Turkmenistan Derweze Tours

Derweze is a small settlement in the Karakum Desert known chiefly for the Darvaza gas crater nearby, a burning pit of natural gas that has drawn travelers to this remote part of Turkmenistan for decades. Locally nicknamed the Gates of Hell, the crater sits roughly 260 kilometers north of Ashgabat, reached by a rough desert track off the main highway toward Dashoguz.

The crater formed after a Soviet drilling operation collapsed into an underground cavern in 1971, releasing natural gas that was then set alight to prevent it from spreading, on the assumption it would burn out within days. More than fifty years later the fire has not gone out, and the crater continues to burn at the edge of the open desert, a landmark that has become one of the more recognizable images associated with the country.

Visiting the Crater

The crater measures around 70 meters wide and glows most dramatically after dark, when the flames light up the surrounding sand and the desert sky above. Most visitors arrive in the late afternoon, watch the sun set over the Karakum, and stay to see the crater at night before camping nearby. Daytime visits are possible too, though the fire itself is harder to appreciate in bright sunlight, and the heat radiating from the rim keeps most visitors at a respectful distance from the edge.

The Surrounding Karakum Desert

The Karakum, meaning black sand, covers roughly seventy percent of Turkmenistan and stretches well beyond Derweze in every direction, broken only by scattered settlements and the occasional herd of camels grazing on sparse desert scrub. Nighttime temperatures can drop sharply even after hot days, so warm layers matter as much as sun protection for anyone planning to camp near the crater. The isolation of the area is part of its character, with little artificial light beyond the crater itself once the sun goes down, and the surrounding dunes make for a quiet, open desert camp compared to a hotel stay in Ashgabat.

Getting There

Reaching Derweze requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the final stretch off the paved highway, and almost all visitors arrive as part of an organized overnight trip from Ashgabat rather than independently. Camping equipment, food, and water need to be brought in, since there are no facilities at the crater itself. Tours to other regions are booked through the same platform, including options like the 3 Days Wine and E-Biking in Northwest Bulgaria Tour, for travelers building a longer, multi-region itinerary.