Turkmenistan

When you arrive in the capital Ashgabat, you’ll feel like you’re in an utopian city. There is marble everywhere, from houses to the monuments, and streets and parks look very empty. Officially, about 1 million people live in the city, but most of them live in the flats in the suburbs. Ashgabat is also the only place in the country where you can move around without a guide.

A trip to Turkmenistan also has a lot to offer when it comes to nature. The Yangykala Canyon is located in the northwest of the country. This canyon is at least as impressive as its counterpart in the United States. Deep ravines, special colors and strange rock formations make this a place you will not forget for the rest of your life.

The Gates of Hell is perhaps the most famous attraction in Turkmenistan. This unnatural crater (also called the Darwaza Crater) was created in 1971 when Russian geologists were drilling for gas. When the gas chamber collapsed, they decided to torch the crater for fear of toxic gases. They thought the gas would burn out in the foreseeable future. Little did they know. Today it is still burning. The crater has a diameter of 69 meters and you can camp right next to the crater.

The Turkmenistan region was important for the Silk Road. Merv was an important stop for many traders. The history of the oasis town goes back into a long time. Today Merv is the oldest and best preserved oasis town along the Silk Road. The historic centre of the city consists of a number of adjoining walls of various ancient places such as Erk Kala, Gyaur Kala and Kyz Kala.