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Private, on your own dates · Turkmenistan

Door to Hell: Ashgabat and the Darvaza Crater

A short private tour of Turkmenistan: a day in marble-clad Ashgabat and the ruins of Parthian Nisa, then into the Karakum desert for a night in a yurt camp beside the burning Darvaza gas crater.

The route2 cities.
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3 days, 2 nightsDuration
2 citiesWhere you sleep
Hotel accommodation in a twin or double room with daily breakfast, in the hotel class you choose, A night in a yurt camp at Darvaza, with barbecue dinner and breakfastMeals

Twin share · land only, flights extra

Why this journey

Door to Hell is the shortest way to see the two things Turkmenistan is known for. It begins in Ashgabat, a capital rebuilt in white marble, and ends two days later at the Uzbek border, having spent the night between them at the edge of the Darvaza gas crater in the Karakum desert.

The first day in Ashgabat covers the city’s grand set pieces — Independence Park and its monument, the National Museum — and the ruins of Nisa just outside the city, one of the early capitals of the Parthian empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the second day the road heads north into the desert, with stops at a stable of Akhal-Teke horses, Turkmenistan’s national breed, and at a local bazaar. Two smaller craters, one of water and one of mud, come before Darvaza itself: a pit about seventy metres wide that has been burning for decades. Dinner is a barbecue at the camp, and the crater is at its most extraordinary after dark.

An early start on the last morning takes you to the Dashoguz–Shavat border for Khiva. Visa support, the hotel and the yurt camp, transport, guiding, entrance fees and the camp meals are included.

Trip highlights

  • 01A night beside the Darvaza gas crater in the Karakum desert
  • 02Ashgabat, the white-marble capital
  • 03The Parthian ruins of Nisa
  • 04Akhal-Teke horses, Turkmenistan’s national breed
  • 05Visa support, guide and camp meals included

Day-by-day itinerary

What's included

Included in your trip8 items covered in this fare
Hotels2
  • Hotel accommodation in a twin or double room with daily breakfast, in the hotel class you choose
  • A night in a yurt camp at Darvaza, with barbecue dinner and breakfast
Transport2
  • All transport during the tour as set out in the itinerary
  • Airport pickup in Ashgabat and transfer to the Dashoguz–Shavat border
Entrance Fees1
  • Entrance tickets to the monuments and museums named in the itinerary
Guide1
  • A licensed local guide throughout
Visa1
  • Turkmenistan visa support: the letter of invitation needed to obtain a tourist visa
Other1
  • Round-the-clock assistance from the local team
Plan and pay separately7 items not covered by this fare
Not included7
  • International flights
  • The Turkmenistan visa fee, paid on arrival
  • The migration and registration tax charged on entry
  • Lunches and dinners other than those named as included
  • Any health or entry test in force at the time of travel
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Tips and personal expenses

Your hotels

Hotels are named on your confirmation — all are of the stated category.

3 go inside0 walk through0 exterior only
On the route3 places
AshgabatEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
DarvazaEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside
DashoguzEntrance included in the fare
Goes inside

Turkmenistan

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Visa and entry

  • Every visitor to Turkmenistan needs a visa, and a tourist visa can only be issued against a letter of invitation arranged through a registered tour operator. We arrange the letter; allow several weeks for it to be approved.
  • With the approved letter the visa itself is issued on arrival, at the airport or the land border, and the visa fee and migration tax are paid there in US dollars cash. Bring clean, undamaged notes.
  • Independent travel is tightly restricted, so you will be accompanied by your guide for the whole programme.

Border crossings

  • Land borders can take one to two hours, with thorough baggage checks on both sides. At Shavat–Dashoguz there is a neutral zone of about a kilometre and a half, crossed by a local minibus for a small fare.
  • Your guide and driver meet you on the Turkmen side and see you to the border at the end.

Photography

  • Photography of government buildings, military and police sites, and some monuments in Ashgabat is restricted. Your guide will tell you where it is and is not allowed.

The Darvaza camp

  • The night at Darvaza is spent in a yurt camp in the Karakum desert with simple shared facilities. Dinner and breakfast in the camp are included.
  • Nights in the desert are cold outside summer; bring a warm layer and a torch.

Common questions

How close can I get to the crater?

You can walk right up to the rim. There are no barriers, so keep well back from the edge, especially after dark and in wind, and follow your guide’s instructions.

Can I travel to Turkmenistan independently?

Only on a transit visa, which is hard to obtain and short. A tourist visa requires a letter of invitation through a tour operator and a guide for the whole stay, which is exactly what this programme provides.

Is the Darvaza gas crater still burning?

Yes. The Turkmen government has spoken about extinguishing it and reports suggest the fire has become smaller, but it continues to burn and is the centrepiece of every visit to the Karakum.

Which currency is used?

The Turkmen manat. Hotels and a few shops take cards, but most places do not; bring US dollars in clean notes for the visa fee and to exchange at official rates.

Policies & booking terms
Booking terms
  1. Full payment must be completed 30 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified.
  2. All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation.
  3. Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased prior to departure.
  4. Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, taxes, or supplier costs.
  5. Guests are responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, and any required vaccinations.
  6. Cancellations or amendments are subject to the applicable cancellation policy outlined in the package.
  7. The company is not liable for delays, cancellations, or changes due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
  8. All travelers must adhere to the local laws and customs of the destinations visited.
  9. No refunds will be issued for unused services, including but not limited to meals, accommodations, or activities.
  10. The company reserves the right to modify the itinerary or substitute hotels of similar standards if necessary.
  11. All special requests (e.g., room preferences, dietary requirements) are subject to availability and not guaranteed.
  12. Guests are responsible for any additional costs incurred due to personal expenses, such as phone calls, laundry, or minibar charges.
  13. Check-in and check-out times are subject to hotel policies and may vary by property.
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