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Turkmenistan opens its tourism doors Turkmenistan

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For years, gaining entry to Turkmenistan was as easy as joining an exclusive cult: secretive, bureaucratic, and requiring a special invitation. But that’s changing fast. The notoriously closed Central Asian nation just hit the big ol’ refresh button on its tourism strategy, launching a brand-new e-visa system for travellers from over 50 countries.

No more government-vetted invitations, just a few clicks, and you're on your way to the land of marble cities and flaming craters.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is rolling out the welcome mat (firmly supervised, of course), eager to show off jewels like the ancient Silk Road city of Merv and the infamous Door to Hell, a blazing gas crater that’s completely mind-blowing.

In a country known for golden statues and tightly controlled narratives, this digital visa shift signals something deeper: a tentative embrace of the outside world. Turkmenistan’s partnering with regional allies and development banks to upgrade roads, hotels, and *gasp* English-speaking tour guides.

Still, don’t expect a backpacker free-for-all just yet. The government insists it will balance openness with "cultural and security safeguards", which sounds like code for “we’re watching, but nicely.”

According to tourism analysts, this could be the start of a broader economic reboot if Turkmenistan can manage the balancing act of inviting tourists in without losing control of the storyline. For now, the gates are ajar, the fire pit’s burning, and Turkmenistan is finally ready for its global close-up. Sort of.

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not sure?

Turkmenistan guarantees off-the-beaten-path adventure, as well as experiences hardly anyone has ever had before.
There’s heaps of iconic sites to tick off your bucket list, like the Darvaza Crater and the many historical and architectural buildings of Ashgabat.

Forget letting your brain rot on TikTok while you’re over there; most social media and many websites are blocked, and Wi-Fi is slow or non-existent.
Turkmenistan has one of the world’s most authoritarian governments. That means surveillance, limited freedoms, and sometimes unpredictable rules, so just have your wits about you.

need to know

With this new e-visa system, Turkmenistan is allowing foreign travellers to apply for and receive visas online. This system eliminates the need for physical invitation letters and simplifies the application process. The e-visa system is part of Turkmenistan’s efforts to modernise its migration system and increase tourism and business travel.

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love

Turkmenistan guarantees off-the-beaten-path adventure, as well as experiences hardly anyone has ever had before.
There’s heaps of iconic sites to tick off your bucket list, like the Darvaza Crater and the many historical and architectural buildings of Ashgabat.

not sure?

Forget letting your brain rot on TikTok while you’re over there; most social media and many websites are blocked, and Wi-Fi is slow or non-existent.
Turkmenistan has one of the world’s most authoritarian governments. That means surveillance, limited freedoms, and sometimes unpredictable rules, so just have your wits about you.