Turkmenistan 7th June 2009
 

I'm still on the Turkmenistan stuff - lots of different stories going around about the border currently being closed and more specifically that transit visas are impossible to get hold of at the moment.
I have been advised by a number of people/companies that I should get the tourist visa (as mentioned elsewhere).
I know it's short notice, but if anyone wants to join me on a tour - the tour where I am taking the guide on Thelma with me to save costs and we are going via the burning gas craters in the desert. Get in touch as it is cheaper with more than one person.

I am planning to arrive at Turkmenabashi on 7th June on the ferry from Baku, and leaving Turkmenistan on 12th June, land border into Uzbekistan.

Cheers

Just spoke to the Turkmenistan Embassy in London.
The border is not closed as at time of typing this
Transit visas are available but must be obtained from one of their Embassies/Consulates- You can't turn up at the frontier and hope to get one-
There is a consulate in Ankara and another in Istanbul.

Tiff,
Contact a Turkmen consulate directly and ask them about a transit visa.
I faced similar visa noise when I was looking for a Turkmen visa April of 2006.

Until I hear or read from a traveller who's gotten recent information DIRECTLY from a consulate in Central Asia region(not Euro or North America), I wouldn't necessarily believe it.

An informative post
 

Embassy of Turkmenistan in Ankara, Turkey
Koza Sokak 28
Cankaya
06700 Ankara
Turkey
City: Ankara
Phone: +90 (312) 4416122/3/4, 4397445, 4417126
Fax: +90 (312) 4417125
Email: tmilcilik@superonline.com


Consulate General of Turkmenistan
Gazy Everenos Caddesi Baharistan Sokak 13
Yesilkoy
Istanbul
Turkey
City: Istanbul
Phone: (+90-212) 6620221/2/3
Fax: (+90-212) 6620224
Email: turkmencons@escortnet.com



Consulate General of Turkmenistan
Beydane Shahidan
Kucheye Konsulgari 34
Mashad
Iran
City: Mashad
Phone: (+98-51) 99940, 5847660
Fax: (+98-51) 99940, 5847660
Email: gcotm@iran-central.net