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Central Asia: Five Stans Express

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See Itinerary
  • Booking Type Instant booking
  • duration 24 days
  • tour type Small group Request as private
  • age requirement 15-99 yrs
  • max group size 12
  • guiding method Fully guided
  • Tour Code BM-41042
  • Footprint Carbonneutral CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
  • Operated in English
map
  • Starts Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
  • Ends Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
    • +13
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • This trip explores the essential highlights of Central Asia and uncovers culture, nature and history while meeting some of the most hospitable people in the world
  • With breathtaking scenery at every turn, you’ll discover the incredible Darvaza Crater, Kolsai Lakes and Issykul Lake
  • Take a step back in time as you explore the Silk Road history and visit Khiva ancient town, Registan in Samarkand, Bukhrara, and Khujand
  • Get to know the locals as you visit a carpet-making workshop, meet a local eagle trainer (or Berkutchi), rub shoulders with the locals in the bustling bazaars and test your taste buds in a dinner of home-cooked plov (Uzbekistan's national dish)
  • Enjoy special stays like sleeping in yurts by Lake Issykul, staying in local villages and making yourself at home in a boutique hotel that used to be an old Jewish house in Bukhara
The trip "Central Asia: Five Stans Express" starts from Ashgabat and ends in Bishkek. This is an explorer tour that takes 24 days. You will travel through Khujand, Issyk-Kul, Bukhara and 12 other destinations visiting Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and 3 more countries. This is a guided small group tour. The trip includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

Start in the grand Ashgabat of Turkmenistan, explore Samarkand in Uzbekistan, head to Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan – yep, that’s a total of five Stans! See the best of the Silk Road and deep dive into the fascinating history, captivating landscapes and beautiful culture that is intertwined throughout this region. You'll stay in yurts by Lake Issykul, explore Registan square in Samarkand and discover Darvaza Crater, a 70-metre wide hole in the Karakum Desert that is permanently aflame (yes, you read that right). And that’s just a few of the highlights of this trip! There’s so much to see, do and learn in this region, you’ll constantly find yourself surprised and delighted on this 24-day adventure through Central Asia.
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ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1: Ashgabat
  • Day 2: Ashgabat
  • Day 3: Darvaza Crater
  • Day 4: Border crossing/Khiva
  • Day 5: Khiva
  • Day 6: Bukhara
  • Day 7: Bukhara
  • Day 8: Samarkand
  • Day 9: Samarkand
  • Day 10: Tashkent
  • Day 11: Tashkent
  • Day 12: Border crossing/Khujand
  • Day 13: Iskanderkul lake/Sary Tag Village
  • Day 14: Dushanbe
  • Day 15: Dushanbe
  • Day 16: Border crossing/Almaty
  • Day 17: Almaty
  • Day 18: Kolsay Lakes National Park
  • Day 19: Kolsay Lakes National Park
  • Day 20: Border crossing/Karakol
  • Day 21: Issyk-Kul Lake
  • Day 22: Issyk-Kul Lake
  • Day 23: Bishkek
  • Day 24: Bishkek
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • Hotel (16 nights), Guest House (1 night), Tourist Yurt Camp (2 nights), Home Stay (3 nights), Camping (1 night)
Meals
  • 23 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 8 Dinners
Transport
  • Private Vehicle , Flight , Metro , High Speed Train
Guide
  • An expert tour leader
Included Activities
  • Ashgabat – Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Ashgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
  • Ashgabat - Anau ruins
  • Ashgabat - Independence Monument
  • Ashgabat - Turkmenbashy Ruhi Mosque & Family Mausoleum of the First President of Turkmenistan
  • Ashgabat - Neutrality Arch
  • Darvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater
  • Konye-Urgench - City tour
  • Khiva - Juma Mosque
  • Khiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
  • Khiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace
  • Khiva - Kunya Ark
  • Khiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
  • Bukhara - Ark Fortress
  • Bukhara - Chor Minor
  • Bukhara - Bolo Hauz Mosque
  • Bukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque
  • Bukhara - Taki Zargaron Trading Dome
  • Bukhara - Ulugbek Madrasa
  • Bukhara - Lyabi-Hauz Plaza
  • Samarkand - Plov cooking demonstration & family visit
  • Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
  • Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
  • Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
  • Samarkand - Registan
  • Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
  • Tashkent - State Museum of History of Uzbekistan
  • Tashkent - City tour
  • Tashkent - Metro tour
  • Khujand - History Museum
  • Khujand - Jami Mosque
  • Sary Tag - Iskanderkul Lake
  • Dushanbe – Hissor Fort
  • Dushanbe – National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan
  • Dushanbe - Rudaki Square and Somoni Museum
  • Almaty - Kok Tobe Hill
  • Almaty - Central State Museum
  • Almaty - Zenkov Cathedral
  • Almaty - Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments
  • Almaty - Panfilov Park
  • Charyn Canyon - National Park
  • Kolsay Lakes National Park - Hiking
  • Karakol - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
  • Karakol - Dungan Mosque
  • Karakol - Jeti Orghuz Canyon Hike
  • Issyk-Kul Lake - Fairy Tale Canyon picnic lunch
  • Issyk-Kul Lake - Home-cooked dinner
  • Issyk-Kul Lake - Carpet workshop
  • Issyk-Kul Lake - Yurt workshop
  • Issyk-Kul Lake - Eagle Hunter Visit
  • Bishkek - City Tour
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • Any international flights to Ashgabat and from Bishkek are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.
  • Travel insurance is not included in this Central Asia: Five Stans Express tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. World Nomads' travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 190 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6 rating.
REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
  • Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
  • Protected Travel within your own bubble.
  • Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
  • Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.
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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Central Asia: Five Stans Express tour. You can cancel the tour up to 58 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 57 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 21 June 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 21 June 2024, a deposit is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 57 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Central Asia: Five Stans Express tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this Central Asia: Five Stans Express tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

