Mary Light

Tour 2: Mary Light
Duration: 6 days
In short: Ashgabat – Darwaza – Mary – Gonurdepe – Merv – Ashgabat

Day 1: Ashgabat
You will be met by the guide at international airport. The driver will transfer you to hotel. After that you can visit “Nisa” (UNESCO World Heritage since 2007). We have no doubt you will like it. You will have the opportunity to explore the remnants of one of the most important cities and the capital of the Parthian Empire. It is considered to be the main power between the III millennium BC − III millennium AD. Afterwards you will have the chance to visit a mosque and mausoleum of the late President of Turkmenistan in Gypjak. Night is in a hotel. 

Day 2: Ashgabat – Darwaza – Ashgabat
The morning will start by driving to the National Museum of History and Museum Carpet. We have no doubt you will like it. In the second half of day you will drive 240km to the Gas Crater − Darwaza. You will have a break in Erbent village. You will have the chance to capture great landscape and keep it in your memory. Afterwards you will return to Ashgabat. Overnight is in a hotel. 

Day 3: Ashgabat – Mary – Gonurdepe
Having a hearty breakfast we will visit the 5th center of civilization Margush/Gonurdepe. It is located north-east site in 90 km from Mary city. A very beautiful site of Bronze Age civilization, known as Margush. It means meaning "lowland", or as in Greek "Margiana". It was discovered since the early 1970s by belated Professor Viktor Sarianidi. He was the leader of Margiana Archaeological Expedition. The Bronze Age sites were found in the northern edge of the present-day which nowadays became desert. Climatic change became the reason of the abandonment of the area, with the result that the ruins of the Bronze Age settlements were well conserved beneath the desert soils. The Margiana sites had ties with those at Bactria, in present-day northern Afghanistan. Sarianidi argues that the Bactria- Margiana complex was a major center of ancient civilization as well as a birthplace of Zoroastrianism. After that you will visit the National History and Ethnology Museum. Night is in in a hotel. 

Day 4: Mary – Merv – Ashgabat
Today we will visit Ancient Merv/Merv. It is located at the road crossing of the Great Silk Road and later became one of the largest and biggest cities of the ancient world. In addition it was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Then you will have a guided tour where you can visit Gyz Gala, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum, Ibn Zeid Mausoleum. We will continue driving to Mary city. On arrival you will rest and explore the site. Afterwards you will drive back to Ashgabat city. Night is in a hotel. 

Day 5: Ashgabat
We will drive to the horse farm. On arrival you will see beautiful Ahalteke horses. The masters of the Ahalteke horses will organize horse riding. You will enjoy! Then you can visit memorial complex. Also you can visit the Russian market. It is one the unusual markets attracts people from around the world. You will find there the mix of Russian and Turkmen traditional ornaments. Night is in a hotel.

Day 6: Flight
We are glad that you enjoyed in Turkmenistan! Have a safe flight!
 

Price per person:
02 pax – 945 $
04 pax – 695 $
06 pax – 600 $
08 pax – 555 $
10 pax – 560 $
Single – 65 $

Early check-in – 40 $
Single early check-in – 65 $ 

Half board – 65 $
Full board – 120 $
 

Service includes:
- Transport
- Accommodation:
     Ashgabat – “Menzil” Hotel 3*
     Darwaza – Tents with dinner
     Mary – “Merv” Hotel 3*
- Visa support
- English speaking guide
- Entrances to all museums
- Mineral water during the tour
- Domestic flights and trains (if any)

           
Service does not include:
- Visa
- Full board
- Single rooms           
- Early check-in
- Travel insurance
- Migration tax (12 $)
- Fee for using cameras on monuments

Note: Each Traveler should have 2 photos (5×6) to be presented at the points of entry.

If you want to find out more about places included in this tour – please read below.
For more details – click on the NAME of the place. 

Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan encircled by Kopetdag mountains and Karakum desert.
“Old Nisa” is the first capital of the Parthian kingdom, which arose in the III century BC.
State Museum of History has halls dedicated to the history, modern culture and ethnography.
Carpet Museum stores a big collection of Turkmen carpets from over 20 centuries.
Darwaza is the famous “Doors to Hell” where that is very captivating to see.
Gonur Depe is the archaeological park, the largest settlements on the Murghab River.
Mary is the zone consists of ancient cultural monuments that is located in the Karakum desert.
Margiana/ Margush is the oldest town, belonging to the famous Behistun inscription.
Ancient Merv has more than 4,000-year-long history and included in the UNESCO list.
Gyz Gala is a fortress that was one of the significant interchange parts on the Great Silk Road.
Erk Gala was the center of Merv in ancient times with total area of 20 hectares.
Soltan Gala was founded in the XI-XII centuries by Seljukid Sultan Melik Shah.
Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum with the height of 38 m is located in the center of Sultan Kala.
Ibn Zeid Mausoleum is one of the best examples of Islamic architecture.
Mary is the zone consisting of ancient cultural monuments that is located in the Karakum desert.
Russian Market founded by Russian settlers is a great example of Turkmen architecture.