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 Extreme
& Expedition
Kaplankyr Adventure & Camel
Trek
A 14-Day Off-road & Camel-Tour of Eastern Turkmenistan
This tour package leads
to some of the remotest and most impressive parts of Turkmenistan.
The two-week trip, covering tracks of over 2,500 km by
safari-truck and camel, gives the opportunity to witness
unique wildlife and to experience an active expedition
camp and traditional ways of life in the desert and its
magnificent customs. Under professional guidance of STANTOURS
staff you will visit secrets of nature of a country hardly
known to its local inhabitants. The severe climatic conditions
in the summer and everyday camp-life will help to enhance
the team spirit of each traveller. This adventure tour
is suitable for everybody who loves nature and active
relaxation.
Day 1
Arrival,
Tour of Firuza valley, Nissa Fortress
Arrival at Ashgabat
airport 5 km away from the city centre. Transfer to Chandybil
Hotel (4 Stars) in the Berzengi area located on the outskirts
of the city. After hotel breakfast, tour of Firuza
valley and Nissa
Fortress by minibus. Firuza valley is a popular relaxation
spot 30 km west of Ashgabat
with spectacular narrow gorges along cool streams. European
style picnic in the valley on the riverside. The ruins
of the Nissa
Fortress-city date back 2,300 years and once formed
a Parthian Royal Residence and also allow beautiful views
of the surrounding hills and scenery. In the evening a
traditional dinner with folklore dancing and music in
a local house is arranged. Almost unknown in the west,
you will enjoy traditional Turkmen cuisine and hospitality
in its native setting.
Day 2
Full day
road drive to Yangykala Canyon - 650 km
After breakfast,
early morning loading of the expedition trucks in preparation
for the full day road drive (650 km / 9 hrs) from Ashgabat
to the Yangykala Canyon. The trucks are heavy specially
modified 4WD vehicles (GAZ 53/66) with open backs (removable
tilt roof) and seat about 12 persons with baggage comfortably.
They have excellent off-road capabilities and allow us
to venture where no tourists have ever been before. For
the first 450 km we will be following along the edge of
the Kopetdag mountain, which divides Turkmenistan and
Iran, and crossing the Eastern Plains to then enter desert
and steppe terrain on the way to the magnificent Yangykala
canyon. The trip in the well ventilated back of the
vehicle should give time to get used to the summer temperatures
of 40-50°C in the shade and is an attraction by itself
travelling at a comfortable speed of 70-80 km/h. A lunch
will be prepared in a restaurant in Balkanabat (former
Nebitdag). We arrive in the canyon before sunset - camp
in tents under some of the clearest skies in the world
at the edge of the canyon and relax by a bonfire. Dinner
is prepared by STANTOURS staff. On this occasion the group
will also receive desert safety precautions.
Day 3
Trekking
in the Canyon area, visit of Gozel Ata Mausoleum and Hot
Spring - 200 km
 The
day starts with a light breakfast and a trekking tour
into the valleys of the canyon in the surrounding area.
Afterwards we will We then continue by truck to the Mausoleum
of Gozel Ata some 80 km away where we will lunch and have
a bath in the hot spring. In the afternoon we will set
off on a 1 ½ hrs drive via the remote settlements
of Kyzyl Kaya and Chagyl (110 km). The asphalt road terminates
in Kyzylkaya and after passing Chagyl, the ground track
enters the rich camel grazing grounds of the Eastern Karabogaz
basin. On a small pool in one of the steppe valleys we
will meet the camel caravan. Everybody will have a chance
to watch the milking of the females and get to know the
strong riding camels. We will camp next to the herd in
tents and have dinner by the fire.
Day 4
Full-day camel caravan
- 20 km
In the morning after breakfast
we saddle the camels in preparation for our first day
on camelback. With horses being less adapted to the harsh
climate, the dromedaries selected are trained animals
used by local shepherds. Camel riding on flat land is
far less exhausting than horseback and STANTOURS will
provide initial training for rising, turns and stops and
some simple (camel) command. We then start with the caravan
along the beautiful hillside on a leisure pace covering
some 20 km (½ day). The countryside is wide and
bordered by impressive cliffs and canyons. We will stop
for a picnic lunch and throughout the trip STANTOURS guides
will lead the group on horseback to ensure the safety
of everybody. By the evening we will arrive at a new camp-site,
already set up by our staff, with dinner waiting.
