April 13, 2021 · 1 min read
If you're planning for a group tour to Central Asia, then you should soberly consider Turkmenistan which is one of the 'Stans' located in Central Asia. It borders with Iran to the south and was part of the Persian empire. Historically, the region has been at the crossroad of civilization, and one of its cities, Merv, also covered in this tour, was one of the greatest cities in the Islamic world. In Turkmenistan Small group tour, you'll see different contrasting sides of two and more countries in single tour package.
Turkmenistan covers an area of 488,100 sq km which makes it slightly smaller than Spain. Majority of the country is dominated by three landforms: Karakum Desert, Turan Depression, and Kopet Dag mountain range. Kopet Dag which reaches to a height of 2,912 meters is the highest elevation of the country while Great Balkhan Range and Koytendag Range are the only other significant elevations. Turkmenistan borders with Caspian Sea which is entirely landlocked, forming the only shoreline the country possesses. Rivers that flow through it include Amu Darya, Murghab, and the Tejen.
Historically, the regions of the country were inhabited as early as 8th Century AD. Oghuz tribes who moved from Mongolia formed the ethnic base for the modern Turkmen population. Later it was the Mongols who took over the region, pushing the Oghuzs southward where they remained scattered. By the 16th Century, most of these tribal group came under the nominal control of two Uzbek Khanates: Khiva and Bukhoro.
Russians arrived in the region by late 19th century and annexed it to the Russian Empire. In 1924, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic was formed and Moscow controlled the political situations in the country. For the next half century, Turkmenistan played a designated economic role for the Soviet Union and contributed to its development. After spending almost 69 years under the Soviet rule, in 1991, the country declared independence as the Soviet Union ceased to exist.
A relatively young country, Turkmenistan still remains one of the world's most oppressive countries and virtually closed to independent scrutiny and international media. It has the sixth largest natural gas reserve in the world forming the backbone of its economy.
Visit the country of Uzbekistan and Turkemenistan in a single group tour package. See the magnificent monuments that flank the Silk Road route in Uzbekistan, and admire the ruins of ancient forts in Turkmenistan. Visit major cities like Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand in Uzbekistan, and Ashgabat, Mary, and Konye-Urgench in Turkmenistan.
Take a tour to three countries in a single tour package. The cultural heritage sites of Uzbekistan, archaeological sites of Turkmenistan, and mountainous landscapes and lakes of Tajikistan will make up for a complete Central Asia travel experience. This 16 day tour will take you through the best cities, towns, and tourist sites of all of the three countries.
