Turkmenistan is located in the southwestern part of Central Asia. It borders on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the North and East, Afghanistan and Iran – in the South. Turkmenistan is washed by the Caspian Sea.
Representatives of many nationalities live in Turkmenistan; however, most of the population is Turkmen. Big groups of the Turkmen live in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran. There are big communities of the Uzbeks (9 %) and Kazakhs (2%). The significant part of the population is Russian and Russian-speaking peoples (about 7%). Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Persians, Lezgins, Uigurs, and also Baluchi and Kurds and etc. live here.
At the beginning of the XX century the Turkmen generally were engaged in farming, first of all, in the nomadic animal breeding and partly in crop-growing agriculture. Over the centuries the nomads were becoming less and less. For the past decade in Turkmenistan the share of employment in industrial sectors (industry and construction) has increased significantly, and number of workers in the agricultural sector reduced. First of all it happened due to immigrants arriving in the republic. In the middle 90s 735 thousand of people (44% of the total employed in the economy) worked in agriculture, 625 thousand of people (about 40%) - in the service sector, and 320 thousand of people (16%) - in industry and construction.
Ashgabad is the capital of the Republic. The city is located in the picturesque valley at the foothills of the Kopet-Dagh, almost at equal distance of all regional centers of the Republic. The city arose in 1881 as a military fortification near the village of the same name.
Three landscapes prevail: desert plains, oases and mountains. The main rivers are the Amu Darya River, the Murghab and the Tejen. The underground lake Kow – Ata (60 meters lower than water) is in the famous Bakharden cave. Its area is 1050 square meters, average depth is 6 meters, and water temperature is +33...+37° С.
Deserts take about 80 % of the territory. The largest desert is the Karakum (“black sands”), it stretches 880 km. from the West to the East. In the South and Southwest there are the Kopet Dag mountains (Rize Mountain – till 2942 meters) and northern foothills of the Paropamiz. The climate is sharply continental, very dry, with considerable daily and annual hesitations of temperatures. Winter is warm, summer is sultry. The highest temperature is in July (+32,2° С). The coldest month is January, but in this month the temperature is above zero in the South and the vegetation of the plants is possible. Precipitation – from 70 to 120 mm. per year, in the mountains - up to 350 mm. Flora is mostly desert.
The ancient culture of Central Asia, including Turkmenistan, is based on religious traditions of Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Christianity and other cults and worships. From the beginning of the VII — VIII centuries, when the region was conquered by the Arabs, the dominating religion became Islam. The Turkmen, Uzbeks, Tajik, Kazakhs and some other nationalities believing in God, of modern Turkmenistan are Sunni Muslims of Hanafi sense in most. The small part of the local population, origins of Iran are Shia Muslims. Sufism played a big role in the Turkmen society. Sufism (from Arab suf - “coarse wool fabric”, and hair shirt as the attribute of the ascetic) - mystical direction of Muslim faith, which is characterized by a combination of metaphysics with the ascetic practice, doctrine about the gradual approximation of a mystical love for the knowledge of God. Sufism much influenced on literature, folk art and even the political life of local people. In the XX century a big European community in origin was formed here. They are Orthodox Christians, Catholics and Lutherans.
The ruins of Nisa – capital of ancient Parthia (I millennium BC.), are at 18 kilometers to the West of Ashgabad. The remains of city blocks, temples, and palaces preserved here. During excavations of Nisa, archaeologists found a wonderful rhytons (bowls in the form of horn cups) from ivory, sculptures from clay and stones, coins, archival records on clay tablets. These finds are of world significant. The ruins of another ancient city Merv are in the north from Bayram-Ali city. This is the most important historical and architectural monument of Turkmenistan. The oldest part is Erk-Kala, its settlement dates I millennium BC. In the middle of the I millennium AD. Merv was the capital of the East part of the Sassanid Empire, and then the center of the Arab deputies in Khorasan. The city reached its heyday in the XII century within the State of the Seljuks and Khwarazm Shahs. The remains of the city of Sultan Kala with the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar in the center are the evidence of it. At that time Merv was the largest center in the East on the production of pressed ceramic art. Finally, in the north of Turkmenistan, where old Urgench was situated, the capital of Khorezm in the XII - XIII centuries, such monuments as the fortress of Akkala ("White fortress "), the minaret, mausoleum of Fakhreddin Razi (second half of the XII century) were preserved. The mausoleum is a brick building with a dodecahedron steeple dome in the form of cube.
Turkmenistan has been the UN and OSCE member since 1992;
The ancient prehistoric settlement of Turkmenistan is not entirely known by historians. Evidence can trace human existence in the area as far back as 2,000 BC, yet it is believed, due to its geographic location, it was used as a migratory path for people from the Indus Valley to Europe.
Alexander the Great conquered modern-day Turkmenistan in the 4th century BC and went on to form what is now known as the city of Merv. The city became an important trading post along the crucially important Silk Road from China to Europe. For a brief time in history, much of Turkmenistan was conquered by the Parthians, who were a fierce warrior tribe who migrated north from Iran. They founded the city of Nisa―thought to be their first official capital and seat of power―ruins of which can be seen today.
The Parthians remained strong until their defeat and conquer to the rulers of Iran, from the east. Turkmenistan remained in a state of constant conflict for the next 500 years, until the Arab Empire took control of the region in their conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries. The Arabs continued their plight westward and as a result, schematically the territories as far as Morocco adopted Islam as their national faith. Around 90 percent of Turkmenistanis today are Muslim. Turkmenistan was subject to one last great conquest in history when the Mongols swept in from the east in the 13th century, under the command of the notorious warrior Genghis Khan.
