Barbecue at Doors to Hell | Journey Across Turkmenistan

https://vimeo.com/183429568

Most mysterious and the least explored of Central Asia ~stans, this country has been difficult to approach for a long time. Bordered by 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. Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. In medieval times, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road, a caravan route used for trade with China until the mid-15th century.

Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic became independent in 1991.

The country became famous for the dictatorship of Saparmyrat Niyazov, who ruled as ‘Turkmenbashi’ (‘leader of the Turkmen’) until his death in 2006. He covered this desert republic with golden statues of himself and monuments to the achievements of his ‘golden age’.

The full Turkmen experience is ultimately about mingling with the warm and fascinating Turkmen people themselves, whose hospitality is legendary.

Ashgabat is a capital designed at the cost of billions of dollars showing off the world glory and accomplishments of the Turkmen. A thoroughly artificial collection of white marble buildings across a long, dry valley. At sunrise or sunset, there's a beauty to this uniform, resembling more of a science-fiction film than actual human settlement.

Visit to the Köw Ata Underground Lake is a unique experience. You ll enter a cave at the base of a mountain and walk down a staircase, 65m underground, which takes you into a wonderfully sulphurous subterranean world. At the bottom awaits a superb lake of clear water naturally heated to about 36°C where you can have a dip.

Turkmenistan doors to hell…

The village of Darvaza is centrally located in Turkmenistan, its 350 tribal residents braving the inhospitable conditions of the desert for hundreds of years. 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; when the soviet scientists lit the gas, it erupted and never stopped burning. Over forty years later locals call it the Doors to Hell.

Lets go!

DAY 0 :: June 05 // THU - Departure

Meeting at 22.00 at Terminal 2 for a flight at 00.20.

DAY 1 :: June 06 // FRI - Ashgabat

Arrival, immigration procedure, check in and short rest. Foreign passport registration procedure. Quick look at majestic statues of Ashgabat and few other landmarks of the city, including Tolkuchka Sunday Market, largest in Turkmenistan. Dinner and overnight in your lavish hotel Turkmen style!

DAY 2 :: June 07 // SAT - Ashgabat – Nohur

In the morning departure to Kopet Dag, aka “hilly mountains” towards Nokhur village. Return towards Ashgabat, swim at volcanic underground lake of Kow-Ata. Come back to sci-fi scenery and indulge into neon lit up streets with white marble decorations. Check up on local nightlife.

DAY 3 :: June 08 // SUN - Darvaza

Morning souvenir shopping. After local lunch, departure to Darvaza. On the way stop at two other craters with water and sulfur mud, both seeping with gas from the underground.

In the evening "A little party never killed nobody" themed barbecue dinner near the main crater. Unforgettable sunset over the gas burning spectacle (camping).

DAY 4 :: June 09 // MON - Ashgabat

In the morning return to Ashgabat, refresh in the hotel and lunch. Afternoon tour of parks and remaining sites of Ashgabat, that will still surprise you with forms and decoration styles. Overnight in the hotel.

DAY 5 :: June 10 // TUE - Departure

Early morning transfer to the airport for return flight to Dubai. Back home at 7am.

Activities: trekking, swimming, sightseeing, getting amazed with burning gas crater!
Accommodation & meals: 4 star hotel double sharing + 1 night camping, local meals included.

Cost: 7430 AED all incl flights and visa pre-approval.
Cost valid until MAY 16th. On this date we will close the list.

Visa: payable on arrival, approx. 100 USD.
In case of pre-approval denial, processing fee of 50 USD is deductible.

RSVP:
To reassure enough time for visa processing and eventual re-applying in case of denial, we recommend to join this trip within 30 days before travel date. Standard cancellation policy applies for anyone joining later.

See yah at Doors to Hell x

Trekkup Crew

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