Kow Ata is an underground lake inside a limestone cave roughly 100 km northwest of Ashgabat, fed by a geothermal spring that keeps the water at a near-constant 33-37°C year-round. You descend a long staircase through a natural cave mouth into total darkness lit only by artificial lighting, where a resident colony of bats lives in the cave roof, and swim in mineral-rich warm water with a faint smell of sulphur. It is one of the more unusual half-day stops on a Turkmenistan itinerary — part cave exploration, part natural spa.
Kow Ata at a glance
| Location | Bakharden district, about 100 km northwest of Ashgabat |
|---|---|
| Name meaning | “Father of caves” in Turkmen |
| Water temperature | 33–37°C year-round, fed by a geothermal spring |
| Cave depth | The lake sits roughly 60 metres below the entrance, reached by a long stairway |
| Lake size | Around 70 metres long, part of a wider unexplored cave system |
| Notable residents | A large colony of bats living in the cave ceiling |
What it is like to be there
The descent itself is part of the experience: a long metal stairway drops through a wide natural cave mouth into a chamber that stays dim and cool at the entrance and gradually opens into a cavern holding the lake. The air carries a mild sulphur smell from the mineral content of the water, and the cave roof overhead is home to a resident bat colony, visible and audible as you swim. Swimming in warm mineral water inside a lit cave, with no natural daylight at all once you reach the lake, is a genuinely different sensation from any hot spring above ground.
The water is believed locally to have therapeutic properties from its mineral content, and it stays close to bath temperature regardless of the season, which makes it a comfortable stop even on a cool spring or autumn day when little else on the itinerary involves swimming.
How to get there
Kow Ata sits just off the main road between Ashgabat and Darvaza, which makes it an easy and common half-day addition to itineraries already heading toward the gas crater or the wider Karakum desert — most guests visit either on the way out from Ashgabat or on the return leg.
When to go and what to bring
The lake is swimmable year-round because the water temperature does not change with the seasons, so Kow Ata works as a stop in any month, including winter when outdoor activities elsewhere are limited. Bring swimwear, a towel and sandals with grip for the wet stairway; changing facilities are basic rather than resort-standard.
What else is nearby
- Darvaza gas crater — usually visited on the same day or the day after, further into the Karakum desert.
- Ashgabat and Old Nisa — the usual starting point, about two hours away by road.
- Nokhur village — in the Koppet Dag foothills, reachable on itineraries that route through the same western districts.
Kow Ata is included as a half-day stop on most of our Darvaza and Ashgabat-area itineraries. See our Turkmenistan tour packages for routes that include it.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is the underground lake at Kow Ata?
The lake itself is reported to be around 14 metres at its deepest known point, though the full extent of the cave system beyond the lit swimming area has not been fully explored.
Is the water actually warm, or just described that way?
It genuinely is — the geothermal spring keeps it at 33–37°C throughout the year, closer to a warm bath than a typical lake, which is why swimming is possible even outside summer.
Do I need to bring my own swimwear and towel?
Yes. Facilities at the cave are basic — a stairway, lighting and simple changing areas — so bring swimwear, a towel, and sandals with good grip, since the stairs and cave floor can be damp.
Are the bats in the cave a safety concern?
No — the bat colony lives in the upper cave roof well above the lake and swimmers, and they are simply part of the environment rather than something that interacts with visitors.
Can Kow Ata be visited on the same day as the Darvaza gas crater?
Yes, and it commonly is — Kow Ata sits close to the main Ashgabat–Darvaza road, so most itineraries fold it in as a stop on the way to or from the crater rather than as a separate trip.
Is Kow Ata suitable for non-swimmers or those with mobility concerns?
The stairway down is fairly long and has no lift alternative, so it requires a reasonable level of mobility. Non-swimmers can still visit and view the cave and lake without entering the water.
