Day 1: Crossed the border from Khiva and got picked up by Trawelco at the border. Stopped by at Köneürgench for lunch and went to the Darvaza crater. Slept in a tent there for one night.

Day 2: Drive to Ashgabat. Stay in Ashgabat for one night.

Day 3: Another full day in Ashgabat.

Day 4: Fly to Turkmenbashi, get picked up by Trawelco at the airport, and drive to Yangykala Canyon. Camp there for a night.

Day 5: Drive back to Ashgabat. Stay in Ashgabat for one night.

Day 6: One last full day in Ashgabat or make your way to the border you want to cross out.

Day 7: Either fly out from Ashgabat or cross the border to Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, or Kazakhstan.

When To Visit Turkmenistan?
The best time to go to Turkmenistan is during March - May or September - November, when the temperature is more manageable at around 23 - 35°C. The temperature can be extreme during summer and winter, so I wouldn't recommend going during those times.
Things To Prepare Before Traveling To Turkmenistan
Print Documents: With the approved letter invitation provided by your tour agency or embassy, you can get your visa stamp at your designated entry point. However, be sure to print the letter of invitation before arriving at the border.
Prepare enough USD: It is impossible to get USD in the country, so if you have to pay your tour company in Ashgabat with USD, prepare it before you arrive in Turkmenistan. If you carry a VISA ATM, you can get Turkmen Manats out from an ATM at the Oguzkent Hotel in Ashgabat.
Be prepared for internet censorship and limited wifi access: Free wifi is only available in big hotels like Hotel Oguzkent and Grand Turkmen Hotel in Ashgabat, and the internet is heavily censored for obvious reasons. Therefore, have a VPN service installed on your phone. If you are using Android, I'd recommend Orbot as it has never failed me anywhere I went.
One Week Turkmenistan Itinerary
Day 1: Darvaza Crater (1 Night)
The Darvaza crater (the gateway to hell) is probably one of the reasons why you are in Turkmenistan in the first place. This unstoppable burning crater is out of this world. The crater is best seen at night while you camp nearby in the desert. It is less impressive during the day, but still pretty amazing!
Day 2 - 4: Ashgabat (3 Nights)
At first, you will hate Ashgabat, but give it a few days. As you learn the ropes and get used to its weird no-photo policy and the lack of locals walking around the city during the day, you will start to enjoy this white marble city as it is. Ashgabat is an architectural wonder, with many alien-looking white marble structures scattered all around the city. It is like Las Vegas but without the people. Places like the Wedding Palace (Bagt köşgi), Sculpture Of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Alem Center (Älem), Constitution Monument (Konstitusiýa binasy), Bitaraplyk Binasy, and Independence Monument (Garaşsyzlyk binasy) are quite a sight to behold, and photography is allowed here.Here are all the places you should see if you like the over-the-top style of architecture that is abundant in Ashgabat. Personally, I love them!Oguzhan Palace (Oguzhan Köşgi) and the Russian bazaar are also interesting to see, but photo-taking is not allowed as they are near a military barracks. They actually came up to me, looked at my photos on my camera, and deleted them!
Day 5 - 6: Yangykala Canyon (1 Night)
Turkmenistan is at its best when you go outside of the city and to a remote area to camp. Yangykala canyon is one of the most spectacular natural sights in Turkmenistan. With its unique red, pink, and orange bands that stretch across the canyon walls, it is definitely worth visiting all the way out here. The best spot to camp is on the windy plateau above the canyon, where you can enjoy a 180-degree view of Yangykala from above.The sunrise and sunset are the best times to experience the canyon.
This location leans a little towards the expensive side, where I find myself spending approximately $40 - $60 USD per day per person. Despite this, it remains fairly affordable.

Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
How To Get Turkmenistan Visa?
Through Guided Tours (Expensive)
This is the option I chose, as it allowed me more freedom to see the country as it should be seen and to go to remote places with ease. It is also the most expensive option.
If you choose to go with this option, I would recommend reaching out to Trawelco (https://www.trawelco.com) and asking for Dovran as he was the one who recommended the itinerary to me. Trawelco has proven to be one of the cheapest options available and the most reliable. If you decide to go with Trawelco, ask for a driver named Merdan. They said the driver wouldn't be able to speak English, but Merdan was more than capable of explaining the story behind the places you are visiting. Plus, he made a delicious grilled chicken for dinner in the desert.

For the 7-day itinerary recommended in this post, I paid 1,200 USD with Trawelco, including everything such as accommodation, food, jeep, domestic flights, and the 2 visa applications. I could probably have gotten it cheaper if I had booked it earlier since the domestic flight was almost 200 USD more than it should have been.

Note: Even with a guided tour, there is still a 50% chance of your visa getting rejected, so contact your tour agency way in advance before arriving in Central Asia. Mine got rejected once, but thankfully I had 3 weeks' notice, so I was able to apply for another one and got approved in time for my trip.
How To Get To Turkmenistan?
You can fly to Ashgabat or cross the border from Uzbekistan if you are already traveling there. Be sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia before comparing prices, so you get the cheapest flight possible.
How To Get Around Turkmenistan?
If you go on a guided tour, they should provide you with a jeep when traveling anywhere outside of Ashgabat. If you have a transit visa, there will be one or two taxis waiting at the border where you can pay them a ridiculous price (50 USD+) to get to places like Ashgabat or the Darvaza crater, but that is your only option. Public transportation is non-existent outside of Ashgabat.
Within Ashgabat, buses are well-connected and easy to navigate. Just go up to one of the bus stops, look at the color-coded bus lines, and take the one that passes the place you want to see.

That is it for One Week Backpacking Turkmenistan Itinerary in 2024. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!