2-Day Silk Road Crossing: Ashgabat & Ancient Merv to Farap Border
Route: Ashgabat Airport - Ashgabat - Ancient Merv - Turkmenabat - Farap
Arrive in Ashgabat and cross to Uzbekistan on this 2-day guided transit. Explore the white marble capital, visit the UNESCO ruins of Ancient Merv, and transfer directly to the Farap border. The perfect route connecting Ashgabat to Bukhara.
2
days
0
groups
1
options
There are currently no available dates for this tour. Contact us for a private tour.
What is included
- Letter of Invitation (LoI) for Turkmenistan visa and assistance with mandatory registration of foreign visitors.
- Accommodation in standard hotel rooms: twin rooms shared by same-gender guests; double rooms for couples; single rooms arranged when needed (other room categories on request).
- Private transport and English-speaking guide for the days and routes specified in your itinerary.
- All expenses of your driver and guide, including fuel, meals, accommodation, meeting you at the border and seeing you off at the border.
- Daily breakfasts during the tour.
- Dinner and overnight in a yurt at the Darvaza gas crater and at Gozli Ata (if included in your itinerary).
- Entrance fees and photography permits for museums and attractions visited with your guide.
- Travel insurance.
- All local taxes and mandatory service charges for services included in the tour.
- The tour usually starts and ends at the Turkmenistan side of the border (other pick-up or drop-off points can be arranged on request).
What is not included
- Visa and other border fees are not included. The visa can be obtained either at the embassy or at the border.
- International flights and any transport to/from Turkmenistan at the start and end of the tour.
- Meals not included in the program (estimated 3–8 USD per meal per person, depending on the location and restaurant).
- Personal expenses (e.g. souvenirs, laundry, minibar) and tips for guides/drivers (optional but appreciated).
- Drones (not allowed in Turkmenistan).
- Entrance fees. meal costs and photo fees at the Turkmen Ojagy Ethnographic Complex (if included in your itinerary).
Tour program
* Morning Arrival: Meet and greet at the Ashgabat International Airport and transfer to the city.
* After breakfast Ashgabat City Tour: A flexible program tailored to your arrival and departure times. The final itinerary depends on your personal preferences, your guide’s professional advice, and the time available in your schedule. We will visit as many landmarks as possible, ensuring a perfect balance of history, culture, and modern architecture.
* Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat.
* After breakfast Ashgabat City Tour: A flexible program tailored to your arrival and departure times. The final itinerary depends on your personal preferences, your guide’s professional advice, and the time available in your schedule. We will visit as many landmarks as possible, ensuring a perfect balance of history, culture, and modern architecture.
* Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat.
* Early departure from Ashgabat heading to Mary/Merv.
* Traditional lunch in a local restaurant in Mary or Bayramaly.
* Full Guided Tour of Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar: A 12th-century Seljuk masterpiece, once the largest building in the Islamic world.
Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala: The iconic "corrugated" mud-brick desert fortresses (7th–12th centuries).
Askhabs Mausoleums: Visit the sacred burial sites of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (Al-Hakim ibn Jabir and Buraidah ibn Al-Husaib).
Ancient Hammam & Sardoba: Discover the remains of medieval public baths and the sophisticated water storage systems of the desert.
Erk Kala & Gyaur Kala: Climb the ancient citadels for a panoramic view of the vast archaeological park.
* Long-distance drive via Turkmenabat towards the border.
* Arrival at Farap Border Checkpoint.
* End of Tour
* Traditional lunch in a local restaurant in Mary or Bayramaly.
* Full Guided Tour of Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar: A 12th-century Seljuk masterpiece, once the largest building in the Islamic world.
Greater and Lesser Kyz Kala: The iconic "corrugated" mud-brick desert fortresses (7th–12th centuries).
Askhabs Mausoleums: Visit the sacred burial sites of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (Al-Hakim ibn Jabir and Buraidah ibn Al-Husaib).
Ancient Hammam & Sardoba: Discover the remains of medieval public baths and the sophisticated water storage systems of the desert.
Erk Kala & Gyaur Kala: Climb the ancient citadels for a panoramic view of the vast archaeological park.
* Long-distance drive via Turkmenabat towards the border.
* Arrival at Farap Border Checkpoint.
* End of Tour
Accommodations
-
Ashgabat
(1 nights)
Standard: Hotel "Mizan", Bagt Koshgi Hotel
Comfort: Hotel "Oguzkent", Hotel "Archabil"
