End to End: Yangykala to Koytendag

Day by day

1. 01

   Arrival and Ashgabat

   • Meeting at Ashgabat international airport, transfer to the hotel, rest
   • After a late breakfast, city tour: Independence Monument, Constitution Monument, Alem Ferris wheel, Gulistan Bazaar, Neutrality Arch, Earthquake Monument
   • Night drive with a stop at the Palace of Happiness
   • Overnight at the hotel
2. 02

   Kow-Ata, Nokhur, Turkmenbashi

   • Drive towards Turkmenbashi, stopping at the Kow-Ata underground lake, 107 km from Ashgabat
   • Nokhur village in the Kopet Dag, with its unique culture, crafts and architecture
   • Overnight at the hotel in Turkmenbashi
3. 03

   Yangykala

   • The Yangykala Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of Central Asia”: pink, white and yellow sandstone and the “crocodile’s mouth” rock, with a stop at the Gozli Ata shrine
   • Lunch at the canyon, flight to Ashgabat
   • Overnight at the hotel
4. 04

   Nisa and Darvaza

   • Nisa, once the capital of the Parthian Empire (UNESCO)
   • Across the Karakum with a stop in Bahardok village and the Water and Mud craters
   • The gas crater, picnic dinner
   • Overnight: tent or yurt
5. 05

   Back to Ashgabat

   • Early drive to Ashgabat, check-in
   • After lunch, the horse farm: Akhal-Teke horses and a short show
   • Ertugrul Gazi Mosque and the Carpet Museum
   • Overnight at the hotel
6. 06

   Kerki and Koytendag

   • Flight to Kerki, then the drive to the Koytendag mountains
   • Zeyit water reserve, Lake Gaynar Baba and the Koytendag Nature Reserve
   • A hike through colourful canyons and across the ridge of the Koytendag range
   • Overnight: base camp
7. 07

   Dinosaur Plateau

   • The Dinosaur Plateau: four paths of footprints, three left by adults and one probably by a young dinosaur
   • A hike through the colourful canyons, the Umbar Dere waterfall and the Kyrk Gyz cave with its legends and sacred ribbons
   • Overnight: base camp
8. 08

   Back to Ashgabat

   • Drive to Kerki, flight to Ashgabat, check-in and rest
   • Overnight at the hotel
9. 09

   Departure

   • Transfer to the airport for your international flight

Route