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Travel Turkmenistan

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In brief+

Weekly budget
£unconfirmed
Flight budget
£unconfirmed
Flight duration
 
Time difference
Summer/Winter
Visa
Yes
Vaccinations
No
Currency
Manat du Turkmenistan
Language(s)
russian,
turkmen

Overview

Turkmenistan

This 5 000-year-old country is not an easily explored destination. Most of its mountains are inaccessible. A former Soviet Union country, Turkmenistan is not well known amongst tourists. However, this is the country producing the famous Bukhara carpets, and breeding the mythical Akhal Teke horses. Its subtropical-desert climate means that three quarters of this region is covered by desert. Its lunar landscapes take you back to another era. It is the same with the humans rights situation: The Turkmen dictatorial regime is one of the most autocratic in the world.

pros

  •  Discover this young and unknown repubic, kept in isolation within the Soviet Block for many years.
  •  The first-sight austerity of Turkmens often hides their very welcoming nature and love for French culture.

cons

  •  Infrastructure similar to western designs is rare. It is important to remember that the country has known 70 years of communism and is still marked by its bureaucratic style.
  •  It is not possible to travel unaccompanied in this country, as in other countries in the region, unless you are an adventurer.
  •  English is scarcely spoken.
  •  Besides a few ruined cities, Turkmenistan has few historic and cultural sites.

map Turkmenistan

map Turkmenistan

Country Guide

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan, All you need to know!

Our Editorial team's advice

Do not fail to visit the Tolkuchka bazaar, lying around the Karakoum desert, behind the canal, close to Achkhabad. This unusual bazaar bustles with life, especially on Sundays. It remains the best spot in the country to find out souvenirs, such as a lovely Turkmen carpet or the original Telpek, this Turkmen traditional cap made of sheep wool. You can wander in the centre of Achkhabad, which is entirely dedicated to the glory of the Turkmen leader and discover the general architecture of the new buildings, symbols of hero-worship for the president. Finally, do not fail to cross the Karakoum desert, from east to west, via the only main road of a country that is 75% desert.
It is advisable to always carry your passport with a valid visa. Foreigners with a tourist visa should be registered within three days upon arrival by the State department. They will complete a form specifying their identity and the purpose of their journey. They will then pay a tax of USD 10. They should always carry a duplicate of this form along with their passport and visa for presentation upon request. They will only be allowed to leave the country after returning this document at the border through which they entered Turkmenistan.

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