Hear about travel to Turkmenistan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Abdylla Geldiyev, Managing Director of Undiscovered Frontiers, about an itinerary for one week in this seldom-visited country in Central Asia.
Turkmenistan remains one of the least explored destinations in the world. From Ashgabat, a city of Guinness World Records and futuristic white marble architecture, to ancient Silk Road cities and surreal desert landscapes, this itinerary combines history, archaeology, and natural wonders.
Why Visit Turkmenistan?
Abdylla describes Turkmenistan as a country for seasoned travelers seeking the unusual:
- Surreal landscapes like Yangykala Canyon and the burning Darvaza gas crater
- Silk Road cities such as Merv and Konye-Urgench
- A capital city (Ashgabat) filled with world-record-breaking monuments, the largest indoor Ferris wheel, and the world’s largest handmade carpet
- Rich traditions of Turkmen carpets and the legendary Akhal-Teke horses
Suggested One-Week Itinerary in Turkmenistan
Days 1–3: Ashgabat and Surroundings
- Sunday arrival in Ashgabat to experience the Tolkuchka-Basar, a sprawling Sunday market alive with carpets, animals, and handicrafts.
- Visit the Turkmen Carpet Museum, showcasing handwoven burgundy carpets that once traveled along the Silk Road.
- See Soviet and European works at the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan.
- Explore Ashgabat’s architecture: white marble buildings, monuments, and Guinness record-holders.
- Day trip to Nisa: UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of the Parthian Empire, with excavated Parthian Rhytons (drinking horns).
- Visit Gökdepe Fortress, scene of the Battle of Geok Tepe (1881) during the Russian advance into Central Asia.
- See the Akhal-Teke horse farms, home to Turkmenistan’s most prized breed.
- End at the National Museum of History and Ethnography, displaying artifacts from sites across Turkmenistan.
Optional extensions from Ashgabat:
- Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque ruins, damaged in the 1948 earthquake but famed for its dragon motifs.
- Unique museum of white wheat, commemorating early agriculture.
- Kow Ata underground lake, a natural sulfur cave lake where locals swim.
- Nokhur village, whose people claim descent from Alexander the Great, with tombs decorated by goat horns.
Days 4–5: Mary & Ancient Merv
- Short flight to Mary, Turkmenistan.
- Excursion into the Karakum Desert to visit Gonur Depe, a Bronze Age site dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE, linked to early Zoroastrian practices.
- Spend the next day at Ancient Merv, once one of the largest cities of the medieval Islamic world. Visit sites such as Erk Kala, Gyaur Kala, and Sultan Kala.
- See artifacts at the Mary Museum that contextualize both Merv and Gonur Depe.
Days 6–7: Dashoguz & Konye-Urgench
- Flight to Daşoguz and transfer to Konye-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Explore medieval minarets, mausoleums, and Sufi shrines, including the Najm ad-Din al-Kubra Mausoleum.
- Admire the soaring Kutlug-Timur Minaret, a 63-meter-high guidepost for Silk Road caravans.
- Visit Sufi shrines that survived Mongol invasions and preserved Turkmen spiritual traditions.
Day 7–8: Darvaza Gas Crater and Return
- Drive south through the Karakum Desert toward Ashgabat.
- Overnight at the Darvaza gas crater, the “Door to Hell,” a massive natural gas field accidentally set alight in 1971 and still burning today.
- Stop in desert villages such as Erbent and Bokurdak for a glimpse of traditional Turkmen yurts, camel breeding, and daily life.
- Return to Ashgabat for departure.
Extensions Beyond the Core Itinerary
For travelers with more time:
- Lebap Region – Köýtendag Nature Reserve, home to dinosaur footprints and caves, and the Repetek Biosphere State Reserve.
- Balkan Region – Caspian Sea port of Türkmenbaşy, Soviet-era railway history, and the spectacular Yangykala Canyon, called the “Grand Canyon of Central Asia.”
When to Go
The best times to visit Turkmenistan are:
- Spring (March–May) – mild weather, blooming landscapes.
- Autumn (September–mid-November) – pleasant temperatures and clearer skies.
Avoid the summer months when daytime highs can reach 120°F (49°C).
Conclusion
Turkmenistan is a destination for the curious traveler: rich in Silk Road history, archaeological wonders, and striking natural beauty. With its mix of ancient ruins, Soviet history, and modern eccentricities, it offers an unforgettable off-the-beaten-path journey.
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Show Notes
Undiscovered Frontiers
Turkmenistan
Ashgabat
Yangykala Canyon
Tolkuchka-Basar
Turkmen Carpet Museum
Turkmen Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan
Nisa
Parthia
Battle of Carrhae
Parthian Rhytons
Gökdepe
Battle of Geok Tepe
Akhal-Teke
The State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan
Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque
Unique museum of white wheat
Kow Ata underground lake
Nokhur
Mary, Turkmenistan
Karakum Desert
Gonur Depe
Gonur Depe
Merv
Mary Museum
Daşoguz
Konye-Urgench
Najm ad-Din al-Kubra Mausoleum
Darvaza gas crater
Erbent
Bokurdak
Lebap Region
Köýtendag Nature Reserve
Dinosaurs and Caves of Koytendag
Repetek Biosphere State Reserve
Balkan – Turkmenistan
Yangi-Kala Canyon
Community
Amateur Traveler Trips
