Turkmenistan

At a Glance

Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated countries in Central Asia, a vast flat desert state with the extraordinary crater of the Darvaza gas crater burning continuously in the Karakum Desert, ancient Silk Road cities like Merv and Nisa, and a capital in Ashgabat that is perhaps the most surreal city in the world, covered in white marble and golden statues. It is one of the strangest and most compelling places a curious traveller can visit, for those able to navigate the significant entry requirements.

• Has a burning natural gas crater called the 'Door to Hell' — lit in 1971 and never extinguished.
• One of the world's most isolated dictatorships — largely closed to independent journalists.
• Natural gas reserves so large that gas and electricity were free to citizens until 2019.