Central Asia is so jam-packed with historical and natural sights that it would literally take years to explore it all. We guess that you are rather short on time, but still want to see as much as possible. That’s why we’ve put together this 14-day trip across five countries to offer the most to travelers. The best Central Asia Group Tour 2023-2024 with fixed dates is the best way to see the most interesting places in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. If you want to prolong your trip, we are happy to offer an extension with the Small Group Tour to the South Caucasus.
Experience the urban charm of Almaty or the serene beauty of Kolsay Lakes and Charyn Canyon through tailored pre-tours in Kazakhstan.
Explore glittering Astana or nature art at Charyn Canyon with pre-tours in Kazakhstan.
Participants need to be in good health, be able to walk 4-6 hours every day at moderate speed, climb stairs and hills, and be able to carry their own luggage for up to 1km across borders.
Tour itinerary:
Arrive in Almaty. Our driver will meet you and take you to the hotel. Check in at 14:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast. At 09:00, your guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby to start a sightseeing tour of Almaty. Highlights of this morning will include Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Republic Square, and the Almaty City Museum. After a welcome lunch, a short drive (25 km) will take you to Chimbulak. Here, visit the ski resort and ride the cable car to enjoy the amazing views of the snowy peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast depart Almaty and drive to Bishkek via a newly built highway, enjoy nature landscapes on the way (250 km, 4 h.). Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast. Depart Bishkek at 09:00. The first stop will be Burana Tower, which was part of the ancient city of Balasagun (11th to 13th centuries) and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next on the agenda will be experiencing a Kyrgyz national horse game called “Ulak Tartysh” (goat pulling). Ulak Tartysh (also known as Kok Boru) is a fight between two teams of horse riders for a goat carcass. Transfer to Don Aryk village and have lunch at the home of a local Kyrgyz family. After lunch, watch a demonstration of yurt construction and even take part if you wish. Local Kyrgyz women will explain the meaning and use of each part of the yurt. Transfer to Bishkek airport (110 km, ~1h 30 min) to take flight HY780 to Tashkent, which departs at 18:10 and arrives at 18:30 (1h 20 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Breakfast. Start the Tashkent city tour at 10:00 by visiting the Old City of Tashkent. This area encompasses the Khast-Imam Complex (famous for displaying one of the earliest copies of the Qur’an, the Holy Book of Islam), and Chorsu Bazaar, where you can haggle for spices, dried fruit, and nuts. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour. The city tour will take 4-5 hours, after which you’ll have some free time. At 18:00, transfer to the railway station. The high-speed train Afrosiyob
, departs at 18:50 and arrives in Samarkand at 21:00 (300 km, 2h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
, departs at 18:50 and arrives in Samarkand at 21:00 (300 km, 2h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.Breakfast. At 09:00, transfer to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border station, Jartepa (50 km, 1 h). Go through customs and passport control on both sides, and meet your local Tajik guide and driver to drive to the Seven Lakes (80 km, ~2 h). These lakes are located in the western part of the Fann Mountains. Each lake has its own color, varying from calming turquoise to mesmerizing purple. Have lunch at the guest house next to the 4th lake, where you’ll also stay overnight.
Note: Today's accommodation, a homestay with a local family, will have quite basic facilities. Hot water, while normally available, is not 100% reliable. The toilet and showers are outside and shared. You may need to share a room with others in your group (especially during high season), with separate bedrooms for men and women. In return, you'll have a unique opportunity to learn about the Tajik culture and the area from the locals' perspective as you share the family's traditional meals and experience their day-to-day life.
Breakfast. Drive to ancient Penjikent (80 km, ~1 h 30 min), the ruins of a town founded by the Sogdians in the 5th century and abandoned by Arabs in the 8th century. The foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples, and the remains of the city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. In the newer part of Penjikent, visit a local bazaar, a mosque, and the Rudaki Museum (Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian poetry). After a 3-hour sightseeing tour, drive to the Jartepa border crossing (30 km, 40 min) in the late-afternoon and complete the border formalities. On the Uzbek side, your driver will meet you and take you to the hotel in Samarkand. Free time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast. At 09:00, the city tour will begin with a visit to the spectacular Registan Square, followed by the Gur Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Explore the ruins of the Bibi Khanum Mosque and Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, and then take a short drive to Konigil village to find out about the traditional techniques used to make the famous Samarkand paper from mulberry bark. Free time. At 20:00 transfer to the railway station. Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing at 21:00 and arriving in Bukhara at 22:35 (270 km, 1 h 35 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
train departing at 21:00 and arriving in Bukhara at 22:35 (270 km, 1 h 35 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.Breakfast. At 09:00, start exploring the Old City of Bukhara. Highlights of the walking tour will include: the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasa, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasa, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrasas, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums, and various trading domes. Free time from 15:00 until the National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa, which starts at 18:00. Overnight at the hotel.
