It does not adjust itself to expectations or attempt to explain itself in advance. This is a country best experienced slowly: observing, adjusting to its scale, and noticing the pauses between destinations.

Ashgabat: The City of White Marble

Ashgabat leaves a lasting impression from the very first moment. White marble façades, wide boulevards, and strict symmetry create the feeling of a city where every detail has been carefully measured. The Independence Monument, the Arch of Neutrality, and the Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center – home to the world’s tallest Ferris wheel — feel like elements of a single, overarching vision. Ashgabat tells its story not through narrative, but through form, scale, and repeating symbols.

The Karakum Desert: A Landscape of Silence

Covering much of the country, the Karakum Desert sets the rhythm of Turkmenistan itself. Movement is minimal: rolling sand dunes, salt lakes, and rare oases stretch across vast distances, where the sense of time and space begins to dissolve.

The desert’s most famous landmark is the Darvaza gas crater, often referred to as the “Gates of Hell.” After dark, its flames glow intensely, appearing almost unreal against the night sky.

The Yangykala Canyon captivates visitors with its layered, multicolored cliffs, shifting hues throughout the day.
The Karakum Nature Reserve remains one of the few places where the desert is preserved in its natural state, home to rare species native to Central Asia.

Turkmen Cuisine: Simple and Grounded

Local cuisine is straightforward and hearty: meat, dough, rice, spices – with little excess.

Dishes such as Turkmen plov, dograma, and ishlekli clearly reflect the region’s nomadic heritage. A tea house or local market often offers a far more authentic introduction to the country than any formal restaurant. Fresh bread, hot tea, and unhurried conversation keep food firmly rooted in everyday life, rather than turning it into a performance for visitors.

For international travelers, Turkmenistan’s appeal lies in this contrast of seemingly incompatible elements. The ceremonial architecture of Ashgabat, the near-total stillness of the desert, and a cuisine defined by simplicity coexist side by side. The result is a journey experienced not as a checklist of sights, but as a cohesive route with its own distinct rhythm.