Good Time to Visit

Weather

Turkmenistan has an extreme continental climate, with freezing winters (November-April) and searing summers (May-September). It is hot and arid in the large desert areas.

Visitors are advised to bring lightweight clothing during the summer - especially when visiting the desert, where temperatures can reach 50°C (122°F) during the day. Temperatures can drop rapidly at night, so warmer clothing should be taken if intending to spend the night in the open. Heavyweight clothing should be taken for winter visits.

More information on the Turkmenistani weather may be found in Climate in Turkmenistan.

Festivals

Festivities in this sparsely populated country include Akilteken Day in April, a celebration of the Akilteken horse, marked with parades and races. Another important occasion is The Day of the Turkmen Carpet, on 29 May. Kurban Bairam, the Feast of the Sacrifice, sees an animal ritually slaughtered and shared with relatives and the poor.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Turkmenistan: