Why should you choose Koryo Tours?
Choosing to travel to unusual destinations such as North Korea is a big decision, and choosing the right people to take you is an incredibly important part of that. Learn about how we facilitate tourism responsibly in some of the most interesting and unique destinations on our planet, and at the same time ensure you get the most out of your once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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Our tours to Turkmenistan will take you to all the country’s highlights. You will experience the local colour of Ashgabat (best described as a merging of Pyongyang and Las Vegas!), journey deep into the desert for some underground swimming, and camp next to the amazing and unique Darvaza Gas Crater - otherwise known as the 'Gates of Hell' or 'Doors to Hell'.
You will visit the Silk Road ruins of Konye-Urgench, or experience Yangykala, the ‘Turkmen Grand Canyon’—a breathtaking area of amazing natural beauty.
Wherever you go, your Turkmenistan tour will be an epic trip through a remarkable country.
Turkmenistan tour dates don't work for you? We can also arrange Turkmenistan Independent Tours for individuals, families, friends, and groups.
For more on Turkmenistan, visit our Turkmenistan Travel Guide page.
Darvaza Gas Crater
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Yangykala Canyon
Serdar Health Walk
Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan
Note: We require all travellers on international and North Korea tours to have valid travel insurance.
Turkmenistan is an overlooked Central Asia gem, a complicated and little-known place with a very rich history that more people should know about. I’ve entered and exited by air, by sea, and by land via both Uzbekistan and Iran, as one of the great attributes of the country is that it is located in the middle of the world – ideal for onward travel!
Visit vibrant multi-cultural Kazakhstan and eclectic Turkmenistan.
Ticking off all the highlights as well as getting off the beaten
path!
From 4900 USD per person
Please apply by 1st September, 2024.
Visit vibrant multi-cultural Kazakhstan and
eclectic Turkmenistan. Ticking off all the
highlights as well as getting off the beaten
path!
From 4900 USD per person
On our most adventurous 20-night adventure, we will start in the new capital of Kazakhstan, Astana and finish in the ostentatious city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
In between these two fascinating cities, we will travel by road, rail, and air as we adventure and explore parts of Kazakhstan only a few have seen before.
This tour will be heading to the industrial base of Karaganda, the infamous Semipalatinsk (gulags and nukes, in two words), and Kurchatov, the Los Alamos of the USSR where the Red Bomb was developed and tested.
To make our adventure complete, we will even visit ‘The Polygon’. The vast nuclear testing range in Kazakhstan, full of abandoned measuring platforms, bunkers, craters, buried machinery, and the scenic yet chilling ‘Atomic Lake’.
In Turkmenistan, our tour pays visits to the main sites, such as Ashgabat and the Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell).
But, we will also take you off the beaten path to really experience and understand Turkmenistan.
Meet local people, and learn about their lives and history. Their differences and commonalities.
Dates don't suit? Check out our Explore Kazakhstan | Astana to Almaty September Tour, or contact us for more information on private tours.
All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours to Kazakhstan feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
The default rooming option for this tour is shared hotel room or tent (one night). Each hotel room on tour has two separate beds. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Simply click on the application button listed with this tour and fill out the online form. Upload a passport copy and photo (or send it to us by email) and you can consider yourself booked on this adventure!
For any questions or comments about this trip get in touch with Rich Beal at [email protected].
We ask for applications to be completed a minimum of one month in advance of the tour, ideally six weeks or more if possible.
Please note that you must apply at least 4 weeks before the tour departure date as the Letter of Invitation (LOI) that we need to obtain in order to facilitate the visa can take several days to be issued by the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Please also indicate where you plan to join the tour from and where you are headed after the tour. We can offer advice on this. Drop us a line to discuss.
We also require a deposit to be paid at this time as we start taking on administrative costs as well as an obligation to pay for the visa invitation as soon as we send off an application.
We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee.
Most nationals can travel to Kazakhstan without a visa. However, please note that if you require a visa, you will need to pay this fee yourself.
To check whether you need a visa or not, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Please note that for this tour you are required to pay the fee for the issuance of the visa yourself.
