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Exploring Turkmenistan

Visas

Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual client. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from. We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself with the Embassy of Turkmenistan.

A single entry visa is required is from all foreign nationals to enter the Republic of Turkmenistan and this can be obtained on arrival with prior permission or before travel. Tourist visa are issued by the Immigration Service of the Republic of Turkmenistan on the basis of application from a licensed travel agency in Turkmenistan who provide an invitation and Flee Winter will apply for this on your behalf. We will therefore require details of the passport you’ll be travelling on at least 12 weeks prior to departure. This invitation letter will then need to be used to apply for your visa via www.uk.tmembassy.gov.tm/en/consular-services/visa-info

It is not possible to obtain the Turkmenistan Invitation any earlier than 8 weeks prior to the tour departure date and it takes 3 to 4 weeks to process. Because of the constraints around obtaining a visa we do not recommend any travel in the weeks proceeding the start of your tour.

Turkmenistan Invitation Letter Requirements:

  • Personal details for the application form
  • Scanned passport photos
  • Scanned copy of the photo page in your passport

Turkmenistan Visa Application Requirements:

  • Two completed visa applications
  • Valid passport and its copy. Passport must have at least six months validity period from the day of entrance to Turkmenistan
  • Two passport size photos glued to the applications
  • Visa fee
  • Approved tourist visa support letter
  • Stamped, self-addressed envelope, if the embassy agreed to serve by post.

On arrival in Turkmenistan, you must complete a migration card and pay a US$12 migration fee, this is in addition to any visa fees. The authorities will retain the card.

Ashgabat
Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan was founded in 1881 and is the starting point for most of our Turkmenistan tours. The main sights to see in this extravagant city are the statue of Lenin, the Presidential Palace, the National Museum, the mosque of Khezert Omar and Talkucha Bazaar, the largest market in the country.
Mary
Mary is the third largest city of Turkmenistan and is located in a big oasis in the middle of the KaraKum Desert. Accessible by road or air, Mary is the gateway to the ancient city of Merv and the Bronze Age site of Gonur Depe. The local History Museum in Merv is well worth visiting during your stay.
Merv
The magnificent archaeological site of Merv was once one of Central Asia’s most civilised cities and is referred to as the Pearl of the East. This is a vast site of 125 square kilometres and due to its location along the Great Silk Road Route, several cities have existed on the site of current Merv.
Darvaza
Darvaza gas crater (known locally as the Door to Hell) should be on anyone's ‘bucket list’ and is just over half-a-days drive from Ashgabat or Dashoguz. Your journey to Darvaza gas crater takes you deep into the desolate Karakum desert, where you can camp next to the crater and enjoy views of fire and flames erupting in the middle of the desert.
Gonur Depe
Located about 3 hours drive from Mary, Gonur Depe was the largest of dozens of scattered Bronze Age sites established here in the early second millennium. In the 1990s, archaeologists discovered a huge necropolis dating back to the 3-2 millennia B.C.
Turkmenbashi
This morning fly to Turkmenbashi, a major port on the Caspian Sea. On arrival explore the city, visiting the local Fish market and the seaside at Awaza - a popular resort on the eastern coast of this huge inland sea.
Yangy Kala Canyons
The Yangy Kala Canyons are one of the most spectacular attractions in the country. The stunning flame coloured canyons are a mix of vibrant colours from of white, yellow and red with sheer cliffs rising from this ancient land. In your 4WD jeep drive through the so-called ‘Grand Canyon’ before heading north to the sparkling canyons of Yangysuw.
Konye Urgench
Close to the Uzbekistan border, the World Heritage Site of Kunya-Urgench is well worth visiting and was once a glorious capital of the medieval Khorezmshah Empire, the largest Muslim empire of the late 12th and early 13th century. Places of interest include the 15th century mausoleum of Turabeg Khanum and the 12th century mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh.

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