- Duration
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Price Per Person
- From $4,000
Darvaza (Door To Hell)
The gates of the fiery depths are in the middle of the Turkmenistani desert. Approximately 160 miles north of the capital Ashgabat, an enormous crater burns with sulphuric flames, illuminating the clouds above and blasting heat for miles around. In the late 1960s, Soviet engineers suspected the site to contain massive oil reserves. The drilling rig they built collapsed to create a crater 230 feet wide and 20 feet deep. In a bid to burn off the excess gases, the Soviets lit the crater and it has been burning constantly ever since.
Located in the province of Ahal, the village of Darvaza - meaning "gate" - is the base from which to visit the mighty crater and see its hypnotic flames, and the best way to view it is at night. Many visitors take the opportunity to camp nearby and explore the vast, arid plains of the Karakum desert. To the northwest, the beautiful and lush Kaplankyr nature reserve provides a green oasis and numerous activities for the outward-bound adventurer. Home to nomadic Turkmen horsemen, a popular way to enjoy the landscape surrounding Darvaza is on a steed of your own.
Experiences
A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
Camping
One of the best ways to acclimatize to local life is to spend at least one night in a traditional yurt. Camping in the desert with an unobstructed view of the fiery pit of Darvaza, under a canopy of stars is a truly unforgettable experience.
Door to Hell
A trip to the center of Turkmenistan would not be complete without a visit to the stunning burning crater at Darvaza. With no safety rails or precautions, drive up and peer into the fiery depths at your own risk.
Horse riding
Get a taste of the life of a Turkmenistani nomad and explore the Karakum desert on horseback. Adventures on native Akhal Teke horses can be organized and provide a unique and authentic way to see the local landscape.
Kaplankyr nature reserve
For a little respite from the desert, make the journey to mountainous and green Kaplankyr. Home to countless species of rare and endangered flora and fauna, not to mention mountains to climb and lakes to swim, a visit to the reserve is a nature lover and explorer’s dream.
Karakum desert
Stretching from Ashgabat in the south to Dashoguz in the north, explore the stunning expanse of desert that covers much of Turkmenistan and characterizes its wild, unique beauty.
Turkmenistan Regions
Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below.
Darvaza (Door To Hell) Itineraries
- Duration
- 14 days / 13 nights
- Price Per Person
- From $8,100
- Duration
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Price Per Person
- From $3,900
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Price Per Person
- From $4,100
Camping
Darvaza (Door To Hell), Turkmenistan
With only 350 inhabitants and not a hotel in sight, the only way to stay in the tiny Turkmen village of Darvaza is to camp, spending the night under the stars in a tent and sleeping bag. Located in the middle of the Karakum Desert, this tiny settlement is famous for its ‘Door to Hell’, a natural field of gas that has burnt bright ever since it was lit by Soviet petroleum engineers in 1971. The crater is situated close to the village of Darvaza where you’ll be staying and has a diameter of 230 feet and drops about 70 feet into the earth below. Due to the incredible isolation of this attraction, as well as the nearby village, the best and only way to spend the night here is in tents. You will be supplied your own and helped to set up the campsite, as well as given a soft mattress and sleeping bag to ensure a comfortable - as well as memorable - stay.
Multi-Country Specialists
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Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
Dashoguz to Merv: 3 Days to Discover Turkmenistan
- Author
- Travelogues
It would be impossible to take in all the history, depth, and curiosities of Turkmenistan in just three days. Still, worth a shot.
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Knocking on Turkmenistan’s Door to Hell
- Author
- Jay Tindall
Jay Tindall takes his camera to the Turkmenistan desert for a look into the famed Darvaza gas crater, otherwise known as the Door to Hell, in the dead of night.
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Remote Lands’ Dozen Dream Destinations for 2015
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The new year is already upon us and so it's time for us to once again share our pick of what we think are Asia's hottest destinations for the coming 12 months.
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A Couple from California
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Couple from Nevada - Aman Private Jet Expedition, Spring 2017: Marcela Vanhara
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