Our Turkmenistan holidays & tours
Desert camping, dinosaur footprints and colourful canyons that lead to the fabled shores of the Caspian Sea – our adventurous Turkmenistan holidays explore one of the lesser-visited ‘Stans, where ancient cultural traditions blend with awe-inspiring natural landscapes. You can spend a few days in key locations such as Ashgabat, Nisa and Dashoguz on one of our Silk Road epics, or take two weeks to enjoy Turkmenistan in detail. And there’s no better way to get to know this land of flaming gas craters and fortified citadels than with a local guide by your side. Our tours here will often feature a night in a welcoming Turkmen homestay, a fantastic opportunity to experience genuine family life while also benefiting a local community project.
Our top Turkmenistan holidays
Turkmenistan cultural tour, mysteries of the desert
From
£2995
15 days
ex flights
Deserts, dinosaur footprints and mysteries of the Silk Road.
Small group2026: 25 Apr, 6 Sep, 2027: 24 Apr, 5 Sep
Turkmenistan small group holiday
From
£2959 to £3125
13 days
ex flights
Desert camping, bronze age sites and traditional culture
Small group2026: 6 Sep, 2027: 5 Sep
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan holiday, Silk Road explorer
From
£3199 to £3299
16 days
ex flights
Discover the fascinating ancient history of the Silk Road
Small group2026: 18 Apr, 29 Aug, 2027: 17 Apr, 4 Sep
Central Asia overland tour, the stans
From
£6749 to £7749
26 days
ex flights
An epic journey through the five 'stans' of Central Asia
Small group2026: 23 May, 27 Aug, 2027: 22 May, 26 Aug
Silk Road tour, cities of the Silk Road
From
£4175 to £4450
15 days
ex flights
Discover important cities of the old Silk Road
Small group2026: 1 Feb, 18 Mar, 12 Apr, 19 Apr, 26 Apr, 10 May, 24 May, 7 Jun, 30 Aug, 6 Sep, 27 Sep, 4 Oct, 22 Nov, 23 Dec, 2027: 21 Feb, 18 Mar, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 6 Jun, 5 Sep, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 21 Nov, 21 Dec
Silk Road holiday, five Stans of Central Asia
From
£7595 to £7695
29 days
ex flights
Journey through the 5 stans of Central Asia
Small group2026: 9 May, 24 May, 7 Jun, 25 Jul, 2027: 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 25 Jul, 22 Aug, 12 Sep
Silk Road holiday, small group
From
£3475
15 days
ex flights
Discover amazing Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan
Small group2026: 12 Apr, 6 Sep, 2027: 11 Apr, 5 Sep
The five stans silk road holiday
From
£6079 to £6799
23 days
ex flights
Step into the pages of history on a silk road tour
Small group2026: 1 May, 9 Jun, 20 Jun, 29 Jul, 29 Aug, 6 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 2027: 30 Apr, 22 May, 29 May, 8 Jun, 19 Jun, 28 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 5 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct
Small group holiday to the Stans
From
£10130 to £10920
30 days
ex flights
Tread in the footsteps of the ancient Silk Road
Small group2026: 20 Apr, 18 May, 24 Aug, 14 Sep, 2027: 29 Apr, 17 May, 23 Aug, 13 Sep
See all our Turkmenistan holidaysContact Us
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Turkmenistan map & highlights
If you’re exploring Turkmenistan in depth, expect long drives. A two-week tour might include a few internal flights, but there will still be several road journeys of over 200km. Key roads between major centres are good, but step off these and roads are typically horribly potholed, requiring a 4x4. Border crossings can be painfully slow, too, so pack some patience. Organised tours, often in small groups, are the easiest way to explore the country. They include a private driver and vehicle, plus a guide, which all visitors on standard tourist visas have to be accompanied by. Most Turkmenistan trips include other countries, too. Allow a month to see all the other ’stans – Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – while a fortnight reveals some of the Silk Road’s highlights, adding cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan into a Turkmenistan itinerary.
Ashgabat
1. Ashgabat
Often described as bizarre, Ashgabat was rebuilt in the 1990s after the earthquake of 1948 which killed 110,000 people. White marble buildings, boulevards and fountains give it a Vegas feel, while its numerous monuments are futuristic. Visit the excellent National Museum, the Carpet Museum – see the world’s biggest carpet! – and the open-air Tolkuchka bazaar, which sells red Turkmen rugs and camels.
Darvaza gas crater
2. Darvaza gas crater
In the midst of the magically bleak Karakam desert, the Darvaza gas crater has been nicknamed ‘the door to hell’. The origin of this 30m-deep pit of flaming methane is shrouded in mystery, but it’s been burning for some 40 years. Camp here to appreciate its bizarre glowing beauty and heat at night, when passing birds circle above, attracted by its searchlight beam.
Konye-Urgench
3. Konye-Urgench
This ancient capital of the land of Khorezm was once the centre of the Islamic world. The old town contains incredible architecture, with a series of monuments from the 11th to 16th centuries, including a mosque, fortresses, mausoleums and a 60m minaret. The city’s influence spread into Iran and Afghanistan, even shaping the architecture of the Mughal Empire of 16th century India.
Kugitang Mountains
4. Kugitang Mountains
Near the border with Uzbekistan, the western slopes of the Kugitang Mountains are a nature reserve with a unique ecosystem. Deep canyons and mountains with walnut, maple and juniper forests are home to rare mountain sheep and markhour, an endangered mountain goat, while the Dinosaur Plateau contains more than 400 dinosaur footprints. Hike to the Umbar Dere waterfall and the Kyrk Kyz pilgrim cave.
Merv
5. Merv
Near the city of Mary, the Silk Road metropolis of Merv dates back 2,500 years. In the 12th century, at its height, it was a place of palaces, irrigation channels and fertile gardens. By the 1220s, though, it had been destroyed by the Mongols, with an estimated 700,000 deaths. Today its windswept ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site, consisting of five walled cities from different periods.
Nisa
6. Nisa
Nisa, 18km southwest of Ashgabat, was capital of the Parthian Empire, one of the most powerful and influential civilisations of the ancient world, from the 3rd century BCE to 3rd century AD. A city of fortresses, palaces and temples, it formed a barrier to Roman expansion and was a crucial trading centre at the crossroads of north and south, east and west.
Our Turkmenistan holidays reviews
4.5
22Turkmenistan holidays reviews
Paul Farmer14 Oct 2025
Hard work but excellent!!! Visiting the Oasis cities of Khiva/Bukhara & Samarkand. 5 stars.read more
Linda Curtis29 Sep 2025
Really enjoyed it and would give it 9 out of 10,It was very well organised from start to finish read more
Hugh Roberts22 Jul 2025
The silk road in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and the steppes, plains, lakes, mountains and valleys of Kyrgyzstan. Meeting local people and local craftsmen.read more
Fabio Bertozzi24 Sep 2024
I would like to hereby express my satisfaction with your Turkmenistan Encompassed tour, in which I participated from the 8th to the 20th of September 2024. The organization of the tour was impeccable and the staff very knowledgeable and helpful in every situation.read more
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