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Major city · Turkmenistan

Altin DepeAltyn Depe

Skip unless you are a Bronze Age archaeology specialist: the site is unexcavated, unmarked and a 3-hour drive from Ashgabat with no facilities.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Altin Depe (Golden Hill) is a 3rd–2nd millennium BC settlement with a ziggurat-like tower and artisan quarters, but the site has not been excavated for years, has no signage or paths, and requires a guided car from Ashgabat or Tejen. Only visit if you have a strong interest in Central Asian prehistory and a full day to spare.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
TMT
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (desert heat), Dec–Feb (cold nights)
Airport
ASB
Nights
0

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Altin Depe: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6Land borders between Central Asian states open and shut w…Almost all tourist visas need an invitation letter from a…
  • Central Asia ↗Keep every hotel registration slip or its e-registration record until you leave Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; border officers can ask for proof of where you slept and fine gaps.
  • Central Asia ↗Land borders between Central Asian states open and shut with politics and demarcation deals; confirm the exact post is open to foreigners the week you cross.
  • Turkmenistan ↗Almost all tourist visas need an invitation letter from a licensed Turkmen operator, issued before you apply; arrivals without one are refused boarding or entry.
  • Turkmenistan ↗Independent travel is not the expected model: itineraries are declared to the authorities, and travel outside Ashgabat needs permits your operator arranges.
  • Turkmenistan ↗Do not photograph government buildings, presidential palaces, military sites, police, airports or border areas; ask your guide before raising a camera.
  • Turkmenistan ↗Foreign cards and ATMs rarely work: bring enough clean, undamaged US dollar or euro notes for the whole trip and change only through official channels.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Altin Depe102 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Altin Depe, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Budget bedHotel Tejen (basic double), a night, per roomTMT 60
  • Mid-range bedHotel Tejen (basic double), a night, per roomTMT 60
  • High-end bedHotel Tejen (basic double), a night, per roomTMT 60

A day, not counting the bed: Budget TMT 200 · Mid TMT 500 · High TMT 1,000

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Bronze Age ziggurat towerGold wolf and bull heads (now in Ashgabat museum)Connections to Mesopotamia and Harappa
Airports
ASB Ashgabat International Airport (About 230 km (143 mi) northwest; 3-hour drive via Tejen)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    10°C (50°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  5. May

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    39°C (102°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    42°C (108°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    41°C (106°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    35°C (95°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (42°C (108°F)), coolest Jan (−1°C (30°F) low), wettest Mar (8 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Altin Depe: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

10°C (50°F)

−1°C (30°F)

5 rd

Feb

12°C (54°F)

0°C (32°F)

6 rd

Mar

18°C (64°F)

5°C (41°F)

8 rd

Apr

26°C (79°F)

11°C (52°F)

7 rd

May

33°C (91°F)

17°C (63°F)

5 rd

Jun

39°C (102°F)

22°C (72°F)

1 rd

Jul

42°C (108°F)

25°C (77°F)

0 rd

Aug

41°C (106°F)

23°C (73°F)

0 rd

Sep

35°C (95°F)

17°C (63°F)

1 rd

Oct

27°C (81°F)

10°C (50°F)

3 rd

Nov

19°C (66°F)

4°C (39°F)

4 rd

Dec

12°C (54°F)

0°C (32°F)

5 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

No public transport to the site. You need a private car or a guided tour from Ashgabat or Tejen. The site has no paths or signs.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Ashgabatgo

Door to door: 3 h

Private car via Tejen, about 3 hours

Base for Altin Depe; see Nissa and Anau on the same trip.

Nissa

go

Door to door: 3.5 h

Same route, detour near Ashgabat

Parthian fortress ruins; combine with Altin Depe for a full day.

Anau

go

Door to door: 2.5 h

Private car, about 2.5 h

Bronze Age site with a mosque; less remote than Altin Depe.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Tejen

The only nearby town with a hotel (Hotel Tejen); basic, no air conditioning, communal showers.

Ashgabat

Better options but 3 hours away; most visitors day-trip from here.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
TMT 200–350 (check)
Mid
TMT 400–700 (check)
High
TMT 800+ (check)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel in Ashgabat1 × 1 night × TMT 500TMT 500
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × TMT 500TMT 1,000
Private car Ashgabat–Altin Depe return (with driver)1 × TMT 600 · check — negotiate with operatorTMT 600
Guide (English, half day)1 × TMT 300 · checkTMT 300
Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeTMT 360
Trip total≈ TMT 1,380 per person per day, bed includedTMT 2,760

2026 estimate in TMT; flights and visa fees excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Bottle of water (1.5 L)checkTMT 3–5
Meal in Tejen (basic)checkTMT 30–50
Private car Ashgabat–Altin Depe (one way)check — negotiateTMT 200–400

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The site is remote and unstaffed; no crime risk, but heatstroke and dehydration are real. Carry 3 litres of water per person and a first-aid kit.
  • No excavations have occurred for many years; the site is hard to navigate.
  • No food, water or shade at the site — bring supplies.
  • You must have a Turkmen visa and an approved operator to enter the country; independent travel is not possible.

Emergency numbers

Police
102
Fire
101
Ambulance
103

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Altin DepeAltyn Depe

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Bu adrese, haýyşTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police102
  • Fire101
  • Ambulance103

Embassy

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Ashgabat → Altin Depe (private car): about TMT 200–400 one way, 3 h (check)
  • Tejen → Altin Depe (taxi): about TMT 50–100, 20 min (check)

Say or show

  • Salam — Hello (sah-LAHM)
  • Sag boluň — Thank you (sahg bo-LOON)
  • Näçe? — How much? (NAH-cheh)
  • Ýadygärlik nirede? — Where is the site? (yah-dy-gair-LEEK nee-reh-DEH)

Turkmen is the official language; Russian is widely understood in cities.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Altin Depe. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (desert heat), Dec–Feb (cold nights) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Place page with verified access conditions and operator contacts.
  2. Day-trip itinerary from Ashgabat combining Nissa and Altin Depe.
  3. Pocket card with emergency numbers and phrase list for Turkmen.

Meanwhile

Back to Turkmenistan

Sources

Ask about Altin Depe

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