Turkmenistan: Train from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi

We took an overnight train from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi, crossing the entire country west to east toward the Caspian Sea. It’s got all the old Soviet charm going for it – old trains, slow and bumpy ride, and toilets from 1970s. Unlike the old USSR trains, no tea is being served on board, but the floor is covered lux Turkmen carpets and the president is displayed in every carriage. It’s a great way to see the entire country – mountains to the south and lots of fields and vineyards to the north that get gradually replaced by the desert.