All Turkmenistan

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Turkmenistan

16 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Turkmenistan

Updated October 15, 2025
Email

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Turkmenistan

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

See All 16 Things To Do in Turkmenistan
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Turkmenistan

Monuments 4
Sacred Spaces 3
Ecosystems 3
Mosques 3
Mausoleums 3
Nature 2
Caves 2
Architectural Oddities 2

Turkmenistan Leaderboard

Recent Turkmenistan Activity

Stories About Turkmenistan

Why You Should Visit Turkmenistan, Land of Contrasts

An expert guide to Central Asia’s most fascinating country.
Sponsored By Cayman Jack
Macchu Piccu, Peru

Enter For Your Chance to Win a Summer Adventure (Submissions Closed)

We’re teaming up with Cayman Jack for an epic trip giveaway.
Sponsored By Cayman Jack
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Aw, Hell! Crossword

by AO Puzzles
The Black Sea at Cape Kaliakra, Bulgaria.

The Paratethys Sea Was the Largest Lake in Earth’s History

The Black, Caspian, and Aral Seas are the last surviving fragments of a body of water that stretched from Austria to Turkmenistan.
by Frank Jacobs
Turkmenistan’s fiery pit, the Gates of Hell, may be extinguished after burning for decades.

Will the Gates of Hell Be Closed Forever?

Turkmenistan’s Darvaza gas crater has been on fire for decades. The inferno may finally be extinguished.
by Sarah Durn
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member