Turkmenistan Highlights and Events

Travel in Turkmenistan with Intrepid

Flag
Turkmenistan is an eclectic country that oozes history and quirkiness, with warm inhabitants who enjoying extending a welcoming hand to visitors (even if the government is somewhat less effusive). Visit this eccentric nation to forge a path across windswept deserts and jagged mountains, through aromatic spice bazaars, along the ancient Silk Road, all the while encountering the distinctive faces of Central Asia.
» View all trips to Turkmenistan

Experience Turkmenistan's highlights on these trips

Tashkent to Istanbul

Mountain side Yurts
39 days
Basix
  • USD $3,405
    CAD $3,430
    AUD $3,315
    EUR €2,655
    GBP £2,065
    NZD $4,245
    ZAR R26,480
    CHF FR3,070
    Trip Price tool tip
  • USD $1,540
    Kitty tool tip
  • USD $4,945*
    CAD $4,925*
    AUD $4,788*
    EUR €3,729*
    GBP £3,004*
    NZD $6,093*
    ZAR R37,190*
    CHF FR4,288*
    *
    Total price tool tip

Tashkent to Ashgabat

uzbekistan_samarkand_meet-the-local
15 days
Basix
  • USD $1,445
    CAD $1,455
    AUD $1,405
    EUR €1,125
    GBP £875
    NZD $1,800
    ZAR R11,650
    CHF FR1,315
    Trip Price tool tip
  • USD $540
    Kitty tool tip
  • USD $1,985*
    CAD $1,979*
    AUD $1,921*
    EUR €1,501*
    GBP £1,204*
    NZD $2,448*
    ZAR R15,405*
    CHF FR1,742*
    *
    Total price tool tip

Bishkek to Ashgabat

Nomadic Yurt tent, Kyrgyzstan
30 days
Basix
  • USD $2,675
    CAD $2,690
    AUD $2,600
    EUR €2,085
    GBP £1,620
    NZD $3,330
    ZAR R21,555
    CHF FR2,435
    Trip Price tool tip
  • USD $920
    Kitty tool tip
  • USD $3,595*
    CAD $3,583*
    AUD $3,480*
    EUR €2,727*
    GBP £2,181*
    NZD $4,434*
    ZAR R27,953*
    CHF FR3,162*
    *
    Total price tool tip

Ashgabat to Tashkent

Bukhara Palace, Uzbekistan
15 days
Basix
  • USD $1,445
    CAD $1,455
    AUD $1,405
    EUR €1,125
    GBP £875
    NZD $1,800
    ZAR R11,220
    CHF FR1,300
    Trip Price tool tip
  • USD $540
    Kitty tool tip
  • USD $1,985*
    CAD $1,979*
    AUD $1,921*
    EUR €1,501*
    GBP £1,204*
    NZD $2,448*
    ZAR R14,975*
    CHF FR1,727*
    *
    Total price tool tip
* Refer to booking conditions

Highlights


Turkmenistan's Top Picks

 
Turkmenistan's capital, Ashgabat, was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1948, after which much of the city had to be rebuilt
 

Top 5 Things Banned by Saparmurat Niyazov

  1. Music: Listening to car radios, lip-synching and recorded music were all prohibited as he believed they stifled the natural creative talents of Turkmen.
  2. TV Newswomen Wearing Make-up: Banned in 2004, because he believed Turkmen women were beautiful enough already without make-up. (Although, some reports claim this was actually because he was struggling to tell the difference between the male and female newsreaders!)
  3. Gold Teeth: Banned in April 2004 - instead Niyazov decreed the youth of Turkmenistan should chew on bones to preserve their teeth, in the same way dogs do.
  4. Opera, Ballet and the Circus: Banned in 2001 for being unnecessary and 'decidedly un-Turkmen-like'.
  5. Dogs in Ashgabat: Banished from the streets of the capital as a result of their 'unappealing odour'.