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How to visit the Door to Hell in Turkmenistan

Camp out in the desert for Turkmenistan’s most famous sight, the Darwaza gas crater, aka “the Door to Hell”. Although blogs aimed at viral success have drenched the crater in flaming hyperbole, fact is, it’s still an amazing place to be.

At night, in an empty desert with only the stars for company, red light emanates from the ground in the distance, and a distant rumble presages the crater. Shooting flames and fireballs across its undeep hole, like a volcano, the crater must be viewed at night for full effect. In the morning, wake up to a desert sunrise.

The Turkmen government neglected the gas crater for a long time, wrongly thinking it gave the country a bad name, However, now it embraced the crater’s fame. As a first action, a fence has been put up.

Table of Contents

How to get there

Note : If you got here straight from BoredPanda or the Daily Mail and know absolutely nothing about Turkmenistan yet, check the visa section first before trying to book a flight.

Darwaza, the former village (it was razed in 2004) close to the crater, is located halfway between Ashgabat and Dashoguz, and fits nicely in a transit visa itinerary  between Iran and Uzbekistan. It’s a 3-hour drive from Ashgabat, and a 5-hour drive from Dashoguz.

If you are on a tour, things will obviously be neatly arranged for you; there is no need to read the rest of the article.

The standard itinerary taking in the Darwaza crater is the transit itinerary linked above. Another option is to loop around Turkmenistan as part of a tour of Uzbekistan, starting with Tashkent – Samarkand – Khiva, then crossing the border southward to Konye-Urgench – Darwaza – Ashgabat. From Ashgabat, you go back up to Merv – Turkmenabat – Bukhara – Tashkent . Really nice route that works well both in terms of variation and logistics for the folks with 2 weeks to spare.

True explorers with a decent budget can ask to cross the Karakum from east to west. A great adventure rarely taken.

You can check our tours to Turkmenistan or custom tours  if you would like to go on a tour. Backpackers beware, you need a minimum budget of 150$/day. If that’s too expensive:  Kyrgyzstan  has great options for budget travelers.

On a transit visa

If you are not on a tour and don’t have your own transport: buses and shared taxis are plentiful between Dashoguz and Ashgabat . Even though you are only going halfway, you will have to pay the full price for Dashoguz-Ashgabat. From Dashoguz, you can also charter a taxi to take in Konye-Urgench for a few dollars more.

All the way by taxi

If you are not on a budget, you can rent a taxi for the full trip Ashgabat – Konye-Urgench, with a nightly stopover in Darwaza. You can visit the crater overnight, while the taxi driver sleeps in his car or in a chaikhana.

Instructions:

• Go to the shared taxi stand
• Start bargaining!

Lowest price we have heard of is 25$ for the car for the whole trip. Make sure your driver understands you want him to drive you to the crater, not drop you off at the roadside 7 km off.

By bus or shared taxi

From ashgabat.

Buses leave from the shiny new Ashgabat International Bus Station in the north of the city. Two morning buses from Ashgabat pass Darwaza each day: 07:00 to Daşoguz and 08:00 to Konye-Urgench. Price is 20 manat to Darwaza and 45 manat to Konye-Urgench, buy tickets the day before at the station. The 08:00 bus arrives in Darwaza at 10:55. The bus stops for toilet/lunch/dropoff at a chaikhana (40°15’37.9”N 58°23’13.8E), a few kilometers north of the Ichoguz train station/crater vehicle turnoff.

In Ashgabat, bus 33 goes to the bus station, from the main avenue next to the Kuwwat Hotel.

If the bus is not a good option, take a shared taxi (150 manat 2,5 hr). From the bus station, bus 53 and 47 go to the shared taxi stand.

From Dashoguz

The Dashoguz bus station ( Gmaps ) has buses leaving daily at 7 and 8 AM. Not ideal as you would arrive really early at the crater. A shared taxi is better. Taxis gather just north of the bus station ( Gmaps ). Aim for 150 manat for a seat.

Trains between Ashgabat and Dashoguz stop in Darwaza; the station is called Ichoguz. This is a good way to avoid buying 2 bus tickets or hitchhiking on the way out, if the timing happens to work out for you. You will have to book a first ticket from Dashoguz or Ashgabat to Ichoguz (30 manat), and a second ticket from Ichoguz (45 manat).

Or, if you cannot buy a ticket, bribe the conductor and get on the train this way. Could turn out cheaper and people are always happy to make some money on the side.

Late afternoon is a good time to leave for Darwaza. Decide if you’d prefer to see the sun set or rise over the crater, or both, if you are a crater-fanatic. If you have your own transport, you can also choose to leave in the middle of the night to Darwaza and arrive early morning for the sunrise.

By car, motorbike, bicycle or hitchhiking

The road is decent, and it’s easy to get to Darwaza by car, motorbike or bicycle. GPS coordinates are to be found below. Putting your bicycle on the train is possible.

Hitchhiking is always an option in Turkmenistan. It’s nice if you can offer a little thank-you present (cigarettes always work).

Where to stay

Darwaza is really small nowadays, so you should have no trouble finding any of the following.

Option A: There are a bunch of chaikhanas in Darvaza you can stay at for a painful 10$. They don’t have proper bedding and only provide a thin mattress and no blanket. In winter, it gets cold, and there may or may not be heating. Most popular option, although not the best in our opinion.

Option B: 2 small yurts at 150 meters from the crater. They can also set up a tent for you and even fry you up some shashlik. Count around 10$.

Option C: Camping with your own gear. Some people stay near the crater, others sleep at the train station parking. If you are on a tour, you will also camp near the crater, or perhaps just come early in the morning. Tour company camping gear is comfortable and warm.

From Darwaza to the crater

• GPS location of the Door to Hell:  40.252611 , 58.439389
• GPS location of the start of the trail: 40.194647, 58.413660

It’s about 7 km from Darwaza to the crater. You can drive there yourself if you have a car (2WD works) or off-road motorbike (heavy road bikes will get stuck).

If you don’t, you can catch a ride from the start of the trail to the crater, about 1km from the train station; drivers assemble there from around 5pm. Prices start from 50$ for a car and 10$ on the back of a motorcycle. Bargain. Arrange a pick-up time for the ride back from the Door to Hell, and only pay when you have been dropped off back on the road.

If you decide to walk, understand that in summer, it’s really hot as long as the sun is out, and that hiking in sand dunes is tough. Count 2 hours for the journey, and take plenty of water. An early-morning hike before the sun rises will be easiest on your body. Also, note the location of Darwaza on your phone or compass; it’s easy to get disoriented in the wide-open space of the Karakum desert. In winter, the sand dunes are frozen and you can do it in 1,5 hours. Expect low temperatures.

Getting out and food

Shared taxis and buses heading for Ashgabat and Dashoguz will mostly be full when passing by Darwaza, leaving passing trucks as the most likely option to take you along. They are slow, will stop somewhere at the outskirts of the city, and might still ask for a bit more money than it’s worth to take you along.

There may or may not be food and water available in Darwaza. Be self-sufficient.

If all of the above sounds like too much hassle, or if you want to visit the Door to Hell as part of a larger tour around Turkmenistan (or Central Asia), see our tours to Turkmenistan or custom tours to check out options for a more comfortable, organized trip.

Updates and questions are welcomed in this forum thread .

Why don’t they extinguish the fire?

It seems that the Darvaza gas crater was intentionally ignited in order to neutralize the effects of releasing poisonous raw methane into the atmosphere after a drilling rig accident.

Putting out the fire would be a colossal feat and keeping it out would require the entire site be cooled below flash point. Then the 230 ft diameter, 60 foot deep crater would have to be sealed and finally “capped”. (Assuming the gas flow would not simply find another route to the surface.) –

If you manage to extinguish the fire, a hot ember will reignite the new gas as it is replenished. Ultimately to stop a fire you need to remove the fuel, remove the oxidizer or remove the ignition (by cooling it below the ignition point).

Oxygen is too omnipresent to deny, the large hole and continuous gas emission is probably impossible to stop. And quenching the flame is out of the question, no amount of water could put it out. And even if you did extinquish it the gas would still escape and likely be reignited by a spark or lightning or other natural event. It will accumulate and drift until it finds a car or anything else to ignite it.

About the only thing to be done would be to drill a relief well from the side and intersect the original bore hole and cement the hole closed.  That should cut off the fuel. Or perhaps the source of gas is pockets closer to the surface where it just seeps out in which case it would be impossible to plug in the conventional sense.

In the Turkmenistan case, there’s not enough impetus to spend the money apparently as the burning gas creates CO2 and while damaging the earth’s atmosphere with greenhouse gases is not otherwise urgently disruptive and apparently not enough the concern of the country’s government to do something about it as of yet. via Dan Smith  and Loring Chien

Is it possible to harness the energy of the Door to Hell?

Not content with the enormous gas well production (and current oversupply) all over the world, you propose to drain the one really interesting naturally occurring gas source for a microscopic droplet more. Go figure.

Is it possible? Yes, an engineer could design some amazingly expensive system to gather the energy. Is it worth it? Absolutely not unless crude oil goes to a 1000$ a barrel. – via Steve Blumenkranz and John White .

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How To Visit The Gates of Hell / Darvaza Gas Crater In Turkmenistan.

By Author Christian L.

Posted on Published: March 20, 2020  - Last updated: December 22, 2021

Categories Destinations , Central Asia , Popular Posts , Turkmenistan

Darvaza Gas Crater is better known as the Gates of Hell. Some people call it the Door To Hell, and it is one of the most remarkable natural wonders in Turkmenistan .

The Gates of Hell are famous throughout Central Asia and the rest of the world as a one-of-a-kind place. It also makes for a once-in-a-lifetime camping spot. Furthermore, it is a place that will eventually disappear in the future – so you better visit it soon!

The Karakum Desert, which covers about 70% (350,000 km²) of the area of Turkmenistan , is the home to the strange human-made natural sit. Rainfall in the Karakum desert is rare, with only 70 to 150 mm rain per year. With my luck, I did get about half of the annual rain during my visit. Note: Turkmenistan is also home to some of the world´s most bizarre and strange rules.

The Gate to Hell: A Modern-day “Accident”

The Gate of hell Turkmenistan was created by mistake in 1971 when a Soviet drilling rig accidentally punched into a massive underground natural gas cavern. This caused the ground to collapse and the entire drilling rig to fall in. You can still see the old metal pipes sticking out of the ground in the crater.

After the crater was created, Geologists intentionally set it on fire to prevent the spread of methane gas . This was leaking from the hole, and it was the only way to stop a potential environmental catastrophe. Geologists thought the crater would only burn for a few weeks; it has now been burning non-stop since 1971.

Almost 50 years on, and geologists still have no idea how much longer it will burn for. It might die out tomorrow, or it might burn for another 100 years; nobody knows.

The Gateway to Hell Creates Tourism Shame 

The Turkmenistan government thought for a long time that Darvaza Gas Crater gave the country a bad name and reputation abroad. Because of this, there had been serious talks about closing the crater completely.

Coincidentally, The Gates To Hell is now the most famous tourist site in all of Turkmenistan and the most common reason foreign tourists want to visit Turkmenistan .

To help campers who visit the area, a few traditional yurts have been built. There are also flushable western-style toilets.

Strangely enough, you will never see advertisements in Turkmenistan promoting Darvaza Gas Crater tourism. Not even the tours offered from my hotel in Ashgabat had any information about the Gates of Hell. Instead, the Turkmenistan travel industry tries to promote the UNESCO historical sites of Marv, Nisa, and Kunya Urgench.

These historical sites were put on display on big billboards inside every hotel I stayed in during my visit to the country. And yet, the biggest attraction for foreign tourism, the Gate To Hell in Turkmenistan, was nowhere to be seen.

What is the Site Like Today?

