After a morning in Kipchak by the capital Ashgabat, we drove out of the city for the Kow Ata Thermal Springs:
Known for its mineral spring waters and healing effects, it’s a 160m journey into the darkness where you can take a quick dip in its dark and yet comfortably warm waters.
Watch your step! It’s a long way down. About 2/3 of the way, there’s a few minimalist stalls where you can get some privacy to change into or out of your swimsuits. No lockers though, but there’s hardly anyone here to steal anything.
We spent about half an hour wading around in the warm waters before heading back up.
Right next door to the springs is an outdoor restaurant where you can have a fantastic BBQ lunch:
We then headed on north towards the Gates of Hell in Darvaza.
- At time of posting in Kow Ata, it was 28 °C - Humidity: 31% | Wind Speed: 11km/hr | Cloud Cover: sunny