32 Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences to Add to Your Bucket List

5. Experience the "Door to Hell" in Turkmenistan

Deep in the Karakum Desert, there’s a massive crater that has been burning non-stop for over 50 years—a sight so surreal, it’s been dubbed the “Door to Hell.”This fiery pit, measuring 70 meters (230 feet) wide and 30 meters (98 feet) deep, was created in 1971 when a Soviet drilling operation accidentally punctured a massive underground natural gas cavern, causing the ground to collapse. To prevent the spread of deadly methane gas, scientists decided to set it on fire, expecting it to burn for a few days. It’s still burning today.Visiting this otherworldly inferno at night is an unforgettable experience. As darkness falls, the crater glows with an intense orange light, casting eerie shadows across the barren desert landscape. The heat from the flames is so intense that you can feel it from several meters away, and the sheer scale of the crater is awe-inspiring. Adventurous travelers can camp nearby for the full "end-of-the-world" experience, watching the flames flicker under the star-filled desert sky. Despite its remote location, the Door to Hell is one of the most unique and extreme travel experiences you’ll ever have. Best Time to Go: Spring or Fall, when temperatures are more bearable in the desert.