Turkmenistan Getting Around

Getting Around

By plane Internal flights are possible with Turkmenistan Airlines which flies daily between Ashgabat, Mary, Turkmenbashi, Dashoguz and a couple other destinations. Flights are subsidised, and due to fuel costs, extremely cheap. Prices are around $5 US for a flight from Ashgabat to Mary or Dashoguz. Turkmenistan Airlines operates with a new fleet of Boeing 737s, purchased in 2001. Be aware that you might not be able to photograph freely in and around the airport, though this is not unheard of elsewhere. By boat The Amu Darya is an important inland waterway for Turkmenistan. By car At least in Ashgabat, like in much of the former Soviet Union, 'taxi's are mostly unofficial - and can be hailed by flagging down a car by the roadside. Haggle, and agree the destination and a fee in advance - a knowledge of Russian will definitely come in handy at this point. The usual sensible precautions apply here. If your instincts suggest that something might be not quite right, then it's best to go with your instincts. Roadblocks operate throughout the country, so this method is really best used only within city limits unless you are specifically looking for trouble. By train It is possible to travel by train between some of the major cities in Turkmenistan, but journeys are slow (up to 16 hours from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi) - so unless you have a specific interest, plane travel is the best way to get around the country.