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About this trip
Join My Turkmenistan Tour, including the GATES OF HELL!
Turkmenistan Tour time! Ever since I first visited Turkmenistan, and made a very shaky youtube video about the Gates of Hell, I've had people email me asking if I could finally organise a onestep4ward trip there, so after waiting for them to be the LAST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD to finally open after COVID, I did just that, in 2023. And it was f*cking amazing! What can I say? These kinda cool countries attract epic groups of people. So yeah, burning craters, night trains, cheap Russian cognacs, and the trip of a lifetime.
When I did my 'every country in the world' trip, I got rejected multiple times from Turkmenistan. FINALLY, I met a legend who had some contacts and he got me in. I stayed in contact with him, and now we organised a couple of group trips there. And he had a 100% success rate for our visas! So, we're going back, this time for the September 2024 Turkmenistan tour. JOIN ME!
Why visit Turkmenistan?
For hardcore travelers, there are 2 main reasons.
- It's one of the least visited countries in the world, which is already pretty cool.
- And then of course, Turkmenistan is famous for their Gates of Hell. So my Turkmenistan tour, of course, focuses on that. But that's not the only reason to visit Turkmenistan. For me there are 3 epic places to visit in this secretive central Asian nation.
- The Gates of Hell. Come and see them soon! The rumours are that they're due to close it any time!
- Ashgabat, the futuristic capital city. One of the strangest cities in the world. Just wait and see.
- Yangy Kala Canyon. Central Asia's answer to the grand canyon, and including a very, very cool old soviet sleeper train overnight, traversing the country (and possibly accompanied by some cheap booze), to the coast of the Caspian Sea, to reach it!
There are some other spots around the country that are historic, and hold cultural significance too. But my trips are more focused on crazy adventures so I've tailored this tour to include the 3 coolest places and try to keep the cost, and time, down. I know a lot of the people who travel with me have the same outlook, so I hope this works for all you guys too!
What are the Gates of Hell?
The Dervaza gas crater, also known as the Door to Hell or Gates of Hell, is a natural gas field in Turkmenistan that collapsed into an underground cavern in 1971, creating a large crater approximately 70 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep.
In an effort to prevent the release of toxic gases, Soviet scientists set the crater on fire, hoping that the gas would burn off within a few weeks. However, the fire has been burning continuously for over 50 years, creating a spectacular and eerie sight that draws visitors from around the world.
The area around the crater is now a popular tourist attraction and has been dubbed the "Gates of Hell" due to the infernal flames that never go out.
HOW TO GET TO TURKMENISTAN?
Don't worry, it's easy.
You can fly via Istanbul or Dubai (maybe there'll be more options by September 2024, but right now, that's it). They all land at horrible hours, between 2am and 4am (similar to my Mauritania tours).
This makes the itinerary sound a little confusing, but bear with me, it's honestly not! Check our the Turkmenistan Itinerary below to make sense of it all.
Also, don't worry, my team will be there with airport pick-ups, regardless what time you arrive!
IS TURKMENISTAN SAFE?
Safe doesn't even come close. One of the safest countries in the world. Perhaps even THE safest country in the world.
I'll avoid getting political as the permits are hard enough to get, but let's just say everyone obeys the law in Turkmenistan, and leave it at that. As we say in Ireland, "safe as houses"
What’s included
- Letter of InvitationAnd all help with the visa, so you can get it when you land in the airport. THIS IS THE REAL VALUE OF THE WHOLE TRIP to be honest
- All transportIncludes buses, over night trains, and even a domestic flight!
- Local guideArtem or Aziz, my buddy from my first time here
- Western GuideMe!
- Night trainAshgabat to Turkmenabashi sleeper train
- Domestic flightThe train one-way will be enough, we're cheating on the way back and flying to Ashgabat (it's included too!)
- All accomodation3* hotels in Ashgabat and Turkmenibashi
- CampingOne night by the crater (tents and sleeping bags provided)
What’s not included
- Visa feePay on arrival depending on nationality. $50-$100 for most people ($80 for most)
- COVID costsOne covid test when you land in Ashgabat ($31)
- Video/Photo feesOfficially you need these when asked, you may have to pay a fee (I've never had to though)
- Lunches and DinnersWe'll eat in local places, expect maybe $10 a meal or so. Can be less if you're on a budget.
Available Packages
Available options
If you don't want to share a room, you can choose this option
Remember, if you land on 15th in the early hours, like 2am or something like that - YOU NEED A HOTEL FOR THE 14TH NIGHT
Remember, if you land on 16th in the early hours, like 2am or something like that - YOU NEED A HOTEL FOR THE 15TH NIGHT
This is optional. If you leave on the 22nd (like me) at 4am and you want a room to chill, shower, whatever. You can get this.
If you're happy just going to the bar/restaurant etc and not take a room, that's ok too.
Itinerary
Ok, due to the weird flight arrivals times (at 3am) this can get a little confusing, so here we go.
Even thought DAY 1 OF THE TOUR IS OFFICIALLY SEPTEMBER 16TH (we have a hotel booked for SEP 16TH night as part of the trip), YOU WANT TO BOOK THE FLIGHTS THAT LAND ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, AROUND 2AM. If, by a miracle, more flights become available, by all means land anytime on the 16th if you wish.
My team will pick you up from the airport, and you'll be in the hotel by 4am. 6 hours sleep. And then the tour starts properly on the morning of September 17th.