adventure travel & photography
Destinations: Pakistan ◦◦ India ◦◦Turkey ◦◦ Egypt ◦◦ Bulgaria ◦◦ Mongolia ◦◦ Bangladesh ◦◦ Jordan ◦◦ Russia ◦◦ Turkmenistan ◦◦ Iran ◦◦ Kazakhstan ◦◦ Japan ◦◦ Hong Kong ◦◦ Greece ◦◦ Ukraine ◦◦ Syria ◦◦ Morocco ◦◦ Italy ◦◦ Mauritania ◦◦ Oman ◦◦ Algeria ◦◦ Faroe Islands ◦◦ Indonesia
Type: Photo stories ◦◦ Places ◦◦ Documentary ◦◦ Black and White ◦◦ Limited Edition Fine Art Prints ◦◦ Unlimited Edition Fine Art Prints ◦◦ Seascapes ◦◦ Urban ◦◦ Thousand Voyages Video Collection
Tours/Expeditions: List with all our scheduled tours and expeditions
About the place
In May 2016, I led a small group to Turkmenistan. As a part of the tour, we visited the interesting village of Nokhur, located at the foot of the Kopet Dag Mountains, which form the border between Iran and southern Turkmenistan. The most remarkable place in the area is actually outside the village - the local cemetery. The graves are marked with horns of mountain goats, indicating burial rites steeped in animism and Zoroastrianism.
Join us on a trip to Turkmenistan with a small group of up to 7 people
The locals follow an ancient belief that mountain goats are sacred animals and have the ability to ward off evil spirits and ensure the soul a safe passage to heaven. When someone dies, a relative kills a goat and mounts the horns on the tombstone. Usually, these graves are decorated with the horns of Urial mountain sheep and goats, which are attached to a wooden post. Some of these posts are even decorated with engravings and silk fabrics, as a sign of respect to the deceased.
Join us on a trip to Turkmenistan with a small group of up to 7 people
Gallery
Location
Travel to Turkmenistan
We usually have one or two small groups (max 7/8 participants) per year travelling to Turkmenistan. If you are interested in joining a group setting out from Europe, please drop me a line. We will provide more information, like dates, a program, and other details.
I organize and lead small groups to Turkmenistan through my licensed travel agency "Thousand Voyages" Ltd. You can find out more about the guided tours here.