Asia: Turkmenistan Riding Tours on Akhal Tekes

Asia: Turkmenistan Riding Tours

What:

12 day/11 night rides beginning and ending in Ashgabat the capital of Turkmenistan on famous Akhal-Teke horses. Trip involves a combination of hotels and tent camps, all accommodations, meals, riding and transfers. Our riders have enjoyed this experience for it wonderful service and horses.

Dates and Rates:

Dates: 2009: March 19, April 2, April16, 30, August 27, Sept. 10, 24, Oct 8.

Prices for 2009 may be subject to small changes after Jan 2009

Rates will vary from$1700 US/1261 euros for 2 riders

$1530 US /1136 euro for 3/$1240 US/920euro for 4 down to$1100 US /817 euro f for 8 persons . All rates are per person. Single supplement will be $125 US/92 euros.

General Description: The riding adventure in Turkmenistan take place in Akhal region, an area of extraordinary historical interest: in 334 BC. Alexander the Great swept the area in search of its legendary horses for his conquering armies on their way to India. It was the center of the mighty Parthian Empire (Old Nissa), which crushed a Roman army in 53 B.C., its archers mounted on Turkmen horses (hence the «Parthian Shot»). The Turkmen nomadic tribes raided the rich cities of their Persian neighbors for centuries.

Most of the riding occurs in typical desert dunes while enjoying sunny days and cool nights with sudden storms always a possibility in this Central Asian region. Nights are spent under tents or in Turkmen yurts. Dinners are cooked Turkman style and there is plenty of tea and snacks. Experienced English speaking guide, horsemen and cook/camp manager will always accompany you. Longer riding days of 5 to 6 hours are normally followed by days off from riding. Off days from riding will give you an opportunity to explore history and culture of Turkmenistan where the horse has frequently been the principal means of transportation; it's breeding and training requiring the skills of trained equestrian experts. A study of the itinerary that follows will give you details of what you might expect along the way

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Horsesense: Akhal Teke is a horse that contributed the blood line for every horse and is famed for its beauty, speed and endurance. Our horses will not disappoint. Rides are for fit and capable riders, although total distances covered on horseback and time in saddle will be limited to insure the health of rider and horse. Saddles are western style. Water and other conveniences are carried by outfitters and guides. Please bring belt bag for personal equipment or supplies. There is vehicle support on all rides

Getting There* :

Guests will be met at international airport of Ashgabat and transferred to local hotels on first and last night. 14 day visas are necessary part of visiting country and our company in Turkmenistan will assist you in the process by supplying letters of intent. Lufthansa offers connections to Ashgabat from Frankfurt, as does Turkmenistan Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Room and Board* :

First and last nights are spent in hotels in Ashgabat and thereafter you sleep in either canvas tents or Turkmen yurts. Traditional food in Turkmenistan includes bread, thick soups and meat dumplings. Other popular dishes are shashlik (mutton cooked on skewers) and fried meat. Pilav is a favorite main dish that consists of mutton, onions, carrots or turnips, garlic and rice. Near the Caspian Sea, fish is used in pilav instead of meat. Pilav is also prepared using dried fruit. Almonds, figs, grapes, melons and pomegranates are available. Tea is part of Turkmenistan's culture and is always offered to visitors. Turkmen tea is green and Russian tea is black. Alcoholic drinks include wine and vodka.

Weather:

While the weather will generally be dry and moderate during the riding day and cool at night sudden and fierce rainstorms are a distinct possibility. (April to June) and autumn (September to November) are the preferred seasons to visit Turkmenistan. In April brings desert blooms and the dry ochre landscapes explode in reds, oranges and yellows. Autumn is harvest time, when fruit is freshly picked.

ITINERARY

I- TOUR FACTS:

HRP01-12D. Wonders of Garagum Desert/Duration: 12 days/11 nights Your Itinerary

Season:         March-June and August-November
Conditions:     Each member of group must have his own outfit, raincoat, sleeping bag, medical and accident insurance.
Services:       DN TOURS provides with transportation (bus, work vehicles, horses), tents, full board, lodging in hotels, guide service, interpreters, stable- men, formalities.
Size of the group:           Optimal size is 6-8 persons.

IMPORTANT: (*)

These programs are changeable. By order of clients we can prolong or shorten days. We can also organize combination customized tours for larger groups as well as for individual travelers to have their trip along the Great Silk Road (Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Kirgizstan).

All tourists must know horse-riding skills. Route takes in various places (deserts, lakes, mountains) so all tourist must be ready to meet face-to-face with nature's exams.

II- DAY BY DAY SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY:

