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Turkmenistan	Turkmenistan does not like tourists and foreigners? Is it the same in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan? Posted: Tue June 8, 2004 05:49 AM UTC I planned to travel through the CA Republics in Sept. coming from Iran going to China, visiting Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan on the way. First inquiry about the procedures & cost was quite off-putting, leaving me with the impression that Turkmenistan does not really like tourists by making it difficult/expensive for foreigners to visit. From Turkmenistan consulate in Istanbul I learned that they are asking for 91$ for a 1-month Visa from a German (I read that there are cheaper 1/2 week visas, but they say all are the same price). For letter of recommendation they gave a tel-Nr. of a travel agency in I-bul which where asking for 240$ (including 91$ visa fee), procedure will still take 16 days. There is supposed to be another fee of 10$ to be paid to immigration upon arrival. To pay 250$ without having anything seen of the country? That makes more than 35$/day for planned 7-day-stay – much more than my daily travel budget. Did I just bumped into the wrong consulate employee and travel agency or are these common costs for visiting Turkmenistan? I'd like to see the country & meet the people (knowing also some Turkish), but if they intend to prevent travellers to come to Turkmenistan by causing such high entering costs - they might succeed. And given the fact that there is no way around Turkmenistan coming from Iran overland and wanting to continue to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, this might also prevent to see the whole region. How do the procedures and cost look like in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan? I heard its easier and costs less, but I have no precise figures yet. WHO CAN HELP? 1. ARE THERE CHEAPER WAYS TO GET IN AND AROUND TURKMENISTAN? 2. IS THERE REALLY JUST THIS EXPENSIVE 1 MONTH VISA? 3. DO YOU KNOW OTHER TRAVEL AGENCIES OR INDIVIDUALS FROM WHOM I COULD GET THIS OBLIGATORY LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION MUCH CHEAPER? (I heard and read about figures around 20 to 30$ before) 4. ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO GO AROUND? FROM IRAN TO KAZAKSTAN OVER CASPIAN SEA? Thanks for any help Report Advertising or Inappropriate Posting	Doennebrink	2 replies [Reply]

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Turkmenistan does not like tourists and foreigners? Is it the same in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan?
Posted: Tue June 8, 2004 05:49 AM UTC

I planned to travel through the CA Republics in Sept. coming from Iran going to China, visiting Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan on the way. First inquiry about the procedures & cost was quite off-putting, leaving me with the impression that Turkmenistan does not really like tourists by making it difficult/expensive for foreigners to visit.

From Turkmenistan consulate in Istanbul I learned that they are asking for 91$ for a 1-month Visa from a German (I read that there are cheaper 1/2 week visas, but they say all are the same price). For letter of recommendation they gave a tel-Nr. of a travel agency in I-bul which where asking for 240$ (including 91$ visa fee), procedure will still take 16 days. There is supposed to be another fee of 10$ to be paid to immigration upon arrival. To pay 250$ without having anything seen of the country? That makes more than 35$/day for planned 7-day-stay – much more than my daily travel budget.

Did I just bumped into the wrong consulate employee and travel agency or are these common costs for visiting Turkmenistan? I'd like to see the country & meet the people (knowing also some Turkish), but if they intend to prevent travellers to come to Turkmenistan by causing such high entering costs - they might succeed. And given the fact that there is no way around Turkmenistan coming from Iran overland and wanting to continue to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, this might also prevent to see the whole region. How do the procedures and cost look like in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan? I heard its easier and costs less, but I have no precise figures yet.

WHO CAN HELP?

1. ARE THERE CHEAPER WAYS TO GET IN AND AROUND TURKMENISTAN?
2. IS THERE REALLY JUST THIS EXPENSIVE 1 MONTH VISA?
3. DO YOU KNOW OTHER TRAVEL AGENCIES OR INDIVIDUALS FROM WHOM I COULD GET THIS OBLIGATORY LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION MUCH CHEAPER? (I heard and read about figures around 20 to 30$ before)
4. ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO GO AROUND? FROM IRAN TO KAZAKSTAN OVER CASPIAN SEA?

Thanks for any help

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