Turkmenistan Small Group Tours

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan’s landscape is characterized by beautiful sandy deserts and oases. In the middle of the Karakum desert at Darvaza lies the burning crater, also known as ‘the gate of hell’. One can spend the night in a yurt next to this gas drilling accident from Soviet times. The best time to visit Turkmenistan is Spring or Fall, when the temperatures are more bearable than 40 degrees Celsius during the Summer months.

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Turkmenistan Small Group Tours

Book your Turkmenistan small-group tour with guaranteed departures. Explore the popular travel highlights of Turkmenistan or combine with sightseeing tours in other Central Asian countries.

Cultural Tours

Best of Turkmenistan Tour

Turkmenistan

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Price from:

$2820

9 days

Cultural Tours

Silk Road Tour in Central Asia

KazakhstanKyrgyzstanTajikistanUzbekistanTurkmenistan

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Price from:

$6720

18 days

Cultural Tours

Best of Central Asia Tour – Spring

KazakhstanKyrgyzstanTajikistanUzbekistanTurkmenistan

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Price from:

$6530

24 days

Cultural Tours

Best of Central Asia Tour – Summer

KazakhstanKyrgyzstanTajikistanUzbekistanTurkmenistan

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Price from:

$6870

25 days

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Travel Highlights of Turkmenistan

The modern capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat (“the City of Love”), welcomes visitors with a striking architectural style that blends science fiction with gleaming Romanesque marble. The city is filled with impressive monuments and spectacular fountains. Beyond Ashgabat, other fascinating sights include Darvaza, a burning gas crater in the heart of the desert, a luxurious resort town along the Caspian Sea, and—most importantly—the remains of ancient cities such as Konye-Urgench and Merv, once key stopovers along the Great Silk Road.

Turkmen people are famously hospitable and proud of their rich history, traditions, and customs. Turkmen carpets are admired around the world, but only in Turkmenistan can you see them crafted entirely by hand. Another source of national pride is the Akhal-Teke horse, a breed found nowhere else in the world.

Discover more by exploring our blog on the top 5 places to visit in Turkmenistan.

At a glance

  • Population:
  • 5,171,943
  • Area:
  • 491,210km²
  • Languages:
  • Turkmen
  • Time zones:
  • UTC +5
  • Currency:
  • Turkmen Manat (TMT)
  • Climate:
  • Continental
  • Geography:
  • Desert
    Highest point: Aýrybaba, 3,139m
  • Dialing code:
  • +993
  • Electricity:
  • 220V, 50Hz, European plug

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Turkmenistan in photos

Travel information

MONEY & COSTS:

The Turkmen currency is called the Manat. International credit cards mostly do not work, and it is better not to use them to avoid unfavorable official exchange rate. We recommend bringing all money in cash, in new USD banknotes of denominations of at least 20 USD. They will be easy to exchange for rates that are much better than the official one.

SAFETY:

Turkmenistan is a safe country and most trips are trouble-free. There is a visible police presence and most citizens are law-abiding. That said, you are advised to wear a money belt, watch your belongings, steer clear of dark streets at night and avoid taking rides in unofficial taxis alone. Your safety is our first priority at Kalpak Travel; we know and regularly assess all our Turkmen partners and we closely monitor political events.

ENTRY & EXIT:

Citizens of every country in the world need a visa to enter Turkmenistan. As soon as you book a tour, we will ask you to provide some additional information to apply on your behalf for a letter of invitation. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approves your application, we will send you a letter of invitation. With this letter, you will be able to purchase the visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport or at the land border.
As soon as we receive the deposit payment for your tour, we will confirm your booking and send you an email with important pre-departure information. Please read it carefully as it contains important information on customs regulations for Turkmenistan.

BEST TIME TO GO:

The climate of Turkmenistan is continental and dry and the best seasons to visit are Spring and Autumn, from mid-April until early June and then again from September until early November. Autumn is drier than Spring, but even in Spring chances are high you can enjoy the bluest sky you have ever seen. Autumn is also the time when the country goes to harvest, meaning markets are full of fresh fruit and vegetables. If you don’t mind the dry heat of 40° Celsius, sometimes more, summer is the best time to go. There are few tourists and the sun is shining every single day. If you are considering visiting Turkmenistan in winter you will practically have the country all to yourself. We recommend you go in November or December when daytime temperatures are still around 10° Celsius and the often chilly winds of January & February have not yet begun to make their presence felt.

