The country of the Great Silk Road and the great Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan today is one of the popular tourist destinations in Central Asia .Tourists are attracted here by the ruins of the brilliant cities of the past of almost all the famous histories of the mighty dynasties of Asia and Persia, endless steppes and eternal "black sands", thoroughly forgotten in the post-Soviet period, but such an alluring life: skullcaps and pilaf, Akhalteke horses and colorful folk weddings, gypsum, green tea, famous carpets of breathtaking beauty, lightest silk and honey melons .Among other things, you can see with your own eyes that there is a cult of personality in Turkmen - and, frankly, do not believe that this is possible in the 21st century, and not in the neuron Rome or the feudal vassal Middle Ages .That there is at least a golden statue of the president, turning after the sun, a lifetime "Shah" and an obligatory oath of allegiance to the "father of Turkmens"! In a word, now, as before, Turkmenistan knows what to surprise us with .

The capital is Ashgabat.

The main cities are Turkmenabad, Dashoguz, Mary, Balkanabad, Turkmenbashi.

How to get to Turkmenistan

From Moscow to Ashgabat daily, except Sundays, flights of the "Airlines of Turkmenistan" depart. S7 flies to the capital of Turkmenistan from Moscow's Domodedovo on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Travel time is 3, 5 hours. Residents of the northern capital can also reach Ashgabat on the wings of S7 (four times a week).

Citizens of Belarus and Ukraine will have to fly to Turkmenistan with a transfer in Moscow, Istanbul (with Turkish Airlines) or Tashkent (with "Uzbekistan Airlines").

Visa to Turkmenistan

Russian citizens need a visa to visit Turkmenistan.

Customs

Import and export of national currency is prohibited .Import of foreign currency is allowed in unlimited quantity, the declaration is obligatory; export - no more than the amount declared at the entrance .Permission is granted duty-free import of 200 cigarettes or 200 g of tobacco, 2 liters of any alcoholic beverages, personal items within individual needs .It is forbidden to import drugs and narcotic drugs, weapons, ammunition and explosives, pornography and any materials capable of offending the state power and violating moral norms .Export of antiques and works of art is possible only with the permission of the Ministry of Culture; carpets and jewelry - with a document confirming their legal purchase .

Money and currency exchange

It is better to import cash into Turkmenistan, although it is not difficult to find ATMs working with the international "plastic" MasterCard in the capital (but in other regions of the country it is more problematic). You can withdraw money from your Visa card 24 hours a day at Vnesheconombank ATMs.

When exchanging currencies, preference is given to dollars; it is advisable to take with you a large number of small dollar bills .You can exchange currency at bank branches (most of it works Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 17:30, many of the bureau's exchange offices work around the clock), in hotels and in official exchange offices .The latter accept only "fresh" notes of the latest issues and series, without any rubbing and inscriptions .There are street changers, and their course is usually significantly more profitable than the official, but you can contact them only at your own risk and risk ."Credit Card" can be paid only in several prestigious hotels and restaurants in Ashgabat, as well as in the offices of airlines, in the rest of the country only cash is accepted for payment .Traveler's checks can be cashed only in a few banks, preference is given to dollar .

Useful phone numbers

Embassy of Turkmenistan in Moscow: Filippovskiy per., 22; tel .: (495) 691-65-93; Web site; Consular Section: M. Afanasyevsky per., 14 pp. 1; tel .: (495) 695-37-16, 690-32-58

The Russian Embassy in Ashgabat: Ave. Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, 11; tel .: (12) 941-278, 941-505; Web site

Consular point in the city of Turkmenbashi: Magtumguly st., 81a; tel .: (243) 770-83

Codes of some cities: Ashgabat - 12, Turkmenabad - 422, Dashoguz - 322, Mary - 522, Balkanabad - 222, Turkmenbashi - 243

Unified Rescue Service - 03

Safety of tourists

While in Turkmenistan, it is necessary to observe standard security measures: store documents and valuables in the hotel safe, do not take large amounts of money with you and always monitor the bag and purse. In crowded places - in markets and bazaars you need to beware of pickpockets. In the dark, it is better not to walk alone, especially in unfamiliar areas. A trip to the border areas of the country is possible only with the official permission and with the Turkmen escort.

