Karakala is a small and pleasantly tree-lined mountain town in the heart of the Kopetdag Mountains, from where both the fertile river valleys as well as the lunar-like landscapes can be visited.

Karakala has a botanical garden, is the base for wildlife protection activities, and in a nearby village is a museum dedicated to the famous Turkmen poet Magtymguly. Karakala forms a good overnight location for westward travel from Ashgabat and Nohur to Dehistan and Balkanabad.