For the tourists, all the interesting sights are located enclosing the periphery of the Kara-Kum Desert and in the historic relics such as Merv (Mary). Mary is located in east of Ashgabat and is the second city close to the relics of Merv. Merv, in olden days, was the second city of Islam but was reduced to debris by the Toloi, the son of Ghengis Khan, in 1221. Adding to this, attractions are also offered by Ashgabat, the capital that originally found in 1881 collapsed due to earthquake in 1948.

Turkmenistan Tourist Attractions

• Ashgabat
  This is the modern city and capital located on the southern edge of the Kara-Kum desert. The main new attraction here is the Arch of Neutrality that is a 75 m high structure crowned with a revolving 12 m gilded icon of the late President Niyazov. Next comes the turn of the superb white marble Palace of Turkmenbashi adorned with gold-mirrored glass and dome of Islamic-motif style. Do not miss visiting different museums including the fine-art museum, National Museum of Turkmenistan, and a small carpet museum on Ulitsa Kuragli (formerly Piervomaiskaya) exhibiting the largest handwoven rug in the world. Finally, do visit the Tolkuchka bazaar (Sunday market) that is an ideal shopping place for Turkmen carpets that are wrongly named Bukhara carpets in the West.

• Old Nisa
  Now in ruins, this was the capital of the Parthian kings from 3rd century B.C. to 3rd century A.D.
• Turkmenbashi Stud Farm
  Located at 10 km from the capital, you can spot pure-bred Akhal-Teke horses.
• Anau
  Originally an ancient city of 15th century located at 20 km from the capital, this modern town offers the mosque famous for its striking mosaic tiles and 8 m long dragons.
• Chuli
  This is famous mountain resort where climbing and trekking are undertaken. This resort is accessible by taxi or private car passing via a scenic gorge.
• Bakharden
  Located at a distance of 90 km west of Ashgabat, this region offers an underground mineral lake called Kov Ata in Turkmen meaning the father of lakes. It is famous for its hot springs that flow at a consistent temperature of 37°C. With a little entry fee, bathing can be done, but there is no accommodation here.
• Mary
  Located at the east of the capital, this is a huge industrial centre. This city provides to its visitors an appealing Regional Museum located close to the relics of the city of Merv, which was known as the ‘Queen of Cities’. Taking reasonable amount of your time, the ruins are vast enough spreading a huge land. Currently, view the brick-built mausoleums of the rulers and holy characters. One of the famous ones is the stunning Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar dating back to 1140. However, with time, climate, and attacks, these ruins have been further degraded.

• Dashgouz
  Accessible by a train journey of 500 km from the capital across the Kara-Kum desert, this is the largest city in the northern part of Turkmenistan. Within the city, there are only a handful of places to stay and eat; whereas, the sights of interest are in its outskirts. Do visit the relics of Konye-Urgench that is an old citadel town belonging to the 14th century, Kutlug Timur Minaret that is considered among the tallest Asian minarets at 67 m dating back to 1320s, and the Mausoleums of Sultan Tekesh, Turabeg Khanym, and Najm-ed-din Kubra.
• Turkmenbashi
  Originally known as Krasnovodsk, this city was named so to mark of respect of the late President Saparmurat Niyazov who was been entitled as ‘Turkmenbashi’ meaning the ‘leader of all the Turkmen’. Located to the west of Ashgabat Turkmenistan on the coast of the Caspian Sea, this city is the foundation of Russia erected for heading in the campaign to control Central Asia. Later, it formed the passenger terminal for the Trans-Caspian Railway. For visitors, the region offers a few holistic views from the mountains around the town, a few relaxing beaches, and swimming locations outside the town. Lastly, the Museum of Regional History and Natural History are worth visiting.
• The Silk Road
  This is an historic trading path utilized by the silk merchants since 2nd century A.D. that continued until the 14th century after which they faced a set back. The road is quite long such that is spreads from northern China to barren and isolated desert to the mountainous land and to the ports of the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea. Only parts of this road are inviting the tourists. In this country, the worth visiting attractions on this road include the lively Sunday Tolkuchka market in Ashgabat Turkmenistan famous for wares like traditional carpets, camels, and pistachio nuts and the ancient cities of Konye-Urgench and Merv. In addition, do also visit Kyz-Kala – a windowless fortress called locally ‘House of the Maiden Tears’, the Mohammed Ibn-Zeida mausoleum, and the Kugitang Nature Reserve offering many dinosaur footprints. Trekking along this road is tough as the climate is not that soothing, landscape is rocky, and infrastructure is not yet developed. Ease it with the help of an organized tour company or travel agent.
• Horse Riding
  The country houses a special breed of horse known as the Akhal-Teke having good speed and intellect. Considered as the national pride, there is an old Turkmen saying, ‘Get up in the morning, greet your father, and then see your horse.’ Some of the ideal places for this activity include outside Ashgabat Turkmenistan in the Firuza River’s gorges and to the native hot springs.

