Turkmenistan
One of the hardest countries on earth to enter. Tours only, mostly
Population
7.5m people
Currency
Turkmenistani Manat
Main Language
Turkmen
best time to visit
April – May and September – October
Climate
Desert, extremely hot summers, cold winters, very dry
Visa
Visa required with a letter of invitation; independent tourist visas are rarely granted, transit visas are limited
Country overview
Turkmenistan is among the most closed countries in the world, ranking alongside North Korea for difficulty of access. Tourist visas require a letter of invitation from an approved agency and, in practice, a guided tour for the duration of your stay. Transit visas exist but are issued unpredictably. Independent travel is essentially not an option.
Ashgabat is the reason people persist. The capital was rebuilt in white marble on a scale that holds a Guinness record for the highest density of white marble buildings anywhere, alongside enormous monuments, gold statues and vast empty boulevards. It is a genuinely surreal piece of urban theatre and photography is restricted in many areas.
The other draw is the Darvaza gas crater, known as the Door to Hell, a collapsed gas field in the Karakum desert that has been burning since the 1970s. Camping beside it overnight is the standard highlight. Beyond that, Merv was one of the largest cities in the world in the 12th century and is now a vast, quiet archaeological site.
Annual events and festivals
- Novruz (21-22 Mar) — the spring new year, a public holiday with traditional food and horse events.
- Turkmen Horse Day (last Sun Apr) — dedicated to the Akhal-Teke, the national breed and a genuine point of pride.
- Independence Day (27 Sep) — the largest state occasion, with heavily choreographed parades.
- Neutrality Day (12 Dec) — marks the country permanent neutral status recognised by the UN in 1995.
- Melon Day (2nd Sun Aug) — a national holiday dedicated entirely to the Turkmen melon.
- Eid al-Fitr, Oraza Bayram (varies) — a public holiday ending Ramadan.
- Eid al-Adha, Gurban Bayram (varies) — the second Eid, a multi-day holiday.
- Carpet Day (last Sun May) — celebrating Turkmen carpet weaving, which appears on the national flag.
- Day of Remembrance (6 Oct) — commemorates the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake.
- Health and Bicycle Day (3 Jun) — mass cycling events, a personal initiative of the leadership.
Turkmenistan Travel Guides
Turkmenistan guides are coming soon.