place
The Darvaza gas crater, often called the Door to Hell, is a burning pit in the middle of the Karakum desert. Seeing it glow after dark and sleeping under the desert sky is the most famous experience in Turkmenistan.
best time
April–May and September–October
highlights
In the middle of the Karakum desert, near the former village of Darvaza, a large crater has been burning for decades. The most common story is that it formed during Soviet gas exploration, when the ground collapsed and the gas was set on fire to burn it off. Accounts of exactly when and how differ, but the result is a wide pit with flames along its walls and floor.
By day it looks like a strange hole in the sand. After sunset, the glow can be seen from a distance, and standing at the edge, feeling the heat and hearing the roar, is a powerful experience.
In recent years, Turkmen officials have spoken about reducing the fire and using the gas, and visitors have reported that the flames are weaker than before. This may continue to change. Before including Darvaza in your program, we check the latest reports with our local partner, so that you know what to expect.
The road north from Ashgabat crosses the Karakum, one of the largest deserts in Central Asia. The last stretch to the crater leaves the tarmac and runs over sandy tracks, so the trip is done in 4x4 vehicles with experienced drivers.
Most groups arrive in the late afternoon, set up camp and watch the sunset. After dark, you walk to the edge of the crater. There are no barriers in many places, so follow your guide’s instructions and keep children close.
Dinner is usually cooked over an open fire. The night sky, far from city lights, is a highlight in its own right. In the morning, the crater looks different again in the soft light.
Two smaller craters in the area, one filled with water and one with mud, are sometimes visited on the way.
Darvaza needs one night. A typical plan leaves Ashgabat after lunch, spends the evening and night at the crater, and continues north the next morning towards Dashoguz and Kunya-Urgench, or returns to Ashgabat.
Spring and autumn are best. In summer, desert temperatures are extreme during the day, and in winter the nights are cold, though camping is still possible with proper gear. Sandstorms can occur at any time.
Darvaza can only be reached by road, and visits are organised by licensed Turkmen agencies as part of a guided program. Turkmenistan requires most visitors to obtain a tourist visa based on a letter of invitation, which takes time to arrange.
Information checked in October 2026; entry rules change, so confirm with our team or the official embassy website before you travel.
Darvaza sits between Ashgabat and northern Turkmenistan, which makes it a natural stop on the way between Ashgabat and Khiva in Uzbekistan via Kunya-Urgench, when that land crossing is open. It fits into a longer Silk Road route, as described in our five-country itinerary.
Warm layers for the night, a headlamp, closed shoes for walking on sand, sunscreen and sunglasses for the day, wet wipes and a small bag for personal items. Camping equipment is usually provided by the organiser, but ask what is included.
Send us your dates, nationality and route ideas. We check the current situation at the crater and the visa process, build the program with a licensed partner and send you a quote.
Updated: 2026-10
Reports in recent years say the authorities have been working to reduce the gas flow and that the fire has weakened. We check the current situation before every trip.
It lies roughly 250–270 kilometres north of Ashgabat, which takes several hours by road. The last part is off-road through the desert.
In a tent camp or a simple yurt camp near the crater, organised by your local agency. Facilities are basic.
It is possible but not ideal, because the crater is most impressive after dark. Most visitors stay overnight and continue the next morning.
Ashgabat is unlike any other city in Central Asia: white marble buildings, golden domes, huge monuments and quiet, spotless avenues. It is the starting point for trips to Darvaza, Merv and the Karakum desert.
Khiva's inner town sits entirely within mud-brick walls, with minarets, palaces and madrasas packed into a few hundred metres. It feels like a city frozen in time, and it is best seen slowly, at dawn and dusk.
Turkmenistan is the least visited country in Central Asia and one of the most unusual. Travel here is usually organised with a licensed local partner, and we plan it as a standalone trip or as part of a wider Silk Road route.
Visiting all five Central Asian countries in one journey is possible, but the route has to follow borders, seasons and visa logic rather than the map alone. This guide explains how we approach it.
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To: Global Destination
Where: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
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