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Ecological & Trekking
Karakala - Nokhur Trekking
6-Day
trekking & eco-tour
The Karakala and Nokhur
regions are two of most interesting and undiscovered areas
in Central Asia. As a leopard protection zone, Karakala
is a fascinating Nature Reserve with incredible canyons,
picturesque villages and excellent trekking. Nokhur is
a unique culture within Central Asia itself - this almost
Turkmen tribe inhabits the valleys on both sides of the
Sumbar valley. With its peculiar tribal heritage, outstanding
carpentry and its typical stone house villages this culture
is one of the least researched phenomena of the region.We
combine both regions on an intensive trekking tour venturing
into the soft hills and canyons of the beautiful countryside
and discovering the small secrets of the unusual Nokhur
culture on a stay at the Nokhur villages.
Day 1
Our 7-day trip takes us 300 km west of Ashgabat deep into
the Kopetdag mountain range. By bus we drive along the
foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains into Karakala's Sumbar
Valley. Along the way we detour through the fascinating
Firuza gorges and Chuli valley near Ashgabat, pass by
the blue dome of Geok-Depe Mosque, as well as one of Turkmenistan's
holiest shrines, Paraw Bibi, where we picnic with the
numerous worshippers and pilgrims who come here to pray.
After leaving the main road we continue along the serpentines
and steep passes of the Karakala region, which is located
in the Sumbar river valley in the climatically unique,
almost sub-tropical, southwest rim of the Kopetdag, which
exceptionally blends Central Asian steppe vegetation with
Iranian flora. The limestone landscape around Karakala
is beaming with almost alien beauty in incredible colours
especially in the evening hours. We set up the tent camp
in the evening in the valley of the Sumbar river right
before the Nature reserve.
Day 2
The unique valleys and climate in the region are of major
importance to the remaining population of Persian leopards
inhabiting the ridges. The WWF is currently financing
a protection project for these rare cats conducted by
Turkmenistan's ecological NGO's. In the morning we go
on a first trekking tour into the fascinating Khasardag
Mountains within the vicinity of the Nature Reserve returning
by the evening into our camp on the river. There are several
hot springs along the way where we relax with fascinating
views of the valley. Our guides are knowledgeable rangers
and activists from the Reserve and with some luck we stand
good chance to witness some of the unique wildlife in
the valleys.
Day 3
In the morning we continue on another trekking tour along
the Sumbar valley returning to the camp to visit the Karakala
research station in the late afternoon. The exceptional
botanical collection of hundreds of kinds of grapes and
pomegranate-trees is currently under consideration to
become a UN World Nature Heritage site. Dining in the
village we stay in the same camp for the night.
Day 4-5
On the fourth Day we begin our 2-Day trek through the
Aidere gorge into the Nokhur region crossing about 40
km of incredible countryside in this untouched and protected
part of the Nature reserve. We reach Konegummez, the first
village on the Nokhur plateau by the end of the second
Day and spend the night in a traditional stone house.
Day 6
Nokhur is in many respects an extraordinary culture and
region in the western Kopetdag range. With almost Indian
Indo-European features and very entrepreneurial life-style
this tribe has preserved a unique tradition of handicrafts
and architecture in their villages. Outstanding carpentry
and unusual stone-houses are characteristic for their
hillside villages amidst picturesque pomegranate and almond
orchards. Visiting the craftsmen we experience extraordinary
hospitality and stroll through the tiny alleyways of two
of the main villages enjoying the hospitality of the locals.
Day 7
We spend the next morning in the village before returning
to the main road on the next Day to return to Ashgabat.
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