From CAD $10,430
Guarantee
Small Group
Average
Rating
(12 reviews)
Experience Overview
Vast deserts, open steppe, fertile valleys and striking mountain ranges shape the landscapes of the Five Stans, the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia. Their towns and cities reveal the movement of armies, traders, and scholars over millennia: Greek and Persian campaigns, Mongol expansion, Silk Road exchange, ambitious astronomers, and Soviet-era experiments. Encounter traditional villages, intricately tiled madrassas, alpine lakes, lively markets and wide boulevards − a vivid portrait of a region where histories overlap and contemporary Central Asian culture continues to evolve in fascinating ways.
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 Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan, includes Son Kul Lake, and has two nights staying in yurts in Kyrgyzstan.
The reverse itinerary includes Chon-Kemin and Bishkek and stays in guesthouses and hotels rather than yurts.
Profile
— Accommodation: 20 Classic nights (18 hotel, 2 guesthouse), 2 Simple nights (yurt) — Travel by minibus, two trains and a flight — Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Itinerary also available as: The Five Stans of the Silk Road - Almaty to Ashgabat
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 20 Classic nights (18 hotel, 2 guesthouse), 2 Simple nights (yurt) — Travel by minibus, two trains and a flight — Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 — Itinerary also available as: The Five Stans of the Silk Road - Almaty to Ashgabat
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Itinerary: Over a relatively short period, we visit a vast array of sites, both cultural and natural, and cover five fascinating countries, which share a common history but are now developing individually. It covers a lot of distance in three weeks and there are several places where we only spend one night. While this is not an active trip, the pace and distance covered can be tiring. There are also some hikes, particularly in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. These are not challenging and can vary depending on the preferences and abilities of the group.
Climate: Temperatures can be very high, especially in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and particularly in July and August but high temperatures are increasingly common in other months too. In contrast, in the mountains, particular at Son Kul, be prepared for lower temperatures, possibly even snow.
Drives: Most tend to be four to five hours. On Day 17, we have a particularly long drive of around nine hours. Timings are approximate and construction work can increase journey times, particularly in Kyrgyzstan. Some roads are in poor condition.
Trains: We take two train journeys in Uzbekistan. The train from Khiva to Bukhara is a Soviet-era train. The journey is made by day, but the train is a sleeper with four berths per compartment. Sometimes we share with people who are not part of our group. The train from Bukhara to Samarkand is a modern high-speed train. Timetable changes are a possibility and occasionally there are difficulties securing train tickets (for example, when there are large government events). In these cases, we may travel by road instead.
Comfort and service: Central Asia doesn’t always have great infrastructure, and you shouldn’t expect the same comforts or levels of service you would get at home.
Most nights are in hotels, though we also stay in yurt camps and guesthouses, which will be more basicHot water is normally available, but is not always reliable
Smoking: Smoking in public is illegal in Turkmenistan and you should not smoke outside the airport on arrival or in the street. You can only bring two packs of cigarettes into Turkmenistan.
Itinerary changes: Given the bureaucracy in the region, we may be forced to change the route or activities due to government decisions beyond our control.
Tour leaders and border crossings: As we travel through several countries, we have several different tour leaders over the trip. Border crossings can be chaotic and require patience. A tour leader will cross the borders with the group, except the Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan border. You need to carry all your own luggage through the border crossings and at train stations. We recommend you travel light.
Darvaza Gas Crater: We have removed a visit to the Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan from this trip as the flames are now dying down. Instead we visit the ruins of the ancient Silk Road cities of Merv and Kunya Urgench,
Group Description
The group is generally between four and 16 people.
Eating Drinking
Common dishes in the region include shish-kebabs and plov (rice usually with mutton, onions, carrots, spices, raisins and peas). The kebabs can be from different meats, including lamb and beef, while plov is a rice-based dish (variants elsewhere are known as pilaf or pilau rice).
Another main staple is bread, especially in Uzbekistan where it is freshly baked and sold everywhere; in Turkmenistan, churek is a flat, round bread baked in clay ovens. Other traditional dishes include chorba, a meat and vegetable soup; manty, steamed dumplings filled with lamb; qu’urma, a lamb dish; ichlekli, a meat and onion pie; and gutap, a pie filled with meat, potatoes, spinach and pumpkin. There are normally a couple of opportunities to try home-cooked meals. Tea is also plentiful, both black and green, and drunk with most meals and throughout the day.