Day 5
Full Day
camel ride to Karayman village - 35 km
 The
second day on camelback is a spectacular 35 km off-road
trek along ancient caravan routes following breathtaking
cliffsides and crossing seemingly endless steppe. We will
encounter large grazing camel herds and make various stops
in the shadow of hills. This day should give a full impression
of what the Silk Road meant to the caravan traveller,
crossing these parts until just 10-15 years ago, when
the last salt-bags where transported in this way. A light
lunch with an opportunity to taste the local fermented
camel-milk will help overcome the climate. The track ends
at the edge of one of the many dry salt-lakes with the
village of Karayman at the top of a hill that will be
reached by evening. The group will stay in traditional
yurts, which will serve as our base for the following
2 days of exploration of the surroundings. Karayman is
the last settlement on the track before the Kaplankyr
National Park and a strictly traditional village. A dinner
of venison from the grill should give a good impression
of the local diet.
Day 6
Half-day
camel trek across sand desert, ½-day trip to Karashor
Salt-lake - 80 km
After breakfast the sand
desert nearby will be explored on camelback on a 10 km
tour lasting about 3 hours. Saksaul bushes, and dunes
form the background for a magnificent array of some 1,000+
indigenous species, the stars of which certainly are the
speedy sand jerboas, huge monitor lizards, rare spiders,
various kinds of scorpions and of course the occasional
cobra. With some patience and special care - these creatures
can be observed safely. STANTOURS hires local guides who
will be able to share their own life experience and give
some practical background on the wildlife. After lunch
and crossing the dunes the group will be picked up by
the trucks for an 80 km excursion to the Salt-lake of
Karashor - the border of the Kaplankyr Reserve and the
largest of the salt marshes in the areas with some impressive
250 m high cliffs on the east-coast. In the evening the
group returns to the village on the trucks and again relaxes
in the yurts.
Day 7
Day-trip
into Kaplankyr National Park - 250-300 km
On the 6th day we head off by truck on a 250-300 km daytrip
featuring wildlife-watching deep in the nature reservation.
Depending on the time of the year this will either be
on the shores of the salt-lake of Kazakhlyshor or further
north-east, near the shores of lake Sarakamysh, the largest
' real' lake in the area. Comparable in area to a smaller
European country, the park is virtually uninhabited and
we are guaranteed to witness a roaming wildlife, amongst
others Kulans (wild asses), goitred gazelles, rare species
of eagles and eagle owls. The reserve was established
in order to preserve the habitat for the Kulans. The landscape
and soil in the area leave no doubt that not so long ago
this was a seabed rather than steppe as fossils in the
sediments indicate. Some mountainous areas are covered
with semiprecious stones, salt, metal and coal sediments
and sparkling glimmerstones, giving the countryside a
futuristic look. We follow rough tracks used by local
hunters, shepherds. On the way back the route crosses
the wells of Dakhly Baba - one of the fiercest confrontation
spots, where during the Russian Civil War the last surviving
Turkmen Basmachi where massacred by the invading Bolshevik
troops. By evening the group returns to Karayman for a
last evening in the village.
Day 8
Drive
to Karabogaz salt-water basin - 150 km
 After
breaking camp at Karayman in the morning, the group continues
by truck on off-road tracks north-west towards the Kara
Bogaz on a leisurely 150 km drive (4 hours) through
the hills. Contrary to most maps, the water in the basin
has returned to its original levels water levels filling
an area the size of Belgium, after it had been dried out
by some Soviet planners, in an attempt to exploit its
mineral resources. The natural salt concentration is now
at maximum and swimming unfortunately is not recommended,
although floating could be better than on the Dead Sea.
The group sets up camp near the drinking water source
of Khodzhasu with amazing views of the impeccable blue
water surface and cliffs stretching towards the horizon.