Is this trip right for you
  • This trip explores the best of Central Asia in a short time, covering a lot of ground. If you want to be far, far away from everywhere and experience the key highlights of Central Asia – this trip is for you.
  • In true adventure style, the trip involves some long travel days by private vehicle. The road may be bumpy and dusty, but the experience and the journey will be rewarding. This is a great opportunity to sit back, unwind and let the sweeping views roll by. Drives range from 3 to 10 hours in duration. Though the longer travel days and single night overnight stays can be tiring, you'll be in a private vehicle, and much of the scenery in this part of the world is simply stunning.
  • You’ll experience varying temperatures in the desert and out on the steppe or in the mountains from below zero to over 40 ºC, so check the weather forecast online before you visit and pack accordingly.
  • Tourism is strictly controlled in Turkmenistan, with Letters of Invitation needed in advance in order to apply for your visa (which you can then get on arrival) and guides tending to be protective of what tourists see and fiercely proud of their nation and its leaders. Those used to more freedom of exploration and tour guides with a more global perspective may find their experience here different from in other destinations. Please see the ‘Passport and visas’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
  • Be prepared to experience the full legacy of the Soviet era – not just in the sights and history, but also in the standards of accommodation and service! A range of different accommodations are used on this trip, including yurt camp, home stay, guesthouse, hotels and camping. The conditions at the camping, yurt stay and the home stays are basic with shared facilities. This means the group being split between different houses, multi-share rooms and the bathroom facilities are separated from your sleeping quarters. For the camping at the Darvaza Crater, sleeping bags, mattresses and tents are all provided, but there are no bathing or permanent toilet facilities at the campsite. You won't be able to take a shower every day on this trip.
 COVID VACCINATION POLICY
  • Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer mandatory on departures after 1st January 2023. Nonetheless, all travellers are strongly advised to be vaccinated as a safety measure to protect themselves and others on the tour. This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination are required.
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  • Also, proof of vaccination may still be required at specific entry points or by the airlines. Therefore, please make sure to check all the travel requirements carefully before travelling.
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COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

  • This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted.
  • Hygiene and safety guidelines will be followed to ensure your well being is looked after during travels.
NEED HELP OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS TOUR?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We're ready to help.
  • Jane Andersen
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  • Rasmus Juul Olsen
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