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BUS TOUR (UZBEKISTAN - TURKMENISTAN - IRAN)
(TURKMENISTAN PART)
Farap - Turkmenabat - Mary - Ashgabat - Gaudan/Badjgiran
Day 1 / Farap - Turkmenabat - Mary
Crossing Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan Border Farap. Custom Formalities. Drive to Turkmenabat. Lunch at local restaurant. Drive to Mary. Visiting Ancient Merv. Merv is by far Turkmenistan's most recognized heritage site. It impresses in its vastness of 2,000 ha including five different city-sites from three millennia and with numerous monuments and shrines remaining from the Muslim period. Merv has recently been included into the UN List of World Heritage Monuments. The important architectural monuments include Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum and Gyz Gala Fortress. Dinner at local restaurant. Accommodation at Hotel and overnight.
Meals: L.D.
Day 2 / Mary - Ashgabat 
Breakfast. Visit Mary Regional Museum of History and Ethnography with unique Collection of Turkmen Traditional Costumes. Lunch. Drive to Ashgabat. Arrival. Sightseeing tour of Ashgabat including: Lenin Monument, new mosque, Turkmenbashi revolving statue, local Russian bazaar, etc. Dinner and Overnight at Hotel in Ashgabat
Meals: B.L.D.
Day 3 / Ashgabat
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Museum of History of Turkmenistan has a rich collection of ancient artifacts from Turkmenistan. More than 500,000 exhibits are displayed here in 9 halls. The highlight of the museum is a collection of ivory, discovered during the excavations at the Old Nissa, residence of Parthian kings from the Arshakid Dynasty. Lunch. Afternoon visiting to Ancient Nisa, the capital of the Parthian Empire (25 km from Ashgabat), mentioned in the Zend-Avesta - holy book of Zoroastrianism. In the 4th century B.C., Parthia was a part of Alexander the Great's Empire. Then it became an independent state. It was a large city and the family residence of kings. The peak of Parthia's military success and political might was achieved in the second and first centuries B.C. Its territory stretched from Syria to India. The Parthian army defeated the army led by the Roman commander Crassus, famous for his defeat of a slaves' revolt headed by Spartacus. Now you can see the remains of the royal fortress. Dinner (for groups more than 10 pax Farewell Dinner with folklore program and traditional cuisine). Overnight.
Meals: B.L.D.
Day 4 / Ashgabat - Gaudan/Badjgiran
Breakfast at the hotel.
Option 1: Drive to Turkmen/Iranian border. Crossing the border.
Option 2) Flight home
Meals: B.
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