Welcome to Ashgabat, the enchanting capital of Turkmenistan! After landing, our guide and the driver will warmly greet you at the airport, followed by a private transfer to the hotel.

Once you have settled and recharged, let’s begin our exploration, first with a visit to the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa, established by the Parthians in the 3rd century BC, which comprises two areas situated 1.5 kilometers apart. Old Nisa was an independent fortress and historically the royal residence, where you can appreciate many mud sculptures and murals depicting battle scenes within square houses. In contrast, New Nisa once served as a thriving city with large estates and a robust pottery-making industry. Both locations now appear as vast sand mounds lacking interpretive signage, but our expert guide will vividly recount Nisa’s past, enhancing your understanding of the region’s history.

Then, immerse yourself in the serenity of Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque (Gypjak Mosque), built to commemorate former President Niyazov. Stepping inside, you can marvel at the wall inscribed with verses of the Quran and excerpts of the Ruhnama, a spiritual guide for Turkmens written by the president himself. He believed reading it three times opens a path to heaven after death. The nearby structure, looking like a miniature mosque, is the mausoleum of Niyazov.

Afterward, meander through the Earthquake Memorial Complex while hearing the tragic story of the devastating earthquake that struck Ashgabat in 1948, and pay tribute to great Turkmen poets in Makhtumkuli Park. As we drive toward your hotel to stay overnight, you can take in Ashgabat’s surreal white cityscape lit up by neon lights.