Many travelers heading to Central Asia want to include Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in their itinerary, which is a logical decision. The number of flights to Uzbekistan is much greater, and you can find very profitable options. And upon arrival, visit the legendary cities of the Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and then go to Turkmenistan, the most closed and mysterious country in the region.
There is no passenger rail service between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. You can get from one country to the other through one of the following land checkpoints:
| Checkpoint | Nearest large city | |
|---|---|---|
| From Uzbekistan | From Turkmenistan | |
| Farap | Bukhara | Turkmenabad |
| Khojeyli (Khuzheli) | Nukus | Kunya-Urgench (Koneurgench) |
| Shavat | Urgench, Khiva | Dashoguz |
Land checkpoints between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the map:
There is also no regular bus service between the countries, so you can get to the border from Uzbekistan by taxi/transfer or by private car. The cost of a taxi from Bukhara to the border is $15-20, if you order it through a special application (for example, Yandex Go). You can also order a transfer to the border through us to be sure of the quality and comfort of your trip.
On the Turkmen side, tourists are met at the border by a guide with a driver who helps with passport and customs control. This applies to both individual and group tours. The border crossing itself can take quite a long time, especially in the case of the Farap checkpoint, which has a “three-stage” structure: a sanitary control post, a passport and customs control post, and a final check. Minibuses run between the posts.
All travelers without exception traveling to Turkmenistan require a visa. More information about this can be found in the special material.
By car
It is possible to come to Turkmenistan by car. If you are traveling here as a tourist, you must indicate this when applying for a visa. The age and color of the vehicle matter: only new cars of white, silver or gold color are allowed in Ashgabat, and this even applies to the wheels and the grille under the radiator. Tinting is prohibited (they will require you to remove it at the border).
It is also worth keeping in mind that cars of mainly Japanese brands are common in Turkmenistan, especially Toyota. But the products of the European auto industry are very limited, and there may be problems with their repair due to the lack of spare parts. But the quality of the road surface in some places may be low. This point should be taken into account in the case of traveling in your own car.