Just before arriving at the crater, you will notice there is a new gas pumping station which was put up in 2010 after President Berdimuhamedow’s visit to the crater. This limits the crater’s gas and uses of the natural gas fields in the area.

The diameter of the crater is 69 meters (226 ft), and its depth is 30 meters (98 ft), but the edge around the crater is crumbling.

When Will The Door To Hell Stop Burning?

One of the most frequently asked questions is, “When will the Darvaza Gas Crater stop burning?”. Although so many people want to know, it’s still one of life’s great mysteries. It could still burn for another 100 years, according to leading Geologists around the world – or it could stop tomorrow. 

This fact is what makes The Gates of Hell so alluring. It’s a destination that could disappear within our lifetimes; what more reason do you need to visit?

The World’s Biggest Outdoor Barbeque

The crater will impress from the first second you arrive, even during the daytime with the hot sun blazing. But it is only when the sun goes down and it’s pitch dark that the crater really deserves its famous name. The door to hell Turkmenistan lights up the place, and it can be seen from miles around.

 How to Visit the Turkmenistan Gates of Hell 

Darvaza Gas Crater is located about 270km/167miles north of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan , and 335km (208 miles) south of Dashoguz, the biggest city in the north.

It is the last city before going to neighboring Uzbekistan, where the first obvious place to visit is Khiva .

There is no direct transport directly to The Gates of Hell. It’s important to note that all buses heading north from Ashgabat to Dashoguz (and back south) drives past Darvaza village. This is where you will have to get off your bus heading for Dashoguz (if you’re traveling from Ashgabat). You must do the same if you’re traveling from Dashoguz to Ashgabat.

Darvaza village is where you will have to turn off the highway and continue for another 7km (14 miles) to the crater. Be prepared as the road is muddy and dirty. It is possible to walk the last bit, but it´s a long, hot, and unpleasant walk. So, it´s strongly recommended to get a taxi from Darvaza Village.

If you would like to tour the Darvaza Gas Crater without worrying about all the planning involved, then I would recommend a guided tour.

How To Reach Darvaza Crater With Public Transport

From Ashgabat, There are two buses a day that run from the new Ashgabat International Bus Station. It is located in the north of the city. 

The buses head north, the first one leaving at 7 AM at the cost of 20 Manat to Dashoguz. The other bus leaves at 8 AM and costs 45 Manat to Konye-Urgench. This is one of the most famous historical sites located there.

The drive from Ashgabat to Dashoguz should take 3 and a half hours. A shared taxi from Ashgabat to Dshoguz costs around 150 Manat. Please note that you will have to pay the full fare even if you only want to go halfway.

A recommended travel company to use in Turkmenistan is the local company Travel Notoria .

The Dashoguz bus station has buses leaving daily at 7 and 8 AM for Ashgabat. 

Hitchhiking is a popular form of transportation in Turkmenistan. Just be aware that cars can be far between. I counted 11 cars on my drive from Ashgabat to the crater.

Where To Stay at The Gates of Hell.

There is no guesthouse or hotel at the premises of the crater. Instead, there are six different groups of yurts located to the south of the crater, about 200 meters away. All yurts are owned by various local Turkmenistan travel agencies and locked up when they are not around.

Luckily, the western toilets are open and available for the use of public campers. You are free to pitch your tent wherever you want in the area. But be aware that strong winds are not uncommon in the area, so choose a place with good protection.

While Darvaza village is tiny, there are a few very basic homestays options available there for around $10 USD per night. You can arrange for the locals that you stay with to drop you off at the crater and pick you up later. This should cost you around $50.

Final Thoughts on the Darvaza Gas Crater / The Gates Of Hell, Turkmenistan

So, while you still have the chance to peer into the gates of hell, you should head out and tour them as soon as possible. A sight like this one only comes along once in a lifetime, and you will definitely not be disappointed.

Have you ever been to the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan? Leave some comments and let us know your experience.

Sunday 27th of October 2019

I’d love to go there with a big bag of marshmallows.

Christian L.

Don't we all?

Monday 30th of September 2019

I was in Turkmenistan in July with the travel agency Trawelco for 5 days and visited the Door to Hell and it was a wonder with the big burning crater. There were toilets as around but I think they belong to a travel agency. Not all the agencies have toilets around.

The Gates Of Hell: Turkmenistan's Gas Crater Burning For 48 Years –

Wednesday 28th of August 2019

[…] If you are adventurous, a fun-seeker or a wild camper, you can try and have a trip of a lifetime to The Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan. You can follow Unusual Traveler’s guide here […]

Short Budget Tour of Turkmenistan - ORPHANED NATION

Sunday 18th of August 2019

[…] you are sure to have at least seen pictures of the famous Gates of Hell. More commonly known as the Darvaza Gas Crater, this pit of fire can be found out in the bosom of the Karakom […]

Sunday 23rd of June 2019

I was there in July 2018, and the railing around the crater was already there, but they hadn't yet put in the toilets. I would have liked that. ;)

I'll update the post then, my guide said September, the toilet was a nice upgrade :)

The Quest to Extinguish the Flames of Turkmenistan’s Terrifying ‘Gates of Hell’ Firepit

The country’s president says it’s time to quash the ongoing 50-year blaze at the 230-foot-wide Darvaza gas crater

Jane Recker

Daily Correspondent

For more than five decades, a massive pit of fire has been burning in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert , and the country’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov wants to put an end to it, says Brandon Specktor for Live Science . On January 8, the leader appeared on a state-run TV channel, urging officials to “find a solution to extinguish the fire” of the large burning crater known as the “ Gates of Hell. ”

"We are losing valuable natural resources for which we could get significant profits and use them for improving the well-being of our people," says Berdymukhamedov during the program, per the Agence France-Presse (AFP).

It’s unclear whether a viable solution currently exists. Explorer George Kourounis , the first man to descend to the bottom of the pit in November 2013, tells Sarah Durn of Atlas Obscura that even seemingly logical fixes might prove futile.

“As I was digging into the ground [at the bottom of the crater] to gather these soil samples, fire would start coming out of the hole I just freshly dug because it was creating new paths for the gas to come out of the crater,” Kourounis says. “So even if you were to extinguish the fire and cover it up, there’s a chance that the gas could still find its way out to the surface and all it would take is one spark to light it up again.”

Per Live Science , efforts to curb the 230-foot-wide, 65-foot-deep inferno, known as the Darvaza Gas Crater, have been ongoing since it first ignited in 1971. But Atlas Obscura reports that the origins of the fire are unclear. Popular lore claims the crater formed in 1971 following a Soviet natural gas accident when a drilling rig collapsed into the desert. The Soviets lit the collapsed area on fire to burn off the methane, assuming the blaze would only last a day or two. Local geologists, however, have argued the crater was formed in the late 1960s and didn’t ignite until the 1980s.

Part of the mystery surrounding the pit’s origins is aided by Turkmenistan’s seclusion from the rest of the world. Considered the second-most isolated country (behind North Korea), Turkmenistan welcomes less than 10,000 tourists a year, says Marek Grzegorczyk for Emerging Europe. Berdymukhamedov’s eccentric behavior is one of the few things known about the country. He’s rapped about his horse , lifted a golden barbell in front of his cabinet, ordered construction of a giant golden statue of a Turkmen shepherd dog and performed doughnuts in his rally car in front of the Gates of Hell to dispel rumors about his death.

Though Berdymukhamedov says part of his reasoning for closing the pit comes from concern for the safety of nearby citizens, Gianluca Pardelli , the founder of Soviet Tours, tells Atlas Obscura that he’s skeptical about the president’s altruistic claims. “There is no one nearby,” he says, claiming he believes Berdymukhamedov ordered the closest town razed to the ground because it appeared impoverished.

Lilit Marcus for CNN reports that Turkmenistan officials believe there are good environmental reasons for the closure, stating that it’s a waste of natural resources; that the crater leaks methane gas, which is damaging to the atmosphere; and that the gas has negative health effects for nearby residents.

Previous efforts to quell the fire have failed. Per the AFP, the last attempt occurred in 2010, when Berdymukhamedov asked experts unsuccessfully to find a way to extinguish the flames.

Gates of Hell is undeniably leaking valuable and environmentally harmful methane into the atmosphere. The crater is “a polluting environment,” Stefan Green , a microbiologist, who accompanied Kourounis in 2013, tells Atlas Obscura .

Turkmenistan sits atop one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, and the resource is one of the country’s primary sources of revenue. Though it’s unclear how much methane is under the pit or whether drilling underneath it would even be possible, the fire’s longevity suggests the area could be a gold mine . The country currently holds the world’s fourth-largest known reserve of natural gas.

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Jane Recker | | READ MORE

Jane Recker has written for  Washingtonian Magazine  and the Chicago Sun-Times . She is a graduate of Northwestern University and holds degrees in journalism and opera. 

Premium Content

This 'Gate to Hell' has burned for decades. Will we ever shut it?

The flaming phenomenon in the Central Asian desert is both an industrial accident and a tourist attraction. Is it worth the risk to turn it off?

Ten years ago, National Geographic Explorer George Kourounis climbed into the Gate to Hell . The 230-foot-wide, 100-foot-deep pit in north-central Turkmenistan is formally known as the Darvaza Crater (and named after a nearby village), but its nickname describes the phenomenon better: a methane-belching hole ignited decades ago in a remote stretch of the Karakum Desert that’s been burning ever since.

In 2013, Kourounis would be the first person ever to climb inside the flaming crater. After two years of planning, he had only 17 minutes to obtain gas readings and soil samples before being hoisted out again. “That 17 minutes is etched pretty deep into my brain,” he recalls. “It was so much scarier, so much hotter and bigger than I thought.”

That expedition raised awareness of the Darvaza Crater around the world, and widely shared images of the flamboyant conflagration, along with the apocryphal tales of its genesis, have made it a huge draw for tourists to the secretive former Soviet republic in Central Asia. But the country’s authoritarian regime has a more mixed relationship with the crater: Every now and then, it declares that it will snuff out the methane-fueled fires once and for all before deciding, yet again, to leave the Gate to Hell alone.

With vast caches of oil and gas, Turkmenistan is home to myriad industrial zones where methane—a potent greenhouse gas—seeps into the atmosphere. Earlier this summer, the American and Turkmen governments discussed ways in which they could cooperate to permanently seal these sites— perhaps including Darvaza Crater .

But quenching the flames is no trivial task, and anyone hoping to explore that option must first answer three key questions: How did Darvaza Crater come to be? What’s the best way to go about turning it off? And is it even a good idea to try and shut the Gate to Hell?

“It can go wrong,” warns Guillermo Rein , a fire scientist at Imperial College London. “I do worry about the risk of an explosion.”

For Hungry Minds

Soviet shenanigans.

Despite its infernal appearance, Darvaza Crater is not inherently bizarre. Also called the “Light of Karakum” in Turkmen, it sits atop the Amu-Darya Basin, a geologic formation packed with an unfathomable amount of oil and natural gas—which is predominantly methane. Lots of that methane escapes through the earth’s crust; if it ignites it will burn until either the fuel, the heat source, or the oxygen-rich air is removed.

“We shouldn’t be surprised it exists,” says Mark Ireland , an energy geoscientist at Newcastle University.

Usually, this region’s methane is either harnessed by the petroleum industry, or it leaks out, often unnoticed, above ground, or under water. That Darvaza Crater has been burning, unattended, for decades, is peculiar—and it’s almost certain that it began as a Cold War-era industrial accident.

Nobody knows which origin story is most likely, but several tales have similar plot elements: Sometime between the 1960s and 1980s, Soviet engineers—possibly petroleum prospectors—were drilling in the area when the earth crumbled beneath them, opening a geologic wound that would unleash a methane maelstrom.

Perhaps the engineers lit the methane gas, hoping it would quickly burn away. Maybe someone threw in a cigarette and accidentally set the fires going. Either way, it ignited a seemingly unyielding pyre that emit an array of noxious pollutants—but with the nearest village razed in 2004 , there are no locals to bother.

