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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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07. Awaza

Blog entries, Locations
Just outside Turkmenbasy is Awaza, or, to be precise, the Awaza National Tourist Zone. An unreal collection of futuristic hotels, all huge, complemented by the occasional holiday cottage enclaves, everything connected by wide avenues. Never mind these avenues, and the six lane entry road, only busses are allowed in; at the edge of the complex [...]
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06. Turkmenbasy

Blog entries, Locations
After our visit to Old Nisa we head for the railway station. We have been booked on the night train to Turkmenbasy, Turkmenistan’s port at the Caspian Sea – the Caspian being an inland sea, of course, so this is not a very large harbour. Turkmenbasy was named after the first president, Niyazov, who awarded [...]
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05. Old Nisa

Blog entries
Just outside Ashgabat is Old Nisa – or Nusay -, the old capital of the Parthian empire, which dominated the Turkmen region from the 3rd C BC to the 3rd C AD. Unfortunately, the construction was mostly done with mud bricks, which, thanks to the elements, have largely disappeared. A massive earthquake in the 1st [...]
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Ashgabat National Museum of History

Blog entries, Gallery
One of the best things we did during our first day in Ashgabat, was a visit to the National Museum, not only to put our forthcoming excursions to Turkmenistan’s ancient cities in perspective, but also to admire some of the most fabulous ancient artefacts. We focus of the Gonur Depe collection, from 3000 BC, and [...]
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04. Ashgabat

Blog entries, Locations
Our first day consists of a bus tour through Ashgabat, with the occasional stops. I had been prepared, but the initial impression of the city is still one of complete amazement, unreal. Wide avenues, with two times four lanes, are lined with white marble apartment buildings, where, apparently, ‘the elite’ is living – dixit our [...]
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  • ← Previous Entries
  • The 10 Latest Entries to the Site

    • 12. Ancient Merv April 23, 2026
    • 11. Köw-Ata cave April 20, 2026
    • 10. Nokhur village April 20, 2026
    • 09. Balkanabat April 18, 2026
    • 08. the Yangykala canyon April 18, 2026
    • 07. Awaza April 9, 2026
    • 06. Turkmenbasy April 9, 2026
    • 05. Old Nisa April 6, 2026
    • Ashgabat National Museum of History April 6, 2026
    • 04. Ashgabat April 6, 2026
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