Darvaza is a spot in Turkmenistan's Karakum desert, home to a burning gas crater often called the Gates of Hell. It has been alight since the 1970s, though its fires are smaller today. Most visits are part of desert tours from Ashgabat, often ending with a night in a camp under the open sky.
A full guide to this place is on its way.
Good to know for Muslim travellers
- There is no town at the crater; accommodation means desert camps with basic facilities.
- Daytime and night temperatures differ sharply in the desert, so pack for both.
- Halal food is the norm in Turkmenistan.
Best time to visit
Spring or autumn, avoiding the desert heat of high summer.
