Ashgabat Health Path

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Saglyk Ýoly - The Trail of Health

Summary: Taking advantage of a work assignment in Ashgabat, we sought out the famous Health Path Saglyk Yoly. Before arriving we saw its photographs on Google Earth, posted like a string of pearls along the ridge contour of the southern mountain range, the Kopet-Dag.

As an encouragement to people to become active and do something for their health and fitness the Turkmen leadership has established a system of improved health trails through the mountains south of Ashgabat, with a total length of more than 30 kilometers.

Health Path 1: The shortest - and most interesting and best maintained - trail encompasses 7 km of an elaborate cemented path of about 2 meters width. The Turkmen leadership is not content with simple trailmarkings: both sides are secured with a metallic lattice fence and lit at night with street lanterns - no need to bring your headlamp. The octagonal golden Seljuk star (an eight point star made of two squares) motive appears on fence and lamps and on the domed pavilions that offer shade in summer.

Along the way life size golden statues of common desert animals have been lovingly placed, some constellations reminiscent of fables.

The trail can be interrupted after about eight kilometers, where there is bus station and a kiosk with tea and refreshments. The President of Turmenistan urges his Ministers, once a year, to complete the walk up to here.

From there, we continued towards the Ashgabat TV station, sitting at 1000 meter altitude. Completed in 2011, with 211 meters it is the highest building in Turkenistan. This second part is less well maintained, and doesn't have golden wildlife on display.

The TV station cannot be visited, at least not by the casual hiker. There is a bus from TV station back to Ashgabat, or hitch a friendly Turkmen, as long as you don't mind to travel without seatbelts.

Beware: this is not a walk in the park, even though the risk of getting lost is minimal. The hike covers about 12.3 kilometers and 1100 meters in elevation gain (and 500 meters in elevation loss).

Note that along the first 7 kilometers of the trail, there are a few alternatives, Following the right fork will be generally easier, while taking the left fork involves more up and down, and is closer to cliffs and views.

Maximum altitude:	1007 meter
Minimum altitude:	338 meter
Cumulative height:	1051 meter
Cumulative length:	12.2 kilometer
Difficulty	easy, but don't underestimate
Time:	5 hours
Date of this record	October 2014
Download GPS info:	Saglyk Yoly 1

Health Path 2: On a typical misty November day an excursion up to the plateau of the Kopet-Dag Mountains is a rewarding thing to do. Hiking is not permitted in the vicinity of the border to Iran, but there is a cable car that was installed in 2006. We had originally planned to hike from the bottom station to the top station, but were not allowed to do so. So we took the ride instead. It costs the equivalent of 50 cents for citizens and foreigners alike: clearly people are supposed to make use of the cable car like they ride the bus.

About ten minutes takes the ride of 3,5 km steep uphill and brings the visitor up to an altitude of 1293m. On a clear day the view over Ashgabat must be spectacular, but even on a cloudy day there are moments of sunshine and partial views along the border range. No hiking is allowed from here, but visitors have to stay in the perimeter of the restaurant facility, which was closed due to the off-season.

There may be a delay in descent though, when the top station’s water supply is being replenished. This happens by way of large containers taking all space of a the cable car. Filling and dewatering takes place as the cabins move along the platform.

There was a reward for the delay: The spectacular sighting of two herds of grazing Marco Polo sheep. Having seen many kind of sheep in different countries such majestic horns were a novelty to us.

We did our stretch of hiking that day, although this part of the health trail is not well trodden and may need some weeding. Starting in fog again at the basis station we had an easy walk down to the edge of the city, from where we caught a conveniently arriving scheduled bus back to the hotel.

Maximum altitude:	1293 meter
Minimum altitude:	517 meter
Cumulative height:	749 meter
Cumulative length:	7.5 kilometer
Difficulty	easy
Time:	2 hours for the hike
Date of this record	October 2014
Download GPS info:	Saglyk Yoly 2

General location and approach: Near Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan

Other Information: Turkmenistan is still very much closed to visitors. For a visa, one needs a letter of invitation. Some travel agencies may be able to arrange this, for certain areas. Some areas of Turkmenistan are closed to visitors. Internet is difficult to get, and facebook and youtube are not accessible from Turkmenistan.

Note that every car in Ashgabat can be taxi, which will cost about two dollars from any to any other location in Ashgabat. Is this sounds cheap, note that petrol can be bought for 25 cents per litre. A taxi to any of the trailheads or ends described here will cost more.

The southern start of the Saglyk Yoly. At the beginning and end of this first well-maintained path are uniformed guards, though no permission is required.

Turkmenistan will be hosting the Asia Games, and doing the health walk seems to be a good preparation.

The start of the hike is fairly spectacular.

The trail soon reaches the top of the ridge, which it will follow for the next 6 or so kilometers

Here, the fence is interrupted and hikers may be at risk of getting lost. Watch out!

The first pavillon. The shade will be very welcome during the summer months.

Once you shed your perceptions of what a hike in the wilderness is about, the trail becomes interesting.

A particularly steep part of the trail, where braces are installed to prevent fatigued hikers from accidentally rolling down.

Another shepherd and his flock. In the distance the border to Iran.

The views are quite spectacular throughout

Descending from the first summit, and approaching the flagpole. In the distance the TV station, our objective.

The Turkmen flag, not on the highest point of the ridge, but where it is most visible

At the end of the first part. We are continuing to the TV station.

Saglyk Yoly snakes across the hills, towards the TV tower

This part of the trail is wide, but less maintained.

View back, from where we came. Saglyk Yoly looks like the Chinese Wall

The TV tower. We expected a restaurant and refreshments, but access is not permitted - as expected in states with this form of governance.

Ashgabat in evening light. The first part of the illuminated Saglyk Yoly can be made out, as well as the TV tower. On the left the (currently pink) monument lovingly dubbed the plunger.

Another day. We are approaching the cable car.

We had intended to walk up, but it was not allowed.

First snow, in early November, in a country otherwise known for its scorching heat

The bulding at the top end of the cable car

View south, towards the Iranian border. The range is close to 3000 meters high.

The TV tower overlooking Ashgabat, which had a cloudy day

The cable car station looks almost Swiss

Security zone below the cable car. No wonder we were not allowed to hike.

Back at the bottom of the cable car, we took the Saglyk Yoly back to Ashgabat. Everything is well signposted, in expectation of much vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

GPS and trailmaps: The map and trailinformation is generated by , based on GPS information collected from the actual hike. Waypoints can be downloaded to a GPS device from Wikiloc. If necessary, use GPSBabel to convert GPS data to different formats. For more hike descriptions by Palmtreetreeproduction, browse this website or visit Wikiloc and search for "Palmtreeproduction". You may also find nearby trails from other authors.

Google Earth: You may also view the trail in 3D by clicking "view in Google Earth" when on Wikiloc. You need to have Google Earth installed on your computer.