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: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 4-5 hours
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Duration: 10-11 hours
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Note: accommodation is arranged at the home of a local family. 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.
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: 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.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
Duration: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast/-/-
- All transfers: 1-2 pax by sedan 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;
- Show at Sunkar-Falcon Farm;
- Visa support for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan tourist visas (if required).
- 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;
- Visa support for Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan tourist visas
- International flight tickets before and after the tour;
- Tips/gratuities for drivers and guides (although they would be appreciated);
- Personal travel insurance.
* Please note that the Turkmenistan tourist visa costs from US$55+4 per person (subject to change); the migration tax is US$10+4 per person, to be paid at any border (subject to change); and the tourist fee is US$2 per person per night.
Prices per person
Accommodation
Home stay (B&B) / family run accommodation
Comfort:
Home stay (B&B) / family run accommodation
Usman / Meros / Asia Samarkand or similar
Comfort:
Dilimah / Sultan / Grand Samarkand Superior / Grand Samarkand / Platan or similar
Minzifa / K.Komil / Bibikhanum / Amulet / As-Salom / Fatima / Kavsar or similar
Comfort:
Paradise Plaza / Omar Khayam / Minor / Asia Bukhara / Zargaron Plaza or similar
Muso Tura / Polvon Qori / New Star / Orient Star or similar
Comfort:
Zarafshan Boutique / Asia Khiva / Erkin Palace / Bek Khiva or similar
Tents (optional alternative: yurt shared with other group members)
Comfort:
Tents (optional alternative: yurt shared with other group members)