Title: Derweze Travel Guide: Best of Derweze, Daşoguz Travel 2026 | Expedia.co.uk

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# Derweze Travel Guide

## Tourist Guide

![Alternatively called Derweze or the door to hell, this crater can be found in the Karakum desert of Turkmenistan, north of Ashgabat. While drilling in 1971, the Soviets tapped into this cavern filled with natural gas. They lit it thinking it would burn itself out in a matter of days. Not so, as you can see! It was mighty hot around the crater's edge, especially when there was a gust of wind. Can you see the people standing near the edge at the back in the middle? That will give you an idea of the size.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6206689/c3439f9b-ee5c-443c-9ef3-4366c4a5bafc.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Darvaza, Turkmenistan - Staring into the flaming gas crater known as the Door to Hell In Darvaza, Turkmenistan.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6206689/37e3ec93-1655-4934-9106-d78c5f8a085c.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![... the door to hell !!

When the soviets were drilling this site for oil in the 1970s, the ground collapsed into a wide crater. The engineers thought of burning the gas to prevent poisonous fumes from releasing into nearby towns. They expected that the gas would burn out within a week but it’s been burning from 45 years !!!! 🔥 
Locals rumor this to be the gateway to hell and quite rightly so. It’s hundreds of kilometers deep in the karakum desert of Turkmenistan without a soul around. 

#darvaza #darvazacrater #turkmenistan #karakum ](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6206689/cbce44d7-113c-4ae8-b327-939572d81fb3.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![A mining disaster turned tourist attraction. The Darvaza Gas Crater is nicknamed the “Door to Hell”. It’s a pit of methane gas that has been burning for 40 years in the northern deserts of Turkmenistan. There is nothing else like it in the world.
#Turkmenistan #Darvaza](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6206689/cc34d219-a450-4f4e-8cdf-faa454387e8b.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![The Door to Hell 

When the soviets were drilling for oil in the seventies, the ground collapsed into a wide crater. There was gas escaping and the engineers feared for the safety of the villages nearby. They decided to set fire so it would burn out in a week. However, it’s been burning from the last 45 years. Locals call this the gateway to hell, hundreds of kilometers deep in the karakum desert 

#darvaza #turkmenistan ](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6206689/f6d218d7-6763-4123-8dc7-c2e1312a5f8a.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

## Visit Derweze

Things to do

![](https://forever.travel-assets.com/flex/flexmanager/images/2026/02/06/expedia-sale-2026-desktop-uk-fr-de.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1400&h=600&q=mediumHigh)

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## Check Derweze hotel availability

[Tonight

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[Tomorrow night

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[Next weekend

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### Popular places to visit

#### Darvaza Flaming Crater

Explore the great outdoors at Darvaza Flaming Crater, a lovely green space in Derweze. Discover the desert landscape while you're in the area. 

[](https://expedia.co.uk/Darvaza-Flaming-Crater-Derweze.d6114412.Attraction)

### Things to do

![Ashgabat - Darvaza Gas Crater](https://mediaim.expedia.com/localexpert/51254725/fbb73688-8801-4ec8-94ec-13843453581c.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

#### Explore Turkmenistan Four Days From Darvaza to Ashgabat

£1,112

per adult

[](https://expedia.co.uk/things-to-do/explore-turkmenistan-four-days-from-darvaza-to-ashgabat.a51254725.activity-details)

[See all activities in Derweze](https://expedia.co.uk/Things-To-Do-In-Derweze.d6206689.Travel-Guide-Activities)

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- [Darvaza Flaming Crater ](https://www.expedia.co.uk/Darvaza-Flaming-Crater-Derweze.d6114412.Attraction)

- Places of interest

- [Darvaza Flaming Crater ](https://expedia.co.uk/Darvaza-Flaming-Crater-Derweze.d6114412.Attraction)

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