Central Asia: Five Stans Adventure

  • Best price guaranteed
  • No booking fees
  • Booking Type Instant booking
  • duration 39 days
  • tour type Small group
  • age requirement 15-99 yrs
  • max group size 12
  • guiding method Fully guided
  • Tour Code BM-27560
  • Footprint Carbonneutral CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
  • Operated in English
map
  • Starts Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
  • Ends Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • Venture through the little-visited backcountry of Kazakhstan on a full day jeep tour of the otherworldly Boszhira Valley.
  • Travel alongside locals and admire wild, sweeping vistas on epic train rides across the Kazakh steppe.
  • Soaring along the iconic Pamir Highway is an unforgettable experience, especially in fine weather when the mighty peak of Muztag Ata rears its head.
  • Skirting the border with Afghanistan, get glimpses of the other side, from the hair-raising Afghan-built footbridges (ovrings) to the exotic imports on display in Khorog's local bazaar.
  • The much-photographed Registan in Samarkand is one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture. You'll be wowed by the scale, grandeur and beauty of the monuments to iconic figures such as Tamerlane and the Persian influenced madressas, mosques and mausoleums.
  • Witness the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater, or the 'Door to Hell', as you camp nearby – one of the strangest, most mesmerising geological oddities on earth.
  • Show more
The Central Asia: Five Stans Adventure tour starts in Nur-Sultan and ends in Ashgabat. The Central Asia: Five Stans Adventure is a road trips tour that takes 39 days taking you from Nur-Sultan to Ashgabat and through other destinations in Asia.

Beginning in the futuristic cityscapes of Nur-Sultan (until recently, Astana), join your small group on an epic exploration from Kazakhstan, through mountainous Kyrgyzstan, the remote lands of Tajikistan, Islam-influenced Uzbekistan, all the way to grand Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. For those counting, that’s five Stans. These vast lands are still oft bypassed, despite offering outstanding beauty and fascinating sights. The allure lies in the heritage of the Silk Road, where ideas, culture and people flowed from East to West, and in the soaring mountain landscapes that still play host to a traditional nomadic lifestyle. Journey through cities featuring reminders of Soviet occupation and out into the stunning wilderness, where ancient history and welcoming hospitality will illuminate a region often left out of the tourist light. Central Asia doesn’t get much more comprehensive than this.