HEALTH:

Do not drink water, unless it is bottled, filtered, or boiled. Do not use tap water for brushing your teeth or making ice either. Do not eat ice cream. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. If you follow these basic rules, you are likely to avoid any health issues like traveler’s diarrhea. Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, and Tetanus are recommended vaccinations for Turkmenistan. Ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including repatriation. Medical services in Turkmenistan are basic at best.

FAQs on Turkmenistan

WIFI Hotels in cities above three stars provide free Wi-Fi access, however internet in Turkmenistan is very slow and access highly restricted. Emergency In the case of emergency your friends/family can call us and we will pass their message to you. Please take note of the 24/7 emergency number indicated in your travel documents.
Turkmen is the official language of Turkmenistan and Russian is spoken in large cities. Turkmen language is similar to Kazakh, Uzbek and Kyrgyz and part of the Turkic family of languages.  All our guides speak English, but overall in Turkmenistan very few people understand or speak English.
Local population is friendly and hospitable, especially in shops and restaurants they will ask where you come from etc. Your guide and driver will be knowledgeable locals who can answer all the questions and tell about everyday life in Turkmenistan. If you are interested in getting in touch with locals we recommend you to familiarize yourself with social dos and do nots as explained in our blog article.
Turkmenistan is a secular state and population is predominantly Muslim. Religion is practiced but still quite moderate and fully controlled by the state to avoid any kind of extremism.
In Turkmenistan, you will see bright colored national dresses on women and modern European style clothing mostly on men and men wearing suit. Feel free to wear same clothes that you would wear back home. It’s that simple.  Only exception to this rule concerns visits of religious buildings like Mosques or Churches. When visiting these places, you will need to wear long pants and women need to cover their shoulders and head with a veil.
No, it is not and we recommend you to drink bottled water, use filter or boil it. Moreover, please do not use tap water for brushing teeth and order your drinks without ice.
Central Asia is generally not an ideal place for vegetarians, however you can order side dish such as plain rice, mashed potatoes and in some places, even grilled vegetables. Most of the national dishes in cafes are made with meat, predominantly mutton. In guesthouses and yurt stays you need to talk to the guide so he can arrange something. In some cases, you can also alter some meals with quick noodles that can be bought in stores. More information of food in Central Asia you can find here.
Ashgabat has nice coffee where you can use wifi and get some snacks. Outside these places the best coffee you can get is an instant coffee, if you are coffee-lover we recommend taking little Italian coffee machine.
In restaurants, service of 10-15% is usually included on the bill, however, this does not go directly to the waiter, he gets only his salary. Usually, the amount is rounded up and If you are very content with the service you can leave some tips. Our guides and drivers are paid well, but if you are happy with the services provided they will certainly appreciate a little tip.
Most of the hotels are clean and have western standard toilets with shower. In Turkmenistan tourists are required to stay in hotels, so there will be always nice facilities.
The most expensive services for laundry is in hotels, since they charge 1-3$ per laundry item. Another option would be to wash couple of things by hand in hotel sink.
Your safety is the first priority for Kalpak Travel, in organizing our trips we discuss every detail to make sure that your tour runs smoothly and you will have a wonderful experience with us. Our guides are well trained to deal with emergency situations and we will get you help as quickly as possible. In case of serious illness, we will help you to get proper medical assistance, do everything possible to get you to your homeland and inform your family. To join our tours, you are required to have travel insurance. Please make sure it fully covers medical emergencies including repatriation costs.
Main intercity roads have been recently repaired, newly paved and are well maintained. However, if you drive through the desert or to villages there are mostly dirt roads. Kalpak Travel has experienced and professional drivers who will drive you safely in Turkmenistan. All our vehicles are well maintained and checked before each departure.

