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17. the verdict

Blog entries
Is it worthwhile visiting Turkmenistan, admittedly not the most touristic country in the world? Obviously, it depends on what you want to achieve, but for most people it probably isn’t. Most of the places on our itinerary weren’t that impressive, there are better canyons, better deserts, better mountain villages and better lakes at the bottom [...]
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16. Ashgabat (2)

Blog entries, Locations
The last day of our trip we spent in Ashgabat, without the group, but still with guide; the concept that you would wander around without is too uncomfortable for the Turkmen authorities (although at the end of the day I do manage to leave the hotel unattended, and make a few purchases in nearby shops). [...]
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15. the Darvaza Crater

Blog entries, Locations
The reason to interrupt the Nowruz celebrations prematurely was our next item on the program, the Darvaza Crater. Turkmenistan tourist attraction number one. Which perhaps says more about the tourists than about the tourist attractions. The crater is another four hours’ drive, once again into the desert. What started as something resembling an airport landing [...]
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14. Nowruz

Blog entries, Festival
We are back in Ashgabat, and we happen to be there, not entirely coincidentally, at Nowruz, the Iranian celebration of New Year. Which is not only celebrated in Iran, but also in neighbouring Turkmenistan. A little outside town is a huge exhibition ground, where the official celebrations are being held. This is not a thing [...]
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13. Gonur Depe

Blog entries, Locations
During my reading up on things Turkmenistan, ahead of our trip, I had come across a description of Gonur Depe, another archaeological site, even older than Merv. The site was discovered by a Russian-Greek archaeologist, Viktor Saraidini, in 1972, and he spent the rest of his life excavating here. (He died in 2013, well in [...]
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12. Ancient Merv

Blog entries, Locations
Turkmenistan’s best known cultural heritage, UNESCO-recognised, is Merv, close to the city of Mary, in the east of the country. Ancient Merv, as it is now called, was once one of the greatest urban centres along the Silk Road, thriving as a crossroads of trade, culture, and ideas. It served as the capital for several [...]
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11. Köw-Ata cave

Blog entries, Locations
In the foothills of the Kopet Dag Mountains, not too far away from Nokhur, is the  Köw-Ata Cave. “Köw-Ata” roughly translates to “Father of Caves” in Turkmen, and indeed it is quite a structure, stretching over 250 meters. There are several entrances, but from the main one it is a 60-70 m descent, along a [...]
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10. Nokhur village

Blog entries, Locations
I am sure that there are many villages in Turkmenistan. But none is apparently more special that Nokhur, located in the Kopet Dag mountains fairly close to the Iranian border. Why, it beats me, from the look of it. The place is not particularly attractive, it is just a village. However, the inhabitants, a little [...]
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09. Balkanabat

Blog entries, Locations
Balkanabat is a surprisingly large town, bigger than Turkmenbasy. And there is very little to do in terms of touristic attractions. A modern Orthodox church, with a basic, equally new iconostasis; a new mosque with four minarets and gold-glittering domes. All not particularly attractive.   It is spread out, wide avenues, and government buildings are, [...]
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08. the Yangykala canyon

Blog entries, Locations
We head into the Karakum desert, which occupies some 70% of the country. Initially, much of the surface is still covered by some sturdy vegetation, good for camels, sheep and the occasional cow. Although there appears little around, we do come across one of the houses of the first president – why on earth he [...]
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  • ← Previous Entries
  • The 10 Latest Entries to the Site

    • the theft report July 3, 2026
    • La Defense – Paris July 2, 2026
    • What’s new? June 11, 2026
    • the museum June 10, 2026
    • the murals June 6, 2026
    • 27 Mexico City (2) – the murals June 6, 2026
    • 26. Mexico City May 28, 2026
    • 25. a bit more Mexican history May 23, 2026
    • 24. arrival in Mexico City May 23, 2026
    • Museo de Antropología de Xalapa May 17, 2026
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