Day 9
Drive
to Yangysu Canyon and cape Omchaly, horseriding - 120
km
After crossing the Yangysu penninsula, to the south-east
coast of the Karabogaz, the track leads 50 km to the Yangysu
Canyon through which the trucks climb to the plateau bordering
the south edge of the basin. The trek continues westwards
on the cliff with the basin in view. The area is populated
by Kazaks - which can be seen by the colourful headwear
and vests worn by the people in the village of Yazyegshem
throuhg which we will be passing. There will be a break
to try out some of the local Yomud horses in the village
and to relax from the track before continuing down 35
km downhill onto cape Omchaly. In the evening we set camp
on the Karabogaz
shore.
Day 10
Drive
to the Caspian shore, Fishing - 250 km
In the morning we continue 70 km via the villages of Syulmen
and Khasan where we rejoin the asphalt road. The road
continues 80 km to the city of Turkmenbashi
(formerly Krasnovodsk) where the group lunches and then
carries on a further 100 km north so that by mid-afternoon
we can set camp on the wild Caspian
shore providing a chance to wash off the dust and
watch the sun go down with fresh sturgeon and other seafood
from the grill. We will bring fishing lines for everybody
to try his luck. The sea is incredibly clean and the breeze
is just what people need in the summer heat. There used
to be small settlements on the shore, but they have disappeared
as the sea level of the Caspian
has risen some 26 m in the eighties. Most of the shore
is inaccessible because of difficult sand dunes, but there
are a number of bays popular with the local hunters and
fish poachers.
Day 11
Road drive to Bekdash and Karaada Lighthouse Island -
40 km
On this day, after a 40 km road drive, we reach Bekdash
near the Kazakh Border. The city was once a thriving industrial
place of almost 50,000 inhabitants and has now been reduced
to the size of a village with basically no infrastructure
left. We will camp on the Lighthouse Island of Karaada,
which is reached in 20 minutes by motor boat. The rocky
island is amidst a stream of water with a high oxygen
level and has magnificent snorkelling, crab & shrimp
fishing and sunbathing on this relaxation day. The water
is surprisingly cool and has a thriving population of
water snakes (non-poisonous) and curious seals. Natural
pools of water on the rocks are filled by waves and contain
crystal clear water warmed by the sun. Camp will be set
up on the island and we will sleep to the restful sound
of the waves right next to the waves breaking and enjoy
the fresh sea breeze.
Day 12
Road drive to the Balkan mountain range - 300 km
After breakfast and returning to shore, we continue by
truck, back south via Turkmenbashi towards Balkanabat.
This is a slow 300 km trip via asphalt road. Again we
will lunch at a good Turkish restaurant in Turkmenbashi
and will also get a glimpse of the impressive local oil
refinery and the mellow old Russian quarter with beautiful
colourful colonial buildings. At the village of Yebel,
a side road leads into the mountains where we will camp
with a view of the entire area with the seashore on the
horizon and the Kopetdag behind us. The wildlife is usually
thriving and with some luck we will again be able to spot
gazelles and huge eagles.
Day 13
 Road
drive to Ashgabat, Bakharden underground lake - 450 km
On the 12th day the group returns to Ashgabat (450 km,
6 hours) by road. The tour stops at Bakharden lake - an
underground lake formed by a hot spring in a cave 60 m
below the ground and stretching over several kilometres.
Only the first 70 metres are accessible and sufficiently
lit and provide the relaxing occasion for a dip in the
36°C water before the last 100 km back to the Capital.
After returning to Ashgabat the group will be accommodated
at Chandybil Hotel and enjoy a western hotel meal.
Day 14
Ashgabat's Tolkuchka Bazaar, Departure
After breakfast we will visit the Tolkuchka Bazaar by
minibus. The bazaar is a tourist must of Ashgabat, where
it is said that everything on earth is on sale and where
the whole country seems pilgrimage to on Sundays and it
is definitely the city's most colourful face. Woollen
rugs are most certainly the favourite buy, but rows and
rows of colourfully dressed women offer traditional jewellery,
beautiful traditional footwear, hand-woven silk and embroidery.
Afterwards there will be time to relax by the pool and
to explore our city. Some time after dinner the group
is transferred to the airport for the late night departure.
Too long and too hard? Join us on a 3-day
Desert adventure to the Nomads in the Central Karakum
or on a weekend
trip to the hill tribe of the Nokhurli! |
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