Must See
Ashgabat
Considering it is the capital, Ashgabat is a relatively small city, but is not without its charms. Situated at the southern rim of the Karakum Desert, it replaced the old city, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1948. The architecture mixes Eastern and Western styles, and new buildings are springing up quickly. Highlights include the white marble Palace of Turkmenbashi, which is decorated with gold-mirrored glass and an Islamic-motif dome. Nearby stands the Arch of Neutrality, a 75 metre-high monument topped with a revolving 12 metre-tall golden statue of the late President Niyazov. A lift may be taken to the top of the monument to access the viewing platforms. There are also a number of museums, including the National Museum of Turkmenistan and a fine-art museum.
Visitors can soak up the atmosphere at the Tolkuchka Bazaar (Sunday market) - the best place anywhere to buy Turkmen carpets - or visit the carpet museum on Ulitsa Kuragli (formerly Piervomaiskaya), home to the world's largest handwoven rug.
Just 10 km (6 miles) from Ashgabat is the national Turkmenbashi Stud Farm, where you can see the country's national horse; the pure-bred Akhal-Teke. You can also spend a day at the races at the Hippodrome in Ashgabat, held during the spring and autumn.
Anau
Located just a few kilometres southeast of Ashgabat is the town of Anau, the site of a destroyed 15th-century city. Visitors may see the ruins of the famous mosque, admired for its 8 metre-long dragons striking mosaic tiles.
Bakharden
This town 90 km (56 miles) west of Ashgabat is home to an underground mineral lake, Kov-Ata, situated 50-60 metres below the slopes of the Kopet Dag mountains and at the bottom of a 250-metre, damp, dimly-lit stairway. The lake is fed by hot springs and has a constant temperature of 37°C (97°F). Once there, visitors may soak in the lake, admire the many clusters of stalactites and listen to the whisper of bats.
Chuli
This popular mountain resort may be reached by car or taxi through a picturesque gorge. Hiking and climbing and hiking trips can be arranged.
Darvaza
Darvaza is a small town in central Turkmenistan inhabited by the Teke tribe. These people continue to live a semi-nomadic lifestyle and live in yurts, a traditional Turkmen dwelling, built with a wooden framework then covered in a felt called koshma. You can spend a night in a yurt and appreciate Turkmen hospitality. Nearby are the Gas Craters, an enormous volcano-like crater at ground level.
Dashgouz
500 km (311 miles) from Ashgabat across the Kara-Kum desert, Dashgouz is the largest city in the northern region of Turkmenistan. However, the main sights of the area lie outside the city at Kunya Urgench, the site of an ancient fortress town that also contains the unexcavated ruins of the 12th-century capital of Khwarezm. The most striking extant landmark of Kunya Urgench is the early 14th-century Kutlug-Timur Minaret, one of the tallest minarets in Asia, standing at 67 metres. Also of note is the Il-Arslan Mausoleum - the oldest standing monument: a conical dome housing the tomb of Mohammed II's grandfather, Il-Arslan, who died in 1172. Somewhat to the north, sprawls a vast medieval necropolis.
Mary
East of Ashgabat is Mary, Turkmenistan's second city. Although this large industrial centre has little to recommend it other than its Regional Museum, it is located near the remains of the city of Merv. This ancient city was known as the 'Queen of Cities' until Ghengis Khan's son, Toloi, reduced it to rubble in 1221, and reportedly killed a million of its inhabitants. The majority of the remains are the brick-built mausoleums of holy men and rulers - such as the striking Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, built in 1140. This large 27 metre-square structure had a large, turquoise central dome and it was said that approaching caravans could see the mausoleum while still a day's march from the city. With the exception of the exterior decoration, the mausoleum is largely intact, and is the city's main tourist attraction.
Repetek Desert Reserve
Air temperatures of more than 50°C have been recorded here, while the surface of the sand has been known to reach as much as 70°C. The desert is inhabited by an array of strange reptiles, lizards, spiders and scorpions.
Silk Road
This ancient trading route stretches from northern China to the ports on the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It was used by silk merchants for more than a millennium, until its decline in the fourteenth century. The section that runs through Turkmenistan offers a number of attractions, including the Kugitang Nature Reserve which is said to bear the impressions of hundreds of dinosaur footprints; the historical silk road cities of Merv and Kunya Urgench; and the vibrant Sunday Tolkuchka market in Ashgabat, which sells traditional wares such as carpets, camels and pistachio nuts.
Turkmenbashi
Formerly known as Krasnovodsk, Turkmenbashi is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea to the west of Ashgabat. It was renamed in honour of the late President Saparmurat Niyazov, who was given the title 'Turkmenbashi' or 'leader of all the Turkmen'. Highlights of the city include the Museum of Natural History, the Khazar Turkmenbashi State Nature Reserve, the Museum of Regional History and the gate to former Krasnovodsk fort. There are also some good beaches and swimming a little further out of town, and the mountains surrounding the town offer some beautiful panoramic views.