We are in Turkmenistan!

We’re in Turkmenistan.
Unfortunately, it is illegal to film at the border, but here’s how it went:

Our Uzbek driver dropped us off at the border, and we completed the exit procedures from Uzbekistan.
The two border posts are about 300 meters apart, separated by a bridge over the river. We had to wait for an old bus that took us across the 300 meters and charged us some som/manat.

This is where the things get more complicated. We entered a building full of military personnel, where chaos reigns—people shouting, walking, and tourist guides bustling around. In front of us is a huge group of Taiwanese tourists.

We spot our guide, who took our passports and went to speak with the officials to obtain the touristic visa.
Meanwhile, we take a COVID test (still mandatory), whose validity I seriously doubt since the swab barely touched the nose.

Once the results are ready, we could go to the next desk, where the guide handles everything for us. We just had to pay $120—strictly in cash, in USD (no euro) and only with bills that are in perfect conditions.

After getting the visa, there’s a luggage check (drones are illegal and are confiscated), and then it is possible to exit. From this point on, we will have two guides following us every minute.

It was not very complex, the most challenging part is obtaining the letter of invitation issued before. It is very easy to be rejected at this step after submitting a request.Read more