BBQ at Doors to Hell | Long Weekend in Turkmenistan

The most mysterious and least explored of the Central Asian “stans”, Turkmenistan has long been one of the hardest countries to approach. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west. For centuries, Turkmenistan stood at the crossroads of civilizations. In medieval times, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important Silk Road stop, a vital link in the trade route between China and the West until the mid 15th century.

Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later played a prominent role in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, it became the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, a constituent republic of the USSR, and gained independence in 1991.

The country became famous for the dictatorship of Saparmyrat Niyazov, who ruled as ‘Turkmenbashi’ (‘leader of the Turkmen’) and governed until his death in 2006. His era left a surreal legacy: golden statues of himself and grand monuments celebrating the so-called “golden age” of Turkmenistan.

Yet the essence of Turkmenistan lies beyond its politics — in the warmth and generosity of its people, whose legendary hospitality makes visitors feel instantly welcome.

Ashgabat, the capital, is a billion dollar display of national pride, with endless white marble buildings stretching across a long, dry valley. At sunrise or sunset, the city glows with a strange beauty, resembling more a scene from a sci-fi movie than an earthly settlement.

A visit to the Köw Ata Underground Lake offers a unique experience. Descend into a cave at the base of a mountain, walking down a staircase 65 meters underground, into a world of warm, sulphurous air. At the bottom, a crystal-clear lake, naturally heated to around 36°C, invites you for a surreal swim deep beneath the earth’s surface.

Turkmenistan doors to hell…

And then there is Turkmenistan’s most famous spectacle: the “Doors to Hell”. In the desert village of Darvaza, home to around 350 tribal residents, life had been unchanged for centuries. Nothing could interrupt the peaceful and quiet lifestyle of the nomadic tribe, aside from sitting on a valuable cache of natural resources.

Initial estimations of the site’s reserves were extremely low. In the early 1970s, Soviet scientists attempted to burn off escaping gas after a drilling mishap. When they lit the gas, it erupted and never stopped burning. Over forty years later locals call it the Doors to Hell.

[https://vimeo.com/183429568](https://vimeo.com/183429568)

Let's go!

DAY 0 // Thursday – Departure Meet at 22:00 at Terminal 2 for a direct flight departing on Friday at 00:10.

DAY 1 // Friday Arrival, immigration formalities, and check-in at our lavish white-marble hotel for a short rest. Complete foreign passport registration. Take a quick tour to admire the majestic statues of Ashgabat and a few other city landmarks.

In the evening, depart for Darvaza. En route, stop at two other craters – one filled with water and one with sulphur mud – both releasing gas from underground. Enjoy an “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” themed BBQ dinner near the main crater, followed by an unforgettable sunset over the burning gas spectacle. (Camping).

DAY 2 // Saturday In the morning, head to Kopet Dag (“hilly mountains”) and continue towards Nokhur village. Return towards Ashgabat and take a swim in the volcanic underground lake of Kow-Ata. In the evening, immerse yourself in Ashgabat’s sci-fi cityscape neon-lit streets framed by white marble facades and explore the local nightlife.

DAY 3 // Sunday Start the day with souvenir shopping at Tolkuchka Market, the largest in Turkmenistan. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Old Nissa, the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque, Independence Square, and statues of national heroes.

DAY 4 // Monday Early morning transfer to the airport for your return flight to Dubai. Back home at 07:00…