In conversations, one should not touch on the politics and contradictory era of Saparmurat Niyazov's rule, as well as everything connected with it: from the artistic value of the book "Ruhname" to the golden statue of "the father of Turkmens" in the main square of Ashgabat. Given that the state religion of Turkmenistan is Islam, one must show respect for the norms of Islamic morality and not dress defiantly.

You can drink only bottled or boiled water, wash fruits and vegetables and brush your teeth. In bars and restaurants it is worth ordering pre-cooled drinks and refusing food ice.

Transport

Internal transport of Turkmenistan is represented by airplanes, trains, buses, minibuses and taxis - official and "illicit".

It is most convenient to cover long distances on the wings of the "Airlines of Turkmenistan" and other local carriers: many flights daily connect Ashgabat with Dashoguz, Mary, Turkmenabad and Turkmenbashi. The fleet consists of brand-new "Boeing-717", which makes the journey very pleasant. The cost of tickets can be called a penny: no more than 10 USD one way for foreigners and the cheaper for residents. The only inconvenience is the high demand for tickets with a limited offer; Book your seats as soon as possible.

By train, you can get from the capital to Turkmenbashi, Mary and Turkmenabad. There are no electrified lines, the trains operate on thermal traction and move rather slowly: a journey from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi, for example, will take about 12 hours.

Between cities it is convenient to go on minibuses and buses - it's cheap and fast. The first traditionally go to the road, when all the places are occupied, and the second ones go on schedule. A trip from the capital to Turkmenbashi by shuttle bus will take 6 hours and will cost about 6 USD, until Mary can be reached in 4 hours and 3 USD. Travel in intercity buses will not cost more than 1-2 USD even for the longest distances.

Taxis, most of which are represented by private "bombs", are a convenient way of traveling in cities. In order to stop the car, it is enough just to extend your hand while standing on the roadside - it will be guaranteed to stop if not the first, then certainly the second approaching car. Tariffs by European standards are ridiculous - 0, 15-0, 30 USD for a short trip and 0, 50 USD for a longer one. The price should be stipulated in advance and, of course, observe the elementary rules of caution, sitting down in an unfamiliar car.

Rent a Car

Renting a car in Turkmenistan will require international rights. The driver's age must be at least 21 years, driving experience - at least a year. The roads outside the capital and large cities are narrow, not illuminated and often unpaved, so extreme caution is necessary when driving.

The ideal option for renting a car in Turkmenistan is with a driver, it's a good idea to find a chauffeur with a car at any taxi stand, ready to roll you for days at a fixed price. Hire a car with a driver can also be in local travel agencies. Rent the most affordable option will cost $ 50 per day.

The climate of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is the hottest country in Central Asia .In July and August, the temperature in Ashgabat can reach +50 ° C .In general, the country is dominated by sharply continental arid climate with constantly blowing northern winds that bring cold air from the steppes of Kazakhstan in the winter, and in the summer - heat, sandstorms and dry winds .The average January temperature in the southern regions is +4 ° C, in the north of the country -5 ° C, in the Karakum-up to -25 .30 ° C .In July in the south of Turkmenistan, the thermometer on average keeps at around +35 ° C, in the north - +27 ° C, in desert areas the temperature reaches +50 ° C in the daytime and +14-17 ° C at night .In the Caspian lowlands, the climate is milder, quite comfortable in summer and in winter .The best time to visit the country is from April to June and from September to early November .

See also the current weather forecast in the cities of Turkmenistan.

Government Palace in Turkmenistan

Palace of Congresses or Rukhyt Koshgi

Camels in Turkmenistan

Hotels

Hotels in Turkmenistan are diverse: in the capital there are new "five" of the world's leading chains, and "Soviet" hotels with a very scarce set of services, and nice private mini-hotels.

Shopping

Carpets and horses are the two main riches of Turkmenistan. To take home the Akhal-Teke handsome man is unlikely to succeed (although there is nothing impossible), but to acquire an authentic Turkmen carpet or rug is entirely within the power of anyone. The biggest choice is in the bazaars of Ashgabat, as well as in the store at the Carpet Museum, but it is easy to find a product for a soul and a purse in any city of Turkmenistan. Knot carpets made of wool or silk are the most expensive goods, and felt mats "koshma" will cost much less, while they are no less attractive.