Koryo Tours will provide you with a Letter of Invitation (LOI) which acts as a guarantee of a visa and the actual issuance of the visa itself is a matter of procedure from this point on.
Due to the extended amount of time that it takes to have a visa authorized and sent to an Embassy of Turkmenistan, it is much simpler to collect the visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport or any other point of entry to the country.
The fee payable on arrival varies according to your nationality. It ranges between $50-$150 USD.
Visa on arrival is payable in cash only.
The visa is stamped in your passport and is the same as it would be if issued at a Turkmen Embassy.
If you would prefer to have it issued at the Turkmenistan Embassy in your home country or have any questions at all about the visa process, please contact us early!
The LOI will be issued to coordinate as closely as possible with the tour dates.
If you need extra days at each end of your journey, please do let us know in advance of your application.
To read in detail about the Turkmenistan visa-issuing process and its complexities, please read our blog post on Turkmen visas here.
Currently, there are no direct flights between Almaty and Ashgabat. You will need to transfer via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, or Dubai on flydubai.
A range of exit methods are available to those joining this tour.
The deposit is non-refundable if the tourist cancels himself.
If however, we cannot arrange visas or for whatever reason, it is not possible to travel at the specified time and you cannot make rescheduled dates, a full refund will be made.
Should the client wish to cancel after the visa application has been made, charges imposed on us will be paid out of the 50% deposit with the balance being returned to the client.
If you have paid in full we will return 50% plus the balance of what is left after the cancellation fee we pay to our partners in Turkmenistan.
If you book and cancel a plane ticket through us, we charge only the airline’s cancellation fee.
In all cases, we return as much as we can and we do not take a fee for client's cancellation.
Please be sure that you will definitely be joining the tour when you send all application details.
Please note that we can not accept any liability for delayed flights and any issues associated with times in relation to Letters of Invitations.
The situation vis-a-vis access to the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Polygon is very much changeable with no notice.
While we do intend to run the tour as scheduled here there is a chance that things may change and we have to adjust to which areas we visit, where we stay overnight, and so on.
We have explored this area thoroughly and have redundancies and backup plans in place.
We can assure all visitors that they will experience as much access to the site as possible when they visit with Koryo Tours.
Please apply by 1st September, 2024.
Spend 7 nights in Central Asia’s least visited country! Visit Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s
white marble fantasy capital, see the bizarre Darvaza Gas Crater, and explore the coast
of the glorious Caspian!
From 2400 USD per person
Please apply by 1st September, 2024.
Spend 7 nights in Central Asia’s least visited country! Visit
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s white marble fantasy capital, see
the bizarre Darvaza Gas Crater, and explore the coast of the
glorious Caspian!
From 2400 USD per person
Join Koryo Tours this October for our Turkmenistan tour as the adventures continue. Turkmenistan is Central Asia’s least visited country.
This means it may be a bit difficult to access and travel around, but it certainly doesn’t have any less to offer!
Join Koryo Tours as we explore the beautiful capital city Ashgabat, camp over at the famous Darvaza Gas Crater, otherwise known as ‘the Gates of Hell’, and be dazzled by the colorful desert canyons to the Caspian Coast.
As we journey through the country we will see the serious and the sublime, the freaky and the frivolous.
Join us on this amazing adventure that we simply do better than anyone else. Koryo Tours has been working in Turkmenistan for over a decade. Over this time, we’ve built this special experience through dozens of visits and the best local contacts and relationships.
Our Turkmenistan tours are unrivaled in quality, experience, and fun!
We look forward to sharing it with you in Turkmenistan!
This tour will be led by one of our most experienced tour leaders, Rich Beal. Rich has led tours all over the world since 2004 and has been leading tours to Turkmenistan for a decade.
Rich is also an expert in other Central Asian countries where he has been leading tours for much longer! He is incredibly knowledgeable about the area and a great storyteller. Ask Rich and he will tell you plenty of fascinating travel anecdotes from his many adventures!
If dates don’t suit you, check out our Turkmenistan tour in May, or contact us to organize a private tour.
Scroll down for an overview of the Turkmenistan Tour highlights, tour itinerary, transport options, Turkmenistan visa information, and extra add-ons.