The Gate to Hell also generates visitor revenue for a country that’s mostly closed to outsiders. “It’s marketing. It has become [Turkmenistan’s] number one tourist attraction,” says Kourounis.

Methane madness

Darvaza Crater also has an oddly mythic status within Turkmenistan thanks to its former ruler Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. “There was a period where people thought he had died,” recalls Kourounis. “And he proved he was still alive by taking a rally car out to Darvaza and doing donuts around it .”

But in January 2022, shortly before he stepped down and handed power to his son, the ex-premier said that the fires of the Gate to Hell should be extinguished and the methane it emits put to practical use.

There is some merit to this idea. Methane is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas; unlike carbon dioxide, which persists for centuries, it disappears from earth’s atmosphere in just a few years—but methane also traps considerably more heat , which raises concerns about its ability to cause short, sharp shocks to the climate.

Various international agreements, such as the Global Methane Pledge , aim to reduce methane emissions from both human-generated sources while hoping to stem the natural release of methane from wetlands and thawing permafrost.

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Turkmenistan happens to be one of the world’s most prolific methane emitters . This ignominious honor stems from its Soviet days, where relentless and reckless fossil fuel extraction practices created a multitude of leaky wells, pipelines, and other industrial sites—including Darvaza Crater. These issues were inherited and left unresolved when the country gained its independence in 1991, and many of its wells, both in-use and abandoned, still leak today.

“There’s all manner of chaos going on there,” says Euan Nisbet , a climate scientist at Royal Holloway, University of London. But compared to Turkmenistan’s many methane leaks, Darvaza’s is essentially insignificant.

“It’s bad that they have a leak of methane,” says Rein. “But it’s good that it’s burning.” The fires turn most of that methane into carbon dioxide and water vapor—greenhouse gases, yes, but far less potent ones. In its current form, Darvaza Crater is not really a methane source.

The eye-catching fires of the Gate to Hell, however, “grab the attention of the media, of governments,” says Kourounis. That includes the Turkmen regime, who may sometimes view it as an embarrassing symbol of the country’s emissions issues.

Closing the Gate to Hell

Killing the Darvaza Crater requires two things: putting out the fires, then stopping the gas from seeping out of the earth.

The first step is considerably easier than the second: one could, for example, spray quick-dry cement into the crater, removing the oxygen-rich air that fuels the fires. But geoscientist Ireland would be wary of saying “Just put a lid on it,” noting that the methane will simply find other routes to the surface, adding another leaking methane source to the country’s woeful tally.

That means that the only way to properly suffocate the Gate to Hell is by smothering the leak at its methane source. “I don’t think anyone has any good idea of how to do this,” says Kourounis.

The key is knowing what’s under Darvaza Crater, says Rein, who suggests calling in petroleum industry experts to locate the subsurface fissure that’s emitting the gas.

Then, concrete could potentially be pumped into the rupture via subterranean pipes. “With oil and gas technology, it is possible to plug the duct if they know what it is,” says Rein. If they don’t do this exploratory work, however, “there is zero hope that they will do anything useful,” Rein concludes, adding that if the prospecting isn’t done with the utmost care, a rogue spark or drilling accident could trigger a lethal blast.

Mark Tingay , a petroleum geomechanics expert at the University of Adelaide, isn’t sure how you would seal an underground rupture like this even if engineers could locate it. “There isn’t really any way to drill down and block it,” he says. Industrial leaks can be complex to fix, Tingay notes, but geologic ones are considerably more chaotic and filled with uncertainty.

Paradoxically, there is a remote possibility that a large explosive device could be used to seal off the methane. This method has been used to snuff out industrial well fires: a bomb, delivered by borehole, explodes close to the methane’s source, removing the oxygen (and thus stopping the fire) while simultaneously collapsing the rupture that’s releasing the methane.

It isn’t clear how this would work with Darvaza Crater, and it’s likely you’ll need a very large bomb. Soviet engineers actually used nuclear warheads several times to seal off underground fires —the last time in 1981.

Fortunately, this approach is unlikely to find support in today’s world. And it may not even work at Darvaza Crater. Not only would “that would be the dumbest idea ever,” says Kourounis, but he suspects the gas would still seep out elsewhere.

Experts seem to agree: any attempt to close the Gate to Hell be very troublesome, quite dangerous, expensive, and arguably fruitless. With all that in mind, perhaps the best option is to do nothing at all.

“I have officially recommended to the government of Turkmenistan to just let it burn,” Kourounis says. But as the mercurial regime changes its opinion on Darvaza Crater so frequently, the future of these fires remains up in the air. “Who knows what’s going to happen?”

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The Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan: The Hottest Camping Spot Has Re-Opened

Do you seek the unusual, the extraordinary, the places few have ventured? You’re in the right place! As experts in unique destinations, we thrive on unearthing travel experiences that break the mold. Today, we delve into the fiery heart of Turkmenistan to unravel the enigma of the Gates of Hell. Open for tourism in 2023 , it’s time to add this intriguing site to your must-visit list.

Key questions about the Gates of Hell – Turkmenistan

Nestled in the arid plains of Turkmenistan, the Darvaza Crater, or as it is ominously known, the “Gates of Hell,” is a fascinating spectacle that continues to enthrall globetrotters. This 230-foot wide crater has been ceaselessly burning for nearly half a century, and the source of its eternal flame is what makes it a peculiar site for exploration.

The Gates of Hell is situated near the village of Deweze in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert. Its flaming craters, intense heat, and remote location offer an unparalleled travel experience, taking you to the very edge of the world as you know it.

Yes, the Gates of Hell is still burning in 2023, and it is this unrelenting inferno that continues to mesmerize tourists and locals alike. The fiery glow against the stark desert backdrop creates an otherworldly spectacle, one that is sure to leave an indelible imprint on your memory.

Surprisingly, there have been multiple attempts to extinguish this mammoth fire pit. The most notable being the initial act that gave birth to this fiery pit. In 1971, Soviet geologists accidentally punctured a massive underground natural gas cavern. To prevent the spread of methane gas, the geologists decided to set it on fire, expecting it to burn out within weeks. Instead, it’s been burning for more than 50 years now, earning its infernal nickname.

The Gates of Hell is undoubtedly one of the most bizarre campsites on the planet. Imagine spending a night under the stars with a massive burning pit illuminating the night sky. The radiant glow of the fiery pit, the eerie silence of the desert, and the star-studded night sky come together to create a camping experience like no other.

If you’re in search of an extraordinary travel experience, look no further. The Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan offers the perfect blend of mystery, adventure, and the pure thrill of venturing into the unknown. Make 2023 the year you visit this remarkable site.

“Door to Hell”

The Gates of Hell, in all its fiery glory, has earned its fair share of quirks and tales. For one, the local Turkmen refer to it as “Door to Hell.” It’s even said that the intense glow of the Gates can be seen from miles away, making it an unintended beacon in the otherwise desolate desert landscape.

Turkmenistan is open!

Turkmenistan is open for tourism in 2023, and the Gates of Hell awaits. Embark on an extraordinary journey to one of the most unique destinations on the planet. Ready for an adventure? Book your group or independent trip with us today!

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Visiting the Gates of Hell – Darvaza Crater: Turkmenistan Guide

Many people have had to wait three long years for the reopening of Turkmenistan and to tick off its most iconic destination – Darvaza Crater, famously known as the Gates of Hell . Then others grew up listening to Marco Polo’s stories or playing tag in the swimming pool where one shuts their eyes and yell “Marco”, while others with eyes wide open try to be avoided and must say “Polo”. Some of us curious kids learnt from a young age through a small game about a renowned traveller and set our sights on crossing a similar path one day.

What is the Darvaza Crater?

A quick Google search on Darvaza is enough to mesmerise many of us, a blazing inferno in a land few even know about; not only is it surrounded by mystery but beautiful enough to wow, so too is its history. 

The short story goes – Turkmenistan was once a part of the Soviet Union, and in 1971 when looking for liquid gold, aka oil, they hit a pocket of natural gas resulting in the collapse. Or so they say, details can be somewhat sketchy. The Soviets weren’t entirely concerned. They believed it would go out in a few days, at most weeks, but it still spews fire four decades later. No one knows how long it will continue to burn, and there are often rumours that the government will finally end , bringing its existence in an otherwise barren landscape to an end. Again, these are just rumours but both essential points to consider travelling sooner rather than later. 

The extraordinary crater is a breathtaking site, and it is no wonder that roughly 6,000 people a year made the journey prior to the pandemic. Although relative to almost every other tourist attraction on Earth, the numbers are tiny. 

So despite its ominous name, the Darvaza Crater has become a symbol of Turkmenistan’s unique natural wonders and continues to attract adventurers and curious travelers from around the world.

What is it like witnessing the Darvaza Crater?

The Darvaza crater, better known as the “Gates of Hell”, tickles all your senses; it is one of those places you must see to believe. Whilst beautiful during the day and as the sun sets, the glow it projects in the pitch-black Karakum desert is show-stopping. At 60 metres in diameter and 20 metres in depth, it is like no place on Earth.

It is not just about seeing the flames—it’s a multi-sensory experience. You can hear the crackling of the flames, smell the faint scent of burning gas, and feel the heat on your skin, immersing you in the dramatic spectacle of the crater. Despite its association with fire and destruction, there’s a strange beauty to the Darvaza Crater.

Is Darvaza Crater safe?

A hole spewing fire in the desert does require caution; falling in would not be pretty. In an attempt to keep people safe, the Turkmenistan government built a fence around the crater, although it is clear it has seen better days as tourists eagerly to see the hole in all its glory have destroyed parts of it. Even once up close, you need to be mindful of the heat; the hot air packs a mighty punch, and your eyes – let’s say, temporary blindness.

Another point to consider safety-wise is what you don’t see: the gas causing the flames. Whilst the methane itself is not regarded as dangerous, its ability to displace oxygen inevitably means there is less available, which can have adverse effects such as breathing, dizziness, etc. That’s why it is essential not to get too close; listen to your body and use common sense!

Overall, the Darvaza Crater is generally considered safe to visit, although it’s essential to be cautious around the crater’s edge, especially at night when visibility may be limited. The ground around the crater can be uneven, so watch your step to avoid accidents. Our YPT guide and local staff will also be there with a watchful eye, ensuring safety protocols are in place.

Staying in Darvaza

Staying in yurts near Darvaza, Turkmenistan offers a unique and immersive experience in the heart of the Karakum Desert. On our tours, we stay in Darvaza to soak it in all its glory – sunrise, sunset, the crater’s glow in the desert’s emptiness. We set up camp about 1.5km from the hole and stay in traditional-style yurts. It allows the opportunity to see the primary kind of homes people have stayed in for thousands of years in central Asia. There is little surprise when you stay in one how they have stood the test of time – a sturdy, reliable way to be protected from the environment. The yurts looking out to the glow of Darvaza are amongst the best yurt experiences!

So not only when staying in the yurt do you get a genuine glimpse into the region’s nomadic heritage, you get comfort with modern adaptations such as beds, linens, and sometimes even basic electricity.

Preparing for Darvaza

The good news is if you join a YPT tour, we prepare everything for you – permits, blankets, bedding, and even a BBQ dinner. Don’t worry, vegetarians, we have you covered, but here are some tips that may help you along the way!

Clothing : Pack appropriate clothing for the desert environment. Light, breathable clothing is recommended to cope with the daytime heat, while warm layers are necessary for the cooler nights. Remember to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for sun protection.

Photography : Bring a camera or smartphone to capture the incredible scenery! If you want to get some of the best photos ever, this is your chance. A flash goes a long way, as well! But with that, bring enough memory cards and batteries to last throughout your visit.

