Turkmenistan Tours

Turkmenistan Trips

Turkmenistan is not the best-known tourist destination around, and certainly not the easiest to visit with tight visa regulations and the occasional closed borders, but it is a fascinating place. Of the five ‘Stans’ that formed the USSR’s Central Asian territory before its collapse in the early 1990s, Turkmenistan is probably the least known. Made up largely of desert, the country has rich gas deposits, reflected in the fascinating Darvaza gas crater. Also known as the ‘door to hell’, this gas pit has been burning since 1971 and is a site unlike any you’re likely to have seen.

Tours to Turkmenistan also visit its capital city, Ashgabat. This, too, is an unusual place, holding the world record for white marble buildings and monuments, a former world record for the biggest flag, a world record for the biggest carpet… it is a city that likes to make things on a grand scale.

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23 Days from USD 9300

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Five countries, three weeks, one epic trip through Central Asia's Silk Road

Culture

23 Days from USD 9300

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Five countries, three weeks, one epic trip through Central Asia's Silk Road

Culture

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There was a lot of bus/ travel time on this journey. Given that, I felt that some days were very poorly planned.
Examples:
One day all we did was cross the border to Turkmenistan. We started at 1:pm and it took 2 hours. The next day there was a six hour excursion to a UNESCO site. Then back to the city for lunch. Then another 5.5 hour drive out to the gas crater. Obviously the UNESCO excursion could have been done the previous afternoon if we would have crossed the border in the morning. Then we would have arrived for sunset at the camp. Instead we were driving in the dark on a very poor and dangerous road, arriving stressed. As an aside, some passengers got bed bug bites at the camp.

The day we arrived in Uzbekistan we had been travelling for 9 hours. All we wanted was our hotel, a drink and some food. Sergi proceeded to say we had to go to the summer palace and a silk factory that night. The whole group was fed up and we did not enjoy either one. These activities were scheduled for the next day.

Anyway there were many days like this; it was agreed by all that we would prefer to get to our hotel in the late afternoon in order to unwind and perhaps explore on our own. There was no need for so many late check ins.

Most hotels were adequate. I did not have high expectations. Rooms were clean and comfortable. However, the breakfasts were horrendous. Cold food, empty buffet trays, very little offered.

Nickey Knight The Five Stans of the Silk Road – Almaty to Ashgabat

If you want to discover 5 countries and their varied cultures, histories and scenery and meet some lovely people, all in three weeks, this trip is for you. We saw some wonderful, stunning scenery, met some amazing friendly people, found out about the past complicated history and the challenges they face today. It is fast paced, there are long journeys but totally worth it and loads to see and do on the way.

Jacqui Cottom The Five Stans of the Silk Road – Ashgabat to Almaty

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