Post by Ollie on Feb 25, 2009 14:42:23 GMT
## All info for UK Passport holders ##
So, Turkmenistan is a bit of an enigma. No one knows how it will pan out now that the ex Soviet leader Turkmenbashi has died, but the visa regulations are still as tough as when he lived.
Essential you have the choice of a transit visa, which should be granted, for a time period of between 3-10 days depending on how the particular embassy is feeling, and a tourist visa, which costs about $500 a person and means you have a guide with you the whole time and also must publish your itinerary in advance.
David at Stan tours www.stantours.com has given us an itinerary for a tourist visa, but we have chosen to go for the transit visa, as we are not keen on the idea of having a guide with us.
For the transit visa you must also have your exit and entrance visas sorted, which for us is Iran and Uzbekistan. This does make things complicated.
We have been tipped off that it is easier to get this visa in Turkey than UK. As yet we are undecided where we will get it.
Below what Stan Tours offered us:
Trip day Date Weekday Programme Accommodation
Day 1 18/06 Thu 11 am arrival Gaudan / Badjgiran border pick up / customs
transfer to Ashgabat, hotel Asia
Day 2 19/06 Fri Ashgabat self Asia
Day 3 20/06 Sat noon drive Ashgabat - Darvaza Oasis, en route visit Erbent,
overnight, night visit burning Gas Crate
Day 4 21/06 Sun Continue to Kunya Urgench, visit site, border crossing to
Khodzheylil / Nukus b/f 18:00 pm
Russ: price for 1 pax USD 700 subject to guide/Driver availability
O& J: price for 2 pax USD 300 per person subject to guide availability
INCLUDING
1 Accommodation in single-room with private facilities where available as
indicated or similar, except in Darvaza
2 Meals breakfasts only, except in Darvaza
3 sightseeing as specified in the itinerary with guide
4 entrance fees Kunyaurgench
5 Visa support to Turkmenistan, Travel Voucher, OVIR Police registration,
prices subject to change
6 Escort English-speaking guide for arrival, departure and all days except
days in Ashgabat Russ : on separate support vehicle; O&J: to be seated comfortably in your vehicle EXCLUDING
1 Visa cost,
2 Government Arrival Tax USD 12 pp.
3 Personal spending money
4 Travel insurance
5 Tips for driver and local guide
6 Video & photo camera charges during sightseeing
7 O&J: transportation to and from Darvaza gas crate, and or similar off-road
sites
8 Transport Department charges (USD 150..250 per car, 75..100 per bike),
bridge tolls, parking fees, vehicle maintenance, route reconnaissance
NOTE
1 We have included a low cost hotel in the Berzengi area (10 min from city
centre) - preliminarily the Asia hotel which is 3 Stars at a cost base of USD 40/45 per night.
2 In order to proceed we will need a prepayment of USD 200 flat. We can
proceed with the visa support immediately but not earlier than 3 months prior to arrival, approval takes 3 weeks.
3 Balance is payable cash upon arrival. With the approved LOI you can get
the visa at most TM Embassies, Ashgabat airport, the TM / UZ border, Turkmebashi port or Gaudan / Badjgiran border.
4 We cannot guarantee approval of your visa support by the Turkmen
authorities. In case of a denied visa support you prepayment is refundable in full, but we will charge a service fee of USD 25 per person + bank charges.
Cancellation:
>1 Month 10%
<1 Month 30%
<10 Days 50%
Minimum USD 100 per person
If you wish to proceed we would request your passport info, a passport copy by e-mail or Fax +49 (3212) 1039960 and a prepayment of USD 200 or EUR 150 per group into our Latvian account as follows:
1 Full Name :
2 Date of Birth :
3 City and Country of Birth :
4 Citizenship :
5 Passport Number :
6 Date of the passport issue and expiration :
7 Gender :
8 Occupation and Place of Employment :
9 Address and phone number of place of work :
10 Previous visits (year/month) :
11 Port of Entry :
12 Date(s) of Entry and Departure :
13 Cities and Sites you wish to visit :
14 City/country where you will obtain visa :
So, Turkmenistan is a bit of an enigma. No one knows how it will pan out now that the ex Soviet leader Turkmenbashi has died, but the visa regulations are still as tough as when he lived.