Before your tour, we will send out a packing list explicitly catered to when you visit in case of any seasonal changes!

Eating and Drinking at the Crater

For the most authentic experience by the crater, we offer traditional Turkmen cuisine. This includes dishes such as plov (rice pilaf with meat and vegetables), kebabs (grilled meat skewers), shurpa (meat and vegetable soup), and various bread varieties like flatbread or naan. For the ambitious, you can even take a class and put on your chef hat. The group will be thankful!

Fear not, vegetarians. While Turkmen cuisine is meat-heavy, we can accommodate vegetarian preferences upon request. We can offer vegetable-based dishes, salads, and other meat-free options.

Visit the Gates of Hell on tour

Each of us had our reason to be there; for some, a pilgrimage to complete a dream; for others, to see it in all of its glory and for a few of us, it was much more profound. On our recent summer tour, we all took a minute of silence around it to be thankful for our lives, our privileges and the opportunity to put ourselves in the way of something so beautiful. Some even walked around it, promising when they completed their entire trip around, they would go on to do whatever they sought. 

That is the thing about being there; it feels magical; for my account, being there made me feel like all the things I did, even wrong, led me here, and I felt tremendously grateful for the privilege. That night I moved my bed outside to view it from the outdoors; it was perhaps the most incredible sleep of my life. 

Honestly, the Darvaza Gas Crater offers a one-of-a-kind travel experience that combines adventure, natural wonder, cultural immersion, and environmental curiosity, making it a compelling destination for a wide range of travelers. It is no surprise it is a bucket-list item for so many travellers.

If you want a sign to take the leap and visit this place, this is it. 

Don’t miss out on your tour with us to the Gates of Hell – Darvaza Crater

About post author.

Paris Hailwood

Paris is a full-time guide for YPT, mostly working in the Middle East, Central Asia and West Africa. She aims to encourage more people, especially women, to travel and defy boundaries.

See author's posts

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Entering the 'Door to Hell'

The Door to Hell is a continually burning crater located in remote Turkmenistan. Adventurer George Kourounis describes being the first person to enter the Door to Hell and what he found when he reached the bottom.

Biology, Earth Science, Geology, Engineering, Experiential Learning

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Explorer  and adventurer George Kourounis has had many memorable experiences in nature’s extreme  environments —chasing  tornadoes across the U.S.  Midwest , swimming with  piranhas in Venezuela, even getting married on a  crater  of an  erupting   volcano  in the South Pacific. But a recent trek  to  remote  Turkmenistan may be one of his most exciting  expeditions .

It was probably the only expedition where he admitted to feeling “a bit like a baked potato.”

Kourounis was the first individual to  descend  into a 30-meter (100-foot) deep pit of fire known as the “Door to Hell.” The Door to Hell is a crater in a large  natural gas  field that has been burning for decades. It is said that a  Soviet oil rig  fell into the crater in 1971, and a  geologist  decided to get rid of the rig by setting the pit on fire. The resulting gas-fed flames continue burning to this day.

Kourounis and his team were unable to  verify  the story behind the pit, but they definitely confirmed that the singular site exists.

The Canadian adventurer and former host of TV’s  Angry Planet  had wanted to visit the Door to Hell for years.

“Every now and then, I would look at pictures on the internet of the place again, and it just never exited my mind,” Kourounis says. “It was there like a splinter in my brain that I couldn’t get rid of.”

Burning Challenges and Bureaucracy

One might think that  rappelling into a burning pit would be the main challenge of this expedition, but Kourounis notes that his crew met another  formidable obstacle  earlier on.

“The biggest goal was just getting permission to get into the country,” he says. “That was our biggest concern because Turkmenistan is one of the most closed countries in the world.”

The crew finally gained entry into Turkmenistan in 2013 after two years of trying to get into the country. Kourounis says the crater, which is about 76 meters (250 feet) wide, looks like a volcano in the middle of the  desert .

“It is burning with a  tremendous  amount of flame like there is a lot of fire down there,” he says. “Day or night, it is clearly burning. You can hear the roar of the fire if you stand at the edge. The heat, if you are downwind of it, is unbearable. There are thousands of little flames all around the edges and towards the center. Then there are two large flames in the middle at the bottom, and that is probably where the drilling rig hole was for the natural gas  extraction .”

Before rappelling into the burning pit, Kourounis says he got his  equipment in order. This included a custom-made climbing harness made out of  Kevlar , a self-contained breathing apparatus (similar to  scuba  gear), fire-resistant ropes, and an otherworldly heat-resistant suit.

“They [the suits] look like aluminum foil and actually that makes sense because they are made from an aluminized  fabric ,” Kourounis says. “These suits are used by some firefighters as well as  steel -mill workers and  volcanologists , any occupation where you need to be close to intense heat. They reflect a lot of the radiant heat, but you still get pretty hot inside. I did feel a bit like a baked potato in there.”

Another very specialized piece of equipment that Kourounis brought to Turkmenistan was a heat  probe  designed by the  engineers who build National Geographic’s  Crittercams .

“It sort of looks like a sword,” Kourounis says. “It was able to  transmit wirelessly back to the crater ’s edge to a laptop. It could transmit the  ambient temperature  where I was as well as it had a long end on it that I could jam into the ground and get a reading of how hot the ground was.”

Entering the Door to Hell

Even after a few days of preparing, Kourounis says the idea of an actual descent into the Door to Hell was  nerve-wracking .

“I can tell you when you are standing on the edge of this  gigantic  crater filled with fire—it is  intimidating ,” he says.

Still, the adventurer did descend into the fiery hole.

“It wasn’t dark at all,” Kourounis says of the crater’s interior. “As a matter of fact, you are surrounded by flames, so everything has this orange  hue .”

Once on the floor of the pit, Kourounis embarked on the scientific core of the expedition.

“The most important part of the mission and the whole thrust behind this entire expedition was to take some samples of the  soil  at the bottom—sand, basically—and see if there is any  extremophile bacteria  living at the bottom that could give us clues to basically life in these extreme environments,” Kourounis says. “There are planets that have been discovered outside of our  solar system  that have a very hot,  methane -rich environment kind of similar to what is in the crater. So, in essence, we were looking for alien life right here on Earth.”

“It’s a very  volatile  place,” Kourounis says of the Door to Hell. “To give you an example of how volatile, at one point I kneeled down on the ground, and I’m digging in the sand to try and gather some samples from a little below the surface and as I’m digging with a small hand shovel, fire is coming out of the hole that I’m digging. I just opened up a new vent as I’m digging down there!”

The soil samples were given to Dr. Stefan Green, the micro biologist  on the expedition. Green says that a few kinds of bacteria were discovered in the soil from the crater floor. These extremophiles appear to be what Green calls “enriched” by the Door to Hell’s high temperature and low  nutrient  levels, among other things.

Along with this discovery of unexpected life in one of Earth’s most  inhospitable  places, the Door to Hell has an out-of-this-world  tinge  to it, according to Kourounis.

“The orange glow from the flames makes the ground completely orange, and the walls of the crater look orange,” he says. “It really reminds me of being on a place like Mars, where you have that orange or red soil. It just has another-Earthly feel.”

Amazing Adventures

"I consider myself an explorer and adventurer. For me, I like to explore parts of the world that are undergoing extreme transitions. It is really hard to find new places to explore these days, because there are no new continents to discover, there is no undiscovered land on the other side of the horizon. So what I do is I travel to parts of the world where they are in flux or changing for some reason: a tornado is touching down or a hurricane is making landfall or a volcano is erupting. It is in those moments in time where the Earth is dynamically changing that I like to capture and then share what I’ve discovered and seen with the rest of the world, because most people would never want to go to these places or might not be able to go to these places or there is too much danger involved."—George Kourounis, Explorer

Warm to the Touch

George Kourounis had the distinction of being one of the first people to step foot on Hunga Ha’apai, a new island that formed from a volcanic eruption in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga in 2009. “I just happened to be in nearby New Zealand when it happened. We dropped all of our plans, flew out to Tonga, chartered the world’s most decrepit fishing boat, and went out there and actually had to swim ashore to this brand new island. It was still warm to the touch.”

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Camping at Darvaza Crater of Fire, Turkmenistan’s Gates of Hell

Darvaza Gas Crater in the Karakum desert is one of the main reasons to visit Turkmenistan. It’s one of the country’s most popular attractions. For a good reason. It’s spectacular to look at (especially at night), and its story how it came to be is quite unusual.

Darvaza Crater, also referred to as “The Gates of Hell” , or “Door to Hell”, or other similar “hellfire” variation is not a lava lake , but a site of industrial accident turned tourist attraction. If you think that’s a little odd… well, welcome to Turkmenistan. It’s just one of the many oddities you can find in this little known Central Asian country.

Also read: Traveling to Turkmenistan (What to Expect, Highlights, Cost, etc)

How to Visit Turkmenistan Gates of Hell

The eerie glow of Darvaza Crater, Turkmenistan

I visited Darvaza Crater as part of an 8 day tour of Turkmenistan (I used Travel Notoria ). Foreigners are also not allowed to travel outside of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan without a guide, so you’ll need to contact a travel agency to arrange a guide/driver and a 4WD car. You’ll definitely need a 4WD car since the last 3 miles to Darvaza is driving on sand.

The crater is 4 hour driver from Ashgabat. Darvaza Crater is the most visited tourist spots in Turkmenistan and this was the only place where we ran into other tourists in 8 days in Turkmenistan.

Visiting Gates of Hell Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is one of the least visited countries in the world. The country was never in my radar until I saw a picture of a giant sinkhole on fire – The Gates of Hell – in Atlas Obscura . In a book filled with wonderful oddities from around the world, this large fiery crater in the ground definitely stands out.

Darvaza Gas Crater was “created” when a Soviet drilling rig caused an underground cavern to collapse, bringing the whole rig collapsing down into the crater. If that sounds bad enough, just wait… it gets better.

The collapse also caused a massive gas leak. Our tour guide mentioned that the leak caused the deaths of at least 2 shepherds who were camping nearby. To “fix” this, the same brilliant Soviet engineers decided to light the pit on fire, expecting the gas to burn off in a “few days”. Well.. here we are some 40-plus years later and I can confirm that it’s still burning.

Most visitors to Turkmenistan make a straight beeline to Darvaza Crater. It’s without a doubt Turkmenistan’s most visited attraction. One can even argue that it’s Turkmenistan’s only “tourist attraction” (the country is after all 70% desert). Despite that, weirdly enough, it’s never been featured on any tourist brochures. The site is totally undeveloped. It is literally a hole on fire in a desert. There are no hotels, no billboard with an arrow that says “Fiery pit, next exit!” Most locals are not even aware of its existence.

One might even suspect that the government is embarrassed of it. The current Turkmenistan president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, visited Darvaza Crater back in 2010. He reportedly thought that it was a “waste of gas” and ordered it filled in. I’d like to think that he was secretly impressed by the crater, because who wouldn’t? Things move slowly in Turkmenistan and I wonder if it will ever happen.

My first impressions of Darvaza Crater, The Door to Hell in Turkmenistan

As our jeep crawls up a small sand dune, we finally got to see the flat plain below us. And whoa!

One of the first pictures I’ve taken of Turkmenistan’s Gates to Hell. Look at the people and car for size comparison.

Small people, big hole in the ground.

Looking back on this picture I can’t believe how close I was to the edge. As you can see, there’s no barrier around the fiery pit and the ground was basically crumbling mud. I imagine that falling into the pit leads to a very unpleasant death.

Darvaza Crater in the middle of Karakum Desert exceeded my expectation. I couldn’t take my eyes off the dancing flames.

It’s hard to stress enough how amazing the experience was. The sight, the smell, and the sound of the crater, the contrast between the hot air on your face and the cold night air on your back.

Nice giant fire to fend off the desert night chill.

