Cultural tours with excursions to Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a great destination for a full-program cultural tour. This county possesses plenty of great monuments of the past dynasties: Tamerlane, Sassanid, Khorezm, whose offspring built new cities and erected magnificent palaces, mosques and caravanserais, created the foundation for the magnificent libraries and observatories. The ancient town of Konye-Urgench, Merv, Nisa, stands of Great Silk Road, the medieval forts and mausoleums - the basis of the Turkmen cultural excursions. In addition, the country has many natural attractions: Karakum desert, sulfuric lake Coe-Ata, burning crater Darwaza, national parks Repetek, Kugitang, Kopet Dag and many other interesting places.

In Ashgabat it is worth visiting mound Nisa (1 thousand BC), the former capital of the once mighty Parthian kingdom. Here you can see the remains of two fortresses, temples, palace halls, tombs of Arsakid dynasty. You should definitely walk around the picturesque medieval bazaars: huge Dzhygyllyku, Gulistan, and Lalezaru Teke bazaar. The Carpet Museum tells an interesting story of carpet weaving traditions and ways of weaving carpets, exposes many artifacts - from the oldest specimen (17 in.) to the modern giant of 301 square meters named "Golden Age of Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great." Travelers will also see here Mosque "Turkmenbashi Ruhy" built in the native village of the former president, 15 km from the capital, and an abundance of architectural structures of modern time: the palaces of Turkmenbashi and Ruhiyet, Independence Monument and Arch of Neutrality, business centers, parks and fountains.

Attractions of Mary, Ancient Merv - the citadel Erk Kala of Achemenid dynasty, medieval settlement Gyaur Kala with ruins of monasteries and castles of the nobility, Seljuk settlement Sultan Kala, citadel Shahriyar Ark, the ruins of Parthian city Gobekli, the holy city Gonur Depe, medieval castles Haram -Keshk and Akuyli-Koushuk, mosques, mausoleums and tombs.

In Turkmenbashi town it will be interesting to visit mausoleum Shir-Cabibbo (10 C), Mosque Para-bibi, an important center of pilgrimage for Muslim women, caravanserai Tasharvat, Dehistan valley and the ruins of medieval city Misrian with two well-preserved 20-meter minarets.

During your cultural tour in Turkmenabat you will visit Reserve Repetek, part of Karakum desert, the hottest place in the whole Central Asia, the settlement in Amul-Chardjui, the city museum Atamyrat, mausoleum Almutasir and Astana-baba.

Carpets and horses are the two main riches of Turkmenistan. You will have a chance to see here handsome, noble Akhal-Teke horses and to take home a lovely authentic Turkmen carpet or rug. The largest choice of them you can find in Ashgabat bazaars, as well as in the shop at Carpets Museum, but to find the product for your soul and wallet is easily possible in any city of Turkmenistan. Knotted carpets made of wool or silk are the most expensive commodity, felt mats will cost much cheaper, and they are every bit as nice.

From your cultural tour to Turkmenistan you can also bring items of national dress, which are not a rarity here- they are still used as a daily dress by middle-aged and older people, especially outside the capital. Popular hats here are skullcaps and a fur hats from sheep's wool "Telpak." Your attention will be attracted to the bright, thin and extremely durable Turkmen silk "keteni". Among other souvenirs are statuettes of Akhal-Teke horses of all styles and sizes, national silver jewelry - both female and male. We also recommend to buy some Turkmen halva, as well as brandy and local wines.

Turkmenistan is a great discovery of ancient heritage, oriental culture and hospitable people. Make a cultural tour to this wonderful land and get plenty of bright impressions and positive emotions!