The Tajiks belong to an old group of the inhabitants coming from the Pamir Mountains who are believed to be the only genuine descendants of the Aryan cult. Due to its strong inaccessibility, the country has been safeguarded from many attacks and intruders. An exception to this is the discovery of the city by the Alexander the Great on the location of current Khojand known as the Alexandria Eskate meaning Alexandria the Furthest.

Tajikistan Tourist Attractions

• Dushanbe:
  This is the capital of the country located in the Hissar valley that is only three hours away from the Afghanistan border. The city is named after its famous Monday market where Monday in Tajik means Dushanbe. Prior to 1929 and introduction of the Trans-Caspian Railway, it was actually a village. All the places of attractions are nearby the Prospekt Rudaki that is near the railway station. It offers the main mosque, a synagogue belonging to the late 19th century, a Russian church, and a columned opera house. In addition, other interesting places are the Tajikistan Unified Museum exhibiting the snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep located north of the station at Ploshchad Aym and the ethnographic museum situated on Ulitsa Somoni.

• Hissar Port:
  Located at 16 km from Dushanbe, the port was erected somewhere between the 16th and 19th centuries that offers a fort, two Islamic seminaries (madrassahs), a caravanserai, and a mausoleum.
• Sogdian Fort:
  This is the ruined citadel situated at Penjikent on the Uzbek border and the area is currently under excavation. The worth visiting here are the frescoes that are superbly exceptional.
• Muragazor Lakes:
  This is a worth visiting place of seven lakes whose colors tend to alter with the changing light. To see so, head to the south of Penjikent.
• Buddhist Temples Remains:
  This is located near Kurgan-Tyube in the south. It is precisely at this place from where the biggest Buddha was found in Central Asia. This statue now can be seen in the capital that is now         sculpted into 60 pieces.
• The Pamir Mountains:
  Regarded as the heart of Asia and the Roof of the World, these mountains are still left to be discovered completely. Located at a great height, climate being cold, and location being remote; these are the real eye catchers for the climbers since years. Situated in the semi-autonomous region of Gorno-Badakhshan, you must know that a few entities are conducting an armed movement for more sovereignty.

• Khorog:
  This is the most vital town of tourist importance on the Pamir Highway that lies from Dushanbe until Kyrgyzstan. It is also the capital of the eastern Tajik region of Gorno-Badakhshan. Khorog is a miniature one-street town offering a museum full of animals along with an exhibition of Lenin’s photographs. The journey from the Tajik capital to this town is one of the toughest one on Earth.
• Lake Sareskoye:
  Located at the core of the Pamirs, do visit this stunning lake formed in 1911 due to dislodging of the mountain side that fell in the river path by an earthquake.
• Lake Kara-Kul:
  Situated in the north of the Pamirs, the significance of this lake is that it was formed 10 million years ago due to a meteor at a height of 3,915 m that makes it unsuitable for any aquatic life.
• Pik Lenina and Mount Garmo (formerly Pik Kommunizma):
  Situated at the west of Lake Kara-Kul over 7,000 m, these are the two peaks rising high over the country and the adjacent republic of Kyrgyzstan to the north. A popular belief holds here that the yetis still exist in this world and that they dwell in this remote area. If you wish to be at the pinnacle of these peaks, luckily helicopter flights are available.
• The Silk Road:
  This vast road expands from northern China passing via the lonely desert and mountainous landscape and reaching to the ports of the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea. The road is an old trading route through which the silk merchants used to pass right since the 2nd century until the 14th century. Now, only parts of this road welcome tourists. In Tajikistan, the key of interest on this road for visitors is its beautiful natural views against the Pamir and Fan mountains, rich valleys, and blue lakes. For trekking, tours are ideally set from Samarkand in Uzbekistan.
• Hiking:
  Do not forget to explore the mountains on foot. The tour operators arrange for the hiking tours in the southwest of Tajikistan and its enclosing mountains mostly in the summers. Beginning mostly in Moscow, these tours are usually scheduled for 14 days around the ancient Sogdian lakes such as Iskander-kul north of Dushanbe and Muragazor lakes that ends in Samarkand in Uzbekistan. In addition, a itinerary is also arranged to the mountain passes of the Kara-Tak at north of Dushanbe that includes 8 to 10 km walk per day with the luggage on donkeys’ back and accommodation in mountain villages.

• Skiing and Hunting:
  This is possible in the hills lying at the rear of the capital, Dushanbe.