This was a wonderful tour in an amazing part of the world, with stunning varied scenery, friendly people, and beautiful ancient buildings. Our G Adventures tour was excellent, and this company will be the first I consider for future travels.
Discover Central Asia on this overland journey from the capital of Kyrgyzstan through Uzbekistan, to Tajikistan and Ashgabat. Take in the tranquil landscape of Son-Kol Lake, hike up the Sulumain-too Mountain in Osh and scale the ancient city walls of Tajikistan’s Panjakent. Explore the ancient mosques in Samarkand, see the eternal fire from the Gates of Hell and discover the sci-fi-like architecture in Ashgabat. Share a home-cooked lunch with a Tajik family, bargain in the bustling bazaars and learn about the region’s history with a local leader by your side.
To see all five Stans in Central Asia, this epic trip will start in the grand Ashgabat of Turkmenistan, explore Samarkand in Uzbekistan, then head to Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. See the best of the Silk Road and deep dive into the fascinating history, captivating landscapes and beautiful culture that’s intertwined throughout this region. You'll stay in yurts near Lake Issyk-Kul, explore Registan Square in Samarkand and watch the eternal flame of Darvaza Crater – a 70-m-wide hole in the Karakum Desert known as ‘The Gates of Hell’. From wide open plains full of wild horses to homestays and dinners with locals, there’s so much to see, do and learn in this region – so why not spend 24 days uncovering all you can, with a local leader by your side?
This incredible journey will take you through the five “Stans” of Central Asia, across mountains and steppes, treading in the footsteps of those who travelled the ancient Silk Road with their caravans winding trails through the deserts, exchanging their wares and ideas, which has led to the extraordinary melting pot of cultures that exists in the region today.
Vast deserts, rolling steppe, fertile valleys and majestic mountains form the backdrop to the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which are commonly known as the Five Stans. Among this changing and varied landscape are traditional villages, ancient towns and modern cities, which tell a tale of advancing Greek and Persian armies, marauding Mongolian hordes, traders selling wares along the Silk Road, philosophers, astronomers, Communist experiments and post-Soviet eccentrics. Journey past giant burning gas pits, intricately tiled mosques, alpine lakes bordered by yurt camps, grand monuments, rural villages and colourful markets on this epic trip through the heart of Central Asia.
About this trip: We have two versions of this trip. One starts in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and ends in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the other runs in reverse. Apart from the direction of travel, the two itineraries are similar - the main difference is the route taken through Kyrgyzstan and the accommodation there. This itinerary runs from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, includes Chon-Kemin and Bishkek and stays in guesthouses and hotels rather than yurts. The other itinerary runs from Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan, includes Son Kul Lake and there are three nights staying in yurts in Kyrgyzstan.
Both itineraries include a night in a yurt in Turkmenistan.