Ashgabat is a wonder, in that it is a huge, richly decorated, marble clad capital city that’s streets are largely empty of people.

Extravagant monuments and the golden statues of Turkmenbashi are key highlights of the city which holds the world record for the largest architectural star, among many other records including the world’s highest concentration of white marble buildings.

There are a number of museums, although entry prices can be high, such as the The Turkmen Carpet Museum, Fine Arts and the National Museum of History. There are also mosques and churches across the city with highlights being Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque and Ertugrul Gazi Mosque.

Any visit to Turkmenistan is necessarily guided, but Ashgabat is a place where rules are more relaxed. Budget an extra day here to wander unaccompanied and do some souvenir shopping. Besides sheepskin hats and intricate carpets, Turkmens are also famous for their ornate jewellery and their cognac.