The default rooming option for this tour is shared hotel room or tent (one night). Each hotel room on tour has two separate beds. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Simply click on the application button listed with this tour and fill out the online form. Upload a passport copy and photo (or send it to us by email) and you can consider yourself booked on this adventure!
For any questions or comments about this trip get in touch with Rich Beal at [email protected].
We ask for applications to be completed a minimum of one month in advance of the tour, ideally six weeks or more if possible.
Please note that you must apply at least 4 weeks before the tour departure date as the Letter of Invitation (LOI) that we need to obtain in order to facilitate the visa can take several days to be issued by the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Please also indicate where you plan to join the tour from and where you are headed after the tour. We can offer advice on this. Drop us a line to discuss.
We also require a deposit to be paid at this time as we start taking on administrative costs as well as an obligation to pay for the visa invitation as soon as we send off an application.
We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee.
Please note that for this tour you are required to pay the fee for the issuance of the visa yourself.
Koryo Tours will provide you with a Letter of Invitation (LOI) which acts as a guarantee of a visa and the actual issuance of the visa itself is a matter of procedure from this point on.
Due to the extended amount of time that it takes to have a visa authorized and sent to an Embassy of Turkmenistan, it is much simpler to collect the visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport or any other point of entry to the country.
The fee payable on arrival varies according to your nationality. It ranges between $50-$150 USD.
Visa on arrival is payable in cash only.
The visa is stamped in your passport and is the same as it would be if issued at a Turkmen Embassy.
If you would prefer to have it issued at the Turkmenistan Embassy in your home country or have any questions at all about the visa process, please contact us early!
The LOI will be issued to coordinate as closely as possible with the tour dates.
If you need extra days at each end of your journey, please do let us know in advance of your application.
To read in detail about the Turkmenistan visa-issuing process and its complexities, please read our blog post on Turkmen visas here.
If you are joining the tour from somewhere other than Beijing and buying a ticket via our offices we email the e-ticket voucher to you. If anyone else is joining the tour from your place of departure we will inform you so that you can meet up on the way to join the tour.
If you are purchasing your own flight ticket via alternate airlines or agents we need these flight details as soon as possible.
It is entirely possible to join the tour by flying in from other destinations. We can also accommodate people joining the tour after entering by land or sea.
A range of exit methods are available to those joining this tour.
The deposit is non-refundable if the tourist cancels himself.
If however, we cannot arrange visas or for whatever reason, it is not possible to travel at the specified time and you cannot make rescheduled dates, a full refund will be made.
Should the client wish to cancel after the visa application has been made, charges imposed on us will be paid out of the 50% deposit with the balance being returned to the client.
If you have paid in full we will return 50% plus the balance of what is left after the cancellation fee we pay to our partners in Turkmenistan.
If you book and cancel a plane ticket through us, we charge only the airline’s cancellation fee.
In all cases, we return as much as we can and we do not take a fee for client's cancellation.
Please be sure that you will definitely be joining the tour when you send all application details.
Please note that we can not accept any liability for delayed flights and any issues associated with times in relation to Letters of Invitations.
Please apply by 1st September, 2024.
Join us as we venture across the deserts of Turkmenistan, ancient
cities of Uzbekistan, and meet the local people who call this incredible
region home!
From 3750 USD per person
Please apply by 10th September, 2024.
Join us as we venture across the deserts of
Turkmenistan, ancient cities of Uzbekistan,
and meet the local people who call this incredible
region home!
From 3750 USD per person
This adventure will take us through the heart of Central Asia, beginning with a journey across Turkmenistan’s vast deserts, experiencing the stunning Darvaza Gas Crater and the shining white capital city of Ashgabat, built entirely of marble. Plus, you will take a visit to the far west of the country to venture through the mysterious Awaza Resort.
After Turkmenistan, we’ll make a crossing into neighbouring Uzbekistan for a trip through time as we visit the ancient capitals of Samarkand and Bukhara. After here, you'll head north to round off your adventure in the nation’s capital, Tashkent. It's home to incredible history and a few secrets which few know about!
