Darvaza Gas Crater Group Tour from Khiva
Tour Details
2 days
1-14 pax
$530 / per person
$50 Single supplement
Description
Turkmenistan’s ‘Gates of Hell’, a.k.a. the Darvaza Gas Crater, is one of Central Asia’s rarest and most mesmerizing sites. These natural gas reserves have been burning incessantly since the early 1970s, and are all the more awe-inspiring in the lonely Karakum desert, where they leave an unforgettable impression upon all who see their flames under the starry desert sky.
The Darvaza Gas Crater lies not far from the Kunya-Urgench region of Turkmenistan. This sparsely populated area is the former capital of the Khorezmian Empire and replete with mausoleums, cemeteries, mosques and fortresses from the 12th-16th centuries.
Two-day Darvaza Gas Crater Group Tour from Khiva will take you to the very mouth of the ‘Door to Hell’ itself, where you will camp out near its flames, enjoy the still desert night and see the Darvaza Gas Crater in all its fearsome splendor. You’ll also get a hands-on glimpse into the historical backdrop of the area as you spend a day touring the important historical sites of Kunya-Urgench, all alongside knowledgeable drivers who know their way over the desert paths and are guaranteed to be waiting for you on both sides of the Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan border.
Program
Meals: dinner
- Visit the Tyurabek-Khanym Mausoleum (14th century), burial site of a Mongolian princess and the Sayid Ahmed Mausoleum (14th century), a leader of the Golden Horde.
- Discover the Kutlug Timur Minaret (11th-13th centuries), which at 62m (203ft) is the tallest minaret in Central Asia.
- Travel to the 12th-century Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum of Khorezmshakh.
- Explore Kyrk Molla Hill (Forty Mullahs Hill), a fortress covering three hectares, including the famous Mamun Library (8th-9th centuries), and an ancient cemetery believed to hold present-day healing powers.
- Walk through the Fakhreddin Razi Mausoleum (a.k.a. mausoleum of Arslan II, 12th-13th centuries), a rare survivor of the Mongol invasion and one of the oldest, most unique structures in all of Central Asia.
Drive to Dashoguz/Shavat border crossing into Uzbekistan. Go through border formalities at both checkpoints. Meet your driver in Uzbekistan and continue on to Khiva (60 km, 1 hr). End of Darvaza Gas Crater Group Tour from Khiva
Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Includes
Price includes:
- All transportation (Uzbekistan - sedan/minivan, Turkmenistan – SUV/4WD);
- Camp style dinner and breakfast at Darvaza Crater, Lunch in Kunya-Urgench;
- Entrance fees to tourist sites as per itinerary;
- Visa support letter for Turkmenistan tourist visa, State Registration and Travel Pass;
- English-speaking tour guide for your entire time in Turkmenistan;
- Utensils and necessary equipment for staying in tents (sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pillows) or shared yurts.
Dates & Prices
Booking Inquiry
Fill out the form and we will contact you shortly.
Reviews
It was a fantastic tour. I truly appreciate all the help and information.
It was a fantastic tour. I truly appreciate all the help and information. Feel free to use my feedback.
We have returned from our expedition to Turkmenistan.
It was very well organized and the guides were perfect.
Many thanks for your organization
I was looking for a organized tour to Turkmenistan and on google I have found this travel agency. I was a solo travel and I must say that I was a bit scared to go alone to Turkmenistan but Sultan helped all along the procedure. So, the travel agency arranged everything: from the letter of invitation till the contact with a turkmen guide. He gave me all the information I needed and everything was transparent and clear. My travel started from Khiva and I wanted to visit Darvaza gas crater. I have visited also some historic sites in Kounia-Ourguentch.
I can only recommend this travel agency and I guess they organize also different trips in Uzbekistan. Unique experience for me.
Excellent tour allowing to visit Darvaza from Uzbekistan in only 2 days.
The guide was insightful and the conditions of the stay (SUV, tents, etc.) ideal to discover this place.
Many thanks