I clambered up a little mud hill to enjoy the crater by myself. I remember feeling out of sort. It was so surreal to be in a country like Turkmenistan.

Sean, the only other American in the group, contemplating life/death/whats for dinner?

Darvaza Crater at night is photogenic for sure. Group photo, taken by A. Keogh

I still can’t believe I was there!

Camping near Darvaza Crater

The most common trip here involves camping overnight so you can see the sinister fiery glow in the dark. Being in the middle of the desert, it gets chili at night. Even though tent and sleeping bags were provided, you’ll need to bring extra layers.

Before starting the 4 hour journey, we stopped to stock up on food and alcohol in Ashgabat. The latter was much treasured due to the desert’s biting chill at night. As we were enjoying the crater, the guides/drivers went a little further away to set up our tents near a shepherd’s hut and cooked dinner of chicken wings and roasted eggplant. Everyone turned out to be packing some sort of hard liquor, so there was much merriment to be had.

It got so very cold at night I doubted anyone of us got some sleep. It doesn’t help that my tent was inbetween 2 heavy snorers. Ugh.

I got this cognac for the overnight camping trip at Darvaza. I loved how the label is crooked. For a $2 bottle, it went down much smoother than I expected.

Our group convoy on our way to Darvaza Crater

Turkmenistan typical desert landscape. Our camp is the cluster of cars in the background, about 400m from the crater. Another smaller group of tourists use the shepherd’s hut on the foreground. As you can see, there’s no facility whatsoever so the desert is your bathroom.

Our camp for the night.

On our way back from Darvaza Crater, we stopped at 2 other sinkholes. Compared to the sight we just witnessed the night before, they were positively underwhelming.

“Mud Crater” You can’t see it in this photo, but there’s a bubbling mudpool as well as small patches of fire. Definitely underwhelming.

For many in our group, Darvaza Crater was THE reason to visit Turkmenistan. One can argue that the famous Gates of Hell is Turkmenistan’s only legit tourist spots. For me? It was the icing on the cake. A fitting end to a week of surreal landscapes, memorable encounters, and eyebrow-raising moments .

I decided to go to Turkmenistan because I was looking for different, and I sure got different alright. Darvaza Gas Crater is only one of the reasons Turkmenistan is – without a doubt – the weirdest countries I’ve been to (read why I think Ashgabat the weirdest capital city you’ll ever visit). I’ll be writing more about this country in the next few posts (see all Turkmenistan posts ).

For something similar, but arguably even more impressive – you have got to check out Erta Ale in Ethiopia . A lake of bubbling lava that blew my mind!

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Looking at this makes me think about what it must have been like to see something like this back in a time when we were less advanced and didn’t have science to explain everything. You probably would genuinely believe that it actually was the gates to hell or something.

[…] to Turkmenistan will make the 4 hour drive from Ashgabat to Darvaza Gas Crater, often known as The Gateway to Hell.  It’s arguably Turkmenistan’s most popular tourist destination. It’s an industrial accident, […]

[…] See a lava flow (or the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan) […]

It doesn’t look like much during the day, but oh, those photos at night are cool!

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The Amazing Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell Turkmenistan)

11 Minute Read

The Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as the Door to Hell or Gates of Hell, has to be seen to be believed! Situated in the middle of the Karakum Desert in reclusive Turkmenistan , this accidental man-made marvel is well and truly off the beaten track and is one of the top landmarks in Asia .

The Gates of Hell Turkmenistan is one of the country’s major attractions, however, Turkmenistan isn’t really geared up for tourism. Things have improved slightly since the passing of former President Saparamurat Niyazov (Turkmenbashi), however, the country is still a police state with a repressive regime that sits alongside North Korea in terms of press freedom.

That being said, there is plenty to see in this fascinating country, not least the Gates of Hell!

Update January 2022: Yet again current Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has called for the flames at Davaza to be extinguished. He has been saying this since at least 2010, however, he has now appeared on national television and ordered experts to find a way to put out the flames. You can read more in this news article .

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About Turkmenistan

The republic of Turkmenistan is a strange place. Spotless, empty streets, a former President who renamed bread after his mother and a capital city that looks like Las Vegas on steroids but with the population of a post-apocalyptic world.

White marble is shipped in vast quantities from Europe to create a cityscape like no other and gold statues of former president Saparmurat Niyazov line the parks and streets. Police and soldiers patrol every important building and more fool anyone who happens to walk past with a camera in their hand!

You might also like these articles about Central Asia:

Karakum Desert

So it is with no surprise that tucked away in the middle of this Central Asian country in the vast and empty Karakum Desert is another strange addition to this already bizarre place; the Darvaza gas crater, or Gates of Hell Turkmenistan.

This huge hole, 70m in diameter, was created as the result of Soviet oil exploration in the 1970s. In 1971, while drilling for oil at the site, the ground gave way to a giant sinkhole.

Geologists noted the escape of natural gas coming from the site, and in an effort to render the area safe, decided to set the hole on fire to burn off the gas, which they envisioned would take about a week. Forty-six years later however, it is still burning strong.

From Ashgabat to the Darvaza

The journey from Ashgabat was an enjoyable one. The 20-year-old Toyota Hilux was a sturdy machine and coped well with the numerous potholes covering the road.

As did our driver Andrej – a gruff, blonde-haired Russian in his fifties with a hoarse voice and melancholic character. “Okay boys…” he would whisper in his throaty, accented English; “ten minutes” he would tell us when we stopped for a toilet break and cigarette.

We left the road and soon came upon a large crater in the desert. Andrej pulled the vehicle up to the rope barrier and issued his usual instruction; “Okay boys, ten minutes!” It was an impressively sized hole, filled with greeny/blue water, and sadly a huge pile of plastic bottles which only became visible from a certain angle.

Beyond the crater the sun was beginning to set over the desert, casting an orange glow over the scrub. We walked around taking pictures and were able to duck under the rope to get a better look.

Darvaza Gas Crater – Gates of Hell Turkmenistan

We arrived at the Darvaza gas crater at around 7pm. After leaving the main Ashgabat – Konye Urgench Highway we drove up into the sand dunes, before entering some greenish-brown pasture and scrub.

We bumped down some tyre tracks and in front of us was The Door to Hell! The jeep sped down towards the crater and I prayed that the breaks were in good order.

We pulled up and got out to inspect this incredible site. “Okay boys, two metres” Andrej whispered. “Don’t go nearer than two metres. Very dangerous” he advised.

**Please note: There is now a fence surrounding the crater so it’s no longer possible to get so close to the edge! **

Dumbstruck, we walked around the crater taking photograph after photograph from every conceivable angle. The noise and the heat were something else.

Every few seconds a “whoosh” of flames would flare up from the bottom and a gust of hot air would almost knock you off your feet. Unlike the water crater, there were no ropes or barriers here.

Another jeep was parked a little way up the hill and further on we could see a hut and some tents lined up under a ridge.

I grabbed a couple of beers from the vehicle and handed one to my friend. We toasted our achievement of reaching this incredible spot. As the sun set over the Karakum, the crater took on new dimensions and an eerie orange glow emanated from below.

It was certainly clear why this place go the name Door to Hell! Andrej left and parked the car up on the ridge and we stayed to marvel at this unique site. Aside from a group of German girls who had by now left, we were the only people at what anywhere else in the world would be a major tourist attraction.

Darvaza Gas Crater Spiders

A light flashed from the hut up on the hill which was indicting for us to go up there. Our stomachs also told us that we were ready for dinner. A trestle table was set up overlooking the crater half a kilometer or so away.

We sat down to a meal of borscht and barbecue chicken, all washed down with a couple of beers. After dinner, we headed back down to the crater to soak up the ambiance.

On the walk down to the crater, I noticed that my head torch kept illuminating little glowing things on the desert floor. I wondered with excitement if I was seeing scorpions. I told my friend to look out for small reflections with his torch and he noticed them also.

As we zeroed in it became clear that they were small sets of eyes. Closer still and we realized they were spiders (Darvaza gas crater spiders to be precise).

As we drew closer still, one scuttled down a hole that it was perching out from. We scanned around and could see more sets of eyes. We approached more carefully this time and were able to observe these arachnids close up.

Desert Storm at the Gates of Hell

What happened next was both unexpected and enthralling. The sky directly in front of the crater lit up with an explosion of light. Not only were we looking at one of the most spectacular man-made scenes in the world, but nature was also about to give as an equally impressive show.

Forks of lightning darted across the sky and struck the earth a little too close for comfort. The strikes were going off in 360 degrees around where we were, and I was quite concerned about the tents up by the ridge, as this is the prime area for lightning strikes to earth.

The rain came pouring down and the lightning was getting really close now so we headed back up to find Andrej and our tent. He drove us the few metres to our canvas home and we bundled in to escape the rain. “Okay boys, breakfast at 7am” and with that Andrej departed to his own tent.

We sat in the awning drinking vodka and cherry juice watching the light show and the crater down below. As the rain eased and the thunder grew fainter we noticed orange silhouettes above the crater flying in formation. We decided the only sensible thing was to go back down there for a closer inspection.

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

The desert floor had turned to mud and our boots were caked in it. It was very slippery so we needed to be careful about getting too close the edge.

When we got closer we could see what I thought were bats, but what my friend correctly pointed out were birds (I owe him a tenner for that!).

The sound and sight of these creatures diving and swooping above the crater was awe-inspiring; their underbelly glowing like hot sparks from a fire. We watched this spectacle for a while before heading back up to the tents to get some well-earned rest.

Practicalities at Darvaza Gas Crater:

Turkmenistan is not a country geared towards tourism, and in fact with its vast oil and gas resources providing revenue, it actively discourages visitors. If the gas and oil ever runs out, maybe things will change, but while the coffers are full they are not interested in tourist dollars.

This can have advantages and disadvantages for the adventurous traveller. The obvious advantages are the lack of tourists and being able to visit somewhere few others have been.

The disadvantages are numerous however. Obtaining a VISA is a difficult process, and most are declined without reason. If you do manage to get a VISA then you need to book a tour, which doesn’t come cheap.

We paid $1104 for 3 days through Owadan Tourism, a company based in the capital Ashgabat. A trip to Turkmenistan will not come cheap, but for the truly adventurous, there is no other place like it.

Arriving at the Gates of Hell:

We arrived in the small port town of Turkmenbashi from Baku by container ship and were met by our driver who transported us by car to the capital, Ashgabat (8 hours).

After a night in the vast but deserted Bagt Koshgi Hotel, we were taken by 4X4 across the desert to Darvaza (5 hours) a pit stop at Yerbent Desert Village.

After a night camping at the crater (tents provided and already set up) we were then driven on very bad roads to the border with Uzbekistan at Dashoguz (Dashkhovuz – 6 hours) via a stop at the impressive Konye Urgench.

As we had a tour booked, all our travel arrangements were taken care of, but it is possible to plan a  trip on your own if you get a five-day transit VISA. This option is fraught with uncertainties and we ruled it out because the chances of being refused seemed to be higher.

There is no public transport to the crater, but from Ashgabat you can take a Marshrutka towards Konye Urgench. You can stop at the turnoff and walk the few kilometres through the desert from the road.

However, you really need to know what you are doing here and plan it with military precision as getting lost in the Karakum Desert would almost certainly be the last thing you ever did. Booking a tour is highly recommended. There are very few tourists and you will have ample time to explore on your own.

Entry to Turkmenistan:

By far the best way to see Turkmenistan is through an independent tour, which I would never normally recommend. It takes out a lot of the hassle but still leaves you with a lot of the freedom associated with independent travel.

Young Pioneer Tours offers a great selection of packages for ‘people who don’t really don’t like tours’. Check out their Turkmenistan page here for more information.

Another great place to book your tour of Central Asia is through  Indy Guide . Their website contains a lot of useful information for those travelling the region and has some excellent deals on tours of Ashgabat.

