Travel advisory · TurkmenistanSome governments advise against travel to parts of Turkmenistan.The warnings cover only these areas: Afghanistan border zone, Iran border zone.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Afghanistan border zone · avoid all travel · Canada, France, Germany, Spain
Iran border zone · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, Germany, Spain

Also named by one government: border zones with other countries (Spain)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise normal precautions	Aug 21, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country; avoid immediate border areas with Afghanistan and Iran (regional advisories)	Oct 29, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	No specific travel advisory	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Vigilance renforcée (increased caution) for the whole territory, except the Afghan border zone (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

photography of people near cave at night time

Asia

Turkmenistan

A landlocked Central Asian country known for the Darvaza gas crater, white marble Ashgabat and the Silk Road oasis city of Merv.

Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran, with the Caspian Sea to the west. Its capital, Ashgabat, is known for white marble buildings, more than any other city in the world. Most of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert, which takes up over 80% of the territory. The Darvaza gas crater, known as the "Gateway to Hell", is one of the most popular tourist sites. In January 2022 the president ordered its fire put out, so check whether it still burns before you go.

Merv, one of the oldest oasis cities in Central Asia, was an important stop on the Silk Road. Organized tours visit historical sites around Daşoguz, Konye-Urgench, Nisa, Ancient Merv and Mary. Summers are long, hot and dry, with July averages of +25 to +32 °C on the plains. The country covers about 491,200 square kilometres, so allow extra days for travel between sites. Human Rights Watch places the country among the world's most repressive, and internet access is filtered, so plan for that too.

Five things to know before Turkmenistan

Get a letter of invitation through a licensed agency
Every tourist visa needs a letter of invitation, issued through an authorized Turkmen travel agency. The UK warns it can take up to a month, so apply well before you plan to fly. Visas and entry
Travel with a guide outside Ashgabat
Tourist visas are tied to a planned itinerary, and visitors are normally accompanied by a guide from the inviting agency when traveling beyond the capital.
Budget for arrival fees in US dollars cash
On arrival, visitors pay a migration fee and a daily tourism tax on top of the visa, in US dollars. Bring clean notes; foreign cards rarely work. Money on the road
Check you are registered within 3 working days
Stays over three working days must be registered with the State Migration Service. Your hotel or inviting agency normally does it; keep the paperwork until you leave.
Expect limited internet access
Many websites, messaging apps and VPNs are blocked, and roaming may not work. Download maps, tickets and documents before you arrive. Phones and data

Turkmenistan travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Visas and entry

Letters of invitation, visas on arrival and transit visas.

Read the guide Money and costs

Arrival fees, US dollars and why cards rarely work.

Read the guide Phones and internet

Blocked sites, roaming and what to download first.

Read the guide Travel insurance

Medical cover for desert trips and remote sites.

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Turkmenistan

See all attractions in Turkmenistan

Sight · AshgabatTurkmen State Circus

brown deserted place with hole in middle

Sight · Turkmenistan᠎Darvaza Gas Craters

Sight · MervLittle Kyz Kala

Sight · TurkmenistanYangykala Canyon

Destinations in Turkmenistan

Modern illuminated building with geometric design at dusk

CityAshgabatExplore

CityKonye-UrgenchExplore CityMervExplore

CityDarvazaExplore

CityTürkmenbaşyExplore

When to go

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best

JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh10°Low1°Cold
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low3°Cool
MarchClear8 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Spring
AprilClear5 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Mild, green
MayClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Warm
JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh36°Low25°Hot
JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh38°Low28°Hottest
AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh36°Low25°Very hot
SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°Warm
OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Mild
NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Cool
DecemberClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Cold

Average daily high and low in Ashgabat, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to TurkmenistanPut the places you like in Turkmenistan on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Turkmenistan

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 12°
Humidity: 43%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 30%

Turkmenistan

04:23 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+5

Today21°14°30%Tuesday: Rain. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 30%.
Wed20°13°18%Wednesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 18%.
Thu24°11°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri19°14°18%Friday: Rain. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 18%.
Sat23°12°4%Saturday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 4%.
Sun22°14°62%Sunday: Rain. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 62%.
Mon15°6°60%Monday: Rain. High 15°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 60%.

Updated 02:34 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.5 TMT

Amount

Converted to

TMT · Turkmenistani Manat

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Turkmenistan

Big events, festivals and concert tours

Events calendar

a group of small candles sitting on top of a table

NovemberDiwaliNov 6 – 10, 2026

people walking on bridge over river during daytime

NovemberPushkar Camel FairNov 17 – 25, 2026

NovemberLoy Krathong and Yi PengNov 24 – 26, 2026

Before you go to Turkmenistan

Letter of invitationAllow up to a monthRead the guide Travel insuranceMedical cover for remote tripsRead the guide US dollars in cashFees on arrival, few card paymentsRead the guide

Rules for Turkmenistan, checked

British and Canadian citizens need a visa and a letter of invitation; the UK says an embassy application can take up to a month.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Read more

Turkmenistan FAQ

How do I get a visa for Turkmenistan?

Through a letter of invitation from an authorized Turkmen travel agency. With it you can get a visa at an embassy or, if pre-approved, on arrival at Ashgabat airport and some land borders.

Can I visit the Darvaza gas crater?

Yes, usually as an overnight trip from Ashgabat with your agency, camping or staying in a yurt camp near the crater. It is several hours' drive into the Karakum desert.

Can I travel in Turkmenistan without a guide?

Only in a limited way. Tourist visas come with an itinerary from the inviting agency, and a guide normally accompanies you outside Ashgabat. A transit visa allows independent travel for a few days on a set route.

When is the best time to visit Turkmenistan?

April to May and September to October. Summers in the desert regularly pass 40°C, and winters are cold.

Does the internet work in Turkmenistan?

Partly. Many sites, apps and VPNs are blocked, and speeds are slow. Download what you need before you arrive.