Please note, vegetarian food choices are limited. If you are vegetarian or have any special dietary requirements, please notify us well in advance. In this region, the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, eg gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring such specialised dietary items from home.
Drinking water is included and where possible will be provided in large containers for you to refill your bottle from – please bring a reusable bottle with you.
Transportation
We mostly use a mixture of buses and minibuses depending on group size and country. Some of the drives are long. They are mostly on sealed roads but the condition of the roads can be poor. In Kyrgyzstan, a minibus is used for most departures as larger vehicles are not suited to the roads. There are two train journeys in this trip. See Is This Trip for You for more information.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Hotel Sport, 10-Yyl Abadanchylyk Street, 744000, Ashgabat.
Phone: (+993 12) 461956
Recommended arrival time: Between mid-afternoon on Day 1 to early morning on Day 2.
Airport: Ashgabat Airport (ASB)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 15 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for everyone. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
We provide free departure transfers for everyone to Almaty Airport (ALA) from the end hotel.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
Covering a large area, from the deserts of Turkmenistan to the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, the climate varies a lot. Summer (July and August) can be very hot in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan but pleasant in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, while spring and autumn (May/June and September/October) can be cooler in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan but more pleasant in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
As we visit regions ranging from deserts to high mountains, you can expect temperatures exceeding 30C (86F) as well as close to freezing and need to be prepared for both. Winters are very cold and some areas are impassable (especially to Son Kul in Kyrgyzstan) for most of the year, which is why the season for this trip is relatively short, lasting only from June to mid-October. Later dates (ie September into October) can be particularly cold at Son Kul.
Spending Money
We recommend you bring at least US$500 in cash to ensure you have enough for Turkmenistan, plus some spare, then use a combination of ATMs and card payments for the rest of the trip. Bring new US dollar notes in perfect condition and a mix of high and low denominations.
Photo fees are payable at some sites in Turkmenistan, these are typically in the region of 50 manat.
As a rough guideline, you should allow approximately US$8-US$10 per meal with a drink, or US$15-US$20 per person per day.
Optional Activities
There are several optional activities, which your tour leader can help arrange. They are subject to schedules, weather and availability; your leader will let you know what is available and the local costs. Payment should be made locally in US dollars. Below is an indication of the optional activities and their approximate costs and duration but these may vary throughout the season or depending on the number of participants and are given in good faith as a guideline only.
— Folklore musical show during dinner in Bishkek city: US$100 per group (20 minutes); US$150 per group (30 minutes). Professional musicians will demonstrate the traditional musical instruments and play Kyrgyz melodies.
SIM card availability:
— You have the option to purchase a SIM card for Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan either before your trip or upon arrival. — If you prefer purchasing a SIM card upon arrival in Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan, you'll find several options available, including at airports, convenience stores, and local network provider outlets
Tipping
Tipping has become customary in these countries, especially for tour leaders and drivers, though this is at your discretion.
For the tour leaders, we suggest around US$5 per day from each group member as a reasonable amount.
Your tour leader can suggest appropriate amounts to tip drivers if asked and you may wish to do this together as a group. You could budget in the region of US$3-US$4 per day.
If a hotel porter takes your bags to your room, a tip equivalent to approximately US$1 is about right.
Many restaurants add a service charge to your bill and a tip would not be expected on top of this.
Highlights
Follow the footsteps of ancient traders on a journey along the Silk Road — Experience the life of a nomadic shepherd with two nights in a yurt camp — Discover the great Islamic architecture and ruins of five different countries — Explore the villages and lakes of the Fann and Tien Shan mountains
Trip Details
Product Code: 4285
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: nditions.