Articles on Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan

Best Souvenirs to Buy in Turkmenistan

Best Souvenirs to Buy in Turkmenistan Turkmenistan still highly cherishes its rich heritage of local handicrafts. Traditional ornamentation plays a central role in many of the souvenirs you’ll find across the country. From intricately woven carpets to bold silver jewelry, each item tells a story of craftsmanship passed down through generations. What makes Turkmen souvenirs […]

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Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan – top 5 Places to Visit

Turkmenistan – top 5 Places to Visit If you are planning to explore Turkmenistan, do not miss these natural and cultural highlights: #1 Ashgabat – Monumental capital city full of Marble and golden architecture Ashgabat is the capital city of Turkmenistan, and it is one of the most interesting places that you can visit! Did […]

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Central Asia

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Central Asia

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Central Asia Central Asia has amazing places of important cultural value that was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Here we present the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites located in one or several Central Asian countries, with its date of inscription. Kazakhstan Mausoleum […]

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Turkmenistan

Old Nisa – Turkmenistan

Old Nisa – Brief History The ancient city of Old Nisa is located on the northern slopes of the Kopet Dag mountain range, near the modern-day city of Ashgabat. It was one of the early capitals of the Parthian Empire, one of the most powerful empires in ancient times. It was founded in the 3rd century […]

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Turkmenistan

Yangykala – Turkmenistan

Yangykala – Turkmenistan One of the travel highlights of Turkmenistan is the stunning geological formation called Yangykala. Today, visitors to the Yangykala Canyon can walk along the rim of the canyon, marvel at the unique rock formations, and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding desert landscape. How was the Yangykala Canyon formed? Yangykala is a […]

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Turkmenistan

Darvaza Gas Crater

 DARVAZA – GAS CRATER ALSO KNOWN AS A “GATE OF HELL” One of the most unusual touristic highlights around the world is this burning gas crater also known as the “Gate of Hell.” Darvaza from Turkmen literally means “Gate”, and the flames from the huge crater in the middle of the desert evoke the imagination […]

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Turkmenistan

Ashgabat – Top Places to See

Ashgabat -Top Places to See A Brief History of Ashgabat Archeological findings in the territory of modern Ashgabat date back to the second century BC, to the settlement called Konjikala. At that time, it was a wine-producing village and part of the Parthian Empire. After a destructive earthquake in the first century BC, it was […]

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Central Asia

The best time to visit Central Asia

When to visit the Five Stans? In our experience, the best time to visit all the Five Stans of Central Asia in one trip is during spring and autumn. Central Asia has a continental climate, which means that the countries have cold winters and very hot, dry summers. April and May is a great time […]

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Central Asia

Central Asian Capitals

5 Central Asian Capitals: The capital of Kazakhstan – Astana The capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek The capital of Tajikistan – Dushanbe The capital of Turkmenistan – Ashgabat The capital of Uzbekistan – Tashkent The capitals of Central Asia Five countries with one common past – that’s how to describe the five nations that comprise […]

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Travel Information & Tips

Turkmenistan Visa Information

Turkmenistan visa information Please note: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, visas are not being issued for tourists at the moment.  Transit visa from an embassy without a letter of invitation Citizens of all countries need a visa for Turkmenistan.  For a transit visa (valid for between 3 and 7 days) you do not need an […]

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Testimonials

We just came back from a trip to Turkmenistan, which has been organized by Kalpak Travel.
I can only say that I highly recommend booking your vacation with kalpak. The entire trip was perfectly organized: from planning the trip, tailoring it to our individual preferences, the communication before and during our trip. Also the tours, guides and hotels chosen were great.

Laura. Germany

We are an older couple in our 70's who enjoy unusual trips. I had wanted to see some of the Stans, so Luca arranged a trip for us. With our time constraint we could see three countries. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan were the three. I was interested in sleeping in a yurt (which we did in Kyrgyzstan) and seeing the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan. Wife wasn't wild about the yurt until she stayed there as it turned out to be very pleasant. The Gates of Hell was a little different - the fire-y cauldron was an unforgettable sight!! Really enjoyed it. My wife and I had a car and driver at each location. The drivers were very conscientious and friendly and the guides were excellent. I would certainly recommend Kalpak Travel if you are looking for a trip to Central Asia.

Richard, USA

We were very lucky to have Kalpak Travel as our tour company which exceeded our expectations with flying colours. We highly recommend Kalpak Travel if you are planning a hassle-free tour of Central Asia.

Spencer, Australia

I decided to go on some guided city tours in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
And what a good decision that was! Everything was organised perfectly, every tour turned out incredible with professional guides full of knowledge of the local culture and people.
Kalpak always works with local guides and companies which definitely makes a big difference.

Thomas, USA
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