This little-visited country in Central Asia hides ancient mausoleums, an eternal fire in the desert and a warm, traditional culture.

Once a key stop along the Silk Road trading route, Turkmenistan has long been a portal between the West and the Orient and the culture reflects an interesting fusion of influences.

The clean, modern capital, Ashgabat, is a study in glittering white marble dotted with vibrant markets, historical buildings and excellent museums.

Not far from Ashgabat in the Karam Desert lies a bizarre and beautiful phenomenon: Darvaza’s Crater. Also dubbed ‘The Gateway to Hell’, it is the product of a gas drilling project gone away and burns constantly, lighting up the sky with a spectacular glow at night.