Turkmenistan Travel FAQ

All foreign nationals are required to obtain a tourist visa to Turkmenistan. You need visa support letter or letter of invitation (LOI) from a licensed travel agency to get a tourist visa. It takes 2-3 weeks to arrange LOI. As soon as LOI is approved, we will email you a copy of the document. The LOI allows you to get visa at Turkmenistan embassy or consulate abroad or obtain it directly at the Turkmen land borders at Farab (Bukhara, Uzbekistan), Shavat (Khiva, Uzbekistan), Khojeyli (Nukus, Uzbekistan), Gaudan (Bajgiran/Mashhad, Iran), Bekdash (Aktau, Kazakhstan). Visa is not issued at the land borders of Serakhs (Iran), Serhetabat (Afghanistan) and Turkmenbashi (the Caspian Sea Port).
You also can get visa at Ashgabat International Airport upon arrival.
Besides LOI, you will also need Entry Travel Pass and registration in the country. these services are included into our Turkmenistan tour packages.

Yes, you can get Turkmenistan visa at Ashgabat International Airport upon arrival. You will be required to show an approved letter of invitation.

Tourist visa holders should be registered at the State Tourism Registration Office (business visa holders are registered at the State Migration Service) within 72 business hours as you arrive in Turkmenistan. Registration service is included in our tour packages; to take care of you registration we will need your passport at the beginning of the tour and return it after registration procedures that take no longer than 12 hours.

The Turkmenistan climate is sharp continental. Daytime temperature changes considerably during the year: the average temperature in summer is +30-32°С, while in winter it lowers to -5°С. The average annual rainfall varies from 80mm in the deserts to 400 mm in the mountains. At the same time the plains feature frequent hot winds and dust storms. Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are generally the most touristic time.

There is no limitation in amount of money to bring into Turkmenistan.

You can exchange USD for Turkmen manats at banks and exchange offices in major hotels, trade centers, airports and railway stations. It is recommended to bring in the country banknotes issued in or after 1996.

Usually five-star hotels accept credit cards. Only in Ashgabat you can use MasterCard, AMEX or Visa Cards to cash US dollars.

Drinking tap water is not recommended but boiled water is safe to use. Bottled water can be bought throughout the country.

Vegetarians have to order specially prepared food, as there is usually no vegetarian food available. There is a wide range of fresh vegetables and fruits in local markets.

You can find free Wi-Fi at 4 and 5 star hotels.

The voltage is 220 V. In order to use 110/120-Voltage devices in places where there is only a 220/240V power you need to use step-down voltage converter or a combination converter.

Generally, there are no strict limitations on clothing. While visiting religious places, mosques, mausoleums, for men it is better to avoid wearing shorts, for ladies it is advised to cover shoulders, chest and, preferably, to wear a hat or a headscarf.

Turkmenistan national currency is Turkmen manat. It was introduced on November 1, 1993. In 2009 there was held denomination of the national currency, replacing old manat on a ratio of 5000 old manats=1 new manat. All old notes and coins had the image of the former president Saparmurat Niyazov. On new bills you will find images of prominent Turkmen people and architectural monuments. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 manats. One manat is equal to 100 tenge.

National language is Turkmen. Russian is widely used as a second language. While the post-independence generation is increasingly speaking other foreign languages such as English, French and Turkish, you will still find it rewarding to travel and communicate with the assistance of a translator/guide.

Turkmenistan airlines operate regular air connections from Ashgabat to five other major Turkmenistan cities (Turkmenabat, Mary, Dashoguz, Turkmenbashi, and Balkanabad). Electronic air tickets can be purchased in advance, 14 days prior to the flight date.