If you’re looking for a true adventure in Central Asia, this is the trip for you. Hitting all the highlights of these two great republics, you can mix ancient history with stunning modernity. All in the company of Koryo Tours and local experts.
A truly great Central Asian adventure that you won't find anywhere else!
Please apply by 10th September, 2024.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia following the ancient
Silk Road; Exploring highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5450 USD per person
Please apply by 1st October, 2024.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia
following the ancient Silk Road; Exploring
highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5450 USD per person
Spend 3 weeks ticking off all 5 of the 'Stan Countries'!
This trip, curated and led by our expert tour leaders and in-country partners, is designed to show you the best of Central Asia in the limited time we have. All with a special Koryo-Twist that makes all of our tours so unique.
It will take you from the mountainous republic of Kyrgyzstan on a 3-week adventure. You'll walk the path of the ancient Silk Road, as we wind between vast mountain ranges, cross stunning rivers, traverse great deserts, and rub shoulders with local people from across Central Asia.
Having worked in Central Asia for over two decades, Koryo Tours are extremely happy to be able to announce this trip that has been years in the making. Truly the ultimate trip for those travellers wishing to get a thorough insight into Central Asia from those who know and love it best. Crossing multiple borders by land can be tricky... Sit back and let us do all the hard work and planning - leaving you more time for enjoying!
Let's take a look at an introduction to what you can expect from each of these unique countries.
This journey begins in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, known for its incredible mountain ranges and ancient history.
We’ll spend a couple of days in the country, both in the capital and in the surrounding region, exploring the beauty and history of this great country.
No true adventure to this region would be complete without a visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This ancient city is still a thriving hub in this intriguing and enigmatic country, and also the perfect gateway from which to fly into the heart of Central Asia.
Another great mountainous republic, Tajikistan is home to a handful of incredible cities. We’ll begin in Dushanbe. Perhaps the most laid-back, and beautiful capital in the region.
Home to ancient cultural traditions, and the more modern trappings of the Soviet Union.
Once home to ancient Persian capitals.
Uzbekistan is where we transition from towering mountains to blistering deserts as we journey to explore what remains of Samarkand and Bukhara. Once a hub of Islamic culture and architecture, and still home to some of the most beautiful sites in Asia.
One of the strangest offerings from this adventure.
Whether you’re looking to marvel at ancient cities in Merv & Mary, stare into the gateway to hell at the Darvaza Gas Crater, or wonder at the pure white marble capital, Turkmenistan has something for everyone!
Looking for something shorter? We run individual and combo tours to all of the above countries, as well as private tours for those travellers looking for something more flexible.
Please apply by 1st October, 2024.
Featuring the white marble fantasy-capital of Ashgabat, a night camping
at the bizarre Darvaza gas crater, the ancient Silk Road ruins of Konye-Urgench,
and much more!
From 2250 USD per person
Please apply by 20th April, 2025.
Featuring the white marble fantasy-capital of Ashgabat,
a night camping at the bizarre Darvaza gas crater,
the ancient Silk Road ruins of Konye-Urgench, and
much more!
From 2250 USD per person
Join experts in Turkmenistan travel, Koryo Tours, on this epic journey to Central Asia’s most enigmatic and least-visited country; Turkmenistan.
We will see history unfold as we travel from ruined ancient cities to gleaming modern marble-clad towers. From flaming pits deep in the desert to deep subterranean pools of health-infusing water. We will make sure to visit the main sites during our time in Turkmenistan such as Ashgabat and the Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell), but also take you off the beaten path to really experience and understand Turkmenistan.
Meet local people, and learn about their lives and history; their differences and commonalities.
We look forward to sharing it with you in Turkmenistan!
This tour will be led by our Destinations manager and travel specialist Rich Beal, who first travelled to Turkmenistan more than ten years ago. Over many trips, he has made close friends there, explored widely, and maintained a deep interest in the country and region.
If dates don’t suit you, check out our Turkmenistan tour in October, or contact us to organise a private tour.
Scroll down for an overview of the Turkmenistan Tour highlights, tour itinerary, transport options, Turkmenistan visa information, and extra add-ons.
