This full of adventures and exotic tour on graceful Akhalteke horses is carrying out in Turkmenistan along the one of the greatest deserts of Asia – Karakum. Akhalteke horses are considered as ancestors of all modern breeds of horses by right. During the tour you will familiarize with rich flora and fauna of the desert, visit settlements lost in the sands, where people live their own life far from civilization blessings, enjoy picturesque landscapes and unusual nice dawns and sunsets. Also the sights of wonderful nice capital of Turkmenistan Ashgabat city are waited for you. In the end of the tour it will be very difficult for you to leave your horse – the most beautiful and cleverest animal, but you will remember this remarkable trip forever.
Profile: daily horse tour with full escort (total length of the itinerary is 220 km, day walking is 40 km, time spending in the saddle up to 6 hrs/day). Accommodation: 4 nights in hotels, 7 nights in tents.
Tour program
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1
Arrival in Ashgabat.
Arrival in Ashgabat. Meeting in the airport and transfer to the hotel. Rest.
2
Full day excursion in Ashgabat.
Full day excursion in Ashgabat: archeological site of ancient Nisa - the ruins of Parthian Royal Residence, Park dedicated to Turkmen Horses, National Museum of History & Ethnography of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Haji Mosque, "Turkmenbashy Ruhy" Mosque (Spiritual Mosque of Turkmenbashy) - one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia, Mausoleum of Saparmurat Turkmenbashi - the first President of Turkmenistan, Independence park, Monument of Neutrality, Earthquake 1948 Memorial, Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, Carpet Museum – there is the biggest carpet in the world.
3
Transfer to Geokdepe Farm Stud (58 km, 1 hr).
Transfer to Geokdepe Farm Stud (58 km, 1 hr). En route you will stop to visit “Turkmenbashynyn Ruhy Metjidi” – a new mosque which is the biggest in Central Asia and “Geokdepe” Mosque. After arrival at the farm, you will be familiarized with the stud-farm, private carpet factory of the farm and have showing and choosing horses to riders, check and adjust tack and to learn about Turkmen horses - Akhalteke. After lunch small nature excursion around the settlement on chose horses for the tour. Overnight at the base in the yurts.
4
Riding to Tummekli Hills (34 km, 6 hrs in the saddle).
Riding to Tummekli Hills (34 km, 6 hrs in the saddle). Our route takes us across the sand-dunes of Karakum Desert from well to well. Overnight in the tents.
5
Riding via desert dunes to Chyrla Nomadic settlement (32 km, 5 hrs in the saddle).
Riding via desert dunes to Chyrla Nomadic settlement (32 km, 5 hrs in the saddle). Lunch is on the way at one of the takyr. During our ride we should see the tribal herds of camel and huge frocks of sheep that range across the typical desert pastures. Overnight in the tents.
6
Riding to Gurrukly – small settlement (35 km, 6 hrs in the saddle).
Riding to Gurrukly – small settlement (35 km, 6 hrs in the saddle). Lunch near Gutlyayak settlement – one of the biggest settlements in the desert. After lunch you can go to the settlement and familiarize with a life of nomadic people. Overnight in the tents.
7
Riding to Hakysh (17 km, 3 hrs in the saddle).
Riding to Hakysh (17 km, 3 hrs in the saddle). Today we will have a half day ride only. Your horses will have a good rest, and you can be busy watching the wild life in the desert near the camp. After lunch we will organize a shower tent where you can have a shower. Overnight in the tents.
8
Riding to Gongurajy (29 km, 4 hrs in the saddle).
Riding to Gongurajy (29 km, 4 hrs in the saddle). Overnight in the tents.
9
Riding to Orazsahet settlement (28 km, 5 hrs in the saddle).
Riding to Orazsahet settlement (28 km, 5 hrs in the saddle). Here in «Orazsahet» settlement only one family’s members live for a long period of time. There we familiarize with a life of those people and feel their hospitality. Overnight in the tents.
10
Riding to Geokdepe Lake (38 km, 6 hrs in the saddle).
Riding to Geokdepe Lake (38 km, 6 hrs in the saddle). We continue our trekking via desert dunes to Geokdepe Lake – a final point of out tour. Here we can have a rest, swim and you’re your horses, watch the life of numerous kinds of birds. The lake riches in fish. To the evening 5-km transfer to the farm, where you will be waited for farewell dinner.
11
Transfer to Ashgabat.
Transfer to Ashgabat. After breakfast drive to visit Ashgabat’s famous Oriental Bazar- Jygyldyk (Tolkuchka in Russian) where it is sold almost everything: camels, carpets, cars and etc. There you will find plenty of souvenirs such as carpets, aladjas, handcrafts, felts, embroideries, jewellers and etc. At the Old Hippodrome of Ashgabat you can watch the Sunday Horse Race where the best horses of Turkmenistan compete in motion. After lunch returning to the hotel. Free time. Dinner at one of the local restaurants.
