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Yangykala Canyon A Natural Wonder In Turkmenistan.

In the far, western part of Turkmenistan is a natural wonder that very few people have heard about, and even fewer people have seen, The Yangykala Canyon.

A vast rock landscape with rock walls as tall as 60-100meters colored with pink, red, and yellow colors.

A landscape that was created more than 5.5 million years ago, when the red cliffs wall you know see, were underwater limestone walls full of massive coral reefs from the pre-historical Parathetys Sea. 

If you are in Turkmenistan you can´t miss out on visiting the most famous natural site in the country, the Darvaza Gas Crater, better known as the gates to hell. 

A site that if it were in most other countries, this would surely be world-famous, but since it’s in Turkmenistan no one has ever heard of it.

The viewpoint called jaws of a crocodile in Yangykala Canyon Turkmenistan
The viewpoint called jaws of a crocodile

It´s so remote that not even most of the local Turkmens know that this place exists in their own country. It´s indeed one of the most spectacular natural attractions in all of Central Asia and a real of the beaten path destination.

Yangykala Canyon is located 165km north of the town Balkanabat the 5th largest city in the country and the capital of Balkan Province, the largest province in the country, and home to 94% of Turkmenistan’s natural gas production and 12% of its petroleum production.

So the province is one of few places in the country that sees ex-pats workers,  yet very few tourists make it to this part of Turkmenistan, which should be to no one’s surprise since Turkmenistan only had 7000 foreign visitors in 2018, making it the 11th least visited country in the world last year. Turkmenistan is home to some of the world´s most bizarre rules.

Passing a few camels along the way to Yangykala canyon in Turkmenistan
You are passing a few camels along the way to Yangykala canyon.

Leaving Balkanabat, you venture on a four-hour journey to the north into no-mans-land with only a few very remote settlements, only possible to visit with a 4X4.

Leaving the good tarmac highway that goes across all of Turkmenistan, do you soon enter an old pothole full road that probably hasn’t been repaired since the fall of the Soviet in late 1991.

Heading into no mans land in western Turkmenistan on my way to Yangykala Canyon.
I am heading into no man’s land in western Turkmenistan.
Windy with sand blowing around on the way to Yangykala Canyon in western Turkmenistan
Windy with the sand blowing around.
One of the few and remote settlements along the day in Turkmenistan
One of the few and remote settlements along the way.

While driving along the desolated road is it easy to get lost in the endless horizons, the only thing that seems interesting along the way is the few camels that walk along the road and a few vultures in the far distance.

Except for that is not much that will draw your attention before catching the first glimpse of the vast canyon, that stretches over an area of 25km towards the Garagogazgol basin.

While the whole landscape it´s all impressing is it not before you drive off the main road and of to what´s no more than just a sand track you really get to see how impressive this natural wonder is.

The straight road to nowhere in Turkmenistan
The straight road to nowhere.
The begining of the Yangykala Canyon
The beginning of the Yangykala Canyon
Getting closer and the colours are more easy to see in Turkmenistan
Getting closer and the colors are easier to see.
landscape in Turkmenistan
scenery
nature in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan lanscape in Yangykala Canyon.
Yangykala Canyon landscape in Turkmenistan

The most famous formation is The viewpoint that’s called jaws of a crocodile, which is also the best place to get a panoramic view of the vast desolated landscape that surrounded the Yangykala Canyon.

The viewpoint called jaws of a crocodile in Yangykala Canyon.
The viewpoint is called the jaws of a crocodile.
Yangykala Canyon in Turkmenistan

The colors of the canyons are said to change from bright white over yellow/orange to rust-red in the rain. When I visited the Yangykala Canyon, was it overclouded and extremely windy.

How To Visit The Yangykala Canyon.

A visit to the canyons is a minimum three-day trip from Ashgabat, and special permits need to be obtained before arrival in Turkmenistan. Which every local travel agency in Turkmenistan can arrange.

Yangykala is located 590km/366miles north-west of Ashgabat, 170km/106miles east of Turkmenbashi, and 165km/102miles north of Balkanabat.

The most common itinerary to visit Yangykala Canyon is on a trip between Turkmenbashi and Balkanabat. I left Balkanabat around 9 am and arrived in Turkmenbashi around 6 pm, so it´s a long and full-day trip.

There´s no public transportation to Yangykala Canyon, so you are required to hire an experienced off-road driver, and plenty of spare petrol and water are important measures.

While there are no accommodation options within the canyon, the closest would be in either Turkmenbashi or Balkanabat, so are it possible to camp at the plateau above the canyon, although it can get windy here.

While most tour companies run trips here, not all include it on their standard itineraries, so make inquiries when planning your trip.

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Travel guide to western Turkmenistan is a natural wonder that very few people have heard about and even fewer people have seen, The Yangykala Canyon.
In far, western Turkmenistan is a natural wonder that very few people have heard about and even fewer people have seen, The Yangykala Canyon.

Linda

Saturday 26th of February 2022

Is travel to Iraq possible? I would love to see tag kasra.

I Visited Yangy Kala Canyon In Turkmenistan – DittoBop

Friday 23rd of August 2019

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Ewa

Tuesday 23rd of July 2019

Christian, would you recommend a travel agency which arranges the permits and trip to canyon? Wishes, Ewa

Christian L.

Monday 12th of August 2019

hello Ewa-

So sorry for the late reply. But http://travelnotoria.com/ company I used, and I can highly recommend them.

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Friday 12th of July 2019

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