Visas for Turkmenistan:

Citizens of almost every country require a valid visa to enter Turkmenistan. Apply in your home country as applying on the road is not recommended. If you apply for a tourist visa you must first obtain a Letter of Invitation (LOI) which can only be applied for by state-aligned tourist agencies.

We used Owadan Tourism but other companies include Young Pioneer Tours and Indy Guide. To make a stronger case for your visa approval, it is worth providing information on the route you are travelling.

If you are exploring the region and can provide details of onward travel it will help your case. If you are simply visiting Turkmenistan on its own as a tourist destination the chances of obtaining a VISA are slim. Combine your trip with other places on the Silk Road .

Once the LOI has been approved (takes around two weeks) getting your visa is just a formality. Take the LOI to your Turkmenistan embassy along with the completed application form (download here), passport and fee (we paid around 60 pounds in London).

Our visas took 10 working days, but there is also an express three-day service for double the price.

Entry Tax: An entry tax of $14 per person is payable upon entering Turkmenistan.

Getting to the Gates of Hell Turkmenistan

Air: Flights to Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Airport depart from a limited number of European airports including Frankfurt, Istanbul, London and Moscow and the airport has links to other central Asian cities such as Almaty in Kazakhstan and Urumqi in China.

See Trip.com for flights.

Land: There are border crossings with Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. You will need to take a taxi, bus or Marshrutka to the border. Then walk across and do the same the other side. We left Turkmenistan at the Dagosuz border crossing.  The crossing is not far from Urgench in Uzbekistan which has links to Khiva, Bukhara , Samarkand and Tashkent.

Read my article about how to travel from London to Beijing along the Silk Road, which includes Turkmenistan as a stop.

Sea: There is a crossing from Baku in Azerbaijan to Turkmenbashi in the west of Turkmenistan. There are no passenger ferries, but it is possible to buy a ticket for a cargo vessel plying this route.

Think carefully before opting for this as delays are frequent and it could mean your VISA runs out before you even get to Turkmenistan. We had two extra days built into our tour to cover such delays, but it’s not been unheard of that a vessel could be waiting to dock for up to six days (thankfully rare).

In the end our boat was only delayed by half a day and we were more or less on schedule. Our ticket for a seat in the passenger lounge cost $50 (cabin $90).

There are no services on board. So make sure you stock up with enough food and water to last the duration and possible delays.  Aside from the uncertainties, this is by far the most rewarding way to arrive in (or leave) Turkmenistan.

Note: The Turkmen government are planning to extinguish the fire at the Darvaza Gas Crater. Therefore it is not known how much longer the flames will be spewing from the door to hell. See it soon, before it’s gone forever, if you dare!

You might also like to read about the incredible Yanar Dag (Fire Mountain) in Azerbaijan!

Read my other articles about Central Asia:

About the author: Steve Rohan is a writer from Essex, England. He has traveled to over 60 countries, lived in Armenia, China and Hong Kong, and is now living the digital nomad life on the road.

Steve prefers “slow travel” and has covered much of the world by train, bus and boat. He has been interviewed multiple times by the BBC and recently featured in the documentary Scariest Places in the World . See the About page for more info.

Where I am now: Yerevan, Armenia 🇦🇲

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• Visiting The Gates of Hell, Turkmenistan; EVERYTHING You Need To Know in 2024!

• WANNA JOIN MY Gates of Hell 2024 TOUR HERE? I’m organising a Turkmenistan Tour in October 2024 . JOIN ME!

Visiting The Gates of Hell Turkmenistan is a tricky task to accomplish. Turkmenistan is one of the most difficult countries in the world to get a visa for. I was rejected twice before finally I cracked it third time lucky (more info on that below). Unless you’re trying to visit every country in the world , as I was , then the main reason anyone visits Turkmenistan is to see the Gates of Hell.

I’ve blogged my personal experience about visiting the Gates of Hell below, as well as added my YouTube video. I hope my blog post helps you plan your gates of hell tour. It’s an awesome experience. 

Table of contents

What are the gates of hell (aka the derweze/darvaza gas crater), where are the gates of hell in turkmenistan, turkmenistan visa, is it safe to visit the gates of hell, tips on visiting the darvaza/derweze gas crater, first, ashgabat, turkmenistan mall, driving to derweze/darvaza, going off-road, finally. the gates of hell in turkmenistan. wow., camping by the gate to hell, the gates of hell at night, sleeping beside the gate, my (shaky) gates of hell youtube video, travel insurance for turkmenistan, faqs for visiting the gates of hell, aka the darwaza crater.

First off, what the hell is it?! Turkmenistan is rich in natural gas. For over forty years then been digging for more sources of natural gas. One day, four decades ago, a scientist dug a little too fast, and the crater was formed, collapsing in on a gas pocket. Natural gas doesn’t smell, humans add the smell so we can identify it later. That meant no-one knew there was any gas leakage and they moved on to the next plot of land. Before long the camels and goats were dropping dead around the crater, and they worked out why. Gas was spewing out of the crater constantly, twenty-four hours a day.

The solution? They thought they’d light it, and burn the excess gas away to end the problem once and for all. So they did burn it, but they certainly didn’t end the problem. It’s a huge reserve of natural gas, and it’s been burning constantly for over forty years, burning lots of money with it. And so here we are. The Government has been trying to ‘plug’ it for years, so there’s no telling when the gas will run out, or the Government will work out a way to stop it, so get there soon if it’s on your bucket list.

The Gates of Hell are in Turkmenistan. 250km or so north of the capital, Ashgabat. 

How To Visit the Gates of Hell

= THE EASIEST WAY TO VISIT THE GATES OF HELL IS TO JOIN MY TURKMENISTAN TOUR IN OCTOBER 2024. YOU CAN BOOK IT HERE:

• https://www.wetravel.com/trips/turkmenistan-and-the-gates-of-hell-john-ward-turkmenistan-31292259

First, you must get to Turkmenistan. That’s the tricky part!  See info on the Turkmenistan visa below.

Once in Turkmenistan, you can visit the gates like this:

• If you’ve booked a multi-day tour, they’ll drive you. This is what I did, and how I managed to camp on the crater rim.
• If you’ve secured your visa independently, you can organise a day trip to the crater from Ashgabat. It’s quite tricky with the language barrier, and may cost you a few days of organising!
• You can take a taxi there and back. 

Most people enter Turkmenistan for less than 7 days. That means, technically, you’re eligible for a transit visa. Good luck with that. The next option is a tourist visa, that requires a LOI (letter of invitation). Again, a nightmare. 3rd option is to book a tour. They’ll take care of all your paperwork, and run you through the process step-by-step. The most expensive option, and in my opinion, the best. 

I was rejected twice for my visa, then finally took the tour option. And boom. Success. It is even possible to get it sorted with your tour operator AND just pick-up the visa at the airport. You don’t even go to the embassy. Trust me, if you can, do this.

First of all Turkmenistan is one of the safest countries in the world. Because of their autocratic leadership, no-one would date attack a tourist. They’ll happily overcharge you though. And the Gates of Hell itself, is it safe? Yes, but you have full personal responsibility. You can fall into the crater if you get too close. It’s up to you. It’s 100% safe as long as you’re not an idiot.

• Use a multi-day tour. You can get it for as little as $500 per day, and it’ll sort out one of the trickiest visas in the world
• Start organising your Turkmenistan tourism stuff 6 months before you plan to go.
• Bring warm clothes if you’re going to camp. I was freezing. 
• The coolest way to do a trip would be Uzbekistan, then overland through Turkmenistan, then into Iran. Or vice-versa. Epic!
• If you get your visa rejected once, try again. Don’t give up.
• Email Artem or Artik on [email protected] and tell him I sent you. He helped me out SO much and finally got me in!
• I went solo last time, and it was good. But the trip would have been much better if I had joined a group to be honest. It’s quite a strange country, so being solo all the time was even stranger!

Visiting The Gates of Hell, Turkmenistan; My Personal Experience

Back in 2016, I had visited 189/ 197 countries in the world . I had less than 10 countries left! Pretty cool, but the downside was that I was running out of things on my bucket list. However, visiting the ‘Gates of Hell’ in Turkmenistan has been on there forever. Having twice been rejected for my visa for Turkmenistan, it felt like it may never happen. Third time’s the charm though eh? I finally managed to get my visa and I was off to this strange country. Landlocked in the middle of Central Asia. 

I flew into Ashgabat, the Capital of Turkmenistan. It was early in the morning in January and it was freezing cold. The owner of my tour company, TravelNotoria , had come to the airport to pick me up. Although I was shattered from the flight, it worked out well because we had a quick bite to eat in the airport, a small drive around Ashgabat, the hugely developed Capital City (they have oil and natural gas money), before my tour leader would pick me up and drive me to the Darvaza gas crater. Aka the Gates to Hell. The spot I had dreamed of camping beside for years. Soon to see it in the full pitch back glory in the depths of the Turkmen desert.

When my guide arrived, we went straight to the shopping mall to pick up some groceries and food to cook that night for when we got to the gas crater. A whole chicken, some break and a few beers later and we were off in the SUV. I knew that the Capital would be developed. A little like Astana in Kazakhstan perhaps. But having traveled through Uzbekistan, bordering to the north, and Iran, bordering to the south. I hadn’t expected it to be like this. Baskin Robbins. McDonalds. Huge malls. But very little people. They had built all this ‘developed’ stuff, but there was no-one around. The whole place had a strange vibe. 

Truth be told I wasn’t that excited about visiting Turkmenistan as a country. Sure Ashgabat is cool, mostly because it sounds like the kind of place Harry Potter would find himself in. And that fact that it’s referred to as the North Korea of the ‘stan countries makes it interesting. But for me, it was all about the gas crater. On we went.

The gas crater is about a four-hour drive from Ashgabat, the Capital city. The road is really good, paved the whole way. Check the map below. If you haven’t traveled in crazy countries much, you mightn’t know that this was quite the luxury. After the best part of a year traveling through West Africa, every time I’m on a long journey and I see it’s a paved road I wanna jump out of the car and kiss it. 

The scenery, at first, is pretty epic. Endless desert on both sides as you dissect the Karakum desert right into the hear of Turkmenistan. You’re on the old Silk Route, which is a romantic idea .The sand seems to go on forever. Before long, you’re pretty used to dusty yellow landscapes. And because I had taken the redeye from Istanbul, it was time to catch a nap. Perfect.

I was awake again. I whacked my head off the car door as we went off-road. A sign that we were nearly there. Before we headed to the burning crater, we made a quick pit-stop at two other craters,. The mud crater and the water crater. They were both a little underwhelming, to be honest. The gates of hell were so close. I couldn’t be bothered with anything else! So I hurriedly jumped out of the car, took a few snaps of the craters, jumped back in and said “How far to the burning crater?’. Another twenty mins or so. Brilliant.

Off-road we went, and now we were in hard-core travel territory. The car was swinging around aggressively. It wasreezing cold, only desert surrounding us. It was ‘low’ season in Turkmenistan, so we were pretty much guaranteed to have the place to ourselves. So when we finally pulled up, I was a little gutted there was another car. They were locals though, so my guide was sure they wouldn’t spend the night. Just a couple of hours vodka drinking and then home, he assured me.

So… finally, I had made it, and it was pretty epic. A huge crater in the middle of the desert, burning an intense fire, roasting hot to stand beside yet, yet if you step back ten metres it’s freezing again. 

It was still only around 4pm. We went to collect firewood for dinner, and set up camp. I’d be sleeping in a tent alone, and my guide would, quite sensibly, be sleeping in the car. An hour or two of prep, the tent was reading, the fire was burning, the potatoes were roasting and the chicken was grilling. This was everything I had dreamt of and more. Oh, and our local tourists? They had gone now too, perfect. We cracked open two beers and chowed down on a super delicious meal.

