Explore the five Stans in depth with this 20-day tour. Travelling mostly by road, see even more of the scenery and way of life in these beautiful and fascinating countries as you drive across deserts and along winding mountain roads, passing through small communities. From Kyrgyzstan, with its Soviet architecture and nomadic culture, tour Kazakhstan’s cosmopolitan cultural capital, Almaty, before journeying to Tajikistan’s stunning mountain lakes. Following in the footsteps of Tamerlane, you’ll then visit Uzbekistan’s stunning turquoise mausoleums and other Silk Road monuments. This comprehensive 3-week Central Asia itinerary ends with Turkmenistan’s magnificent Darvaza Gas Crater and the gleaming marble capital of Ashgabat.
Tour itinerary:
Duration: 6-7 hours
Meals: -/-/-
Duration: 10-11 hours, including 2-3 hours of activities at Son Kul
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/ Dinner
Note: Overnight in a shared yurt. Toilets and washing facilities are outside, in special cabins.
Duration: 8-9 hours, including 3 hours of activities
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Duration: 8-9 hours, including 2,5 hours of hiking
Meals: Breakfast/-/Dinner
Duration: 12-13 hours (depending on border crossing), including about 3 hours of sightseeing
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/-
Duration: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 4-5 hours
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/-
Duration: 4-5 hours
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Then transfer to the Tajik-Uzbek border post at Jartepa (10 km, 10 min). After crossing the border, meet your Uzbek driver and drive to Samarkand (60 km, 1 hour). Free time to explore the city. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 12 hours, including 3 hours of hiking and 3 hours of sightseeing
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/-
Duration: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 3-4 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 7-8 hours, including 3-4 hours of sightseeing
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 7-8 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
Duration: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 10-11 hours, including 3 hours of sightseeing
Meals: Breakfast/-/Dinner
Note: We'll travel in 4x4 vehicles across the rugged Karakum Desert. The route is unpaved, so expect a bumpy and thrilling ride – it's the only way to get to this incredible, remote location.
At the camp, we'll enjoy an authentic stay in yurts with basic, shared outdoor washing and toilet facilities, putting us right in the heart of the desert landscape.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Price includes:
- All transfers: 1-2 pax by sedan economy type car, 3-8 pax by minivan/van;
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour programme with local, English-speaking guides;
- Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class tickets for flight Almaty-Dushanbe;
- Meals – full board on days 2, 3, 8, 9, lunches on days 5 and 10, dinners on days 4 and 17;
- Felt carpet workshop in Kochkor;
- Yurt installation show in Kyzyl Tuu, Cable car to Chymbulak and Kok Tube;
- Visa support for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan tourist visas (if required).
Price doesn't include:
- Tour leader to accompany the group for the whole period of the tour;
- Full board (lunches and dinners, unless otherwise stated);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Optional activities such as horse-riding on Day 2;
- Visa support for Turkmenistan (invitation letter, registration, travel pass)*;
- Consular fees for tourist visas;
- A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
- Consular fees for Turkmenistan tourist visa (approx. 80 USD), migration tax (14 USD) and express PCR test (33 USD);
- Visa support for Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan tourist visas;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour;
- Comfort car supplement total – 640 USD;
- Tips/gratuities for drivers and guides (although they would be appreciated);
- Personal travel insurance.
Prices, per person
Accommodation
Home stay (B&B) / family run accommodation
Comfort:
Home stay (B&B) / family run accommodation
Wellfort / Shohjahon Palace Hotel & Spa / Bibikhanum / Ko’k Saroy Plaza / Silk Road Empire / Golden Samarkand / Samaria Hotel and Spa
Comfort:
Royal / Sangzor Boutique / Bogishamol / Ametist Hotel Complex / DiliMah Premium Luxury / Golden Samarkand / Emirhan
Minzifa / Marhaba / Bibikhanum / Komil Boutique / Fatima / As-Salom / Volida / Devon Begi / Sasha & Son / Kavsar
Comfort:
Paradise Plaza / Omar Khayam / Minorai-Kalon / Latifa Begim / Asia Bukhara
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Minor Boutique / Bankir / Muso Tura / Orient Star
Comfort:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Minor Boutique / Bankir / Muso Tura / Orient Star
Tour Enquiry
Important notes:
- Visa required. We will need to apply for your Letter of Invitation (LOI) in advance. The Turkmenistan visa can be obtained at the border upon arrival, based on the approved LOI.
- If you need to obtain an Uzbekistan visa, it should be a multiple-entry e-visa.