OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Asia
- Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a central Asian country roughly the size of
California bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan
and the Caspian Sea.
The country achieved independence from the former Soviet Union
in 1991 under the eccentric leadership of President Niyazov who
ruled as dictator until his death in 2006. Niyazov took autocratic
narcissism to heights unscaled by even North Korean dictator Kim
Ill Jung. He renamed Monday after himself and decreed that bread be
referred to by his mother's name. He famously insisted on being
referred to as Turkmenbashi ('Father of all Turkmen'), and erected
a 49 foot (15 metre) high gold statue in the capital that rotated
throughout the day to face the sun.
Turkmenistan has a subtropical desert climate with long, hot
summers and cold and dry winters. Much of the country is desert,
but the small portion of the land that is arable is extensively
irrigated, allowing Turkmenistan to be one of the top 10 producers
of cotton in the world. The real wealth, however, lies under the
ground in the form of extensive oil and gas reserves.
The capital city Ashgabat was almost totally destroyed by a 1948
earthquake. The rebuilt modern city has been conceived in the grand
Soviet style with plenty of monuments and statues to Niyazov.
Although Turkmenistan is a young state, this region is one of
the oldest inhabited areas on earth. Dekhistan is a considered a
lost city of the Silk Road. Today its remote 10th century ruins
make for a fascinating excursion into the desert. Near the city of
Mary are the ruins of the ancient Persian town of Merv. With over
4,000 years of history, this is the oldest and best preserved oasis
city on the Silk Road.
Despite these intriguing attractions Turkmenistan still receives
more business travellers than tourists. With Niyazov's demise there
are signs the country is opening up a bit, Turkmenistan will, in
all likelihood, remain an off-beat destination with limited
appeal.
Information & Facts
Customs
Etiquette in Turkmenistan is governed by Islamic principles,
though the state is officially secular. Conservative dress is
required at all times, and neither women nor men wear shorts.
Respect for elders is considered very important. Do not refer to
Turkmens as Russians or Soviets, and avoid criticising the country
in front of locals.
Duty Free
Travellers to Turkmenistan over the age of 21 years can import 2
litres of any alcoholic beverage for without paying duty; those
over 16 years of age may import 200 cigarettes or 200 g of tobacco
and personal belongings up to a reasonable value. All narcotics,
firearms, ammunition and accessories, and antiquities are
prohibited from either import or export. The customs declaration,
filled out upon entry to Turkmenistan, should be retained. When
leaving this form may be used to audit items for export. Video
camera are allowed for personal use, but must be declared on
arrival.
Passport Visa
Visitors to Turkmenistan and transit passengers are required to
hold sufficient funds and onward/ return tickets and documentation
for the duration of their stay in the country. Most visas for
Turkmenistan are issued on arrival if visitors are travelling from
countries without an embassy or consulate of Turkmenistan. Entry
visas can be obtained for a maximum stay of 10 days provided the
visitor has a letter of invitation from a company registered in
Turkmenistan which has been approved by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. A fee of US$ 61 is incurred for this visa.
Visas issued are for the whole of the territory of Turkmenistan,
however special permits are required for visits to specific areas
in the country. Valid visas in expired passports are accepted
provided that the passport holder also has a valid passport for the
same nationality. Immigration authorities in Turkmenistan simply
transfer the visa into your new passport on arrival, for a fee of
US$ 40.
All visitors to Turkmenistan are required to fill out a landing
card which incurs a US$ 12 fee. Furthermore, visitors must register
themselves with the police department within three days of arrival.
It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months
validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your
travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different
rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.