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Old cities and Darwaza tour

Old cities and Darwaza tour
Starts: Ashgabat
Ends: Shavat border
Best time to travel: March-April-May-June-July-August-September-October-November

Day 1: Ashgabat
Our guide will wait you at the airport and take you capital city Ashgabat and begin your exciting travelling. The city's story goes back to 1881. Ashgabat situated near the Iran border, in the Kopet Dag. In translation from Persian language, "eshg" means love, and "abad" is for populated land, so literally it is the city of love. City tour consist of worldly known marble faced public buildings in Lenin's square, Arch of Neutrality, Park of Independence. In the Independent park, you will see a white-marble "Eiffel Tower" standing in the center of the park. Then you will explore Museum of Ethnography and Museum of Fine Arts. Stay in a hotel.

Day 2: Ashgabat - Merv - Mary
Today we will start day tour earlier and travel on the footsteps of ancient trade road in the east 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. Mohammed Khudaiot supported this mosque's foundation in 1456. Further, continue your journey to Mevr. It was one of the largest and most developed cities on the Great Silk Road. Mevr had significant role in Islam World on the same level with Cairo, Baghdad and Damascus. In Merv, you will visit Gyz Gala, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum and Ibn Zeid Mausoleum. After excursion, drive to Mary and stay in a hotel.

Day 3: Mary - Ashgabat - Darwaza
In the morning, you will have Mary-Ashgabat flight. Upon arrival, you will continue your tour by travelling to "Bahardok" village. It is Turkmen settlement located in the Northern Turkmenistan. Here you will understand and see the village life of local people. After lunch, you will leave to the north of Ashgabat to fascinating Gas Crater - Darwaza. The most beautiful view will be in the evening. The stunning beauty of flames will charm you. Stay in a tent.

Day 4: Darwaza - Kunya Urgench - Shavat border
After breakfast at the tent camp, continue your tours 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 highlight of the visit will be the Central Asian tallest minaret - Kutlyg Timur. Then drive to Turkmen-Uzbek border checkpoint Shavat and travel further to Uzbekistan.