Travel to Turkmenistan
Silk Road cities in golden brick, a crater of fire in the middle of the desert, striped canyons and legendary horses: that is the Turkmenistan worth dreaming about before you look for cheap flights to Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan in numbers
Capital
Ashgabat
Area
About 488,000 sq km
Desert
Karakum
Currency
Turkmen manat
Languages
Turkmen
Heritage
3 UNESCO sites
Continent
Asia
Time zone
UTC+5
Airports covered
1
Why visit Turkmenistan
The Silk Road, the Karakum Desert and striped canyons
Silk Road cities
Merv, Kunya-Urgench and Nisa, all UNESCO-listed, unfold mausoleums, minarets and brick ramparts in the middle of the desert: a journey through Central Asian history.
A crater of fire in the desert
The Darvaza crater, a gas pit that has burned for decades, offers one of the country's most striking spectacles at night.
Landscapes of colour
Yangykala canyon lines up cliffs striped in pink, ochre and white; the underground Kow Ata lake offers a warm swim in a cave.
Horses, carpets and hospitality
The Akhal-Teke horse, red-patterned carpets and nomadic life are part of the country's identity, discovered at the pace of stud farms, bazaars and yurts.
Highlights
Merv, Darvaza, Yangykala, Ashgabat and Kunya-Urgench
A trip to Turkmenistan usually links Ashgabat, the capital, to the major sites by domestic flights or desert roads. The most pleasant seasons are spring and autumn, when the heat stays bearable.
Merv, a Silk Road city
Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and the Silk Road. Its mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, with a stepped dome of fired brick, is the best-preserved monument on the UNESCO-listed site. Around it, earthen ramparts, foundations and citadels stretch for several kilometres in the desert.
The Darvaza crater, the gateway to hell
In the middle of the Karakum Desert, the Darvaza crater is a natural-gas pit that has burned for decades. It is about seventy metres wide. The experience is most memorable after dark, from a nearby yurt camp.
Yangykala canyon
In the west of the country, at the edge of the Ustyurt plateau, Yangykala draws cliffs striped in pink, ochre and white that the sunset sets ablaze. Access is by 4x4 with a guide, often combined with a night in a tent.
Ashgabat, the white-marble city
The capital lines up buildings clad in white marble and wide avenues, with the Kopet Dag mountains as a backdrop. The Turkmen Carpet Museum shows one of the world's largest hand-woven carpets; the bazaar and parks complete the visit. About an hour away, the underground Kow Ata lake allows a swim in water at 33 to 37 C.
Kunya-Urgench and Nisa
In the north, Kunya-Urgench, former capital of Khorezm, keeps a slender minaret, mausoleums and ruins on the UNESCO list. Near Ashgabat, Nisa is a Parthian fortress, also listed. The two sites complete a historical circuit.
Before you go
April-May and September-October to avoid the extremes
| Area | Climate | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Ashgabat | Dry continental; very hot summers, cool winters. | April, May, September and October |
| Merv and Mary | Desert, very hot in summer, mild days in spring. | April, May and October |
| Darvaza and the Karakum | Marked temperature swings between day and night. | April, May and October |
| Yangykala and the west | Arid climate, cold winters on the plateau. | April, May and September |
Summers often exceed 40 C and can reach 45-50 C in the Karakum, with sand winds: aim for spring or autumn. Formalities are strict: check the official information from your home country and allow plenty of time for the visa. Watch prices to target April, May and October.
Getting around
Domestic flights, trains and 4x4 with a guide
Turkmenistan Airlines links Ashgabat with Mary, Dashoguz and Turkmenbashi, making it possible to reach Merv and Kunya-Urgench in a day from the capital. Trains are slow but very cheap; coaches serve the larger towns.
For Darvaza and Yangykala, a 4x4 with a driver and guide is essential, since the tracks cross the desert. Many tours last three to eight days, with an itinerary arranged by a local agency.
Food and culture
Plov, manty, chorba, carpets and Akhal-Teke horses
The Turkmen table combines plov, rice with mutton and carrots, manty, steamed lamb dumplings, chorba soup, gutap, a stuffed flatbread, and Caspian sturgeon. They come with green tea and flat bread.
Hand-woven carpets and Akhal-Teke horses are symbols of the country. You visit stud farms and bazaars, and nomadic life can be discovered in yurt camps in the middle of the desert.
Travel to Turkmenistan
The Turkmen airport covered by SniperAir
Ashgabat International
The airport of Ashgabat, north-west of the city, about ten kilometres from the centre: allow fifteen to twenty-five minutes by road. The country's main gateway and the starting point for domestic flights to Mary and Dashoguz.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Turkmenistan
Which airport should I use to travel to Turkmenistan?
Ashgabat International (ASB), about ten kilometres from the centre of the capital. It is the country's main gateway, and SniperAir tracks this airport.
What is the best time to travel to Turkmenistan?
April-May and September-October, when the heat stays bearable. Summers are very hot, especially in the Karakum; winters are cool, with cold nights on the plateau.
Is travelling to Turkmenistan expensive?
Organised tours make up most of the budget, while meals and lodging stay modest; the flight also counts for a lot. Watch prices so you can buy at the right moment.
Do I need a visa for Turkmenistan?
Generally yes: formalities are strict, with a visa to apply for in advance, most often through a local agency that supplies the letter of invitation. Check the conditions with Turkmen authorities and your home country's official website.
How long should I plan for a trip to Turkmenistan?
Five to eight days let you see Ashgabat, Merv, Darvaza and one more site such as Yangykala or Kunya-Urgench. A shorter stay of three to four days is possible with domestic flights.
What travel precautions should I take?
Find out about photography rules, keep your identity papers on you and protect yourself from the heat in the desert. Also read the travel advice from your foreign ministry.
How can I get alerted when a flight to Turkmenistan gets cheaper?
Create a SniperAir alert profile with your departure airport and Ashgabat as the destination: we track prices and let you know as soon as an interesting offer appears. See how it works.
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