adventure travel & photography
Destinations: Pakistan ◦◦ India ◦◦Turkey ◦◦ Egypt ◦◦ Bulgaria ◦◦ Mongolia ◦◦ Bangladesh ◦◦ Jordan ◦◦ Russia ◦◦ Turkmenistan ◦◦ Iran ◦◦ Kazakhstan ◦◦ Japan ◦◦ Hong Kong ◦◦ Greece ◦◦ Ukraine
Type: Photo stories ◦◦ Places ◦◦ Documentary ◦◦ Black and White ◦◦ Fine Art Prints ◦◦ Seascapes ◦◦ Urban
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.
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.
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More about Turkmenistan
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.
Books about Turkmenistan
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Visa requirements
You need a visa. You can check out the procedure here.
Insurance
Do not travel without travel insurance! World Nomads, as it is the only company that covers an unlimited budget, provides coverage of a massive bunch of adventure activities and you can purchase it while on the road. Get a free quote using the form.