Travel and Tourism

Travel and Tourism in Turkmenistan

Travel alerts, currency, climate, transit, health, and safety information for visitors to Turkmenistan.

Practical Information

Travel alert status, currency, climate, and transit details.

Travel Alert Status: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Time Difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Currency: Turkmen manat (TMM)
Climate: Precipitation in the inhabited regions averages 19 centimeters per year. Most of this falls between December and April. As you would expect in a desert climate, it does get very hot. In June, July, and August it is often uncomfortable to be outside during the day, as the temperatures consistently exceed 40°C (over 100°F), although with very low humidity. At times in August, the "Afghan Winds" come from the east, and the temperature can soar into the high 40s. However, by late September the temperatures cool, and pleasant, autumn-like weather prevails. The winter, which begins in late November, can be chilly, wet, and muddy, with temperatures between 0°C and 15°C in the daytime, with occasional light snow. Turkmenistan is in one of the world's high seismic regions. During the past 100 years, there have been four disastrous earthquakes with intensities of 6+ on the Richter scale, each one resulting in great loss of life and property. In 1948, Ashgabat suffered a quake of tremendous strength. All but six buildings were destroyed, and the entire city shifted 2 meters to the north. More than 30,000 of the 130,000 residents died, and an additional 85,000 were injured.
Ethnic Groups: Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6%
National Holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Geographic Coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E
Location: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Airports: 69

Health and Safety

Medical facilities, vaccinations, disease risk, and sanitation conditions.

Medical Facilities and Care

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Medical care in Turkmenistan is limited and well below North American and Western European standards. If you travel to Turkmenistan, you should make sure that you have medical evacuation insurance. Such travel can be expensive if undertaken under emergency conditions, and absent this insurance, medical evacuation travel may be logistically impossible. If you have a medical condition, you should consult with your regular physician to determine whether travel to Turkmenistan is advisable in light of the level of available health care. Resident U.S. citizens travel to Western Europe or North America for treatment of any serious medical condition, and for many routine procedures. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of public hospitals and English-speaking physicians in the country, however the standard of care at these hospitals cannot be considered comparable to Western standards. Basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics are often in short supply. Two private clinics have foreign medical practitioners (generally Turkish) who may be available for consultations and treatment; these clinics, however, have refused in some cases to admit patients with serious conditions, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay for treatment. Even at these hospitals, the standard of care is low compared to Western standards. If you need prescription medications, you should bring sufficient supplies with you and appropriate documentation to ensure no problems with customs officials upon arrival.
Accessibility: While in Turkmenistan, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Although the law requires that new construction projects include facilities that allow access by persons with disabilities, compliance is inconsistent and older buildings remain inaccessible. Public transportation is likewise inaccessible.

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