The default rooming option for this tour is shared hotel room or tent (one night). Each hotel room on tour has two separate beds. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
**This tour will be accompanied by a Western tour leader if there are over five passengers booked**
HOW TO APPLY
Please email Rich Beal at [email protected] to begin your tour application.
Deposit
We require a deposit paid upon booking the tour as we start paying tour costs when your visa application process has begun. We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee.
Application Deadline
You must apply at least four weeks before the tour departure date as the Letter of Invitation that we need to obtain to facilitate the visa can take several days to be issued by the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Turkmenistan LOI & Turkmenistan Visa
Most travellers opt to have visas issued upon arrival into Turkmenistan. If you would prefer to have the visa issued before your arrival or have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The LOI will be issued to coordinate as closely as possible with the tour dates if you need extra days at each end of your journey please do let us know in advance of your application.
Flight Purchases
If you are joining the tour from somewhere other than Beijing and buying a ticket via Koryo Tours, we will email the e-ticket voucher to you as soon as it has been received in our office. If you are purchasing your flight ticket via other airlines or agents, we need these flight details ASAP.
We, unfortunately, can not accept any liability for delayed flights and any issue associated with times associated letters of invitations. It is entirely possible to join the tour by flying in from other destinations also.
Entry by Land or Sea
We can also accommodate people joining the tour after entering by land or sea, and a range of exit methods are available to those joining this tour.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is accessible on this tour at 50 USD per night. If you are travelling alone and wish to share a room to avoid this fee, we will attempt to match you up with another traveller.
Visa Issuing Fees
You will also have to pay the visa-issuing fee. At Ashgabat airport, this ranges from US$80 to $130 (depending on nationality) payable in cash only.
CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
Please note: The visa fee for this tour is not covered in the tour cost and you will be responsible for this. Due to the extended amount of time that it takes to have a visa authorised and sent to an Embassy of Turkmenistan, it is much simpler to collect the visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport. The fee payable here varies according to your nationality.
The visa is stamped in your passport and is the same as it would be if issued at a Turkmen Embassy.
If you insist on having your visa issued at an Embassy, then please be sure to apply for the tour as early as possible.
The deposit is non-refundable if the tourist cancels himself.
If however we cannot arrange visas or for whatever reason, it is not possible to travel at the specified time (or you cannot make rescheduled dates) a full refund will be issued. Should the client wish to cancel after the visa application has been submitted, charges imposed on us will be paid out of the 50% deposit with the balance being returned to the client. If you have paid in full, we will return 50% plus the balance of what is left after the cancellation fee we pay to our partners in Turkmenistan.
If you book and cancel a plane ticket through us, we charge only the airline's cancellation fee. In all cases, we return as much as we can, and we do not take a fee for the client's cancellation. Please be sure that you will be joining the tour when you send all the application details.
Please apply by 20th April, 2025.
Visit vibrant multi-cultural Kazakhstan and eclectic Turkmenistan.
Ticking off all the highlights as well as getting off the beaten
path!
From 4900 USD per person
Please apply by 1st September, 2025.
Visit vibrant multi-cultural Kazakhstan and
eclectic Turkmenistan. Ticking off all the
highlights as well as getting off the beaten
path!
From 4900 USD per person
On our most adventurous 20-night adventure, we will start in the new capital of Kazakhstan, Astana and finish in the ostentatious city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
In between these two fascinating cities, we will travel by road, rail, and air as we adventure and explore parts of Kazakhstan only a few have seen before.
This tour will be heading to the industrial base of Karaganda, the infamous Semipalatinsk (gulags and nukes, in two words), and Kurchatov, the Los Alamos of the USSR where the Red Bomb was developed and tested.
To make our adventure complete, we will even visit ‘The Polygon’. The vast nuclear testing range in Kazakhstan, full of abandoned measuring platforms, bunkers, craters, buried machinery, and the scenic yet chilling ‘Atomic Lake’.
In Turkmenistan, our tour pays visits to the main sites, such as Ashgabat and the Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell).
But, we will also take you off the beaten path to really experience and understand Turkmenistan.
Meet local people, and learn about their lives and history. Their differences and commonalities.