Essential you have the choice of a transit visa, which should be granted, for a time period of between 3-10 days depending on how the particular embassy is feeling, and a tourist visa, which costs about $500 a person and means you have a guide with you the whole time and also must publish your itinerary in advance.
David at Stan tours www.stantours.com has given us an itinerary for a tourist visa, but we have chosen to go for the transit visa, as we are not keen on the idea of having a guide with us.
For the transit visa you must also have your exit and entrance visas sorted, which for us is Iran and Uzbekistan. This does make things complicated.
We have been tipped off that it is easier to get this visa in Turkey than UK. As yet we are undecided where we will get it.
Below what Stan Tours offered us:
Trip day Date Weekday Programme Accommodation
Day 1 18/06 Thu 11 am arrival Gaudan / Badjgiran border pick up / customs
transfer to Ashgabat, hotel Asia
Day 2 19/06 Fri Ashgabat self Asia
Day 3 20/06 Sat noon drive Ashgabat - Darvaza Oasis, en route visit Erbent,
overnight, night visit burning Gas Crate
Day 4 21/06 Sun Continue to Kunya Urgench, visit site, border crossing to
Khodzheylil / Nukus b/f 18:00 pm
Russ: price for 1 pax USD 700 subject to guide/Driver availability
O& J: price for 2 pax USD 300 per person subject to guide availability
INCLUDING
1 Accommodation in single-room with private facilities where available as
indicated or similar, except in Darvaza
2 Meals breakfasts only, except in Darvaza
3 sightseeing as specified in the itinerary with guide
4 entrance fees Kunyaurgench
5 Visa support to Turkmenistan, Travel Voucher, OVIR Police registration,
prices subject to change
6 Escort English-speaking guide for arrival, departure and all days except
days in Ashgabat Russ : on separate support vehicle; O&J: to be seated comfortably in your vehicle EXCLUDING
1 Visa cost,
2 Government Arrival Tax USD 12 pp.
3 Personal spending money
4 Travel insurance
5 Tips for driver and local guide
6 Video & photo camera charges during sightseeing
7 O&J: transportation to and from Darvaza gas crate, and or similar off-road
sites
8 Transport Department charges (USD 150..250 per car, 75..100 per bike),
bridge tolls, parking fees, vehicle maintenance, route reconnaissance
NOTE
1 We have included a low cost hotel in the Berzengi area (10 min from city
centre) - preliminarily the Asia hotel which is 3 Stars at a cost base of USD 40/45 per night.
2 In order to proceed we will need a prepayment of USD 200 flat. We can
proceed with the visa support immediately but not earlier than 3 months prior to arrival, approval takes 3 weeks.
3 Balance is payable cash upon arrival. With the approved LOI you can get
the visa at most TM Embassies, Ashgabat airport, the TM / UZ border, Turkmebashi port or Gaudan / Badjgiran border.
4 We cannot guarantee approval of your visa support by the Turkmen
authorities. In case of a denied visa support you prepayment is refundable in full, but we will charge a service fee of USD 25 per person + bank charges.
Cancellation:
>1 Month 10%
<1 Month 30%
<10 Days 50%
Minimum USD 100 per person
If you wish to proceed we would request your passport info, a passport copy by e-mail or Fax +49 (3212) 1039960 and a prepayment of USD 200 or EUR 150 per group into our Latvian account as follows:
1 Full Name :
2 Date of Birth :
3 City and Country of Birth :
4 Citizenship :
5 Passport Number :
6 Date of the passport issue and expiration :
7 Gender :
8 Occupation and Place of Employment :
9 Address and phone number of place of work :
10 Previous visits (year/month) :
11 Port of Entry :
12 Date(s) of Entry and Departure :
13 Cities and Sites you wish to visit :
14 City/country where you will obtain visa :