Turkmenistan Adventures

Turkmenistan offers vast desert landscapes and remarkable Silk Road heritage, with the best regions to explore including Ashgabat, the Karakum Desert, the Darvaza Gas Crater, Merv and the Caspian coast.

Ashgabat: Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat features striking marble architecture and monuments across a modern desert city.

Karakum Desert: The Karakum Desert stretches across most of Turkmenistan revealing vast sand dunes and remote desert landscapes.

Darvaza Gas Crater: The Darvaza Gas Crater burns within the Karakum Desert creating one of Central Asia’s most unusual natural sights.

Merv Ancient City: The archaeological site of Merv reveals one of the most important Silk Road cities of the ancient world.

Caspian Coast: Turkmenistan’s Caspian shoreline combines desert landscapes with coastal scenery.

The best time to travel to Turkmenistan for hiking, trekking and adventure touring is generally Oct–Apr, when temperatures are comfortable and conditions are favourable for exploring landscapes, national parks and cultural highlights.

Turkmenistan has an arid desert climate with hot summers, mild winters and very little rainfall. Temperatures typically range between 15°C and 40°C (59°F–104°F).

Travelling outside the main season can still be rewarding, with quieter trails, seasonal landscapes and unique experiences depending on rainfall, wildlife activity or snow conditions.

Turkmenistan is +5 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Turkmen (official), Russian, Uzbek

Turkmenistani Manat

USD is the only currency recommended to carry as it is the easiest to change. You should bring larger denominations (US$50 & US$100) of US$ bills in good condition without rips or tears and of recent issue.

Credit cards are of limited use in Turkmenistan.

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Electricity in Turkmenistan is 220 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Visas are required for passport holders from the following countries:

Australia

New Zealand

Canada

United States

United Kingdom

The Letter of Invitation (LOI) for Turkmenistan that allows you to obtain your Visa on Arrival (VOA) at Ashgabat Airport is arranged by our local operator as a group visa. Subject to change, as at 13 Feb 2024, the cost of this visa is around US$89 per person (or around US$119 per person for UK passport holders). You must carry with you the correct money in USD Cash on arrival plus some extra for any changes in the price. The visa is obtained on the border by our Turkmenistan representative.

In order to arrange your Visa on Arrival (VOA), please refer to the Visa Advice for Turkmenistan instructions provided with your pre-departure documents, and complete the Turkmenistan Letter of Invitation (LOI) application form (excel document) and provide scanned colour copies of your passport page, and one recent passport sized photo. Please ensure you complete the information accurately in the LOI application form, do not leave any boxes blank, and return with all accompanying documents by six (6) weeks before your first departure flight, or you will not receive your letter of invitation (LOI) in time and will be denied boarding your flight.

Note the official Letter of Invitation (LOI) issued by the Turkmenistan migration authority does not allow for independent travel. Accordingly all bookings for additional hotel nights or extension trips in Turkmenistan must be made strictly through World Expeditions, since our local operator arranges the LOI.

It is always recommended to carry some spare passport photos.

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.