Turkmenistan Travel and Destination Guide

A little-known former Soviet republic, Turkmenistan served as both an important stop on the Silk Road and a base for several of the most powerful empires of their day. Remnants of this past wealth can be seen in ancient sites like the walled city of Merv, where no less than five different cities have stood. Arid, energy-rich and undeveloped, Turkmenistan is dominated by the massive Karakum desert, a moonscape that covers most of the country. Here nomadic shepherds continue to eke out a living much as they have for centuries, (ever wanted to stay in a yurt?) and tourists are largely nonexistent.