Turkmenistan - Mary to Darvaza
 

Hi,

Just a quick one, I can't see a solution using GoogleMaps but perhaps some first hand experience will be able to answer.

Is there a route between Mary and Darvaza Crater without going back to Ashgabat?

Will be in a fairly capable 4x4 vehicle, so sandy tracks providing they aren't steep dunes are not an issue. Range on the fuel tank especially in sand is not much though.

Is there a route or only back to Ashgabat and North from there?

On my paper maps I see route P25 from Mary north to Kerpichli then only tracks to Muszechirla, Akmolla, Bevrideshik and Darvaza.
I think that from Kerpichli you have to go on gps and visible tracks.

Thank you for checking, don't suppose you have any idea of the quality of those tracks? Are we talking average 40kph or walking speed tracks.

I was in Darvaza last year but we reached crater from main road.
Some sandy sections, rest good route (I drive Toyota HZJ78 and Defender). I think it must be the same.
4x4 would be ok.