Important Notice: The border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is not open at the moment. We will review the status of trip operation across Kyrgyz-Tajik border about 3 months before departure and inform our customers accordingly.
ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1: Nur-Sultan (Astana)
  • Day 2: Nur-Sultan (Astana)
  • Day 3: Jana Ozon
  • Day 4: Boszhira Valley
  • Day 5: Ak Tau
  • Day 6: Turkistan
  • Day 7: Shymkent/Overnight train
  • Day 8: Almaty
  • Day 9: Almaty
  • Day 10: Almaty – KAZ/KGZ Border Crossing – Karakol
  • Day 11: Karakol
  • Day 12: Bishkek
  • Day 13: Bishkek
  • Day 14: Bishkek
  • Day 15: Chychkan/Toktogul/Kok Bel
  • Day 16: Osh
  • Day 17: Sary Tash
  • Day 18: Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan Border Crossing – Murgab
  • Day 19: Langar
  • Day 20: Ptup
  • Day 21: Khorog
  • Day 22: Khorog
  • Day 23: Kala-i Khum
  • Day 24: Dushanbe
  • Day 25: Dushanbe
  • Day 26: Penjikent
  • Day 27: Tajikistan/Uzbekistan Border Crossing – Samarkand
  • Day 28: Samarkand
  • Day 29: Tashkent
  • Day 30: Tashkent
  • Day 31: Khiva
  • Day 32: Khiva
  • Day 33: Konye-Urgench – Darvaza
  • Day 34: Yerbent – Ashgabat
  • Day 35: Ashgabat
  • Day 36: Mary
  • Day 37: Merv – Mary
  • Day 38: Ashgabat
  • Day 39: Ashgabat
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • Hotel/Guesthouse with private rooms (28 nights), Guesthouse/Homestay/Yurt multishare (8 nights), camping (1 night), Overnight Train (1 night)
Meals
  • 38 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners
Transport
  • Private vehicle , Plane , Train , Overnight Sleeper Train , Metro
Guide
  • An expert tour leader
Included Activities
  • Nur-Sultan - City tour
  • Ak Tau - city tour
  • Boszhira Valley - Jeep safari
  • Boszhira Valley – Chalky canyon
  • Boszhira Valley – Ustyurt Plateau salty lake
  • Ak Tau - Sherkala mountain
  • Ak Tau - Airakty Shumanai Valley
  • Ak Tau – Valley of Orbs
  • Ak Tau – Shakpak Ata
  • Turkistan – Caravan Serai complex
  • Otrar - Ancient settlement
  • Turkistan - Yasui Mausoleum
  • Almaty - Panfilov Park
  • Almaty - Zenkov Cathedral
  • Almaty - Kok Tobe Hill
  • Almaty - Central State Museum
  • Almaty - Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments
  • Almaty – Lake Issyk
  • Almaty – Turgen Gorge
  • Almaty – Winery visit and wine tasting
  • Charyn Canyon - National Park
  • Karakol - Dungan Mosque
  • Karakol - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
  • Karakol - Przhevalskiy Museum
  • Karakol - Jeti Orghuz Canyon Hike
  • Cholpan Ata - Petroglyphs
  • Bishkek - City Tour
  • Osh - Suleiman's Mountain
  • Osh - Bazaar
  • Tajikistan - Karakul Lake
  • Langar - Petroglyphs
  • Vrang - Buddist Stupa
  • Ptup - Yamchun Fort
  • Khorog - Regional Museum
  • Khorog - Pamir Botanical Gardens
  • Khorog – Bazaar
  • Dushanbe - City Tour
  • Dushanbe – Hissor Fort
  • Dushanbe – National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan
  • Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
  • Samarkand - Registan
  • Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
  • Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
  • Samarkand - Paper making workshop & home cooked lunch
  • Khiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
  • Khiva - Kuhna Ark
  • Khiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
  • Khiva - Juma Mosque
  • Khiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace
  • Darvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater
  • Konye-Urgench - City tour
  • Yerbent - Village visit
  • Ashgabat - National Museum of Turkmenistan
  • Ashgabat - Nisa ruins
  • Ashgabat - Anau ruins
  • Ashgabat - Independence Monument
  • Ashgabat - Neutrality Arch
  • Ashgabat - Turkmenbashy Ruhi Mosque & Family Mausoleum of the First President of Turkmenistan
  • Ashgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
  • Merv - Big & Small Kizkala
  • Merv - Erk Kala & Gayur Kala
  • Merv - Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • Any international flights to Nur-Sultan and from Ashgabat 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 Adventure tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. World Nomads' travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Central Asia: Five Stans Adventure 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 25 May 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 25 May 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 Adventure 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 Adventure 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 takes you way off the tourist trail to explore just some of the remoteness in Central Asia. If you want to be far, far away from everywhere – and from anything you've experienced before – this trip is for you.
  • In true adventure style, the trip involves some long travel days by private vehicle and trains. 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.
  • This trip visits places as high as 5000 metres above sea level, which can cause altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Health’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more important information on this. Please note that medical facilities can be as far away as 2-3 days' drive at times, as some locations are very remote. During this journey the group will spend time in remote areas without home comforts or easy access to medical facilities. You will need to have excellent physical health to join this trip.
  • Part of travelling with Intrepid means respecting local cultures and sensibilities. That way you get the most out of your interactions with local people and environments. For women, we recommend bringing a scarf to cover your head and shoulders while on visits to mosques and mausoleums.
  • 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 yurt camp and the homestays are very basic with shared facilities. This could be the whole group sleeping on mattresses on the floor in a large room and the bathroom facilities are outside the house. You won't be able to take a shower every day on this trip. In other words, while you’ll be comfortable, but don’t expect luxury.
  • There is one night of basic camping included on this trip in the Karakum Desert. Sleeping bags, mattresses and tents are all provided, but there are no bathing or permanent toilet facilities at the campsite.
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.
  • 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.
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.
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