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Voykit pocket guide · Turkmenistan
Anau
Anau is a half-day trip from Ashgabat: see the Neolithic mounds and the dragon mosaic of Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque, then return. Not a base.
Anau, 15 km southeast of Ashgabat, holds two Neolithic settlements (Tell Anau I and II) and the ruined Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque, a Timurid-era site with a rare dragon mosaic. The 1948 earthquake destroyed the mosque, but the mosaic and the pilgrimage tradition remain. Most visitors combine Anau with Nissa or Geok-tepe in a single day out of Ashgabat.
- Country
- Turkmenistan
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TMT
- Money
- Currency is the Turkmen manat (TMT). The official rate and the street rate differ widely: do not change money on the street; ask your operator how to change.
- Daily spend
- Day trip from Ashgabat TMT 100–250 (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- TMCell (state) sells SIMs to foreigners with a passport; your agency can help.
- Emergency
- Police 02 · Fire 01 · Ambulance 03
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European plugs fit.
- Tipping
- Guide: US$10–20 a day.; Driver: US$5–10 a day.
- Water
- Bottled only.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; basic toilets on the road.
Get in
By air
- ASB · Ashgabat International Airport
- About 25 km (16 mi) northwest; taxi via Ashgabat, about 40 min (check)About 16 mi (25 km) northwest; taxi via Ashgabat, about 40 min (check)
Typical fares
- Ashgabat → Anau by bus
- check
- Ashgabat → Anau by taxi
- TMT 50–100
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bus from Teke Bazaar in Ashgabat to Anau's main market, then walk 2 km (1.2 mi) east to the mounds or 4.5 km (2.8 mi) along the M37 to the mosque. No public transport reaches the mosque. Arrange a taxi or guided driver from Ashgabat.Bus from Teke Bazaar in Ashgabat to Anau's main market, then walk 1.2 mi (2 km) east to the mounds or 2.8 mi (4.5 km) along the M37 to the mosque. No public transport reaches the mosque. Arrange a taxi or guided driver from Ashgabat.
See and do
Known for
- Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque and its dragon mosaic
- Tell Anau I and II Neolithic mounds
- Pilgrimage site for childless couples
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ashgabat | Bus from Teke Bazaar or taxi, about 15 km (9.3 mi)Bus from Teke Bazaar or taxi, about 9.3 mi (15 km) | 30–40 min |
| Nissa | Taxi from Ashgabat, about 20 km (12 mi) northwestTaxi from Ashgabat, about 12 mi (20 km) northwest | About 1 h |
| Geok-tepe | Taxi from Ashgabat, about 45 km (28 mi) northwestTaxi from Ashgabat, about 28 mi (45 km) northwest | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Ashgabat
- Anau has no tourist accommodation. Stay in Ashgabat and day-trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Salamsah-lam |
| Thank you | Sag boluňsag bo-lung |
| How much? | Näçe?na-che |
| Where is the mosque? | Metjit nirede?met-jit nee-re-de |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake between men with both hands for elders; avoid: Greeting women with a handshake unless offered
- Public talk: Keep politics out of conversation; avoid: Questions that put your guide at risk
- Home: Shoes off; accept tea; avoid: Stepping on the dastarkhan cloth
Scams and watch-outs
- The mosque is a ruin after the 1948 earthquake; only the mosaic above the entrance arch remains intact.
- No facilities at the mosque site; bring water and sun protection.
- Independent travel is restricted in Turkmenistan: confirm your visit with your licensed operator.
- The mounds are unmarked and can be hard to find without a guide.
Turkmenistan is a tightly controlled country; follow your operator's instructions. The main risks are heat, dehydration and the lack of medical facilities outside Ashgabat.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Anau yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque and its dragon mosaic
- Tell Anau I and II Neolithic mounds
- Pilgrimage site for childless couples
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Anau, revision 4672554 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4672554
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/anau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.