Early breakfast. Depart at 06:30 for the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border point, Farap-Alat (100 km, 1 h 30 min). After completing the border formalities at both checkpoints, cross the 1.5 km neutral zone (transportation may not be available) to meet your Turkmen guide. Continue to Merv (300 km, 5 h 30 min), an ancient city that was a major center of international trade and crafts on the Silk Road. Merv is also home to a historical park for you to discover, with sights including: the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, Major and Minor Kyz-Kala, Erk-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, Keshk Fortress, and others. Lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to Mary Airport (40 km, 30 min) to take the evening flight to Ashgabat at 18:10. Upon arrival in Ashgabat at 18:50, transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Breakfast, followed by a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat. Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, has recently been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as having more white marble buildings than any other city in the world. During the city tour, explore the archaeological site of Old Nissa (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Spiritual Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia. Visit the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque and the recently-built Independence Park. The sightseeing tour will take about 6 hours and the afternoon will feature a drive through the Karakum Desert to the famous Darvaza Gas Crater (280 km, 4 h). After arriving at the crater, camp will be set up and you’ll enjoy a delicious, fire-cooked dinner near the “Gates of Hell”. Overnight in tents.
Note: At Darvaza camp you will be provided with sleeping bags, pillows, and 1- or 2-person tents. There is also an option to share a yurt with 3-5 other group members. In both cases, toilets and basic washing facilities are outside.
Camp-style breakfast. Drive back through the Karakum Desert to the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border point, Dashoguz-Shavat (270 km, 4 h). Following border formalities at both checkpoints and crossing the 1.5 km neutral zone (transportation may not be available), your Uzbek driver will meet you to begin the trip to Khiva (60 km, 1 h). Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. Free time.
Breakfast and hotel check out (the hotel will store your luggage safely for the day). Spend the morning at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ichan-Kala Fortress. Highlights of the morning walking tour include the Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasa, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasa, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, and Minaret of Islom Khodja. In the evening, there will be a masterclass on cooking tukhumbarak (egg dumplings, characteristic of Khivan cuisine). Farewell dinner. Transfer to Urgench Airport at 20:30 (30 km, 35 min). Your flight to Tashkent departs at 22:05 and arrives at 23:25 (1,093 km, 1 h 40 min). Transfer to the hotel in Tashkent for overnight.
Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.
- All transfers: 3-7 pax on minivan/van, 8-16 pax by 20 seat bus;
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour program with English speaking local guides in each country;
- Tour leader to accompany groups of 6 and more travelers in each country;
- Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class tickets for flights: Bishkek-Tashkent, Mary-Ashgabat, Urgench-Tashkent;
- Economy-class tickets for trains: Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
- Visa support for Uzbekistan triple entry visa;
- Visa support for Turkmenistan tourist visa;
- Tajikistan e-visa and Uzbekistan e-visa;
- National folklore show in Bukhara on Day 9;
- Meals: welcome lunch in Almaty on Day 2, lunch at home of a local family in Don-Aryk on Day 4, lunch and dinner at Seven Lakes on Day 6, lunch in Mary on Day 10, camp style dinner at Darvaza on Day 11, dinner in Khiva on Day 13;
- Tips to local drivers and guides.
- Surcharge for staying in a single room;
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
- Consular fees for Turkmenistan tourist visas (80 USD) and migration tax (14 USD);
- Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa at Tashkent International Airport (60-80 USD);
- Visa support for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan tourist visas (60 USD);
- Personal travel insurance;
- Tips to the Tour Leader;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour.
