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Major city · Turkmenistan

Gonur Depe

Gonur Depe is a half-day trip from Mary for archaeology enthusiasts: 2 hours each way by 4WD, 2 hours on site. Skip it if you have less than a full day in Mary Province.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Gonur Depe is a Bronze Age fortress and the capital of the ancient Margiana civilization, contemporary with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. The site has a palace, temples with fire altars, and a royal tomb with a 1.3 m bronze cauldron. It is 60 km north of Mary, reachable only by 4WD on a rough desert track. Most travellers visit as a guided day trip from Mary, with a driver and guide required.

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, Oct
avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold and wind)
Airport
MYP
Nights
0

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Gonur 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 Gonur 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 Gonur 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.

  • Museum or sight ticketEntry feeCamera US$1.20US$1
  • Budget bedHotel in Mary (double room), a night, per roomTMT 30
  • Mid-range bedHotel in Mary (double room), a night, per roomTMT 50
  • High-end bedHotel in Mary (double room), a night, per roomTMT 80

A day, not counting the bed: Budget TMT 70 · Mid TMT 85 · High TMT 100

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 fortress of MargianaPalace and fire-altar templesRoyal tomb with bronze cauldronPossible birthplace of Zoroastrianism
Airports
MYP Mary International Airport (Flights from Ashgabat (about 1 h); then 60 km (37 mi) north by 4WD)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    11°C (52°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  5. May

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    37°C (99°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    39°C (102°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    38°C (100°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    16°C (61°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    10°C (50°F)

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

Warmest Jul (39°C (102°F)), coolest Jan (−2°C (28°F) low), wettest Mar (8 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Gonur 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

8°C (46°F)

−2°C (28°F)

6 rd

Feb

11°C (52°F)

0°C (32°F)

6 rd

Mar

17°C (63°F)

5°C (41°F)

8 rd

Apr

24°C (75°F)

11°C (52°F)

7 rd

May

31°C (88°F)

17°C (63°F)

4 rd

Jun

37°C (99°F)

22°C (72°F)

1 rd

Jul

39°C (102°F)

24°C (75°F)

0 rd

Aug

38°C (100°F)

22°C (72°F)

0 rd

Sep

32°C (90°F)

16°C (61°F)

1 rd

Oct

24°C (75°F)

9°C (48°F)

4 rd

Nov

16°C (61°F)

3°C (37°F)

5 rd

Dec

10°C (50°F)

−1°C (30°F)

6 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

A 4WD with driver is mandatory for the last 20 km of rough desert track. Arrange through a hotel or tour operator in Mary. The trip from Mary takes about 2 hours each way.

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
Marygo

Door to door: About 5–6 h round trip

4WD from Mary, about 2 h each way

Base yourself in Mary; arrange the trip through a hotel or operator.

Mervgo

Door to door: About 1 h

From Mary, about 30 min by taxi

Combine with Gonur Depe if you have two days in Mary Province.

Bayramaly

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

From Mary, about 20 min by taxi

Small town with a bazaar; not a priority unless you have time.

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.

Mary city centre

The nearest accommodation; about 1 h 15 min drive to Gonur Depe. Hotels near the bazaar or the railway station.

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
Trip cost (half day, per person)
US$70–100 (car + driver + guide + entry)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel in Mary (double room)1 × 1 night × TMT 50TMT 50
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × TMT 85TMT 170
Car and driver (half day, from Mary)1 × TMT 40 · Split among travellersTMT 40
Guide (half day)1 × TMT 30 · Split among travellersTMT 30
Entry fee2 × TMT 1 · Camera fee US$1.20 extraTMT 2
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeTMT 29
Trip total≈ TMT 161 per person per day, bed includedTMT 321

Nearest accommodation; add to trip cost if overnighting.

2026 estimate in US dollars; prices are per person for a half-day trip from Mary. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Car and driver (half day, from Mary)Per groupUS$40
Guide (half day)Per groupUS$30
Entry feeCamera US$1.20US$1
Hotel double room in MaryPer nightUS$30–80

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The main risks are the rough desert track (4WD essential) and extreme summer heat. Always travel with a guide arranged through a licensed operator. The site has no shade or water.
  • No public transport: you must hire a car and driver (about US$40) and a guide (about US$30) in Mary.
  • The road is a very rough track for the last 20 km (12 mi); a 4WD is essential.
  • No facilities at the site: bring water, snacks and sun protection.
  • Check with your operator that the site is open on the day of your visit.

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.

Gonur DepeGonur Depe

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Gonur Depe, haýyşTo Gonur Depe, please

Emergency

  • Police102
  • Fire101
  • Ambulance103

Embassy

Most foreign embassies are in Ashgabat; your operator will handle permits and guidance.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Mary → Gonur Depe (4WD, one way): about US$20 per person (group of 2), 2 h
  • Entry fee: US$1, camera US$1.20

Say or show

  • Salam — Hello (salam)
  • Sag boluň — Thank you (sag bolung)
  • Näçe? — How much? (nache)
  • Hawa / Ýok — Yes / No (hawa / yok)
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 Gonur 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, Oct · avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold and wind) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 1 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Place page with verified entry fees and opening hours.
  2. Eat page for Mary (nearest dining).
  3. Sleep page for Mary with operator contacts for Gonur Depe trips.

Meanwhile

Back to Turkmenistan

Sources

Ask about Gonur Depe

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