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6 Days
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Darvaza is one of the places that should be on the must-visit list of every serious explorer who likes to visit Earth’s most breath-taking sites. Darvaza is a gas crater the burning gates of which have been flaming for upwards of 37 years. The settlement of Darvaza (Derweze in Turkmen) is located in the Central part of the Kara-Kum desert some 260 km from Ashgabat to the north. On the way to Darvaza lies the Kara-Kum desert, withs its moving sands and its typical sparse vegetation of Saksaul, Acacia and Kandym bushes. The locals from Darvaza have given the burning crater a name that suits it well – The Door to Hell. And everyone who visits Darvaza agrees with the name and finds it appropriate. When you look inside the burning gas crater, you do feel like this is what the door to hell would look like. Seeing the door to hell with your own eyes, however is an experience like no other. You will have long stayed in awe after experiencing the viciousness of the fire within the gorge of the burning crater. The Door to Hell would be an amazing vacation experience for the adventurous wonderers.
The present Ashgabat distinguishes itself with its own style, combining the best traditions of national architecture and the achievements of modern town-building such as “Arch of Neutrality”, “Memorial Complex”, “National Museum”, “Monument and the park of Independence”, “Ice Palace”, “Path of health”, “The fairy tale world of Turkmenbashy”, “Olympic swimming complex”, “Puppet theatre”, “Park of 10 Akhaltekin horses” and many others. Fresh climatic air, clean and wide streets, new parks with majestic fountains and originality of the capital keep unforgettable impressions. This Ashgabat half day city tour is designed bring you a feel of Ashgabat's local culture while enjoying sightseeing highlights of the city of Love.
Visually, Nohur is unlike any other site found in Turkmenistan. Rich in history, nature and tribal custom, Nohur is set 1,100 m above the Karakum Desert in the cool mountain valleys of southwestern Turkmenistan. The Nohur people have maintained a highly homogeneous society based upon ancestral rights, and tribal custom. Varied images in the stunning silk embroideries sewn by local Nohur women, indicating their particular tribe, make Nohur silk renowned throughout the country. The Nohur felts are also thought to be exclusive to this region. They differ from customary Turkmen felts with their original designs and Zoroastrian ornaments symbolising the worship of fire, and the cult of fertility. Constructing their homes from the stones found around the area, the Nohur people have decorated these simple homes with handcrafted wooden columns and capitals unique only to this clan of people. Accented by two small flowing streams, the flora and fauna of this region is exceptional. There are mountain goats (umga and marhur), Urial mountain sheep, wolves, foxes, jackals, porcupines, and even snow leopards in these mountain-ridges. See this ancient way of life uniquely preserved and rarely seen. – Nohur is reached by a road heading south into the mountains from the village of Archman. A 4x4 is required, though the route can become all but impassable after heavy rains. Since 2004, visits to the Nohur area have required a special border zone permit, to be applied for when you request your letter of invitation for Turkmenistan. The border checkpoint lies 12 km south of Archman. Nohur itself is another 10 km further on, and up, at an altitude of around 1000 m.
This itinerary is for active tourists. Magnificent Geok-dere canyons are at tourists’ service where they can do a fascinating tour on Akhaltekin Horses which were called “Heavenly” by Geradot. The route will pass around undisturbed civilization of nature Nohur. You will get an opportunity to see the waterfall “Hurhuri”, mountains with “Moon”, cave of “girls”, taste of home cheese producing with old technology of ancient nomads and enjoy with superlative fresh fruits of Nohur. Then tourists will visit the unique underground lake “Kow-ata” that located inside of the cave in a deep of 60 m., which nourish with hydrosulphuric source. The water has a constant temperature +30, +37C. Chemical analysis has shown that water contains a complex combination of chemical elements – 30 have been found to date. Then the route will acquaint the tourists with real life of Turkmen village – Yerbent. (National Turkmen cuisine – plov, shorba in a fire, chorek, baked in tamdyr (oven from arable (clay and straw)) and visit the big fire Gas Crater in the heart of Garagum desert.