The sun was finally setting, and this is when the magic starts. Sure, the Gates of Hell are awesome in the day time, but when the sun sets and the darkness comes, there’s nothing quite like it. Darkness in the Karakum desert is TRUE darkness too. No light pollution for hundreds of kilometres. It’s pitch black.

Time t check out the crater properly. I got out of my tent. It was around 5 degrees, and I hadn’t brought enough clothes. Shivering, I used my flashlight to clamber over the ridge that we’re camped behind and WOW, there it is.

My guide left me to it. He’s seen it all before. I grabbed myself a beer, and my lonely planet and I walk right up to the ridge. Instantly I could feel the intense heat, and hearing the roar as the natural gas surges out of the crater and ignites. So, so impressive. I walk around the crater, then come back to my starting point. It takes about twenty full minutes to circumnavigate. The ‘Gate’ is about the size of a football pitch and you have to watch your step because if you stumble and fall, you’re done.

Once I had taken all my photos, I just sat by the Darvaza gas crater for around an hour. Close enough to not be freezing, further enough away not to fall in. I focused on soaking in where I was. Finally reaching a place I’ve dreamt of for years. And appreciating the opportunity the world has give me. As I finished my beer, I headed back, climbed into my tent. Then into two sleeping bags and surround myself in another blanket and managed to fall asleep in the most contented manner imaginable.

I don’t even feel the cold that night, perhaps due to how truly satisfied I felt. I woke up after a solid night’s sleep, had a quick bite to eat, and was reading to set off back to Ashgabat.

“ One last look at the crater ?” My guide asked me. “ No thanks, I want my last look to be the burning Gates of Hell at night time, I’m done thanks, buddy, let’s go ” And off we went. What a trip.

Most mainstream travel insurance companies won’t cover you for visits to places like the Darvaza gas crater. THESE GUYS DO, DID AND WILL ! I use them for all my mad travels to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. Best digital nomad insurance available . 

Q1: What is the Gates of Hell, and why is it famous?

A: The Gates of Hell, officially known as the Darvaza Gas Crater, is a natural gas field in Turkmenistan. It gained fame for a continuously burning crater, creating an otherworldly and mesmerizing spectacle.

Q2: How do I get to the Gates of Hell?

A: Our adventure tours typically start from Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. From there, we arrange transportation to the Darvaza Gas Crater, providing a (not so!) comfortable drive in SUVs.

Q3: Is it safe to visit the Gates of Hell?

A: Safety is our top priority. Actually, that’s not true. Having fun is first ahha. But yeah, the area is stable, and our experienced guides ensure that visitors follow all safety protocols. The mesmerizing view is enjoyed from a safe distance (although rumours are that we get a little closer than that!), and precautions are taken to ensure a secure visit.

Q4: What is the best time to visit?

A: The Gates of Hell is best experienced during the evening when the flames are most visible. We plan our tours to arrive in the late afternoon, allowing visitors to witness the crater’s fiery glow against the night sky. Winter, in snow, is epic but freezing. Summer is roasting. Spring and Autumn are best.

Q5: What amenities are available at the site?

A: As my trips are an adventure tour, facilities are limited. We provide basic amenities, including camping equipment, meals, and water. The focus is on experiencing the raw beauty of the landscape. There is a real toilet though!

Q6: Can I take photographs at the Gates of Hell?

A: Absolutely! Photography enthusiasts will love capturing the surreal scenery.

Q7: Is camping at the site part of the experience?

A: Yes, camping near the crater is an integral part of the adventure. It allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere of the Gates of Hell. Our tours include comfortable camping arrangements.

Q8: Are there other attractions near the Gates of Hell?

A: While the crater itself is the main attraction, the surrounding Karakum Desert offers a stunning backdrop. Our tours often include visits to nearby sites, providing a comprehensive adventure experience.

Q9: What should I pack for the tour?

A: We recommend packing comfortable clothing suitable for the desert climate, sturdy footwear, a camera, and personal essentials. Our team provides a detailed packing list upon booking.

Q10: How can I book a tour to the Gates of Hell with your company?

Just DM or Instagram.com/onestep4ward me. Easy.

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How to visit the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan

The challenge: peer over the edge of the real-life, ever-burning crater known as the gates of hell.

Most travel ads promise you Heaven on Earth, but it turns out that tours to Hell are available, too. All you have to do is get a visa for Turkmenistan and head to one of its top destinations: Darvaza Gas Crater, known locally as The Gates of Hell.

Learn the story of the Gates of Hell before you get there

Although the sight and the smell of the crater will make you feel like you’re at the doorstep of the real Hell, you shouldn’t be afraid to step right up close. Darvaza has been burning since 1971, yet still no demons have ever emerged from its fiery maw. In fact, it was not some religious fanatic who dug out the fiery pit but a group of Russian workers searching for oil back in the ’70s (now they know it’s gas, not oil, that keeps the eternal flame burning).

During the initial phases of the search, the drilling rig set to measure the quantity of oil was suddenly swallowed after the ground under it collapsed into a gas pocket. The workers were worried that the gas might poison the nearby villages, so they decided to set it alight in the hope it would burn out. Today, more than 45 years later, it is still burning.

Although the President of Turkmenistan ordered that the crater should be closed in 2010, the Gates of Hell remain open to visitors and more popular than ever.

Tea with a view

Pop over to the small tea-house near the crater and enjoy a cup of tea looking out over the otherworldly scene.

The Gates of Hell in numbers:

Area: 57,586 sq. ft (5350 sq. m) – the size of an American football field

Diameter: 230 ft (70.1 m)

Depth of the crater: 66 ft (20 m)

How to get to the Gates of Hell

Once you’ve obtained your visa to Turkmenistan (and trust us, that’s the hardest part of this challenge), you can buy a tour from Ashgabat or you can organize a private trip by bus or taxi. It’s a four-hour drive from Ashgabat to Darvaza, and once you’re there y ou can pitch a tent in the desert, near the crater.

Plan your trip so you can see the Gates of Hell at night – the desert, the stars and the gleaming red light from the crater create an incredible scene  at sunset and sunrise . You will need a GPS to travel the 5 mi (8 km) from the now-abandoned Darvaza village to the crater. Bear in mind that you’ll need to cross desert terrain, so you might want to hire a 4×4 jeep or a local driver who knows the area well. Another important thing: the Google Maps pin named ‘Gates of Hell’ is wrongly placed. You should actually go to the site named ‘Darvaza Gas Crater’, which is 5 mi (8 km) further.

Getting your hands on that elusive visa

Even if you don’t have a letter of invitation for Turkmenistan, you may be eligible for a transit visa, which will give you three to five days to explore the country. To qualify for the transit visa, you will need to show that you are en route from one country to another (ie. from Kazakhstan to Iran via Turkmenistan).

If you want a tourist visa (which lasts up to three weeks), you need to buy it from a local travel agency. When visiting Turkmenistan on a tourist visa, you must be accompanied by a certified local guide at all times. Make your application well in advance of your trip – obtaining a visa to Turkmenistan is notoriously difficult and can take several months.

AUTHOR: Maria Angelova

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Astonishing photos show the Gates of Hell, a fiery gas crater that's been burning for decades in the Turkmenistan desert

• The Darvaza crater, a fiery gas crater in Turkmenistan, is also known as the "Gates of Hell."
• The origins of the crater is contradictory, but it is believed to have been burning since 1971.
• In 2013, George Kourounis descended into the flames to search for microscopic life — becoming the only person ever to reach the bottom of the crater.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Out in the Karakum Desert, the sand dunes lead to a glow so bright it lights up the night sky. The ground gives way to a fiery crater so deep and angry, locals swear someone punched through the ground and let hell shine through.

The Gates of Hell (also known as the Door to Hell ... or the Darvaza gas crater to the non-dramatic) is a cavern of burning methane gas in Derweze, Turkmenistan.

In recent years, the Gates of Hell has become one of the country's few tourist attractions, drawing adventurers from around the world.

The Darvaza gas crater, also known as the Gates of Hell, is found in the desert of Turkmenistan, a central Asian country bordering Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkmenistan is composed mostly of sun-bleached sand, with the Karakum Desert covering around 70 percent of the country. Once a part of the ancient Silk Road, Turkmenistan fell upon the Soviet rule for most of the 20th century. 

It takes approximately three hours to reach the crater from Turkmenistan's capital, Ashgabat.

The crater is 170 miles north of the city.

The fiery crater, which is also known as the Door to Hell, has a diameter of 230 feet and a depth of 98 feet.

That's about two-thirds the size of a football field.

The origin of the fire still remains a mystery but, according to some reports, the flames have been burning since 1971.

A group of Soviet geologists accidentally created the crater, searching for oil, according to the Smithsonian Magazine . Due to the methane underneath, the ground couldn't support the weight of their equipment and collapsed.

To burn away the dangerous methane, they reportedly set it on fire. They hoped it would only take a couple weeks, but it's been burning ever since.  

But local geologists say the crater formed in the 1960s due to a mud flow and didn't catch fire until the 1980s.

David Berghof, who runs STANtours, said much of the available information about the crater is contradictory.

"Every guide makes up their own little stories and some of them seem to stick," he told Insider."There are various dates about when the crater was dug up, and when and how it was put on fire."

One of Berghof's tour guides believes underground water movements were actually the cause — a theory he said geologists have confirmed. Unlike the description in most other guidebooks, they believe the Gates and two other nearby craters formed as a result of water movements under the Karakum Desert. 

Which version of the story is true remains a mystery. 

The fire in the Gates could keep burning for decades — or even centuries.

Scientific explorer George Kourounis said no one really knows how long the fire will keep burning.

"I heard that the flames are not quite as high as they were 20 years ago, but who knows," he said.

Since its formation, only one man has been to the bottom of the Darvaza Crater.

The Pearly Gates may have Saint Peter, but the Gates of Hell has George Kourounis.

The Canadian-born explorer brings to mind a distant cousin of Indiana Jones. He's chased tornadoes and hurricanes, almost been buried alive in avalanches, and even went inside volcanoes. But it was the trip to the Darzava Desert — and into the fiery crater — in November 2013 that made Kourounis something of a minor celebrity.

"Twelve people have been on the surface of the moon, but only one person has been to the bottom of that crater," he told Insider. "I'm proud of that."

Getting permission to travel to Turkmenistan to see the Gates can be notoriously difficult for outside travelers.

"Turkmenistan is very much like North Korea," Kourounis said. "It can be very difficult to operate there, especially if you're bringing a TV crew in."

Kourounis first tried to get permission from Turkmenistan to collect soil samples from the crater in 2009. He wanted to check for microscopic bacteria, believing that if life could thrive in those harsh conditions, there may be similar life on another planet. But his visa was denied by Turkmenistan's government.

Kourounis returned with backing from both the National Geographic Society and the United States embassy, and even then, the expedition took a year and half to be approved. In 2013, the government allowed the team to set up camp at the the Gates for four days.

The Gates of Hell functions similarly to a giant convection oven.

Kourounis and his team realized cool air dropped into the center of the crater, lowering the temperature. The air heated and was pushed along the edges where it rose out at a blistering 207 degrees Fahrenheit. 

"The heat is unbelievable," Kourounis said. "You stand at the edge of this thing, and as the wind blows across the crater, it carries that heat into you. You feel like you're being baked in an oven."

The team decided to stretch fire resistance rope across the 230-foot-wide gap. Using 2,000 pounds of sand as a counter weight, they designed a pulley system that would lower Kourounis into the center of the pit.

Descending to the bottom of the Gates requires a special heat-resistant suit.

Most of the material Kourounis used was custom made. For instance, the harness Kourounis wore was made of kevlar, the same material used in bullet-proof vests, so it wouldn't melt. He was also outfitted with his own internal supply of oxygen. 

"Stepping off the crater walls and putting all your weight on the rope was one one of the most frightening things I've ever done," Kourounis said. "It took every bit of courage I had to do that."

