Visit Turkmenistan: Tours, Guides, Drivers

Turkmenistan is the nurturing land of deserts and full of magnificent culture and heritage. Little undiscovered by travelers and a hidden gem, this country ceases to amaze you. If you are planning your trip to Turkmenistan, there are some tips and things you should know before visiting Turkmenistan:

Time Regulation

Although Ashgabat is the capital of the country and probably the safest it is still advisable to avoid northeast and east parts of the capital. Furthermore, avoid roaming and wandering late at night on the streets. Not much of nightlife is extant but you can surely birdlime on their Russian music and theatre plus if you are caught wandering past 11:00 pm, you might face the local police and they can ask for your documents although you will need a translator as the local police might not be familiar with English.

Safety Criteria

The state claims that Turkmenistan is a crime-free country but let’s be honest: no country is crime-free. Although it is new in the domain of tourism, still no incidence of theft, mugging, and pickpocketing was reported. The reason is strict enforcement of rules by the authoritative government and the accused are punished intuitively.

No Travel Zones

Yes! You read it correctly. There are some areas and places in the country that are restricted for travel purposes mainly near the borders of Iran, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. We would suggest not to unleash your inner adventures here! However, even if you desire to visit, you will have to take a special permit from the government and only then you will be able to book your tickets accordingly. However, Ashgabat is nurturing with cultural heritage which makes it a supreme travel destination.

There are plenty of things to do in Turkmenistan:

Shopping

Bazaars open at dawn. Sunday market is the foremost market in the capital, if you are a shopping fanatic and adore local and cultural items, this is the place for you. You can buy the infamous Bukhara rugs which are widely popularized and are a hotshot among tourists. The art gallery has numerous shops that sell handicrafts, traditional costumes, hats, and silverware.

There are enumerate malls in the capital, like BERKARAR, which is a contemporary mall with a cinema theatre, a bowling alley, cafes and galore of stores

Darvaza Gas Crater

Promptly known as the door to hell, the Darvaza gas crater is a natural gas crater, which still burns since 50 Years. And the geologists are clueless when it is going to stop. The Door to Hell lies like a cavernous inferno, attracting hundreds of visitors, and cajoling in unsuspecting wildlife makes it one of the most prominent things to do in Turkmenistan.

Karakum Desert

This desert covers almost 70% of Turkmenistan and in Turkish language, it means black soil, which is located underneath the layers of sand. You can enjoy the quiet landscape and with a little luck enjoy the flora and fauna of this magnificent desert.

Monument of Neutrality

Natively known as the tripod because of its infrastructure. It is a three-legged arched monument in Ashgabat, which was made by former president Saparmurat Niyazov in 1988 to memorialize the country’s official position of neutrality. It is a serene 12-meter long building and totally worth a visit.

Independent Monument

The design of this building was inspired by traditional Turkmen tents and the traditional headgear worn by Turkmen girls. This monument hosts a historic museum where the traditional and consequential pieces are displayed for the tourist and the local public.

Before you plan on traveling to this sublime and momentous country, read all the related things you need to know and things to do in Turkmenistan. Be safe and keep exploring!

Turkmenistan is popularly known as a desert country with lots of sights, monuments, unique culture, and folklore that have been conserved since ancient times. Turkmenistan travel experience will astonish even an experienced traveler.

Plan A Trip To Turkmenistan

Visa

Before you visit Turkmenistan, a visa is mandatory but also you will need visa support (invitation) before applying for the visa. Visa support is an invitation letter that requires you to apply for it beforehand. Legal visa entry is the only option and the immigration office takes about three weeks to review your visa application. You can collect your visa from the Turkmenistan embassy only when you have visa support. However, you can procure a ten days visa upon arrival at the international airport of Ashgabat.

Reservations

Unlike many other countries, where solo traveling is recommended, we wouldn’t suggest independent travel planning to Turkmenistan and so the better option would be to get reservations done through a proficient travel and tourism agency. Although to save up your time, we would recommend booking your tour and commencing your hotel reservations well in advance to circumvent any hassles afterward.

Modes of Travel

The preferred mode to visit Turkmenistan is by air flight to Ashgabat. Ashgabat has a well-equipped and fully functional international airport. The country operates its independent chain of TURKMEN AIRLINES which connects major international ports but also other Airlines are available. Also, book your tickets well in advance to steer clear of the unavailability of tickets at the last moment. Even If you live in the neighboring countries, train or bus services are not available because of no direct connections with the neighboring countries. There are ferry services that take a travel time of about 12-15 hours from Baku (Azerbaijan) to Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan).

On Arrival

On arrival, the procedure isn’t very complex. To all the foreign passengers an immigration card will be issued on which the hotel stay and place has to be filled out. You must carry that card with you wherever you go. Along with it, travelers are supposed to apply for registration in the tourism and sports department at the republic of Turkmenistan within three working days (day of arrival is not countable).

