Title: Derweze Travel Guide: Best of Derweze, Daşoguz Travel 2026 | Expedia.co.uk [Hotels in Derweze](https://expedia.co.uk/Derweze-Hotels.d6206689.Travel-Guide-Hotels)[Holiday Rentals in Derweze](https://expedia.co.uk/Derweze-Holiday-Rentals.d6206689.Travel-Guide-HolidayRentals)[Derweze Car Hire](https://expedia.co.uk/Compare-Cheap-Car-Hire-In-Derweze.d6206689.Car-Hire-Guide)[Derweze Holidays](https://expedia.co.uk/Derweze.d6206689.Holidays-City-Breaks) # 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) ![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) ## Visit Derweze Things to do ## Check Derweze hotel availability [Tonight ](https://expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.DestinationExperience&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=6206689&startDate=2026-01-28&endDate=2026-01-29)[28 Jan - 29 Jan](https://expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.DestinationExperience&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=6206689&startDate=2026-01-28&endDate=2026-01-29) [Tomorrow night ](https://expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.DestinationExperience&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=6206689&startDate=2026-01-29&endDate=2026-01-30)[29 Jan - 30 Jan](https://expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.DestinationExperience&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=6206689&startDate=2026-01-29&endDate=2026-01-30) [This weekend ](https://expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.DestinationExperience&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=6206689&startDate=30%2F01%2F2026&endDate=01%2F02%2F2026)[30 Jan - 1 Feb](https://expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.DestinationExperience&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=6206689&startDate=30%2F01%2F2026&endDate=01%2F02%2F2026) [Next weekend ](https://expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.DestinationExperience&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=6206689&startDate=06%2F02%2F2026&endDate=08%2F02%2F2026)[6 Feb - 8 Feb](https://expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?rfrrid=TG.LP.CheckPrices.DestinationExperience&adults=2&openPlayBack=true®ionId=6206689&startDate=06%2F02%2F2026&endDate=08%2F02%2F2026) ### 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) ## Explore a world of travel with Expedia - Accommodation - Packages - [Hotels near Darvaza Flaming Crater ](https://www.expedia.co.uk/Darvaza-Flaming-Crater-Hotels.0-l6114412-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels) - [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) ![](https://a.travel-assets.com/mad-service/footer/bnaBanners/BEX_Footer.jpg) ## Go further with the Expedia app Save on select hotels when you book in the app. Our app deals help you to save on trips so you can travel more and manage it all on the go. Scan the QR code with your device camera and download our app