Turkmenistan Tours
Turkmenistan tours focus on the rich ancient history in all parts of the country where you can see the remains of several civilizations that have ceased to exist already a long time ago. Ashgabat itself is a sight with the overwhelming amount of monuments and white marble buildings. Turkmenistan is also rich in geological sights such as caves, fossils and dinosaur footprints and of course the Darvaza burning gas crater.
Turkmen culture is not often mentioned but it has its own unique features and differences from the other Central Asian countries. Turkmenistan is also a peculiar place to visit due to its rare leader centered regime and society of which the country is known of and therefore also shrouded in mystery for most foreigners.
If the tours offered below do not meet your needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a tailored tour in Turkmenistan or to combine your Turkmen tour with the neighboring Central Asian Stan countries.
Turkmenistan Small Group and Private Tours
Turkmenistan Fixed Date Group Tour
Fixed-date small group: Merv, white-marble Ashgabat and a night at the Darvaza gas crater. Starts near Bukhara, ends…
Turkmenistan Nature and Culture Tour
Turkmenistan Culture and Nature Tour 6 DAYS TURKMENISTAN NATURE & CULTURE TOUR Tour Details Period April - October…
Turkmenistan Group tour
Turkmenistan group tour TURKMENISTAN FIXED-DATE GROUP TOUR Tour Details Period March - November Tour length and…
Turkmenistan culture tour
Turkmenistan culture tour – 8 Days | Turkmenistan Culture Tour
Turkmenistan 4 days tour
Turkmenistan 4 days tour Turkmenistan Tour in 4 days Tour Details Period April - October Tour length and Participants4…
Central Asia Multi-Country Tours including Turkmenistan
The Best of the Five Stan Tour
All five Stans in 22 days: Kyrgyz yurts on Issyk-Kul, Charyn Canyon, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and the Darvaza gas…
Five Stans of Central Asia Tour
Small-group tour of all five Stans in 15 days (17 with Astana): Darvaza crater, Merv, Samarkand, Bukhara, Issyk-Kul…
Five Stans tour from Bishkek to Ashgabat
Five Stans tour from Bishkek to Ashgabat – 15 Days | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan…
Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan tour
Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan Tour package includes all major historic & architectural sights of Uzbekistan and…
5 Stan Quick Tour
A fast private tour of all five Stans in 15 days: Darvaza gas crater, Merv, Bukhara, Samarkand, Osh, Issyk-Kul and…
Silk Road Tour
Silk Road Tour – 17 Days | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan Culture Tour
Turkmenistan Tour Information
Turkmenistan is the most closed country in Central Asia and one of the top worldwide as well. Nevertheless, it is perfectly safe and more and more common to visit Turkmenistan via organized tours. It is not possible to solo travel in Turkmenistan as you will need to be accompanied by a guide most of the time. It is possible to spend a single day alone in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan can be reached through Ashgabat airport but also through few land borders from Uzbekistan. When booking a tour through Central Asia Guide, we will guide you through the visa and letter of invitation process. In practice the process is most of the time quick and based on our experience, 99% of visa applications are accepted for tourists.
Visa requirements for Turkmenistan Tour
Turkmenistan has one of the most restrictive visa policies in the world, requiring visitors to obtain a visa in advance. We will help you in obtaining the a Letter of Invitation (LOI) and you will receive your Turkmenistan visa or upon arrival at Ashgabat International Airport. In addition to visa, tourists arriving to Turkmenistan are still required to take and pay for a covid test at arrival. This practice is still expected to continue until further notice.
Photographing in Turkmenistan
Photography in Turkmenistan is heavily restricted. It is not allowed to photograph military installations or government buildings such as ministries or other government offices. This includes also the Presidential Palace and many other structures in Ashgabat. It is also best to keep your cameras in bag during possible check points. Locals might also not always like their photos being taken so it is polite to ask if you wish to photograph people in their daily lives and for example in bazaars. Especially women might be shy of photographing and it is not encouraged by the authorities to photograph the locals or their housing, especially if they are not considered “good looking”.
When visiting touristic sites, photographing is allowed but sometimes an additional fee might be required, especially if you wish to use a larger system camera in addition to your mobile phone. Please consult your guide about possible fees and if they are already included in your tour. It is in practice forbidden to use drones in Turkmenistan as the official permits are almost impossible to obtain. If you are caught photographing in a sensitive location, guards or police might ask you to remove the photos after a review. In rare cases the border authorities might also ask to check you phone or memory cards and remove certain photos.
Best time to visit Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan has an arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The best time to visit is during spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when temperatures are moderate and ideal for sightseeing. Summer temperatures can soar above 40°C (104°F), making outdoor exploration difficult. Visiting Turkmenistan during the winter season is also possible but the outside temperatures are not always enjoyable. This being said, Turkmenistan winter weather is nothing that proper clothing could not solve.
Traveling during Turkmenistan Tours
Turkmenistan has strict regulations for foreign travel inside the country. It is allowed to explore Ashgabat without a guide for a day or two but outside the capital tourists must be always accompanied by a local guide. Domestic flights connect major cities, while car transportation is common for short distances as there is in practice no train service available. Renting a car is also not an option for a foreigner.
Safety during Turkmenistan Tour
Turkmenistan is generally considered a safe country for tourists. It has very low crime rate and violent crimes against tourists are extremely rare also due to strong police presence. One should still maintain normal caution while pickpocketing and scams are uncommon but can happen in crowded areas, such as bazaars.
Travel insurance with medical evacuation is highly recommended for a Turkmenistan tour as the local medical facilities are basic and medical supplies may be limited. Drink only bottled water and avoid street food to prevent stomach issues during your Turkmenistan tour. The desert climate can be harsh, with extremely high temperatures in summer and cold winters making proper clothing and hydration essential.
Roads outside Ashgabat can be in poor condition but when on Turkmenistan tour through Central Asia Guide you will always be transported with a car that is adapted to the local conditions.
Internet in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan has one of the most restricted and slowest internet services in the world. The government strictly controls online access, blocks many websites, and heavily monitors digital communications. Fixed broadband speeds are extremely slow, averaging around 1–2 Mbps, while mobile data speeds can be even lower rendering streaming or video calls often impossible.
Internet access is mostly available in major cities like Ashgabat, and even there, connectivity is poor. Rural areas have little to no internet access. Western social media and news sites are mostly blocked but can be often accessed via VPN. The hotels during your Turkmenistan tour will have mostly internet access but speeds are slow and connections may be monitored. It is very difficult to obtain a local sim card for a tourist.
Tours in Other Central Asia Countries
Page updated 23.8.2026