Dates don't suit? Check out our Explore Kazakhstan | Astana to Almaty September Tour, or contact us for more information on private tours.
All hotel rooms on our all-inclusive group tours to Kazakhstan feature twin beds, and will be shared. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
The default rooming option for this tour is shared hotel room or tent (one night). Each hotel room on tour has two separate beds. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Simply click on the application button listed with this tour and fill out the online form. Upload a passport copy and photo (or send it to us by email) and you can consider yourself booked on this adventure!
For any questions or comments about this trip get in touch with Rich Beal at [email protected].
We ask for applications to be completed a minimum of one month in advance of the tour, ideally six weeks or more if possible.
Please note that you must apply at least 4 weeks before the tour departure date as the Letter of Invitation (LOI) that we need to obtain in order to facilitate the visa can take several days to be issued by the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Please also indicate where you plan to join the tour from and where you are headed after the tour. We can offer advice on this. Drop us a line to discuss.
We also require a deposit to be paid at this time as we start taking on administrative costs as well as an obligation to pay for the visa invitation as soon as we send off an application.
We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee.
Most nationals can travel to Kazakhstan without a visa. However, please note that if you require a visa, you will need to pay this fee yourself.
To check whether you need a visa or not, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Please note that for this tour you are required to pay the fee for the issuance of the visa yourself.
Koryo Tours will provide you with a Letter of Invitation (LOI) which acts as a guarantee of a visa and the actual issuance of the visa itself is a matter of procedure from this point on.
Due to the extended amount of time that it takes to have a visa authorized and sent to an Embassy of Turkmenistan, it is much simpler to collect the visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport or any other point of entry to the country.
The fee payable on arrival varies according to your nationality. It ranges between $50-$150 USD.
Visa on arrival is payable in cash only.
The visa is stamped in your passport and is the same as it would be if issued at a Turkmen Embassy.
If you would prefer to have it issued at the Turkmenistan Embassy in your home country or have any questions at all about the visa process, please contact us early!
The LOI will be issued to coordinate as closely as possible with the tour dates.
If you need extra days at each end of your journey, please do let us know in advance of your application.
To read in detail about the Turkmenistan visa-issuing process and its complexities, please read our blog post on Turkmen visas here.
Currently, there are no direct flights between Almaty and Ashgabat. You will need to transfer via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, or Dubai on flydubai.
A range of exit methods are available to those joining this tour.
The deposit is non-refundable if the tourist cancels himself.
If however, we cannot arrange visas or for whatever reason, it is not possible to travel at the specified time and you cannot make rescheduled dates, a full refund will be made.
Should the client wish to cancel after the visa application has been made, charges imposed on us will be paid out of the 50% deposit with the balance being returned to the client.
If you have paid in full we will return 50% plus the balance of what is left after the cancellation fee we pay to our partners in Turkmenistan.
If you book and cancel a plane ticket through us, we charge only the airline’s cancellation fee.
In all cases, we return as much as we can and we do not take a fee for client's cancellation.
Please be sure that you will definitely be joining the tour when you send all application details.
Please note that we can not accept any liability for delayed flights and any issues associated with times in relation to Letters of Invitations.
The situation vis-a-vis access to the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Polygon is very much changeable with no notice.
While we do intend to run the tour as scheduled here there is a chance that things may change and we have to adjust to which areas we visit, where we stay overnight, and so on.
We have explored this area thoroughly and have redundancies and backup plans in place.
We can assure all visitors that they will experience as much access to the site as possible when they visit with Koryo Tours.
Please apply by 1st September, 2025.
Spend 7 nights in Central Asia’s least visited country! Visit Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s
white marble fantasy capital, see the bizarre Darvaza Gas Crater, and explore the coast
of the glorious Caspian!
From 2400 USD per person
Please apply by 1st September, 2025.
Spend 7 nights in Central Asia’s least visited country! Visit
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s white marble fantasy capital, see
the bizarre Darvaza Gas Crater, and explore the coast of the
glorious Caspian!
From 2400 USD per person
Join Koryo Tours this October for our Turkmenistan tour as the adventures continue. Turkmenistan is Central Asia’s least visited country.