The Russians showed early interest in Turkmenistan during the 19th century because they desired access to the Caspian Sea. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, they creating the first leftist, communist state in history and by 1924 Turkmenistan had joined the Soviet Union. As with most states that were part of the Soviet Union at this time, Turkmenistan has since become an independent country after the dissolution of the USSR.
Like many nations that had endured a power vacuum as a result of the end of overarching rule by the Soviets, Turkmenistan succumbed to a dictator. Saparmurad Niyazov was elected president and assumed totalitarian control for the next 15 years until his death in 2006. He entitled himself Turkmenbashi, which means ‘leader of all Turkmen’.
The leaders who have followed Niyazov have attempted to reduce the charismatic personality cult that once governed the country. However, Turkmenistan remains a single-party state, one of the few left in the world alongside the likes of North Korea and Vietnam, and the government is admonished internationally for human rights abuses. Even though Turkmenistan possesses the fourth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world, around 40 percent of the population lives in poverty.
To gain insight into the centuries-old traditions of the Turkmen people, you should spend time taking in a show at one of the theaters in the capital city. At the Mollanepes Drama Theater in Ashgabat, regular shows every Wednesday to Sunday from 7:00 p.m are staged. Check the listings for the latest performances based on Turkmen folklore. During the winter months only, you can catch shows at the Magtymguly Theater in the capital, with performances starting at 7:00 p.m..
The climate of Turkmenistan is temperate continental. This means it experiences four seasons, with very warm summers and icy winters. Most of the country is dominated by the Karkum Desert, which is one of the driest deserts in the world and which consequently affects the overall weather of Turkmenistan. It occupies an area of 135,000 square miles, covering 70 percent of the land area.
Temperatures in the desert can reach over 120°F during summer days, falling sharply at night. During the winter, the average temperatures of the desert region are between 5°F and 14°F. Otherwise, the rest of the country sees hot summers and cold winter. The warmest months are June, July, and August when temperatures reach around 100°F during the day and fall to 68°F at night. During the winter months, the coldest day can see temperatures fall to 29°F at night, with the mercury reaching only 45°F in the height of the day in January.
The whole country is very dry, dictated by the desert that dominates 70 percent of the land. Average annual rainfall is nine inches, although two-thirds of the country only receives less than six inches of precipitation every year. The wettest months are between January and May, and the highest amount of rainfall comes in April when most cities experience about an inch of rain.
Since the summers are very hot and the winters are very cold, the best times to visit Turkmenistan is during either spring or fall. April is the wettest month, yet the small amount of rain isn’t enough to put a dampener on sightseeing. Instead, the rain sees desert flowers bloom for a brief period, with visitors treated to a spectacle of red, orange, and yellow colors set against the usual ochre landscapes. Fall is another good time to visit because, aside from the good weather, this is the time of harvest, and you will be treated to a huge choice of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Turkmenistan doesn’t really have a ‘high’ season so accommodation prices remain constant throughout the year. It is nevertheless worth booking ahead as local festivals can see prices go up and accommodations fill to capacity.
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Turkmenistan is an incredibly mysterious World of Antiquity: ruins of cities, temples, caravanserais and endless deserts in an amazing combination with the cities of Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Turkmenabad, Mary.
Traveling to Turkmenistan immerses you from modern megacities into sandy landscapes, creating incredible sensations.
Discover the mysterious Turkmenistan, a country where the past meets the present, and the splendor of nature is combined with the richness of culture. This is a unique destination for those who are eager for new experiences and ready to immerse themselves in the world of ancient oriental legends and traditions.
We organize journey to Central Asia for people from different countries.
The most luxurious travel to Turkmenistan, awaits you with our guides. We will show you the amazing treasures of Turkmenistan:
1. Ancient Merv: one of the oldest cities in the world, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ruins of great civilizations, feel the breath of history and touch the secrets of the past.
2. Darwaza: An amazing phenomenon known as the "Gates of the Hell". This giant gas crater, which has been burning for several decades, makes an indelible impression.
3. Karakum Desert: Endless sands stretching for thousands of kilometers create a unique atmosphere and offer an unforgettable jeep safari experience.
4. National Museum of Turkmenistan: rich collection of artifacts reflecting the millennial history of the country. The museum preserves the secrets of ancient civilizations and cultural achievements of the Turkmen people.
And these are not all the pearls of this eastern country.
We will prepare a program to Turkmenistan with all your wishes and preferences in mind. You will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the country's rich cultural traditions, which carefully preserve the customs and traditions of ancestors. In Turkmenistan, you can participate in local festivals, try the delicious local cuisine, and learn about traditional crafts such as carpet weaving, jewelry making, horse breeding, and more.
For fans of active recreation, Turkmenistan offers fascinating routes for hiking, cycling, and horse riding. You can enjoy the beautiful nature, explore the diverse landscapes, and discover the unique beauty of this wonderful country.
Your travel to Turkmenistan will leave lots of pleasant impressions. Turkmens are always happy to welcome guests and share their traditions. Modern hotels and tourist infrastructure ensure a comfortable stay and allow you to enjoy all the delights of travel.
Ashgabat International Airport is widely recognized as one of the most stunning airports in the world, offering convenient transportation options that make traveling to Turkmenistan both affordable and comfortable.
The ideal time to visit Turkmenistan is between April and June, as well as September and November, when the weather is most agreeable for travel. During these months, spring and autumn bring mild temperatures and breathtaking landscapes, making your journey even more enjoyable.
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Turkmenistan is a country filled with mysteries and wonders waiting to be explored. Its unique history, landscapes, and warm hospitality make it a destination that is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories. Let a journey through this land to be an adventure filled with new discoveries and vibrant emotions.
Uztravel Silk Road DMC is ready to help to make your trip an unforgettable journey through Turkmenistan and Central Asia!
Mysterious Turkmenistan is waiting for you!