Accommodation

The developed cities like Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi have numerous luxurious 4 and 5-star hotels which are remarkable and commendable in terms of their hospitality. However, if you visit other towns, the 3-star properties are also equally pleasant options of accommodations. Before booking hotels, make sure to check reviews beforehand and in any way confirm your booking from the chosen hotel.

Money

The currency of Turkmenistan is MANAT but you don’t need to worry, it is authorized to carry US dollar bills. You can exchange your bills from hotels, money exchange shops, and banks. The banks are open from Monday-Friday. Also, international ATM cards are accepted. Ashgabat has numerous ATM and credit card machines. Note that import and export of local currency are prohibited, so we suggest you carry smaller bills and not too much at once. Deposition of cheques is also possible, which can be done at the National bank of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat.

Medicines

When you plan to visit Turkmenistan, make sure to follow the list of restricted medicines to carry with you. Some medicines are cramped by the government of Turkmenistan such as sedatives, painkillers, and sleeping pills.

On Departure

The departure procedure is unambiguous and mainstream just like any other departure procedure. Check-in for the flight, custom control and passport control, security check for the flight. Reach at least 3-4 hours beforehand.

To make your travel plans easy and coherent, we have provided you with all the guidelines on how you can ploy your vacation hassle-free. Happy traveling!

Reflecting on your next travel destination? Think out of the box and look no further because we will help you! How about an idiosyncratic destination, unheard and hidden? Yes! Turkmenistan, a country full of Silk Road tales and historic lifestyle. Keep reading about what this majestic country has to offer.

Before you visit, it is important to know about the culture of Turkmenistan. The land of deserts, Turkmenistan is not like any other country but it is somewhat divergent from the neighboring Muslim states of Central Asia. The political approach is strict and authoritarian. The citizens are law-abiding and do not entertain any tourist speaking ill of their president.

The diversity from other Muslim states is mainly due to the ancestors of Turkmenistan being nomadic tribes while the ancestors of other Muslim states were farmers. Before the 19th century, Sufism was very prevalent in the culture of Turkmenistan.  The majority of the population is Sunni Muslim and a small percentage of people belong to the Russian Orthodox community. 

There were many poets in that time and their poems became prevalent. However, Sufism started dwindling from the mid-19th century. In the 20th century, Ashgabat (capital of Turkmenistan) was built in the Soviet-style which comprises palatial monuments.

Language

Turkmen is the native language spoken, which is close to Turkish, Azeri, and Crimean. Many others speak Russian and a minority of the public speaks Uzbek. Modern Turkmen writing is based on Cyrillic but it might be replaced in Latin soon.

Weather

The climate is somewhat hot and dry (May-Sept) and winters are mild and dry like in cold desert climate.

Clothing

Though Turkmenistan is a developing country still one cannot expect to follow westernized fashion. Shorts are not preferably worn in Turkmenistan, if women wear these types of clothing, they are second-eyed for this gaffe. Traditional men and women wear billowing clothes. For men, they wear baggy shirts along with trousers and women tend to wear traditional silky kaftans and loose trousers beneath them.

Food in Turkmenistan

Every travel destination is best known for its food and drinks. To get the true essence of the place, local food is a must when you visit Turkmenistan. Food in Turkmenistan has a strong Russian influence and is like in any other Central Asian country. You will find Borcht (cabbage soup), cutlet (grilled meatballs), pirmeni (originating in Ukraine- small boiled meat and vegetable dumplings which are similar to Thai wontons and Italian ravioli) served in vegetable soup.

Besides this lip-smacking food and delicacies, there are various specialties, which add brownie points to the food in Turkmenistan. Plov is eaten daily in the common household of Turkmenistan, which contains cubes of mutton, mangled yellow turnip, and rice fried in a large wok.  Lipioshka (rounds of unleavened bread) are served in restaurants and are sold on the streets. Shorpa is a meat and vegetable soup. Itchlekli is a meat and onion pie, gutap is also a pie filled with meat, potatoes, spinach, and pumpkin.

The legal age for alcohol consumption is 18 and the country strictly abide by their rules. The most popular Zip and Berk is the local beer brewery in Turkmenistan and uses the finest grains for their production. A Russian brand called Baltika can be spotted everywhere. Turkmenbashi labeled vodka is produced and manufactured in Ashgabat factories, they use the best quality raw products for their liquor.

In the culture of Turkmenistan tea plays a predominant role.  Gok chai is the most preferred and admired type of green tea which often contains dried fruits, many herbs (mainly mint). If you purchase a bottle of water, do specify whether you prefer your water with gas or without gas (still water) as fizzy water is preferred in abundance by the locals.