum. One of the best examples of the architecture of its period. The minaret of Kutlug Timur, a former highest minaret of Central Asia that used to form a part of the main cathedral mosque of the city. The mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh, a beautiful 12tm century mausoleum with one of the earliest portals to the east and a unique cone of a dome. Kyrk Molla mound, the fabled al-Mamun's Academy of Sciences The mausoleum of Il-Arslan, Najmeddin Kubra and Piryar Wali shrines Lunchtime and back to Dashoguz. Short break and drive to Ismamut-ata mausoleum (35 km, 45 min). One of the well-preserved monuments of the middle Ages is the architectural complex of Ismamut-ata, located on the territory of the Gorogly district, Dashoguz velayat. According to one of the versions, the origin of the name "Ismamut-ata" is associated with the name of an outstanding poet and thinker who lived in 1247-1326, a feast and an unsurpassed hero-westler Mahmud Palvan. According to some historians, Mahmud Palvan had his own hanaka, a house with a mosque and cells. According to the documentary sources, Mahmud Palvan was known as Pahlavan Mahmud, Palvan Pir, Hezreti Palvan, Palvan Ata, Piryar Eli and Ismamut-ata. After we drive back to Dashoguz. Have dinner and back to hotel.

Breakfast and check out. With 4WD vehicles we will head to Darvaza gas crater (290 km, 6 hours). This road is super damaged. Crater internationally known as "The Gate of Hell". Short tour at the site upon arrival while nomad-style kebabs are being cooked. Dinner at Darvaza and photo session by sunset. Then drive to Ashgabat for another 280 km (4 hours depends on weather). Check in to the hotel and rest.

Transfer to the airport. End of service.