Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
From the gleaming towers of Astana to the tranquil alleyways of Bishkek, the Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Adventure offers an unforgettable 11-day tour for those eager to explore Central Asia’s contrasts. This small group journey takes in the futuristic architecture of Kazakhstan’s capital, then sweeps south to the ancient Silk Road ruins of Otrar and the grand Yasaui Mausoleum, immersing you in centuries-old history and culture.
The adventure continues as you trace a dramatic transition in landscapes—from endless steppe to winding mountain passes. In Almaty, Kazakhstan’s cultural soul, you’ll soak up urban energy before heading into nature’s embrace. An invigorating hike around the breathtaking Kolsai Lakes reveals sunken forests and dramatic canyons, while a scenic boat trip across Issyk-Kul Lake showcases alpine vistas that seem almost untouched by time.
With city sightseeing as the core activity, this moderately active tour is ideal for travelers looking for a blend of urban exploration and outdoor adventure. Local guides enrich the experience with their insight, and the thoughtfully planned route ensures a balance of comfort, discovery, and activity.
Unique to this tour is its ability to seamlessly blend the ancient and the modern, the cosmopolitan and the wild—making it perfect for those who crave both cultural highlights and natural wonders in one comprehensive trip package.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Venture into the crossroads of history and natural beauty on the 'Central Asia Explorer,' a 17-day city sightseeing tour starting in Bishkek and concluding in Tashkent. This moderate-activity itinerary is crafted for experienced travelers seeking both adventure and cultural depth, as you traverse the alpine lakes and soaring mountains of Kyrgyzstan before delving into the architectural wonders of Uzbekistan’s ancient cities like Samarkand and Bukhara. Highlights include warm welcomes from local families and the chance to experience a fascinating blend of traditions shaped by nomadic roots, Soviet influences, and Islamic heritage. What sets this trip apart is its immersive approach—offering genuine local encounters and insight into a region rarely explored by mainstream travelers. Accommodation, transport, meals, and expert guidance are all included in this unforgettable tour package.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House, Home-stay
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tashkent, Bishkek, Kokand, Khuja
Tashkent, Bishkek, Kokand, Khujand, Panjakent, Samarkand, Issyk-Kul Lake, Song-Kol Lake, Kyzyl-Oi, Kok-Bel, Osh
Overall, this was an excellent trip and one of the best I have done with Explore over very many years. It was certainly helped by having a good, small group and two superb leaders (one in each country), who were extremely knowledgeable and very personable. The local guides were also outstanding. The sights were extraordinary (the Islamic architecture is simply breath-taking), the people were lovely and I did not mind the long drives (on spacious air conditioned coaches) or the 9.5 hour train journey. to Samarkand As expected, the trip’s pace was full-on. As a group we took advantage of the optional extras offered and I would recommend that others seriously consider those too, especially the spectacular Uzbek music and dance show at the Grand Hall in Samarkand. Hotel accommodation was better than I had expected and generally pretty good. If I have a criticism it is that the trip should perhaps be a day longer. It would have been nice to have spent more time in Khiva and the last day in Tashkent was too long, tiring and rushed. Thankfully, I had booked an extra day in the city, although others had early morning flights. While Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are very different, I much preferred the time we spent in the latter.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
My quibbles with this trip are very minor and I've told explore (update the itinerary please!) but fundamentally I loved this trip. Met lovely people. Saw amazing places and scenery. Food a bit meh but that's not why you go to either Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan. I loved the differences between the countries. Kyrgyzstan was unbelievably beautiful and Uzbekistan had amazing buildings.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel, Hut, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tashkent, Bishkek, Arslanbob, Os
Tashkent, Bishkek, Arslanbob, Osh, Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Yangikasgan, Karakol, Samarkand, Kochkor, Song Kul Lake, Suusamyr Valley, Toktogul Resevoir, Djalal-Abad
A varied trip providing an excellent taster to Kyrgyzstan. Aisuluu our tour guide was passionate about their country and was keen to showcase the culture and scenery, all with a wonderful sense of humour.
The yurt camp experience was excellent and well worth bumping along the roads to get there. Food and beer were great too. A wonderful country that is worth a visit.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We enjoyed our trip to Kyrgyzstan, it was very relaxing and the scenery was amazing. The highlight was the night in the yurt camp which was lovely, very remote and we even had snow overnight. The homestays and meals in local houses were very good too.
DIY picnics by the river were a nice touch.
On the down side, this trip involves a lot of travelling, sometimes on poor roads, which could be broken up better. We arrived early afternoon in some places and because most of the accommodation was on the outskirts of a town, there wasn't really anything to see or do once we arrived. One of our group thought the hotel at Toktogul Reservoir was like the one in 'The Shining'! The swimming pools had been closed for years and everything was just a little dated.
Some of the walks were not that interesting and seemed to be there to fill the time and there was also a lot of litter in many areas which wasn't pleasant.
There were descriptions in the itinerary about various places we didn't actually visit, for example Osh sounded lovely but we didn't even stop there.
Having said all that, we did enjoy the holiday, but there just were not enough highlights to maximise each day.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The trek in the Fann Mountains was a stand out. I would do it again despite it pushing me to my limits at times. It was like stepping into a fantasy novel- the colours, the remoteness and to my eyes the strangeness as well as the mountainous glories. The guides, cooks, porters were very supportive and I felt safe at all times. The food was excellent- even though everyone managed to get sour stomachs- it was maybe the strangeness factor. Cultural visits also well curated.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Tent
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tashkent, Dushanbe, Samarkand, B
Tashkent, Dushanbe, Samarkand, Bukhara, Kulikalon Lakes, Alauddin Lake, Zimut, Penjikent