Turkmenistan
About Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is definitely worth visiting as traveling here you will discover such an alluring life: skullcaps and pilaf, Akhal-Teke horses, colorful folk weddings, green tea, the famous carpets of dazzling beauty, the lightest silk and honey melon. However, the main reason for not visiting has been the difficult visa process.
Tightly controlled Turkmenistan has been considered the hermit nation of the ‘Stans and part of the fascination of the country is the peculiar Ashgabat and the ruling system.
The territory of Turkmenistan is rich in monuments which in antiquity were the most considerable stops on the Silk Road especially the cities such as Nisa and Marv. They are the magnificent, sometimes unique architectural masterpieces of the past.
The Karakum (Black Sand), which together with the Kyzylkum (Red Sand) in Uzbekistan forms the fourth biggest desert in the world covering about 350,000 square kilometers.
Landscape 491,210 km2
Around 80% of Turkmenistan’s land area is covered by the vast, uninhabited Karakum Desert, which is characterized by its barren, flat-to-rolling landscape and scattered sand dunes. This desert region is one of the most prominent features of Turkmenistan’s geography, with harsh conditions that make it largely uninhabitable. Despite its desolate nature, the Karakum holds historical significance and is home to ancient trade routes that connected Central Asia to the rest of the world.
In addition to its desert landscape, Turkmenistan is rich in natural resources. It holds the world’s fourth-largest reserves of natural gas and has substantial oil resources as well. These resources have positioned Turkmenistan as a key player in the global energy market, especially in terms of natural gas exports to neighbouring countries and beyond.
Population 6,600,000
As of 2024, the population of Turkmenistan is estimated to be around 6.6 million people. The country is one of the most sparsely populated in Central Asia, with a population density of just about 13 people per square kilometre. Ethnically, Turkmenistan is predominantly made up of Turkmen people, who constitute approximately 85% of the population. Other significant ethnic groups include Uzbeks (around 5%), Russians (about 4%), and smaller communities of Azerbaijanis, Kazakhs, and Tatars.
Turkmenistan’s population growth is moderate, with a yearly increase of about 1.3%, and the median age of its population is around 27 years. The country’s capital, Ashgabat, is the largest city, while other major cities include Turkmenabat and Dasoguz.
Currency Manat (TMT)
The Turkmen Manat (TMT) is the national currency of Turkmenistan. The first version of the manat was introduced in 1993, following the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. However, in response to high inflation, the government conducted a significant currency reform on January 1, 2009. In this process, the old manat (ISO 4217 code: TMM) was redenominated, with 5,000 old manats being replaced by 1 new manat (TMT). This redenomination aimed to stabilize the currency and reduce the impact of inflation, which had been weakening the purchasing power of the manat.
The Turkmen manat is closely linked to the country’s natural gas exports, as Turkmenistan possesses substantial reserves of natural gas, making the manat an essential component of the country’s economy. The government actively manages the exchange rate and money supply to keep the manat stable, given its role in maintaining Turkmenistan’s financial stability and international trade relations
Turkmen, Russian
In Turkmenistan, the official language is Turkmen, which is a member of the Turkic language family. It is the primary language used in government, education, and media. Russian, however, remains widely spoken as an inter-ethnic language, particularly in urban areas and among the older generation. While Russian was the dominant language during the Soviet era, it continues to be used for communication between different ethnic groups, as well as in business and diplomacy.
The use of Russian is particularly common in major cities like Ashgabat, and although Turkmen has become the official language in most public domains, Russian serves as a bridge for people from different ethnic backgrounds, especially Uzbeks and Russians themselves.
Turkmenistan Tours
Turkmenistan quick Tips
Drinking water
Drinking tap water is not safe in Turkmenistan. You can get bottled water anywhere throughout the country.
Safety
Generally, Turkmenistan is a safe country to travel to. However, you should also expect to be stopped by policemen and law enforcement and asked for documents or questions about your trip.
Best time to go
Like the rest of Central Asia, the best time to visit is Spring and Autumn. Turkmenistan’s climate is a severely continental cold desert climate, identified by long, hot, and dry summers, and humid, mild, and dry winters that can turn occasionally cold and damp in the north.
Currency exchange
As one of the isolated countries, there is just a couple of banking services. Banks have specified opening hours and are closed on Sundays. There are no other legal currency exchange options.
Travel budget
Turkmenistan is the most expensive country in Central Asia for travelers due to its government regulations.
If you want to stay for more than 5 days, certainly you have to book a tour which won’t be cheap. For the transit visa, you should have a ticket to the third country. And budget travelers on a transit visa, the choice is limited as well.
Credit card
ATMs are non-existent anywhere in the country and credit cards are rarely accepted, so keep a stash of both US dollars and local manat with you at all times.
Local SIM card
It is possible to acquire a loca sim card in Turkmenistan from two operators called MTS and TM Cell. They provide packages with limited data and are a bit on the expensive side. On the other hand, roaming could also be very expensive, depending on your operator.
WIFI
WIFI exists in Turkmenistan, however, it’s very expensive. Internet in Turkmenistan is filtered. You are being watched and unwanted websites are blocked. VPNs are illegal in Turkmenistan and are usually blocked as soon as the authorities pick them up.
Religion
Turkmenistan is predominantly Muslim. Religion is practiced but completely controlled by the state to avoid any kind of extremism.
Turkmenistan Must Visit Destinations
More information on Turkmenistan can be found from the website of Turkmenistan ministry for foreign affairs.
Page updated 16.1.2024
