Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan and the largest city of the country. Divided in four districts or “etraps”, it is also the scientific, administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the republic. On one side, the city is framed by the Kopetdag Mountain Range and on the other, by the Karakum desert. Located in Central Asia, Ashgabat practically borders Iran – the border is only 25 kilometers away. The climate in the capital is continental extreme, very hot in summer and cool in winter. Ashgabat has only a few old buildings, since in 1948, a terrible earthquake, destroyed almost everything, taking the lives of more than 175 thousand people. 

Mary is considered the fourth city of Turkmenistan by the number of inhabitants, today more than 200 thousand people live here. It is located in the middle of the desert, in a large oasis. Mary was founded by the Russian military in 1884. The city was built not far from the ancient Merv, which is more than two thousand years old. Once the inhabitants of Merv were Omar Khayyam, Al-Khorezmi, Enveri, As-Samani and other famous personalities. Today Mary is considered the largest city in the country for cotton growing and an important center for gas production. It is the gas industry that is the main income of Turkmenistan.

It was not long ago, in the 90’s, among the sands of the eastern Karakum desert, archaeology scientists discovered a huge necropolis dating back to the 3-2 millennia B.C. in the oasis of Mary. There was once a capital city, called today Gonur Tepe (translated from Turkmen as “Grey hill”) with its palace and few temples that could compete with erections of Assyria and Babylon.

Dashoguz is located in the northern part of Turkmenistan. The territory of Dashoguz area hosts the capital of ancient Khoresm - one of the strongest medieval empires in Central Asia - the city of Keneurgench. From 995 when Gurgandzh was the capital of Horezmshakh state and the second-largest and important after Bukhara - a diamond crown of Samanid, this city has preserved its magnificent architectural monuments - il Arslan and khorezmshakh Tekesh mausoleums dated the 12th century. Especially significant 14th century monuments of Keneurgench are Tyurabek-khanym with a mosaic panel on the inner side of the dome which is considered a masterpiece of Oriental art which has no analogues in entire medieval architecture and the grandiose 60-meter Kutlug-Timur the highest in the Central Asia. There are also magnificent ancient fortress cities Devkesen, Shasenem, Zmukshir, Kenevas and a lot of others.

Discover the incredible Darvaza Gas Crater, known globally as the 'Door to Hell', 'Gate to Hell', 'Crater of Fire', and 'Darvaza' or 'Derweze' Crater. Take captivating photos and videos of this fiery natural spectacle, nestled within the desolate expanses of the Karakum desert, 266km north of Ashgabat city. n 1971, the mesmerizing sight of the Darvaza Gas Crater was unintentionally created by Soviet geologists. Situated near the quaint village of Darvaza (Derweze), meaning 'gate' in Turkmen, they accidentally pierced a cavern filled with natural gas. An unfortunate accident led to equipment falling into a newly formed cavernous hole, from which gas began to escape.