April to May is spring in Turkmenistan when it is warm to hot, with a little rain. Temperatures range from 15 to about 30 ºC (59-86 ºF) in the capital at this time, with about 10 mm of rainfall. These months, well before the peak of the searing summer heat, are is a fine time to visit Ashgabat, one of the world’s more unusual capitals, with its bizarre monuments and large golden statues erected by former president, Niyazov. As charming as it is, it is perhaps outside the capital that the nation is at its absolute best, a land of rolling desert, stunning canyons, and bazaars selling brilliant handmade carpets in ancient cities that once thronged with Silk Road merchants. One of the least visited countries in Central Asia, Turkmenistan is a joy to savor that is well and truly off the beaten track.