Book cheap flights to Turkmenistan

The climate in Turkmenistan experiences four distinct seasons, with hot summers and icy winters. The weather is affected by the desert landscape of the Kara Kum desert, which is one of the driest in the world. The hottest months fall between June and August, which sees day time temperatures of up to 37°C, and evening temperatures of 20°C. In stark contrast, the winter months of December to February find daytime temperatures of 7°C and -1°C at night.

South Africans who wish to visit Turkmenistan are advised to obtain a visa to do so.

While it is not necessary for visits to the cities of Ashgabat, Merv, Turkmenabat and Balkanabat, it is needed for border regions such as in the western, northern and eastern areas of the country. To qualify for your visa, your passport will need to be valid for six months from the start of your trip, and you will need to have one blank page in your passport for stamps.

There is no representation for Turkmenistan in South Africa. For more visa information, please visit Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to official releases from Turkmenistan, there is no crime in the country and nothing for visitors to lose sleep over when travelling here. However, as with all destinations, there is always a possibility of petty crime happening, so it would be best to remain aware of your surroundings.

The capital city of Ashgabat enforces an 11pm curfew on every body within the city limits. There is also the potential issue of drunkenness and fights breaking out when pub patrons indulge in what is known as ‘Vodka terrorism’.

It is always important to go for a general health check-up before a trip overseas. It is best to do this 4-6 weeks before your trip. For your trip to Turkmenistan, it is strongly recommended to get the following vaccinations: hepatitis A and typhoid. Other vaccinations to consider getting are hepatitis B and rabies. Proof of a yellow fever certificate is needed if you are travelling from a country at risk of this disease.