Exoticism, the gates of hell and ancient culture. One of the most inaccessible countries opens up to tourists

The authorities of one of the most closed countries in the world have decided to introduce significant facilities for travelers. The Turkmen parliament has passed regulations allowing foreigners to enter the country on the basis of an electronic visa, eliminating the previous requirement to have an invitation and go through complicated consular procedures. This news will certainly please tourists who dream of seeing live attractions such as the underground lake Kow-Ata, the ancient city of Merv or the famous Gates of Hell, located in the Karakum desert.

Turkmenistan, located in Central Asia, is considered one of the most closed and mysterious countries in the world. Although this country, shrouded in an aura of mysticism, is famous for its stunning landscapes and unique monuments, it is visited by only 10-15 thousand tourists per year. No wonder - complicated procedures effectively discourage travelers from choosing it as a holiday destination. People wishing to travel to the Republic of Turkmenistan must have a visa , which is issued by consulates on the basis of an invitation from a natural or legal person, certified by the local Migration Office.

This is set to change soon, however. The country's parliament has just passed legislation allowing foreigners to enter on the basis of an electronic visa , which eliminates the aforementioned requirement to have an invitation and go through multi-stage consular procedures. The new law is to significantly shorten the current formalities - they will come down to filling out a simple online form. The aim is to facilitate business travel and increase tourist traffic. At the moment, it is not clear when the said regulations will come into force.

This news will certainly please tourists who dream of seeing the biggest attractions of Turkmenistan live. These include the underground lake Kow-Ata, 65 meters deep, located in a cave near the town of Bäherden .

Bathing in the thermal waters of the lake is considered a health ritual - they are rich in minerals valuable to the human body, and the unique microclimate in the cave is conducive to calming down and regeneration. Visitors will also be impressed by the ruins of the ancient city of Merv and the village of Derweze located in the Karakum desert , where the so-called Hell's Gate is located - a crater with a diameter of 70 meters, which has been burning continuously for over 50 years.

The Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan/Photo: Unsplash Snowscat

Turkmenistan is undoubtedly a country of paradoxes. It is one and a half times larger than Poland, but has seven times fewer inhabitants . Although it has rich deposits of natural gas and oil , its citizens struggle with enormous poverty. Tourists should bear in mind that authoritarianism with elements of totalitarianism prevails there.

According to Human Rights Watch, the government there does not tolerate any political pluralism, and criticizing the government carries a high risk of ending up behind bars - both journalists and their families are persecuted here. According to the organization, Turkmenistan remains one of the most oppressive countries in the world, along with North Korea, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan.