Open Travel Guide
Day trips from Turkmenistan

Best Day Trips from Turkmenistan 2026

Escape the city with the best day trips from Turkmenistan.

By Updated Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

Turkmenistan has 5+ day trips covered in this guide, led by Kow-Ata Underground Lake, Nohur Village and Anau Ruins and Sultan Sanjar Mosque. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Turkmenistan is a fascinating Central Asian nation known for its surreal marble-clad capital Ashgabat, the mesmerizing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell), and ancient Silk Road cities. This mysterious country offers a unique blend of Soviet-era grandeur, traditional nomadic culture, and vast Karakum Desert landscapes.

Top day trips

Handpicked excursions within easy reach.

100km west of Ashgabat

Kow-Ata Underground Lake

Hire car/driver from Ashgabat ($40-60 return)

Highlights: Swim in 33-37C mineral-rich underground lake · Dramatic limestone cave with stalactites · Therapeutic sulfurous waters · 267 steps descent to the lake

120km west of Ashgabat

Nohur Village

Hire car ($50-70 return)

Highlights: Mountain Turkmen village with distinct culture and dialect · Unique wolf-head grave markers in village cemetery · Traditional apricot orchards and mud-brick homes · Panoramic Kopet Dag mountain views

12km east of Ashgabat

Anau Ruins and Sultan Sanjar Mosque

Taxi from Ashgabat

Highlights: 15th-century Timurid mosque ruins with mosaic dragons · Ancient Anau burial mound settlement over 8,000 years old · Working local bazaar in Anau town · Easy half-day excursion from capital

480km north of Ashgabat (near Dashoguz)

Kunya-Urgench UNESCO Site

Overnight train Ashgabat to Dashoguz ($8), then taxi ($15)

Highlights: UNESCO-listed medieval Islamic architecture · Gutlug Timur Minaret tallest minaret in Central Asia at 62m · Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum with turquoise cone · Ruins of ancient Khwarezm capital

8km south of Ashgabat city center

Ashgabat Hippodrome Sunday Horse Racing

Taxi from any Ashgabat hotel ($3-5)

Highlights: Watch the legendary Akhal-Teke golden horses race · Major social event for Ashgabat families · Photography of the world most beautiful horse breed · Festive atmosphere with local snack vendors

Trips by distance

How far you can go in a day.

Getting there

Transport options for day trips.

Tours
Organized day tours to Kow-Ata and Nohur from $60-80/person; Darvaza overnight tours from $100-200/person — all include transport
Private
Hire car with driver from $40-80/day for Ashgabat-area destinations; 4WD with driver required for Darvaza and desert destinations from $120/day
Public
State buses serve Geok Tepe ($2, 1 hour) and Anau ($0.50, 30 minutes from Chandybil bus station); intercity trains serve Mary and Dashoguz for Merv and Kunya-Urgench
Rental
Self-drive rental not recommended for foreigners in Turkmenistan — very limited options and checkpoints require local driver knowledge; hire car with driver strongly preferred

Day trip tips

Make the most of your excursions.

Tip

Start early — all desert and outdoor sites are best visited in the morning before heat builds; aim to leave Ashgabat by 8AM for day trips

Tip

Arrange permits in advance for sites near the Iranian border — a licensed local agency handles this but needs 24-48 hours notice

Tip

Carry sufficient water for any trip outside Ashgabat — minimum 4L per person for desert destinations

Tip

Bring your passport on all day trips — road checkpoints between cities may request documents

Related topics