This means it may be a bit difficult to access and travel around, but it certainly doesn’t have any less to offer! Join Koryo Tours as we explore the beautiful capital city Ashgabat, camp over at the famous Darvaza Gas Crater, otherwise known as ‘the Gates of Hell’, and be dazzled by the colourful desert canyons to the Caspian Coast.
As we journey through the country we will see the serious and the sublime, the freaky and the frivolous. Join us on this amazing adventure that we simply do better than anyone else. Koryo Tours has been working in Turkmenistan for over a decade. Over this time, we’ve built this special experience through dozens of visits and the best local contacts and relationships meaning our Turkmenistan tours are unrivalled in quality, experience, and fun!
We look forward to sharing it with you in Turkmenistan!
If dates don’t suit, check out our Turkmenistan tour in May, or contact us to organise a private tour.
Scroll down for an overview of the Turkmenistan Tour highlights, tour itinerary, transport options, Turkmenistan visa information, and extra add-ons.
The default rooming option for this tour is shared hotel room or tent (one night). Each hotel room on tour has two separate beds. If you'd like a room to yourself then you can upgrade for an extra $50 USD per night
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
HOW TO APPLY
Please email Rich Beal at [email protected] the following information a minimum of one month in advance of the tour, ideally six weeks or more if possible: Full Name Gender Date of Birth Passport Number Address Job Title Company Details of any previous visits to Turkmenistan Please also indicate where you plan to join the tour from (London, Beijing, Istanbul etc). We also require a deposit to be paid at this time as we start taking on administrative costs as well as an obligation to pay for the visa invitation as soon as we send off an application. We ask for a deposit of 50% of the tour fee. You must apply at least 4 weeks before the tour departure date as the Letter of Invitation that we need to obtain in order to facilitate the visa can take several days to be issued by the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We can arrange to have the visas issued on arrival at Ashgabat airport or any other point of entry to the country, but if you would prefer to have it issued at the Turkmenistan Embassy in your home country or have any questions at all about the visa process (it is rather complicated!) please contact us early! the LOI's will be issued to coordinate as closely as possible with the tour dates if you need extra days at each end of your journey please do let us know in advance of your application. If you are joining the tour from somewhere other than Beijing and buying a ticket via our offices we email the e-ticket voucher to you and also inform you if anyone else is joining the tour from your place of departure so that you can meet up on the way to join the tour. If you are purchasing your own flight ticket via alternate airlines or agents we need these flight details ASAP. We, unfortunately, can not accept any liability for delayed flights and any issue associated with times associated letters of invitations. It is entirely possible to join the tour by flying in from other destinations also. We can also accommodate people joining the tour after entering by land or sea, and a range of exit methods are available to those joining this tour. Single supplement is available on this tour at 55 USD per night, if you are travelling alone and wish to share a room to avoid this fee we will attempt to match you up with another traveller. You will also have to pay the visa issuing fee, at Ashgabat airport this ranges from US$80 to $150 (depending on nationality) payable in cash only.
CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
Please note that for this tour you are required to pay the fee for the issuance of the visa yourself. Due to the extended amount of time that it takes to have a visa authorized and sent to an Embassy of Turkmenistan it is much simpler to collect the visa on arrival at Ashgabat Airport, the fee payable here varies according to your nationality, its usually around US$100. The visa is stamped in your passport and is the same as it would be if issued at a Turkmen Embassy. If you insist on having your visa issued at an Embassy, then please be sure to apply for the tour as early as possible. The deposit is non-refundable if the tourist cancels himself. If however, we cannot arrange visas or for whatever reason, it is not possible to travel at the specified time (or you cannot make rescheduled dates) a full refund will be made. Should the client wish to cancel after visa application has been made, charges imposed on us will be paid out of the 50% deposit with the balance being returned to the client. If you have paid in full we will return 50% plus the balance of what is left after the cancellation fee we pay to our partners in Turkmenistan. If you book and cancel a plane ticket through us we charge only the airline’s cancellation fee. In all cases we return as much as we can and we do not take a fee for client's cancellation. Please be sure that you will definitely be joining the tour when you send all application details.