Fifteen minutes is the longest time a person has withstood the heat of the crater.

"Going out on the rope, looking down, surrounded by flames felt like laundry being dried out on the line," Kourounis said. 

As he descended, Kourounis watched the flames around him grow with his only link to the outside world being the piece of rope he was attached to. 

"I could see my teammates getting smaller and smaller and smaller," Kourounis said. "Any help or rescue was getting farther and farther away the farther down I dropped."

The bottom of the crater is filled with toxic methane waiting to catch fire.

"As soon I stepped foot at the bottom, I swear, it felt like being on another planet," he said. "The walls are lit up. Everything is glowing orange from the fire. There's poisonous gas everywhere."

Kourounis didn't have long to take in the view. He had an assignment to finish and was quickly running out of air. 

The recorded temperature for one of the Gates' main vents is 750 degrees Fahrenheit.

With the soil samples collected, Kourounis lingered for a moment to take in the view one last time. If he stayed any longer he might have died. On the way up, he briefly lost consciousness. 

"That view was spectacular. I will never ever forget it," he said. "It's etched into my brain cells the way that looked at the bottom. A view no human has ever had before."

Analyzed soil samples prove microscopic life is thriving among the extreme environment.

But in the past seven years, no one else has been allowed in the crater to carry out further tests.

"Nobody. There's been a couple of other people that have tried," Kourounis said, and they've contacted him about the crater. Every time someone wants to do something at the Gates, they call him now. "I'm the guy I guess who knows the most about this crater."

Kourounis keeps the Guinness World Record plaque he received above his desk. 

In the years since Kourounis' expedition, the Gates has grown in popularity for adventurers.

STANTours gives guided camel and camping tours to the Gates. Vistors usually arrive by dusk in order to set up camp, prepare dinner before dark, and shake out their stuff for spiders and scorpions. 

"For many Central Asia travelers Darvaza has become the highlight of their tour. Difficult to be understood by video and photo," said David Berghof, who runs the company. "There is no similar site elsewhere as far as we know. It's simply overwhelming. Probably a bit like a small volcano, and quite unexpected to many." 

Among those adventurers is Johnny Ward, an Irish blogger . A few years ago, he completed his goal of visiting every country in the world, which brought him on a path to Turkmenistan. 

"There's only two really famous things to see in Turkmenistan," Ward told Insider. "One is the capital Ashgabat, which is cool but weird, and then obviously there's the Gates of Hell."

At night, the Gates is the only light source around for miles, and visitors endure freezing temperatures to spend the night there.

Ward spent his time at the Gates barbecuing dinner and drinking beer. By nightfall, he was the only one there except for his guide who slept in the car.

To Ward, the desert felt both alone and still. Occasionally, he could hear the whooshing sound of gas escaping and catching on fire.

Dusk also draws animal life like birds and moths to the crater from miles around.

"At night, flocks of birds will fly in and around the crater," Kourounis said.

For the birds, the Gates is ideal for hunting moths attracted by the glow of the fire.

The light from crater also attracts plenty of spiders.

At certain times, according to reports , thousands of spiders have been seen plunging over the edge to their deaths.

Increased tourism stopped Turkmenistan's plan of syphoning off some of the natural gas, according to Kourounis.

"Geologist said they were going to try to drill into the gas," Kourounis said. "That hasn't happened, and I think it's because the place has become a bit of a tourist attraction. This actually has value to the country now as their little flaming Disney World."

Over the past few years, more tourist infrastructure has been installed at the site around the crater.

Berghof said a helipad was built, as well as roads and parking lots, but many of these things are temporary and not meant to last. Tour companies have also set up permanent camps around the crater. 

Returning to the Gates years later, Kourounis said he found it odd that they have real toilets there now. 

Turkmenistan's government has now installed a safety fence around the crater.

The fence and his role in popularizing the place has left Kourounis with mixed feelings. He's glad more people know about it but sad that some of the naturalism of the place is lost. 

"I feel a little responsible for there being a fence around the place," he said.

Despite the popularity of the Gates, Turkmenistan remains one of the least visited countries in the world.

In 2016, the country reportedly had just 6,000 foreign visitors .

"Not many people go vacationing in Turkmenistan," Kourounis said. "It's not exactly the South of France," 

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For 50 years, 'The Gates Of Hell' crater has burned. Now officials want to put it out

Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to George Kourounis, Royal Canadian Geographical Society's explorer-in-residence, about the possible closing of "The Gates of Hell," a natural gas field in Turkmenistan.

Copyright © 2022 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

10 Best Things To Do In Turkmenistan When Visiting (Apart From The Gates Of Hell)

• Discover the ancient city of Merv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a fascinating history dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.
• Explore Awaza, the "Las Vegas" of Turkmenistan, a contemporary and attractive tourist zone on the Caspian Sea shore.
• Visit the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque, a historical landmark and monumental tourist attraction with stunning architecture and a capacity for 10,000 people.

Turkmenistan may be one of the lesser-known countries in the world but it packs a lot of surprises for travelers. While the most famous attraction here is the iconic Gate of Hell , this country is also home to several other amazing things to see and do.

Of course, a visit to Turkmenistan will not be complete without a trip to the burning gas crater, but these activities are just as exciting and worth doing.

Travel Back In Time To The Ancient City Of Merv

Merv is one of the interesting UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkmenistan worth visiting due to its interesting history. History of the site dates to the 3rd millennium BC when it was first inhabited by humans.

Throughout its existence, the city has been conquered by many powers including the Achaemenid, Macedonians, Parthians, and many others. The city was used as a capital by many empires that captured it, and it was one of the largest cities in the world at the time with a population of up to 500,000 people.

The city eventually fell in the 1800s, and today it remains one of the best places to visit in Turkmenistan to learn more about the history of Central Asia. Merv is also famous for being the oldest and most well-preserved ancient city positioned along the Silk Road.

It is also one of the cities visited by Alexander the Great during his conquest of Asia and although it is not one of the cities founded by the Macedonian leader , it was named Alexandria after him for some time.

• Location: Mary, Turkmenistan

Related: These 10 Amazing Ancient Cities Are Still Standing

Take A Tour Of Awaza

Awaza is a tourist zone on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea in the city of Turkmenbasy. It's a vibrant part of the city that features a beautiful shoreline lined up with elegant high-rise structures, an amusement park, luxury hotels, and the Turkmenbashi international airport.

Dubbed "The Las Vegas" of Turkmenistan, this tourist zone does not get the publicity it deserves despite being so contemporary and attractive. As a result, the area is often quiet, and one will be surprised to explore its endowments and beauty without the crowds, even in summer.

• Location: Turkmenbasy, Turkmenistan
• Things to enjoy: Beach walking, fun at the amusement park

Visit Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque

The Turkmenbashi Ruhi Mosque is a historical landmark and monumental tourist attraction in Turkmenistan. The mosque is situated in Gypjak, a few kilometers west of the capital Ashgabat and is very striking in appearance.

It features an elegant gold cupola surrounded by four minarets, and it also houses the tomb of Nyyazow, a former Turkmenistan leader from 1985 to 2006.

With a capacity to host up to 10,000 people, it is one of the largest mosques in Central Asia, yet it is often empty due to the writings on its walls which some Muslims consider to be blasphemy.

• Location: Gypjak, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Visit The Turkmenbashi’s Land Of Fairy Tales

Turkmenistan has its version of Disneyland named after a ruthless dictator, Saparmurat Niyazov. Beyond the history of its naming, the park is a paradise for fun lovers, featuring many attractions including roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, and a log ride.

Unfortunately, most of these attractions are not operating at the moment. Like many attractions in the dictator-ruled Turkmenistan, this amusement park is being ditched by locals and tourists alike and is gradually falling into decay.

• Location: Hero of Turkmenistan Atamurat Niyazov Avenue, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The park is currently open, and it is worth visiting for curiosity’s sake, but one should not expect much fun.

Stroll Around The Ancient City Of Nisa

The ancient city of Nisa is entirely a fortress, situated near the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. It is one of the most historic places in the country worth visiting to learn more about the history of this part of Asia from as far back as 250 BC.

The city is believed to have been founded by Arsaces I, the first king of Parthia, and it served as the capital of the empire for a long time until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 100 BC.

Today, the ruins of the ancient city have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one can visit to see its ancient walls and houses.

• Location: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Related: Ancient Cities Unearthed: These Are The 10 Most Recent Ruins To Be Discovered

Watch The Akhalteke Horses At Ashgabat State Hippodrome

The Akhalteke Horse is not only an animal but also a national pride of Turkmenistan. The horse is classy and royal, only gifted to monarchs and presidents or used in battles as they are renowned to be exceptionally fast, intelligent, and enduring.

With frequent wars no longer a common thing in the modern world, these horses are now mainly bred for races, and one can watch them in action at the Ashgabat State Hippodrome.

• Location: Ashgabat

Stroll Around Ashgabat, The Capital Of Turkmenistan

Ashgabat is a unique city that visitors to Turkmenistan must explore. It is the capital and largest city in the country featuring plenty of eye-catching structures, attractions, and other things that many will love to explore.

Just strolling around the city is an exciting activity and a great way to see the city. Visitors, however, must be careful when engaging in this activity as many parts of Turkmenistan are monitored. This means taking pictures in some places might not be allowed, so one has to be careful with cameras.

• Top attractions in Ashgabat: Independence Square, Ashgabat National Museum of History

Related: 16 Most Beautiful Capital Cities Worth Visiting Around The World

Visit The Yangykala Canyon

Yangykala Canyon is a peculiar rock formation in the Balkan region of Turkmenistan that inspires a sense of wonder. This natural formation looks handcrafted, although it was formed by erosion for millions of years.

The formation covers a huge 15-mile area, and it is one of those places where one will feel like one is on Mars . Getting to this canyon is not an easy task as it is located about 260 miles from the capital Ashgabat. The trip, however, is worth it as visitors can camp and enjoy the views as long as they like.

• Location: 260 miles Northwest of Ashgabat

Swim In An Underground Lake

Turkmenistan is 70% covered by the Karakum Desert so it is usually dry. However, there's an oasis of wetness, and freshness hidden in Bakharden cave that visitors can take advantage of. The lake is known as Kow Ata and it is located near the city of Baherden about 55 meters deep in the cave.

Visitors will have to descend via a staircase into the cave to access the lake and when down there, they will be met with the thermal lake which is rich in minerals and features beautiful azure colors.

• Location: Near Baherden, Turkmenistan
• Entry fee: Free

Bathing is allowed in the pool which makes it a perfect place to cool off from the desert heat that surrounds Turkmenistan for those who don’t mind inhaling some awful smell which may be from the sulfur in the water (or possibly something else).

Learn About The Country’s History At The National Museum Of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan may be a very isolated country but one can still learn more about this country by visiting the National Museum. In this museum, visitors will be met with more than 500,000 exhibits that give more insight into the history of the country and the area in general before it became known as modern-day Turkmenistan.

Visitors will learn about the ancient cities of Nisa and Merv here and also learn about Turkmenistan culture, art, and possibly how the country became the isolated, mysterious yet controversial place that it is today.

• Entrance fee: $10 per person

With all of these interesting things to do in Turkmenistan, travelers may be itching to book a trip. However, it's essential to consent the local travel authorities before embarking on a trip, largely due to the controversial nature of Turkmenistan's laws and policies.

Q: Is it safe to travel to Turkmenistan?

The U.S. Department of State considers Turkmenistan a level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution" and cautions travelers visiting Turkmenistan to have a backup departure plan, review the country's security report, and prepare a contingency plan for possible emergencies.

Gov.UK considers the situation in Turkmenistan to be "calm" politically but notes that driving can be a hazard as many borders and areas are often closed, sometimes abruptly. Women, especially, are cautioned against traveling alone.