The FULL Turkmen Experience with locals on transit visa.
Is it possible to overstay your 5-day transit visa in Turkmenistan, among the few closed dictatorships in the world and not get into any trouble nor deportation? - Hell yeah!
This journey took place nearly 3 years ago and it took some time to manage the editing part, but it was all worth it. It is now a complete story with massive love from my friends and from me to life in TURKMENISTAN.
I was so down for years as I was either rejected Turkmen visa or refused to accept my application to receive the transit visa. You may ask, why I didn't just join a group as most people do? - Well, I was flat broke and the style I represent as a backpacker on shoestring, I could not allow myself to contradict my values.
As soon as I arrived at the border of Turkmenistan and Iran, the border-control told me that Kazakhstan has shut its border with Turkmenistan due to an infection. Well, turns out -following some intel -that this is just official horsing because in reality, the Kazakh government is just concerned about the Turkmen's influx making their way to Russia or just to cities in Kazakhstan.
Eventually, the new president (following the one who passed away not long ago) in Uzbekistan introduced the e-Visa on the 15th of July and I entered Turkmenistan on the 26th!
Thanks to my amazing friend, Anton, he did all the paperwork (rather "e-Work) for me and the Uzbek visa was issued. So I just had to change my direction and make my way out through another border even if it meant burning a flight ticket in Kazakhstan :(
A year back my Uzbek visa took 3 weeks and 100$ and with the new president it took 2 days and 20$.
My friend that I got acquinted on the border took me across the whole country and showed how locals live from above! I will never forget your kindness Shamil and your friends are just as awesome as you!
If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment or over IG (teepolgar).
#turkmenistan #turkmenbasi #turkmenistanborder