Please apply by 1st September, 2025.
Join us as we venture across the deserts of Turkmenistan, ancient
cities of Uzbekistan, and meet the local people who call this incredible
region home!
From 3750 USD per person
Please apply by 10th September, 2025.
Join us as we venture across the deserts of
Turkmenistan, ancient cities of Uzbekistan,
and meet the local people who call this incredible
region home!
From 3750 USD per person
This adventure will take us through the heart of Central Asia, beginning with a journey across Turkmenistan’s vast deserts, experiencing the stunning Darvaza Gas Crater and the shining white capital city of Ashgabat, built entirely of marble. Plus, you will take a visit to the far west of the country to venture through the mysterious Awaza Resort.
After Turkmenistan, we’ll make a crossing into neighbouring Uzbekistan for a trip through time as we visit the ancient capitals of Samarkand and Bukhara. After here, you'll head north to round off your adventure in the nation’s capital, Tashkent. It's home to incredible history and a few secrets which few know about!
If you’re looking for a true adventure in Central Asia, this is the trip for you. Hitting all the highlights of these two great republics, you can mix ancient history with stunning modernity. All in the company of Koryo Tours and local experts.
A truly great Central Asian adventure that you won't find anywhere else!
Please apply by 10th September, 2025.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia following the ancient
Silk Road; Exploring highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5700 USD per person
Please apply by 30th August, 2025.
A 21-Day Odyssey across Central Asia
following the ancient Silk Road; Exploring
highlights & getting off the beaten
path!
From 5700 USD per person
Spend 3 weeks travelling to all the stans, ticking off all 5 of the 'Stan Countries'!
This trip, curated and led by our expert tour leaders and in-country partners, is designed to show you the best of Central Asia in the limited time we have. All with a special Koryo-Twist that makes all of our tours so unique.
It will take you from the mountainous republic of Kyrgyzstan on a 3-week adventure. You'll walk the path of the ancient Silk Road, as we wind between vast mountain ranges, cross stunning rivers, traverse great deserts, and rub shoulders with local people from across Central Asia.
Having worked in Central Asia for over two decades, Koryo Tours are extremely happy to be able to announce this trip that has been years in the making. Truly the ultimate trip for those travellers wishing to get a thorough insight into Central Asia from those who know and love it best. Crossing multiple borders by land can be tricky... Sit back and let us do all the hard work and planning - leaving you more time for enjoying!
Let's take a look at an introduction to what you can expect from each of these unique countries.
This journey begins in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, known for its incredible mountain ranges and ancient history.
We’ll spend a couple of days in the country, both in the capital and in the surrounding region, exploring the beauty and history of this great country.
No true adventure to this region would be complete without a visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan.
This ancient city is still a thriving hub in this intriguing and enigmatic country, and also the perfect gateway from which to fly into the heart of Central Asia.
Another great mountainous republic, Tajikistan is home to a handful of incredible cities. We’ll begin in Dushanbe. Perhaps the most laid-back, and beautiful capital in the region.
Home to ancient cultural traditions, and the more modern trappings of the Soviet Union.
Once home to ancient Persian capitals.
Uzbekistan is where we transition from towering mountains to blistering deserts as we journey to explore what remains of Samarkand and Bukhara. Once a hub of Islamic culture and architecture, and still home to some of the most beautiful sites in Asia.
One of the strangest offerings from this adventure.
Whether you’re looking to marvel at ancient cities in Merv & Mary, stare into the gateway to hell at the Darvaza Gas Crater, or wonder at the pure white marble capital, Turkmenistan has something for everyone!
Looking for something shorter? We run individual and combo tours to all of the above countries, as well as private tours for those travellers looking for something more flexible.
Please apply by 30th August, 2025.
Kazakhstan And Turkmenistan Adventure
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View tourKazakhstan And Turkmenistan Adventure
View tourMy next tour will be to:
[email protected] | + 86 10 6416 7544
WhatsApp (message only): +44 7822 014058
Room A409, Jucai Building. No. 76 Caoyuan Hutong.
Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100027, PR China
中国北京市东城区草园胡同76号聚才大厦A 座409 室,
邮编:100027
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