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: AXK
Starts:
Finishes:
Duration: 23 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Average
Includes
All accommodation: 20 Classic nights (18 hotel, 2 guesthouse), 2 Simple nights (yurt) — All breakfasts, one lunch, and five dinners — Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities — Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure — Arrival and departure transfersAccommodation
A selection of hotels, guest houses, and yurtsOn this adventure through the Silk Road, we spend 20 nights in hotels and guest houses, and two nights in traditional yurt camps. The accommodations typically used can be found on the day-to-day itinerary. However, below are a selection used on this trip. Ashgabat: Sport Hotel A four-star hotel in the heart of Ashgabat, close to the city’s major attractions. It has spacious and well-appointed rooms, plus several amenities, including a swimming pool, fitness center, sauna, and restaurant. Son Kul: Yurt camp Yurts are the traditional homes of nomadic communities in Central Asia and usually feel snug inside. We spend two nights in individual yurts at Son Kul Lake. Facilities include shared Western-style toilets, showers and wash basins, though hot water can be unpredictable. Almaty: Uyut Hotel In the centre of Kazakhstan’s largest city, this modern hotel is a 25-minute drive from Almaty International Airport. It has a heated indoor pool, sauna, laundry service, bar and restaurant serving Asian, European and Eastern cuisine. Worth knowing If you prefer to have your own room, a limited number of single supplements are available on a ‘first-come, first-serve’ basis on some nights of the tour – please request this at the time of booking.In Turkmenistan, hotels charge a daily tourist tax of around US$2 per person per day – this is included in the price for the main tour, so you needn’t worry about it. However, if you book extra nights’ accommodation in Ashgabat before the tour, you will need to pay directly to the hotel yourself.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $10430 (CAD $453 /day)
Itinerary
The adventure begins in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. As per Turkmen law, we arrange arrival transfers for everyone in the group. See the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more details. There are no arranged activities today, as many flights arrive very late at night or early tomorrow morning.
Following what for many people will have been a late night or early morning arrival, we have our welcome briefing at 11am and then begin our exploration of Ashgabat. Ashgabat holds the record for the most white-marble buildings in the world. In the post-Soviet era, successive Turkmen leaders built these impressive buildings as a show of the country’s strength, and they make for a surreal sight. Ashgabat has been described as Pyongyang meets Las Vegas, and you can see why. We have a half-day tour of Ashgabat including Ertogrul Ghazi mosque, Independence Park, the Neutrality Arch, Constitution Monument, Alem Ferris Wheel, Constitution Monument, Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex, and the Wedding Palace, which looks over the city from a hilltop. We also have a visit to the national museum and later a short tour of the city by night (40 minutes). This evening your tour leader ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner together.
After an early breakfast, we transfer (up to four hours) to Mary, a contemporary city that serves as the gateway to ancient Merv. In the early afternoon, we continue to this vast World Heritage site, once among the largest cities on Earth. We move between key surviving areas, including the windswept remains of crumbling towers and walls, to gain a sense of the scale that so impressed medieval travellers. Later, we return to Mary to look around the modern town, including the Juma Mosque and the small Russian Orthodox Church.
Returning to Ashgabat, we arrive early afternoon with time to visit the Magtymguly Monument, dedicated to the 18th-century poet whose work shaped Turkmen literary identity. From here, we continue to the archeological site of Nisa (Turkmenistan), once a capital of the Parthian Empire, which ruled a vast stretch of territory from present-day Iraq to Pakistan more than 2,000 years ago. Our final visit is a local farm known for breeding Akhal-Teke horses. Celebrated for their distinctive metallic sheen and long-distance stamina, they remain an enduring emblem of Turkmen national heritage. Later, we transfer to Ashgabat airport for our evening flight to Dashoguz.
After breakfast, we drive for two hours to Kunya Urgench. Once the capital of the Khorezm region under the Achaemenid Empire, this World Heritage site preserves a remarkable collection of monuments dating from the 11th to 16th centuries. Our tour leader guides us between the remains of mosques, caravanserai gates, fortresses and mausoleums, culminating at the 195ft (60m) Gutlug Timur Minaret. The craftsmanship seen here influenced architectural traditions across Iran and Afghanistan, and later shaped elements of 16th-century Mughal design in India. We then make the two-hour return drive to Dashoguz, followed by a further 20 minutes to the Shavat border post. Here, we say goodbye to our Turkmen tour leader and complete border formalities before meeting our Uzbek leader on the other side. Procedures often take a couple of hours and include a short shuttle bus across no-man’s-land (have US$1 ready in cash). We continue to Khiva, aiming to arrive around 6pm.
The walled Itchan Kala is Khiva’s meticulously preserved old city. Here, our tour leader takes us to: the tiled base of the never-completed Kalta Minar; the Kunya-Ark, the 12th-century fortress that once housed the Khiva khans; and the serene mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, Khiva’s patron poet-saint. We continue to the Islam Khoja minaret and madrasah and the atmospheric Juma Mosque, whose roof is carried by 218 carved wooden columns. Further highlights include the richly decorated Tash Khauli palace complex and Allakuli Khan Madrassah. Along the way, we step into artisan workshops to see how Khiva’s crafts endure today, learning about the techniques behind wool and silk carpets, embroidery, ceramics and intricate wood inlay.
