For those eager to discover a truly unglimpsed world, Turkmenistan barely features in Western travel promo. Yet this cagey country has enough natural wonders, architectural ruins and glittering cities to compete with the best. Most famous are the ruins at Merv, the one-time greatest metropolis in the world, a Silk Road oasis in the vast cruel desert. Turkmenistan’s natural beauty is not all sand and mountain, but includes an underground lake and volcanic crater – the latter known as the Door to Hell. If Turkmenistan is a little known destination, one thing is for sure – it’s not for lack of attractions.