Turkmenistan ((tk)Turkmenistan, (ru) Туркмениста́н) | |
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Flag | |
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Information | |
Capital city | Ashgabat |
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Area | 488 000 km² |
Population | 5 000 000 hab. (2010) |
Density | 10,25 inhab./km² |
Form of State | republic, presidential system |
Cash | Turkmenistan manat (TMT) |
Electricity | 220 V/50 Hz, European plug |
Telephone prefix | 993 |
Internet suffix | .tm |
Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
Spindle | UTC 5 |
Location | |
![]() 39 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 60 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E | |
http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/_eng/ Official site | |
the Turkmenistan is a country ofCentral Asia, border of theIran in the southwest, ofAfghanistan in the south-eastUzbekistan north-east and Kazakhstan to the northwest.
Understand
Regions
![]() 39 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 60 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E The provinces of Turkmenistan |
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Cities
- 1 Ashgabat – Capital of the country and administrative, economic and political center.
- 2 Mary
- 3 Darvaza – A village
- Dehistan
- 4 Konye-Urgench (Köneürgenç) –
- Turkmenbachi
Other destinations
To go
Formalities
Citizens of all countries need a Visa to visit Turkmenistan which must be purchased before your arrival at the frontier. A representation is present at Tehran and to Mashhad. By following these points, you should get at least a transit visa (3-4 days).
- Have a letter of recommendation from your embassy (The letter must specify the route and the final destination).
- A photocopy of the Uzbek passport and visa as well as two identity photos.
- Type the request.
- Submit the request to the representation.
- Wait 7-10 days.
By plane
Connections from Moscow, Istanbul, Frankfurt
On a boat
- Turkmenistan has a frontage on the (closed) Caspian Sea. There are only random connections between Turkmenistan andAzerbaijan
By train
To date, no public transport crosses the borders of Turkmenistan.
By bus
No public transport line crosses the border. On the other hand, it is easy to find a taxi on either side of the border.
By taxi
Since theIran
As no public transport crosses the borders of Turkmenistan, the following option seems the most practical to join Ashgabat since Mashhad in Iran :
- Take a bus to Quchan.
- From there, take a taxi (collective or individual) to Bajgiran. Around 30,000 rials per person, depending on your negotiating skills. 1 h path.
- TO Bajgiran, across the border. Opening of 7 h 30 - 15 h 30 (Iranian time). Turkmens will charge a tax of $ 10 (per person) $ 2 bank charges (per group), payable in US dollars exclusively. Formalities can easily last 2 h. Currency exchange office in the Iranian building, to the right of the entrance.
- Once on the Turkmen side, you will likely be forced to board a non-negotiable price taxi under the watchful eye of the local police. $ 15 per person. The taxi takes you to the hotel of your choice in Ashgabat. 1 h approx. including several police checks along the way.
By car
Border posts are generally open every day from 9 h - 18 h. No certain information, however, regarding the obligation to present the customs clearance book. It is strongly recommended to take out local insurance when entering the country.
Circulate
By boat / By plane
By train
By bus
By car
The state of the roads and the local driving style leave much to be desired, drivers are often not insured or creditworthy. The police frequently carry out random checks, corruption is the order of the day. In the event of an accident without bodily damage, it is good to settle the costs out of court, which the Turkmens themselves do, but the insurance policies cover physical victims rather poorly.
Fuel is available in cities and in the provinces, beware of service stations located in the open countryside, the presence of impurities in the pumps can permanently damage recently designed engines.
It is compulsory to have an international driving license.
Speed limits:
- Expressway : 120 km / h
- Route: 90 km / h
- City : 60 km / h
Driving after consuming alcohol is strictly prohibited. The absence of a first aid kit or fire extinguisher may be subject to a fine.
To speak
Languages used: Turkmen and Russian, the true lingua franca of the former bloc ofUSSR. English is known in the major cities of the country. However, you will find few people speaking English other than students, notables and intellectuals.
To buy
Cash
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/100_manat._Türkmenistan,_2014_a.jpg/350px-100_manat._Türkmenistan,_2014_a.jpg)
The currency of Turkmenistan is the Turkmen manat (manat, TMT).
Memories
- Stunning rugs
- Leather clothing
- Wool-based clothing
- Vodka
Eat
- kebabs
- Shasliks
- Large bread patties
- Plov: mutton mixed with rice
- mantys: kind of ravioli
- Laghman (pasta)
Drinks:
- Tea
- Local or Russian vodka
- Russian beer
- Various sodas
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
Many good category hotels in the capital. Reasonable prices.
To learn
To work
- Job offers for foreigners are mainly oriented towards the gas sector. Turkmenistan has considerable gas reserves.
Communicate
Security
![]() | Emergency telephone number: Police :102 Ambulance:103 Firefighter :101 |
Turkmenistan is not a safe country. It is advisable to travel with an official tourist agency. Numerous police checks throughout the territory. Potential dangers near the Iranian, Afghan and Uzbek borders. The one-party political regime, founded by President Niazov, who died in December 2006, reigns supreme over the country. It is a Stalinist-type regime which leaves no room for fundamental and political freedoms.
Government travel advice
Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation)
Canada (Government of Canada)
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
Health
Respect
Ramadan date
Majority of Muslims insist on local sighting of the crescent moon to mark the start of Ramadan, but others insist on calculating the new moon or declaring it saudi to determine the start of the month. Since the first crescent after the new moon is not visible everywhere at the same time, the start and end dates of the month depend on what is visible in each location. Therefore, the dates vary from country to country, but usually only one day. |
Respect local customs and the particularly severe legislation of Turkmenistan. With a little courtesy and good manners, there will be many encounters.