After breakfast, we drive for about two hours into the arid plains of Khorezm. Now sparsely settled, these lands were once marshy and densely inhabited by the Massagetae Scythians, horseback archers known for resisting successive empires – including defeating Cyrus the Great in 529 BCE. Our main stop is Ayaz-Qala, a sixth-century hilltop fortress with wide views across the steppe. Depending on timing, we may also visit other nearby castles before continuing to Urgench, about 1hr 30min away. In the afternoon, we board a train from Urgench to Bukhara, travelling 6hr 30min across the Kyzyl-Kum desert. The service typically uses Soviet-era carriages with four-berth compartments, so it’s worth bringing snacks and water for the journey. We arrive late into Bukhara and head straight to our hotel. Please note: timings and itinerary may vary depending on train schedules.
The 2,000-year-old city of Bukhara has an old centre that evokes the many centuries of traders and travellers who’ve passed through here on their way between the Mediterranean and China. We spend the day exploring this fascinating city, including a visit to the historic Lyabi Khauz architectural complex, which has the oldest reflective pool in Central Asia. We also visit: Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, a sarcophagus over an ancient sacred spring; the Mausoleum of the Samanids, the family tomb of the rulers of Bukhara; Ark Citadel, the residence of Bukhara’s rulers since the first century CE; the Poi Kalyan Complex, home to the 157ft (48m) high Kalyan Minaret; the Kalyan Mosque, which has 288 domes covering galleries below; Nodir Divanbegi Madrasah; and Chor-Minor, a small mosque of an original form.
This morning, we delve further into Bukharan history at the Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa Palace, the summer residence of the emirs. Our tour leader walks us through its blend of local design and Russian influence, pointing out the intricate ganch plasterwork, carved wood panels and richly painted reception rooms that once hosted courtly gatherings. In the afternoon, we board the train to the great Silk Road city of Samarkand. When schedules allow, we use the high-speed Afrosiyob service, which covers the journey in just under two hours.
Possibly the most famous of the Silk Road cities, Samarkand has blue-tiled buildings that dazzle in the bright sun. Dating 2,500 years old and impacted by such figures as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, it is home to one of the world’s great squares, Registan Square, surrounded on three sides by the madrassahs of Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori. The city was the capital of the Tamerlane, and we spend the day visiting a number of Tamerlane-era sites, including the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, burial place of Tamerlane, his sons and his grandson, Ulughbek. The Ulugbek Observatory was built in 1420 by Tamerlane’s grandson who was not just a ruler but also a well-known astronomer. We move to the oversized Bibi Khanum Mosque and Shakhi Zinda (the ‘Living King’ necropolis) where the mausoleums date to the 14th and 15th centuries. Our final visit is to the Siab Bazaar with its fresh and dried fruit and nuts and other local food produce, plus a paper factory. The exact order of visits may vary.
Drive to the Tajik border early this morning. We cross into Tajikistan, meet our local guide and transfer (20 minutes) to the town of Penjikent. Our first stop is the World Heritage site of Sarazm, which dates back 5,500 years. In Penjikent, we enjoy a tour (three to four hours) that takes us to the Museum of Rudaki (Rudaki is considered by many to be the father of Persian poetry and he was born in Penjikent) and ancient Penjikent, ruins of a fifth-century Sogdian town founded, which was abandoned in the eighth century. We also explore the remains of houses, a citadel with Zoroastrian fire temples and a bazaar in the excavated ruins.
Take a trip into the heart of the Fann Mountains. We drive (50mi/80km) to Seven Lakes (Haf Kul in Tajik) in the Shing Valley, taking a sometimes bumpy and narrow road. The high mineral content in the water gives the lakes an unusual colour. We have time to enjoy the mountains, with a walk to Hazorchashma Lake and a picnic lunch in the village of Nofin before we return to Penjikent.
Leaving the Fann Mountains, head into the industrial and agricultural heartland around the city of Khujand (about four hours’ drive). En route, visit the town of Istravashan founded by the Persian king Kier in the sixth century, and visit the bazaar. While Khujand, today, is not the most attractive of cities it has a complex history. Believed to be one of the oldest in Central Asia, it was attacked by Alexander the Great, Arab invaders and Genghis Khan, as well as being an important Silk Road stop. There are still traces of the glory days and we take a tour of the sites, including the Musuem of Archeology, Sheikh Maslikhiddin Mosque, the Payshanba bazaar and, if time, Arbob Palace, the Urumkhodjaev family country estate, a copy of the Russian tsarist palace of Peterhof.
