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Tours
Door to Hell tour from Khiva
Recommended
This is a short overnight tour from Khiva giving you a brief introduction with Turkmenistan’s two major landmarks: an ancient city of Konye Urgench – one of the 3 UNESCO listed historical sites in Turkmenistan and Darwaza gas crater dubbed as Door to Hell.
This city has been around since at least the 4th Century BC, and was destroyed on at least 2 occasions, by Genghis Khan (in 1221 he burned the city and flooded it), and Tamerlane (in 1373 he razed the city and massacred the population). These days, most of it remains hidden underground, with just a few structures scattered over a wide, open area.
Overnight you will stay at the camp by the crater and will watch the spectacular and fascinating game of flames erupting from the earth.
Please keep in mind, that Turkmen visa is given only strictly for the number of days you booked your tour and you are not allowed to extend visa unless tour is booked. As a result, Turkmenistan is quite expensive for the tourists with daily budgets starting from 200$ (stays are authorized only in state owned hotels and you can’t stay overnight in cheaper private accommodations and you are obliged to have a tour guide). For budget wise travelers a transit visa restricted by 5 days is the only option to save on accommodation and guide.
Tour Highlights
- Konye Urgench - the UNESCO world heritage site in Turkmenistan was once the capital of the Khorezm Empire and the centre of the Islamic world until its sacking by Genghis Khan and Tamerlane in the 13th and 14th centuries. The town’s water supplies came from the Amu Darya (or Oxus in Ancient Greek); the legendary Central Asian river crossed by Alexander the Great and which Genghis Khan used to flood Urgench to end the siege of the city.
- Darwaza - burning gas crater also known as 'The Door to Hell'. In the evening watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater.
- BBQ dinner & overnight in tents/yurt nearby Darwaza, witnessing breathtaking views of burning crater in the night in the midst of Karakum (Black Sand) desert.
Itinerary program
day
1
Khiva – Dashoguz – Kunye Urgench - Darwaza
07:00 Pick up from your hotel in Khiva, drive to the Uzbek-Turkmen border, and go through formalities at both checkpoints. Cross 1.5 km of the neutral zone (minibus available for ca. 1 USD). With your approved invitation letter, you can get your Turkmenistan visas at the border.
Please note: Depending on the number of people waiting to cross the border you will need to wait up to one or two hours, also be prepared to be thoroughly searched. On the Turkmenistan side of the border, meet your Turkmen guide and driver and transfer to Kunya Urgench (UNESCO) (100 km, 2 h.). Have lunch at a local café (not included in the package) and visit the mausoleums of Turebek Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan. Discover the Kutlug Timur Minaret. In the afternoon drive to Darwaza Gas Crater located in the middle of Karakym desert (270 km, 4-5 h.). Discover the burning gas crater by day and nighttime. Accommodation in the yurts. Camp dinner and overnight in yurts (three, or four people per yurt).
day
2
Darwaza – Dashoguz – Khiva
08:00 In the morning, after a camp breakfast, depart from Darwaza Gaz Crater and transfer to BPShavat, arriving at the border post around 1200h.
The Uzbek driver is to stand outside from 13:00 to pick up guests to Khiva. Drop off at your hotel.
Transport in Uzbekistan
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Duration: 2 days
Path: Khiva – Dashoguz – Darwaza – Koneurgench – Dashoguz – Khiva
Difficulty level: Medium
| Tourists |
Price per person
|
|---|---|
| 1 | $760 |
| 2 | $480 |
| 3 |
$450 |
| 4 |
$410 |
| 5 | $365 |
| 6 | $355 |
Tour map
Tour hotels
| Service includes | Service not includes |
|---|---|
|
Visa support (Letter of Invitation, State Registration, Travel Pass) Overland transport in Turkmenistan as per program per AC; 1-3 passengers per regular sedan car; 4 -7 passengers per regular minibus; 1-4 passengers per jeep. Transfer Khiva - UZ-TR border and back on return. Accommodation based on shared yurt camping (incl. foldable beds, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, pillows, tent light), including breakfast Fixed meals (1 dinner); English-speaking local guide-interpreter services; Bottled drinking water en route 1,5l per person per day. |
Turkmenistan tourist visa55+4 USD per person, when obtained at border post(subject to change; nationality dependent) Turkmenistan migration tax 10 USD per person, to be paid at the land border post(subject to change) COVID-19 PCR tests by arrival and/or departure 48 USD per person per test (subject to change!) Meals not indicated in itinerary-program table Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks Camera usage fees in historical parks and museums Tips for local guides and drivers Souvenirs and other personal items All other charges and services not mentioned in the included list |
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