Yes, especially to Westerners. Aside from location - there aren't many flights to Ashkabat from the West - the Turkmen government makes travel to Turkmenistan difficult with unusually stringent visa requirements. read more
Yes, especially to Westerners. Aside from location - there aren't many flights to Ashkabat from the West - the Turkmen government makes travel to Turkmenistan difficult with unusually stringent visa requirements. In addition, there are unusual difficulties exporting Turkmen carpets, which reduces the incentive of tourists to come to the country. read more
Turkmenistan is an authoritarian state. There is one political party. The press and other media are rigidly controlled. Criticizing the government will earn you a visit by the police at minimum, death by torture at worst. Dissent is not tolerated. By the standards of authoritarianism, Turkmenistan is extreme. read more
Turkmenistan (/ t ɜːr k ˈ m ɛ n ɪ s t æ n / ( listen) or / t ɜːr k m ɛ n ɪ ˈ s t ɑː n / ( listen); Turkmen: Türkmenistan, pronounced [tyɾkmeniˈθtɑn]), (formerly known as Turkmenia) is a sovereign state in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west. read more