• Nisa, Turkmenistan

    Friday 02 June 2023
    Highlights: Monument of Neutrality, Indoor Ferris wheel, Old Nisa, Gurbansoltan Eje Memorial and Turkmenbashi Mosque, Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, National Museum of Turkmenistan, Independence Monument, Food poisoning

    The last full day of the Five Stans tour before my flight back to Türkiye at 3.30 am tomorrow. Today we our small group would explore the marble city of Ashgabat in more detail building on last night’s exploration.

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  • Turkish Airlines
    Date: 03 June 2023
    Gate: 102
    Seat: 6B (Economy Class Seat)
    Plane: Airbus A321neo
    Boarded: 02:45 (early)
    Pushback: 03:21 (Scheduled 03:30)
    Arrived: 05:10 (Scheduled 05:20)
    Duration: 3 hour 49 minutes
    Distance: 2,555 kms

    This flight was from Ashgabat International Airport to Istanbul International Airport.

    Note: I was very unwell before this flight, vomiting from food poisoning but was better by the time of the flight. As a result I did observe as much as I would normally do.

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  • Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

    Thursday 01 June 2023
    Highlights: The amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell) at Dawn, Hiking in the Karakum Desert, Exploring Ashgabat at night

    Waking up at 5 am I did a short walk from my yurt to the Darvaza Gas Crater for another look at the unique phenomenon.

    Darvaza, Turkmenistan – The Gates of Hell at dawn
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  • Darvaza, Turkmenistan- The gang at the Gas Crater aka Gates of Hell at dusk

    Wednesday 31 May 2023
    Highlights: Exploring Kunya-Urgench, the amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell)

    After a surprise hotel accidental wake call for everyone via an intercom announcement and an underwhelming breakfast, we were off on a 2 hour drive to UNCESO protected ancient abandoned city of Kunya-Urgench. This was the first chance to really see this country and some of it’s people.

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  • Dashoguz, Turkmenistan – A giant white Yurt.

    Tuesday 30 May 2023
    Highlights: Border crossing to Turkmenistan, Card game

    Today I said goodbye to 10 members of the tour group and our CEO Rustam while 6 of us (Kyle, Ingrid, Amy, Mike, Nancy and me), plus our new CEO Eziz, travelled to Turkmenistan for the fifth and last ‘Stan of the Five Stans. Khiva was only 1.5 hours from the border and we left around 9 am.

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