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Travel Information on Turkmenistan
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Turkmenistan (TM)
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| Continent: |
Asia |
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| Area: |
488,100 km² |
| Population: |
5,120,320 |
| Capital city: |
Asgabat |
ISO code: |
TM |
| National language: |
Turkmen |
International dialling code: |
+993 |
| Currency: |
Manat |
Licence plate number: |
TM |
| Flight routes from Turkmenistan: |
43 |
Flight routes to Turkmenistan: |
71 |
| Popular airports: |
Ashgabat (ASB)
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| Large cities: |
Asgabat,
Turkmenabad,
Mary,
Balkanabat,
Bayramaly,
Turkmenbashi,
Tejen,
Büzmeýin,
Gowurdak,
Kerki,
Yolöten,
Annau,
Gumdag,
Bäherden,
Boldumsaz
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| Airlines based in Turkmenistan: |
Turkmenistan
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Travelguide Turkmenistan (Asia)
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The presidential Republic of Turkmenistan is the most southern of the central Asian states and extends clockwise from the Caspian Sea to the borders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Afghanistan and Iran.
Geography: Turkmenistan is a desert republic. In the east near the Caspian Sea, the country rises steeply to form the fertile plateau of Krasnowodsk. This highland plateau extends to the interior of the country and also to Iran and eventually merges with the mountains of Kopet-Dag. Behind this is the large Karakorum desert, taking up about 80% of the country’s total area and determining the overall picture of Turkmenistan with its sand and rubble. In the east, towards Afghanistan and Uzbekistan this desert landscape rises slightly to merge with the foothills of the Gissar mountain range. The highest point in Turkmenistan is located here on the border to Uzbekistan.
Mountains and rivers: the highest point in Turkmenistan is the Gora Ayribaba with an altitude of 3139 m (10,298 ft) on the eastern Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border. The longest river is the Amu Darya (2,580 km; 1603 miles). It has several smaller tributaries on the Afghan-Tajikistani border and flows through the whole of the country in a northwesterly direction until finally flowing into the southern delta of the Aral Sea.
Climate and best time to visit: Turkmenistan has a continental climate with extremely hot summers and very cold winter months. The best and most bearable time to visit is during the months in spring and autumn. There is no distinct rainy season in Turkmenistan. Rainfall is rare and, when it does, only falls in the southern oasis belt during the spring. In this relatively short period the otherwise monotonous countryside comes into bloom and explodes in tones of red and yellow.
Language and communication: the official and national language is Turkmen, closely related to Turkish and Azerbaijan. Due to the large numbers of different ethnic groups of people, Russian is also an important language of communication. Regionally, the population will also understand Kazakh, Armenian, Balochi, Ukrainian, Tatar and Azerbaijani.
Health and vaccinations: vaccination against hepatitis A, typhoid, diphtheria, polio and tetanus is recommended. Long clothing should be worn to provide protection against mosquitoes and other insects, and a locally purchased insect repellent should also be used. The dangerous form of malaria called Plasmodium Vivax sometimes occurs between June and September in a few villages in the south of the country. Please seek advice from your GP on effective anti malaria medication. Medical care is only of a good standard in the capital, Ashgabat. Visitors are advised to take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance that covers repatriation costs. A first aid kit and important medication should be packed and fruit and vegetables peeled or boiled before being eaten. With the exception of Ashgabat, foreign medicine is hard to come by in Turkmenistan.
Entry requirements: these may be subject to change and those planning a visit to Turkmenistan are advised to consult the Turkmen embassy before commencing their journey. British nationals need a visa for Turkmenistan along with a private or official letter of invitation, which may be obtained from travel agents. Please note that the visa is restricted to a few areas in the country and that those wishing to visit the Turkmen border regions must apply for a travel permit from the Turkmen foreign office, which may also be arranged by travel agents. On arrival at the airport two copies of a migration card must be filled in, one of which must be kept and handed in on leaving the country. All visitors staying for longer than 3 days must register with the state authorities. Some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter or leave the country. For further information on exact requirements at immigration please contact the Turkmen embassy. For more information on vaccination and entry requirements please refer to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Website.
Arrival and onward journey: most flights from UK airports to Ashkhabad (ASB) involve a stop over. Turkish airlines (TK) fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Ashgabat via Istanbul (IST). Turkmenistan airlines (T5) has a direct service from London and Birmingham to Ashgabat and also provides regular inland flights to Dashoguz (TAZ), Turkmenabad (CRZ), Turkmenbashi (KRW) and Mary (MYP). Please note that flight tickets purchased in Turkmenistan must normally be paid for in foreign currency and that foreigners usually pay a higher price.
Capital city: the capital Ashgabat is the biggest city in Turlmenistan and has a population of about 850,000 and is located in the Karakum desert on the edge of the Köpetdag-Gershi mountain range, not far from the Iranian-Turkmenistan border. In 1948, Ashgabat was more or less completely destroyed by an earthquake, which is why it lacks an oriental style old town so typical of central Asian cities. The centre of Ashgabat is to a large extent characterised by earthquake proof steel concrete buildings. Attractions include the art museum, the museum of national culture, the historical museum, the botanical gardens and a few large mosques of which the Azadi mosque is the most beautiful as it resembles the blue mosque in Istanbul. Also of note are the neutrality arch, which is the highest building in the city with a gold plated statue of the former dictator Nyýazow and the many over dimensional waterworks that are scattered all over the city and stand in stark, incongruous contrast to the desert bordering the city. Outside the district is another worthwhile destination, the ancient city of Nisa. Back in the 3rd century Nisa was the capital of the mighty Parthian kingdom. Many artefacts are now in the national museum in Ashgabat, but there are still many marble statues with a strong Hellenistic influence left in Nisa.
Places of interest: the ancient oasis city of Merv is especially worth visiting in Turkmenistan and is located about 30 km from Mary, the second largest city in the country. The antique area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and encompasses an area of more than 120 km². It was once the second largest city in the Islamic world and a significant trade centre on the silk route until it was flattened in the year 1221 by the warrior hordes of Genghis Khan. The impressive mausoleum of the sultan Sanjar, completed in 1140, is particularly interesting and worth seeing along with the ice storeroom dating back to the 12th century in which ice blocks could be stored for up to 2 years. Another of Turkmenistan’s attractions can be found in the city of Köneürgenc. The town is 500 km north of Ashgabat on the edge of the Karakorum desert and has the largest minaret in central Asia: the 62 m high Kutluk Timur.
The most interesting of Turkmenistan’s attractions are without doubt the dinosaur tracks in the Kugitang national park. The area is in the far southeast of the country not far from the border to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan: here there are a few hundred fossilised dinosaur footprints measuring 80 cm originating from enormous dinosaurs that must have weighed about 10 tonnes. Other attractions in the national park include the many stalactite caves and the Ayribaba mountain which is covered in snow almost throughout the year.
Religion: about 90 % of the population profess to Sunni Islam. There is a 9% minority of Russian orthodox Christians and small minorities of diverse Christian and Muslim religious communities.
Major Cities and accommodation: Ashgabat, Chärjew, Daşoguz, Mary, Nebitdag and Balkanabat.
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Favourite Flights and Cheap Flights from and to Turkmenistan / TM
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