Dates & Prices
From:
To:
Deadline:
Status:
Price:
Mar 20, Mon
Apr 2, Sun
Feb 18
Completed
US$ 3,450
Apr 3, Mon
Apr 16, Sun
Mar 4
Completed
US$ 3,450
Apr 17, Mon
Apr 30, Sun
Mar 18
Completed
US$ 3,450
May 1, Mon
May 14, Sun
Apr 1
Completed
US$ 3,450
May 15, Mon
May 28, Sun
Apr 15
Completed
US$ 3,450
Jun 5, Mon
Jun 18, Sun
May 6
Completed
US$ 3,450
Jul 24, Mon
Aug 6, Sun
Jun 24
Completed
US$ 3,450
Aug 7, Mon
Aug 20, Sun
Jul 8
Completed
US$ 3,450
Aug 21, Mon
Sep 3, Sun
Jul 22
Completed
US$ 3,450
Sep 4, Mon
Sep 17, Sun
Aug 5
Completed
US$ 3,450
Sep 18, Mon
Oct 1, Sun
Aug 19
Ongoing
US$ 3,450
Oct 2, Mon
Oct 15, Sun
Sep 2
Sold out
US$ 3,450
Oct 16, Mon
Oct 29, Sun
Sep 16
Sold out
US$ 3,450
Single supplement: US$ 500
From:
To:
Deadline:
Status:
Price:
Single supplement: US$ 560
100% guaranteed departures – even if there is only 1 traveler.
10% early bird discount for 2024 group tour.
Group size: 1-16 persons
Please note that itinerary and prices are subject to change due to airline and train schedule changes, currency fluctuations and other unforeseeable events.
We strongly recommend NOT to purchase airline tickets for 2024 tours without discussing it with your travel consultant.
Accommodation
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Central Asia Group Tour Reviews
Author: Cesar | Rating: 530 May 2023
I would like to say thank you for all your hard work putting this trip together. Everything went flawless from beginning to end. We couldn't have asked for anything more.
Author: Marsha | Rating: 525 May 2023
Thank you so much for the wonderful trip through the Stans. We really enjoyed the itinerary. We especially appreciated all the hard work that went into arranging hotels, guides, sightseeing when we decided not to attempt to enter Turkmenistan. The extra days spent in Uzbekistan were amazing. Our Hotel in the Ichan-Kala complex was an incredible place to stay and we loved being able to walk around the sights by the fortress. The folklore fashion/music performance was a highlight. Uzbekistan women are so fashionable and we loved seeing what they wore as they went about their daily business.
Author: Arthur | Rating: 509 May 2023
Firstly, I would like to say I am very happy with the services and tour which had been provided by Advantour.
One point; Kyrgistan was for me after all too short, I would suggest an evening flight or a second night at the hotel. As well, I was with the breakfast in Sofia Int. (Bishkek) not so happy. They shall provide more fresh food/bread options.
All guides and driver were reliable, helpful, knowledgeable and very kind!
Turkmenistan, border entering & exit was quite interesting, to be frankly. But it went well.
Thank you very much as well for all the information, specially about bordering Turkmenistan.
One point; Kyrgistan was for me after all too short, I would suggest an evening flight or a second night at the hotel. As well, I was with the breakfast in Sofia Int. (Bishkek) not so happy. They shall provide more fresh food/bread options.
All guides and driver were reliable, helpful, knowledgeable and very kind!
Turkmenistan, border entering & exit was quite interesting, to be frankly. But it went well.
Thank you very much as well for all the information, specially about bordering Turkmenistan.
Author: Lynnette Sch. | Rating: 503 July 2019
From Australia
Date of experience: 13 May, 2019
Thank you, Advantour, for a well organized 14 day tour, it went smoothly.
Samarkand was the highlight for me. Tajikistan scenery was beautiful.
Guides were good, Alex had the best English and managed the group timings etc best; shame we had to change guides, but Sanjar had good information!
Glad to have seen the 5 Stans, but Uzbekistan is where I highly recommend to come.
Thanks again for your professional arrangement of this tour!
Date of experience: 13 May, 2019
Thank you, Advantour, for a well organized 14 day tour, it went smoothly.
Samarkand was the highlight for me. Tajikistan scenery was beautiful.
Guides were good, Alex had the best English and managed the group timings etc best; shame we had to change guides, but Sanjar had good information!
Glad to have seen the 5 Stans, but Uzbekistan is where I highly recommend to come.
Thanks again for your professional arrangement of this tour!
Author: Deborah & Yeral P. | Rating: 503 July 2019
From the USA
Date of experience: 13 May, 2019
Thanks for a wonderful vacation.
We had a great time.
We enjoyed having a smaller group and our guides Alex and Sanjar, were awesome.
All of the local guides and drivers were excellent.
Thanks again for a wonderful adventure.
Debbie & Yeral P.
Date of experience: 13 May, 2019
Thanks for a wonderful vacation.
We had a great time.
We enjoyed having a smaller group and our guides Alex and Sanjar, were awesome.
All of the local guides and drivers were excellent.
Thanks again for a wonderful adventure.
Debbie & Yeral P.
