Geographic coordinates: 37°58′N 58°20′E. Area: 491,210 km2

Capital: Ashgabat

In order to enter Turkmenistan every foreign tourist must have a valid entry visa, to be obtained from the nearest Turkmenistan Embassy or upon arrival on border or at the Airport. Tourist visas can be obtained upon presenting an Invitation Letter, duly approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. We provide visa invitation letters free of charge within 12-15 days after receiving the necessary documents.

The ethnic composition of Turkmenistan as 85% Turkmen, 5% Uzbek, 4% Russian and 6% others.

Turkmen is the official language of Turkmenistan (per the 1992 Constitution), although Russian still is widely spoken in cities as a "language of inter-ethnic communication". Turkmen is spoken by 72% of the population, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, and other languages 7%.

Turkmenistan has an extreme continental climate: temperatures in Ashgabat vary between 46°C (114°F) in summer and -5°C (23°F) in winter, although it has been known to reach -22°C (-8°F) in extremity. Temperatures in the desert in summer can reach 50°C (122°F) during the day before falling rapidly at night. During the winter, it can reach -10° to -15°C (14° to 15°F).

Most transactions are conducted on a cash-only, local currency basis. Major credit cards are only accepted at the main hotels and a few shops and restaurants. Local currency is Manat. 3.5 Manat approximately 1 USD.

Good lunch or dinner at best restaurants costs from 10-15 USD. Transportation: Public buses 0.5 USD for any amount of stations. Taxi which is very commonly used and easiest way of getting to the places: 1 km- 0.5 USD. First aid in any hospitals 5-10 USD. Tips 10 % from the order in restaurants. Tickets to the theaters and cinemas 10 USD max.

Basic medical services are available for tourists at local hospitals and clinics. Telecommunications services are also available from major hotels. Postal services are available at the Main Post Offices and in all hotels.

220 V AC, 50 ampere; standard two-pin plug socket

GMT + 05:00

+993