From Turkmenistan, you can bring items of national costumes that are not a rarity here - they are still worn daily by middle-aged and older people, especially outside the capital .The headgear is popular - well-known for the Soviet past skullcap and a fur hat made of sheep's wool "telpak" .It is worth paying attention to the bright, delicate and unusually strong Turkmen silk "keteni" .Among other souvenirs - statuettes of Akhal-Teke horses of all styles and sizes, national silver jewelry - both female and male .From the "goodies" we recommend buying a couple of jars of Turkmen halva, as well as cognac and local wines .

Kitchen and restaurants

As in neighboring Asian countries, the main dish of Turkmen cuisine is pilaf. It is prepared from rice, lamb, with the addition of a variety of aromatic herbs, seasonings and spices, dried fruits and nuts. Fatty dishes are usually taken with sour-milk drinks: "ayran" and "chal" from camel's milk or yogurt.

Of soups are common shorba with meat and vegetables, spicy and spicy soup from camelina "gainatma", soup from mutton and crushed hard cake with onion "dogram". Very tasty, albeit fat, dish - "kaurma" - lamb, cooked in its own juice. Everywhere you can taste real manti - ravioli with mutton for a couple and hearty pies: "islekli" from meat with onion and "gutapa" - meat, potatoes, spinach and pumpkin.

Finish the meal with "gok tea" - green tea with mint and dried fruits. From alcoholic drinks it is worth paying attention to Turkmen cognac, wine and vodka of "Turkmenbashi".

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is the focus of the monuments of the great dynasties of the past: Timurids, Sassanids, Khorezmshahs whose offspring built new cities and erected majestic palaces, laid mosques and caravan-sarai, created the basis for magnificent libraries and observatories .The ancient cities of Kyoneurgench, Merv, Nisa, the stops of the Great Silk Road, medieval forts and mausoleums are the basis of the Turkmen "excursion" .In addition, the country has many natural attractions: the Karakum Desert, the sulfuric Kou-Ata Lake, the burning Darwaza Crater, the national parks Repetek, Kugitang and Kopetdag and many other interesting places .

In Ashgabat, it is worth visiting the ancient settlement of Nisa (1st millennium BC), once the capital of the powerful Parthian kingdom .Here you can see the remains of two fortresses, temples, palace halls, the grave of the Arsakid dynasty .Certainly it is worth to walk around the colorful medieval bazaars: the huge Jygyllyk, Gulistan, Lalizar and Tekinsky Bazaar .In the Museum of Carpets it is interesting to tell about the history of carpet weaving, traditions and ways of weaving carpets, as well as exhibited a lot of artifacts - from the oldest specimen (17th c) to the modern giant in 301s .m, named, of course, "The Golden Age of the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi" .The theme continues the cyclopean dimensions of the mosque "Turkmenbashi Rukhy", built in the village of the former president in the village of 15 km from the capital, and the abundance of architectural structures of our time: the palaces of Turkmenbashi and Rukhyet, the Independence Monument and the Neutrality Arch, business centers, parks and fountains .

The sights of Mary, the ancient Merv are the citadel of the Erk-Kala dynasty of the Achaemenids, the medieval settlement of Gyaur-Kala with the ruins of the monasteries and castles of the nobility, the Seljuk hillfort of Sultan-Kala and the citadel of Shahriyar-Ark, the ruins of the Parthian city of Goybekly, the sacred city of Gonur-Depe, the medieval castles of Haram -Keshk and Akuili-Koushuk, mosques, mausoleums and tombs.

Turkmenbashi's interest is represented by the mausoleum 10 in Shir-Kabib, the Parau-bibi mosque, an important Muslim pilgrimage center, the Tasharvat caravanserai, the Dehistan valley and the ruins of the medieval town of Misrian with two well-preserved 20-meter minarets.

In Turkmenabad, it is worth visiting the Repetek Reserve, part of the Karakum Desert, the hottest place in all of Central Asia, the fortification 11 in Amul-Chardzhui, the city-museum of Atamurat with the mausoleum of Almutasir and Astana-baba, the ancient caravan-saray Bai-Khatyn, fragments of decorative carving on a stone with the names of righteous Caliphs - Omar, Abu Bakr and Ali.

Photo by Turkmenistan (34)