Day1:	Thursday: Arrival in Ashgabat International Airport Departure for Ashgabat from Frankfurt by LH. Flight LH 612. Departure at 13.40 PM. Arrival at 23.10 PM. Early arrival in Ashgabat International Airport from Frankfurt. Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel Nissa 4*. Accommodation and rest.
Day2:	Friday: Full Day SS in AshgabatBreakfast. After rest full day SS in Ashgabat: Park dedicated to Turkmen Horses, Presidential Square, Arch of Neutrality, Gulistan Bazar, Monument of Lenin (1927). After lunch visit Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, New Hippodrome and horses kept there where there will be Horse Show (different tricks with horses & on horseback), Monument of Independence and Ruhnama. Lunch & dinner is free.
Day3:	Saturday: Transfer to the Farm Stud “Geokdepe” The first day of horse trekking. The itinerary begins from the farm - horse stable of vil. Geokdepe which is located 58 km to the west of Ashgabat. Transfer to Geokdepe village - base horse farm. 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. Lunch at the farm. After lunch small nature excursion around the village on horses. Traditional Turkmen kebab supper and overnight at the base in the yurtas.
Day4:	Sunday Ride Geokdepe village – Tummekli (34 kms riding, six hours aprox. in the saddle) Early start, breakfast, saddle up. On the first day of our trekking, we take a route to the east-north of Garagum desert. Our route takes us across the sand-dunes of Garagum desert from well to well. We stay for a lunch on the way then continue riding to Tummekli – it is a name of one of the hills of desert where there is a possibility to stop for camping next to it. There we will have a chance to meet face to face with a wild life of Garagum desert. Dinner and overnight under canvas.
Day5:	Monday: Proceed to Chyrla Nomadic Village (32 kms riding, five hours approx.in the saddle) Early start. After breakfast we continue our trekking through desert dunes to one of nomadic villages of Garagum - Chyrla. 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. Night at the camp with a campfire supper under canvas.
Day6:	Tuesday: Ride to Gurrukly-small village ( 35 km riding, six hours approx in the saddle) After breakfast we ride to one of small nomadic villages of Carakum desert - Gurrukly. Lunch near Gutlyayak village – one of the biggest villages in the desert. After lunch you can go to the village and familiarise with a life of nomadic people. After a small siesta we will continue our ride to our todays destination. Campfire supper and drinking “Gok Chay”-green tea with villagers (Of course it depends on tourists will ). Overnight under canvas.
Day7:	Wednesday: Ride to Hakysh. Half Day Relax ( 17 kms riding, 3 hours aprox. in the saddle) Today we will have a half day ride and after lunch we will have a rest and look after our horses. However, you can be busy wondering with the life of the shepherds and walking around watching the wild life in the desert. After lunch we will organise a shower booth where you can have a shower. (Half day relaxed day is essential after each 3 days of ride)
Day8:	Thursday: Proceed to Gongurajy ( 29 kms riding, four hours aprox. in the saddle) Early start, breakfast, saddle up. Today we ride to Gongurajy nomadic village and lunch we will have on the way at one of the “takyr”. Dinner and overnight under canvas.
Day9:	Friday:Ride to Orazsahet village (28 kms riding, five hours approx. in the saddle) Early start, breakfast, saddle up. On the eighth day of our trekking we take a route to the west-south of Carakum desert - small nomadic village «Orazsahet». We stay for a lunch near Sardob - also has very unique way of nomadic life. Then continue riding to the nomadic village «Orazsahet» where live only one family’s members for a long period of time. There we familiarise with a life of those people. Dinner and overnight under canvas.
Day 10	Saturday: Proceed to Geokdepe water reservoir (38 kms riding, six hours approx in the saddle). Early start. After breakfast we continue our trekking through desert dunes to the lake - Geokdepe water reservoir which is famous with its various kinds of fish, wild birds and clean water for swimming. On route we have a chance to watch some kinds of desert wild animals and reptiles. For a lunch we stop at the shepherd’s well «Arap Ghuy». After lunch we continue our route. Upon arrival, we will have a swim in the fresh waters of the lake. We will also wash our horses in the lake (or swim together). After our horses get dried we will ride them to the farm which is located in around 10km from the lake. Upon arrival we will have a farewell dinner (fresh fish meals from the lake) with our friends. After dinner we will farewell our horses and friends and leave for Ashgabat. Arrival & accommodation.
Day 11	Sunday:Transfer to Ashgabat After breakfast we will visit the 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. After Bazar we will drive to the Old Hippodrome of Ashgabat to watch the Sunday Horse Race which gives a chance to see the best horses of Turkmenistan in motion and “horse crazy” people rooting for their favourite horses without any betting. After the race we will have a lunch and go to the hotel. Free time. Dinner at one of the local restaurants or Traditional dinner with a folklore show (it costs 120 Euros)
Day 12	Monday:Departure for Frankfurt. Check out to the airport of Ashgabat anbd Glight LH 613. Departure at 1:25 AM. Arrival in Frankfurt at 5:35 AM

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a sample itinerary, planned several months in advance. Accordingly, arrangements (routes or facilities) are subject to change depending on local conditions and hotel choice may vary due to availability. Also, the tour may be arranged in different order than is described above.

III –SERVICES INCLUDED:

Accommodation/double per program
Airfare Ashgabat-Turkmenbashy-Ashgabat
Visa support
Registration at CTB
All breakfasts
Lunch & dinner at days 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
English Speaking Escort-Guide
Transport for transfers
Serving mineral water, local sweets or season fruit, tea or coffee as a refreshments during the trip
Lorry from Day 2 till 10
Horse as per program
Tents, yurts, guide service
Excursions according to program
Medical kit, cutlery, ground sheets
Tasting of local wines at the traditional dinner
Equipment for horses (saddles, reins, stirrups...)
All Transfers
Entrance fees: (Kow Ata undergraund lake, Arch of Neutrality)
Horseman/groom, camp manager/cook.

IV–NOT INCLUDED:

Visa fee
Tips to the Tour guide, local guides & drivers
Immigration Fee paid upon arrival – 10$
Airport tax paid on departure---$25 p/p