Return to Uzbekistan via the border crossing at Andurkhan, where we say goodbye to our Tajik crew and re-join the Uzbeks. The total driving time to Ferghana town is about five hours from Khujand, but we make several stops along the way. The first is at Kokand, which was the capital of the 19th-century Kokand Khanate. We visit the Khudoyar-Khan Palace (1871) home to a museum, the Norbuta-Biy Madrassah and the Modarikhon Mausoleum. From here, continue to the small village of Rishtan, home to potter dynasties and ceramics masters. We visit a ceramics studio and witness a demonstration of the craft before the opportunity to buy earthenware. Our final stop is at Margilan, where we visit a silk factory and learn about the material that gave its name to the greatest trade route in history. Eventually, we arrive in Fergana town where we spend the night.
Transfer to the Kyrgyz border this morning and say goodbye to our Uzbek leader. After border formalities at the Dustlik crossing, we meet our Kyrgyz leader and head into nearby Osh, the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan. We visit the sacred Sulayman Mountain, a holy Muslim site (and burial place of the prophet Sulayman (Solomon) and the central point on the Silk Road. The walk to the top of Sulayman Mountain is paved with some steps and can be tiring in the heat but the views over the city and valley below, small museum and 15th-century church are worth the effort. On the way to Jalal-Abad, we make a sightseeing stop at Uzgen. We take an excursion to an old minaret and mausoleums nearby and visit a rice bazaar. Uzgen has a history of over 2,000 years — it is claimed to be a site of numerous citadels built at various times since the first century BCE. It was an important centre of trade routes between the Fergana Valley and northern territories of Central Asia. Uzgen became a highly developed town in the Karakhanid’s epoch and developed into a large trading and handicrafts centre.
Leave Jalal-Abad and transfer (approximately 1hr 30min) to Arslanbob Nature Reserve. The village of Arslanbob is in the mountains at around 5,250ft (1,600m) – though the top and bottom of the village vary considerably in altitude – and is surrounded by an ancient walnut forest believed to be the largest in the world. We go for a walk and picnic lunch in the surrounding countryside. The walk takes around four hours (including lunch and stops) and requires walking shoes/boots. The pace is leisurely but if anyone prefers not to join, you are free to opt out. After, we return (approximately 1hr 30min drive) to our guesthouse in Jalal-Abad.
Leaving the gorges behind, we make the long journey towards the upland pastures surrounding Son Kul Lake, set at 9,895ft (3,016m). The drive takes around nine hours and includes stretches of rough road; a new route is under construction, though its opening date remains uncertain. Son Kul is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most celebrated mountain landscapes, where herding families still bring their sheep and cattle to the jailoo (high summer pastures). Yurt camps have increased in recent years, but many are still run by the same families who tend the animals, giving us a window into a seasonal way of life that continues today. We spend the night in a yurt camp, experiencing a comfortable, modernised version of nomadic living. Facilities now include Western-style toilets and a dedicated ‘shower yurt’ with proper showers and basins. Hot water is available when the generator is running (usually morning and evening), though it can be intermittent.
Spend today soaking up the beauty of the landscape around Son Kul. There is the option to go on a 2hr to 2hr 30min walk to the nearby hills – the slopes are quite steep, and this may not be for everyone, but at the top are a few petroglyphs to admire.
Our journey today first takes us to Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan’s most important centre for felt handicrafts. We visit a workshop and can participate in the manufacturing of national carpets. From Kochkor, we travel through the central Tien Shan mountains, driving through picturesque canyons and gorges along the southern shores of Issyk-Kul, the second-largest salt lake in the world, measuring 43mi by 112mi (70km by 180km) and almost 2,300ft (700m) deep. Its name means Hot Lake and was given as it never freezes, even in the depths of winter. The surrounding area is a mixture of forest and meadow with a backdrop of towering mountains and glaciers. We have an excursion at Bokonbaev village to observe a traditional form of falconry found throughout Central Asia – hunting with eagles. Eagle hunting plays a key role in the nomadic lifestyle here and can also be seen during national competitions.
