Ashgabat, Darvaza & Kunya Urgench: 3-Day Iran–Uzbekistan Crossing

Overview

This 3-day Iran to Uzbekistan transit tour crosses Turkmenistan at its most concentrated - entering at the Howdan/Bajigiran border near Mashhad and exiting at the Shavat crossing into Uzbekistan, covering three UNESCO-era landmarks, a desert overnight, and one of the most dramatic natural phenomena in Central Asia. Day one delivers an immediate immersion into Ashgabat - the white marble capital rebuilt from the ground up after the 1948 earthquake. A full guided tour covers the city's ceremonial architecture before the afternoon at Old Nissa, the Parthian royal fortress UNESCO recognized in 2007. The contrast between the ultra-modern city and this 2,000-year-old ruin twelve kilometers away is one of the more disorienting and rewarding experiences this Iran to Uzbekistan route offers. The Darvaza Gas Crater, the tour's centerpiece, is reached on Day 2 via a four-hour Karakum Desert crossing that includes stops at the lesser-known water and mud craters nearby. The overnight stay in a traditional yurt beside the burning crater is the defining experience of any Turkmenistan transit tour - there is no equivalent anywhere else on the Silk Road. Day 3 drives north to Old Koneurgench, the former Khorezm Empire capital and UNESCO site, before the border crossing. Travelers continuing to Khiva will find the connection intuitive - both cities belonged to the same cultural sphere before the Mongols rewrote the map.

Highlights