It is actually quite easy and simple to get a tourist visa to Turkmenistan. To do so, you need to obtain a Letter of Invitation (LOI) from a local travel agency. Once you have received the letter of invitation, you can get your visa upon arrival in Turkmenistan or at the Embassy of Turkmenistan.
Please contact us directly to find out how likely you are to receive a Letter of Invitation (LOI) approval.
Yes, currently (2023) you can enter Turkmenistan with your car, but there is a cost involved. You will have to pay 0.20 US dollars per kilometer you intend to drive, according to your declaration. Let’s say it is 1,000 kilometers, then you will have to pay 200 US dollars. In addition, there are other fees such as car insurance, etc. Contact us for more information.
While 3 weeks is sufficient in most cases, it is recommended to have 4 weeks or more for peace of mind. There is also an express procedure from the Immigration Service, which will cost an additional $40.
If you have not obtained a visa before traveling to Turkmenistan, you will have to pay for a visa, which costs approximately $40-50 USD, but may be more depending on your nationality. In addition, you have to pay other fees such as Covid Test and bank fees, which is another $40-50. In total, it should cost no more than $100 per person.
To see all the main sights of Turkmenistan, 3 days is enough. For a more relaxed or extended tour with off the beaten path destinations, at least 5 days are recommended.
The main attractions that are commonly visited are:
– The capital Ashgabat and its surroundings
– Darvaza or Derveze gas crater
– Ruins of the great city of Merv
– Ruins of the great city of Kunya Urgench
Less convenient but quite interesting sights.
– Yangikala Canyons
– Archeological monument Gonur-Depe, 2 thousand years BC.
– Damla, village in the Karakum desert
– Kuiten, site of thousands of dinosaur footprints, one of the largest dinosaur footprint sites in the world
– Dayahatyn, the largest caravanserai in Central Asia
– Dehistan, the ruins of a lost kingdom
– Meals are usually not included in the cost of tours because they are pretty cheap, $4-10 per meal per person.
– Entrance fees are not included and you should expect to pay no more than $15 per day, if any.
– At the border, you will have to pay for a visa, if you did not get one before coming to Turkmenistan, at any consulate in Turkmenistan. All costs for visa and other things are within $100 per person.
So $100 + $30*(number of days) should be enough if you don’t want to spend more money in Turkmenistan.
In Darvaz we usually stay in traditional Turkmen yurts. You can stay in them in groups of 2-3 people without strangers. Yes, there are toilets and showers. The camp is very close to Darvaza, you can walk there in 5 minutes.
If you are travelling to Turkmenistan by land border from Uzbekistan or Iran, the border crossing procedure can take quite a long time, up to 2 hours, and in some cases more if there are a lot of people. Usually the Uzbek part is quite fast, about 15 minutes on average.
No. According to the rules, you are not allowed to travel in Turkmenistan without a guide. And this is good, as the guide is responsible for your safety, registration of your stay in Turkmenistan, as well as for your comfort in the country.
Currently, transit visas are not yet open. In the past you could get a transit visa for 3-5 days.
