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Ecological & Trekking
Kugitang Mountains Trekking
Kugitang: 6-day
trekking tour
 The
Kugitang is one of the most fascinating mountain and trekking
areas in Central Asia. The ridge and the soft western
slopes of this 50 km mountain range with Turkmenistan's
highest peak provide excellent hiking and camping opportunities
with a spectacular and rare wildlife and vegetation. On
our 6-day itinerary we spend 4 days hiking the ridges
and canyons of the Kugitang Mountains and watching extraordinary
wildlife in its native habitat. We further explore one
of the caves and the famous dinosaur footprints that made
the area well-known and join with pilgrims from all over
the country at their holy shrine in a beautiful Grotto
and Gorge.
Day 1
Kugitang Dinosaur Tracks, Kyrk Gyz Gorge
Our Trekking Expedition starts off with a 1-hour domestic
flight from Ashgabat to the Kugitang mountains in the
Uzbek-Afghan country-triangle in the far southeast of
the country. After lunch we continue on a 3-hour car-ride
from the airport in Atamyrat (Kerki) into the foothills
of the Kugitang. Passing picturesque mountain villages
we climb the Dinosaur Plateau on the same day. The extremely
well preserved (in total 438) dinosaur footprints on the
steep rock belong to some of the most spectacular raptors
of the prehistoric age. After descending we picnic in
the nearby Kyrk Gyz Gorge, the most important pilgrimage
site in the region. Here we trek through the spectacular
canyon to the holy 40 Maiden Grotto where after the tale
40 maidens are said to have turned into stone before their
opponents. The grotto and nearby trees are covered with
the prayer strings and talismans left by the pilgrims
who come here from all over the region for prayer and
sacred meals. We build up our first camp in Gozel Gyzer
Canyon some 40 km south in the foothills of the Kugitang
mountains and refresh with fresh spring water.
Day 2
Kugitang Reserve - trekking & wildlife
 After
breaking camp in the next morning we set off on our 3½-day
hike through the colourful canyons and across the breathtaking
ridge of the Kugitang range. Driving to the starting point
of our trek by our 4WD vehicle we make the final climb
further up to the Maydan base camp by foot. The base is
located in the heart of the Nature Reserve close to which
we set up our tents and relax during the noon hours.In
the late afternoon hours we go wildlife watching, trekking
through the nearby gorges characteristic for Kugitang's
landscape the plateaus and valleys of which are cut into
hundreds of such up to 200-300 m deep canyons. We stop
at dawn with view of the water place and with some luck
will have a good chance to see some of the endangered
Ibexes. Unlike internationally published information the
number of these rare mountain goats have very well recovered
since the establishment of the Nature reserve on the Turkmen
side of the mountains in the mid 80's and actually increased
to over 500 animals by recent counts. Apart from the Ibexes,
called Markhor in Turk-Languages, and the similarity protected
about 300 Urials (Arkhar - mountain sheep), Russian scientists
counted 2 pairs of brown bears, about 50 pairs of Karakal
wild cats and there have been occasional sightings of
(Persian) leopards. We return to the camp for dinner.
Day 3&4
Climb Araybaba via Oydzha Murat and Navparak Canyon
 On
the second day of our Kugitang Trekking Expedition we
start our ascent to Ayrybaba, with 3,137 m the highest
peak of Turkmenistan, with light baggage. We hike across
the flower-covered meadows of Oydzha Murad Canyon up to
the ridge of the Kugitang Mountains, with fascinating
200 m cliffs on the (Uzbek) side, giving the impression
the mountains had been pushed out of the earth like a
giant plate. We watch out all the time for the Ibexes
and the eagles that majestically soar the nearby peaks.
Along the ridge we continue with view of the peak and
spend the night in the steep Navparak Gorge before the
final ascent. The hiking in Kugitang does not require
any special equipment and if done at the right hours of
the day is feasible for anybody with normal condition.
We climb the peak the next morning and descend afterwards
on a different route in the direction of Gozel Gyzer Canyon
close to which we spend the next night.
Day 5
Gözel Guzer Canyon, Kopetang cave, Koytenkol Mineral
Lake
After our final descent in the morning, after lunch we
continue on a drive to the famous Kugitang Caves where
we take off on an expedition into Kopetang Cave. The Kugitang
caves are considered the most important and fascinating
caves of the former Soviet Union. With flashlights we
go on a three-hour trek through the entirely dark cave
that is open for visitors and the most important parts
of which, such as the Mosaic-Hall are located deep inside
the 60 km system. Back in daylight we continue to the
nearby mineral water lake Koytenkol, where we camp and
wash off the dust. In our final evening we have a big
good-bye dinner in the camp.
Day 6
Train ride to Turkmenabat
On a 2-hour car car-ride we return to Atamyrat (Kerki)
from where we comfortably continue by train to Turkmenabat
(Chardjou) and let the dunes go by at the sides of our
train. |
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