Sunday 28^th December – Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 

• Arrive at your convenience into Ashgabat – the capital city of Turkmenistan which is well connected from many countries within the Stans, Middle East, Europe and Asia.
• Transfer to Ashgabat Hotel.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Head out for dinner for your first taste of the local cuisine and enjoy some Georgian wine.
• Overnight in Ashgabat

Monday 29^th December – Ashgabat

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and get ready for a city sightseeing day.
• The first stop of the day is at Independence Park with its long array of monuments, including the Neutrality Arch, a 75-metre-high rocket-shaped tower with a gold statue of former leader Niyazov.
• Drop by the Monument of Constitution – standing 185 metres tall it is the second tallest structure in the nation.
• Tour the Saparmurat Turkmenbashy Olympic Stadium and Park – an architectural wonder with cohesive white marble aesthetics. It was recently reconstructed between 2013 – 2017 for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The same colours are used on the national football teams’ jersey.
• The Olympic complex is home to the famous Horse Stadium – the largest structure in the shape of a horse in the world – you’ll hear plenty more of these records throughout your tour.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local Lezzert restaurants in air-conditioned yurts to experience a legit Turkmen feast.
• Stop by the Russian Bazaar – one of the country’s largest and oldest covered markets.
• Take a walk down communist lane in true YPT style as we visit Lenin Park – now called Ashgabat Park located in the very heart of the city. A Lenin and Pushkin monument still stands nearby.
• Then continue to the Ertugural Gazi Mosque which is considered the most beautiful Muslim mosques in Turkmenistan due to its grand size and lavish decoration.
• Go back to hotel to get refreshed and then head out to dinner to try some Turkmen food inspired by nomad days. Tip: try Pilaf which is considered the crown of local cuisine, consisting of rice, meat and lots of flavours!
• Overnight in Ashgabat

Tuesday 30^th December – Ashgabat – Kow Ata – Nokhur – Ashgabat

Morning

• Breakfast in hotel and visit the first stop of the day the grand Saparmurat Hajji Mosque and museum dedicated to the Battle of Geok Tepe where thousands of Turkmen soldiers and civilians died in the bloody battle of 1881 fighting against the Russian campaign to conquer the country.
• Fun fact the name of the Saparmurat Hajji is referenced to Niyazov pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Before continuing our journey southwest, we will have some refreshments in the pristine park land surrounding, a perfect opportunity for photos.
• Arrive at Kow Ata, an underground thermal cave lake which is said to have many medical attributes but is also used by locals as a swimming hole and makes for a very fun and relaxing swim all year round with waters between 33 to 37 degrees Celsius.

Afternoon

• Enjoy a lunch at one of the restaurants located just outside the entrance to the cave.
• Continue our drive west to the village of Nokhur – situated in the Kopet Dag mountains. Unlike the rest of Turkmenistan, even during the Soviet Union and the era of Turkmenbashy, this village were largely left alone and as such live a much more traditional lifestyle than most Turkmens.
• Pay a special visit to a Nokhur Cemetery – each grave is adorned with the horns of a mountain goat and a small market next to a wishing tree where you can buy all sorts of natural teas and potions.
• You’ll then have the opportunity to learn more about the culture of the Nokhuris directly from them and enjoy some tea whilst relaxing in the mountains.
• Head back to Ashgabat and have dinner and drinks at a local pub popular with locals. Here they serve tasty shashlicks and cheap local frosty draught beer.
• Overnight in Ashgabat

Wednesday 31^st December – Ashgabat – The Gates of Hell: New Year’s Eve

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and we’ll head to the International Akhalteke Equestrian Complex to spectate the famous Turkmen breed horse races. These horses are among the oldest breeds, notorious for their endurance, intelligence, and golden coat. There are currently only 6,600 Akhal-Tekes in the world, mainly within Turkmenistan. The complex has stables for over 600 horses. It also homes the 114 owners of the horses as well as a kindergarten for 160 students, 2 markets, a playground as well as a social-cultural centre.
• Drive onto Anau Mosque – this medieval mosque was constructed in the 15th century but was mostly destroyed by the great Ashgabat earthquake in 1948. It is one of the only mosques in the world to have images of dragons.
• Explore the Anau Fortress – standing on a hill with diameter of about 300 meters. It was built by the Parthians and is said that it was once in the power of the Arabs, and then destroyed the Mongols before being restored again.

Afternoon

• Stop by the Berkarar Shopping Centre for lunch – this is Ashgabat’s super fancy shopping centre located by prominent monuments. Here you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and grab a good coffee in a trendy cafe. This will also be your best opportunity to buy any supplies you may want for our night camping at the Gates of Hell.
• Begin our 250km journey to the Darvaza (Gates of Hell) on the way stopping at two lesser-known craters. One full of mud, one full of water, and both formed the same way as the Gates of Hell.
• Driving the last few kilometres off-road through the desert, we’ll arrive at the fiery crater just before sunsets for the last time of 2024, and in time to experience dusk turn to dark at this breathtaking site.
• “Happy New Year!” – YPT prepares a festive dinner for you complete with champagne, vodka, fireworks, and music by the Gates of Hell. What a way to start the new year!
• Overnight in heated yurts.

Thursday 1^st January – Gates of Hell – Ashgabat: New Year’s Day

Morning

• Begin your new year with a delicious cooked breakfast at the campsite before returning to Ashgabat with photo stops and refreshments along the way.
• Check in to hotel for a meal and freshen up before heading out for an afternoon tour of Ashgabat

Afternoon

• Head to the Alem Centre to ride the Wheel of Enlightenment – the largest indoor Ferris Wheel in the world. Entrance is $1.
• We have the rest of the day to catch up on any items previously missed in Ashgabat or to do the following activities
• Serdar Yoly – the “health path”. Stretching 28km along the Kopetdag mountain range, this fitness project was instigated by Turkmenbashy, but being a keen health fanatic himself, Gurbanguly has continued to encourage people to make the trek.
• Stop at the 80-metre-high statue of poet Magtymguly Fragi, as well as the “Park of International Poets” – this is a relatively new park and statue dedicated the literary geniuses of the Turkmens.
• The TV tower – the largest building in a shape of a star in the world. The building itself is off limits, but you can drive almost right up to the entrance for a great view of the tower and spectacular perspective over the city.
• A final dinner at a restaurant to bid farewell to your fellow travelers and celebrate your trip!
• We’ll do a night tour of Ashgabat where the marble city comes to life with its dazzling lights across the capital!
• Overnight in Ashgabat

Friday 2^nd January

• Breakfast at hotel and tour concludes. Airport transfers can be arranged according to your flight departure times.

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