This morning, we continue our journey to Karakol. We head first to Barskoon Gorge, known for high waterfalls and dense spruce forests and visited by Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. We hike to a waterfall called Bowl of Manas (named after the Kyrgyz national hero). Next is Djety Oguz Gorge where the Seven Bulls and Broken Heart rocks formations can be seen. From Djety Oguz, we continue to Karakol. There are about 2hr 30min of driving in total today. The atmosphere of Karakol town takes you a hundred years back and gives you an impression of Tsarist Russia. We enjoy a sightseeing tour of Karakol, taking in old Russian-style houses, a Russian Orthodox church dating to 1886, a wooden Dungan mosque (1899) made without the use of nails, and Karakol bazaar. This evening, we enjoy a home-cooked meal at a Uygur or Dungan family home.
Today we cross the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border and, after border procedures (which may take one to two hours), travel along the picturesque Karkara valley, where mountain flowers attract many beekeepers. We head towards Charyn River, where the dramatic erosion caused by the river has created an impressive landscape. We have some time to observe the beginning of Charyn and Moon Canyons from different viewpoints. After a short walk and some time for photographs, we continue towards the Black Canyon. There is time for a picnic lunch in the canyon (you can buy your picnic from a supermarket earlier in the day). After our visit we continue to Almaty with an expected arrival time of around 5pm. There are about six hours of driving today.
Almaty is a beautiful city with its backdrop of the Tien Shan mountains, and we have the whole day to explore. With leafy streets and a cafe culture, the former Kazakh capital has a distinctly European feel. We set off on a city tour after breakfast, visiting a number of sites, including Zhenkov Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral), made entirely of wood and without the use of nails, Panfilovs Park, home to the Piously-Voznesenskiy Orthodox Cathedral (1907), which was built without any nails, the Great Patriotic and Civil War monuments and eternal flame, and the Museum of National Instruments.
Our adventure comes to an end in Almaty after breakfast.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
Reviews
Helen Cassaday - Traveled, September 2023
From desert camels to mountain yak This was the longest duration trip I’ve ever taken, covering the most ground by road and with some (by my standards) fairly extreme variations of temperature, altitude and landscape. But it was mostly very unusual, often spectacular and totally worth the bumpy ride – take layers, medications and a better camera than I did. The people were also a particular highlight. Jabbar in Turkmenistan was an impossible act to follow, but the local leaders were all very good. The group was a great mix and we bonded over one or two minor glitches and some medicinal vodka. We met the friendliest local people in markets, at the border crossings, on the road. They were very often willing to share my three words of Russian, and to practice their English. It was also very nice to be asked to join them for their photos – probably some of these invitations were from other tourists, but was still great to feel like the exotic extra for a change. Most Inspirational Moment The night sky, particularly at Son Kul lake. Thoughts on Group Leader We were very fortunate to have Alina as our tour leader for the full duration. She’s an inspiration and second to none in terms of her people and organisational skills. Advice for Potential Travellers This is a challenging trip – certainly well out of my comfort zone - and most of the group fell ill at some point. So best to be prepared for some visceral reactions and take each day as it comes. Possibly I should have read ahead about the destinations, but travelling without expectations can be a lot more fun, just read the trip notes closely for the practicalities – money, visas etc.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/16/2023
Guy Westoby - Traveled, August 2023
Superb tour through the 'Five Stans of the Silk Road'! I can honestly say as a seasoned traveller the ‘Five Stans of the Silk Road’ tour was one of the best I’ve been on! In a well-planned and packed 3-week itinerary we got to compare & contrast the highlights of five countries in Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) each with its own distinct culture, history and approach to life. Exodus provided local guides for each country to ensure we got beneath the surface to learn more about the people. We stayed in a variety of excellent accommodation from plush hotels to lakeside yurts and the food was usually locally sourced, freshly cooked and delicious. An endlessly fascinating and thoroughly recommended for anyone with a sense of adventure and desire to learn about & experience a little-known corner of the world! Most Inspirational Moment Too many to easily choose between (eg. the Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan, the Islamic architecture & decor in Uzbekistan, Iskanderkul lake in Tajikistan) but if I had to pick one it would be the time spent at Son Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan. Stunning scenery, remote location, fresh air and starry skies free of light pollution. Add to that a chance to walk in the wilderness, sleeping in comfortable yurts and excellent food and you have a perfect experience. Thoughts on Group Leader Jordan oversaw the whole trip professionally and was always approachable to help get things sorted out. Each country had its own local guide and all were very good, although those in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan went above and beyond in providing the best service. Advice for Potential Travellers The travelling can be gruelling at times, with long days in the bus from time to time. But more than made up for by the destinations. The border crossings were occasionally frustrating as unnecessary bureaucracy kicks in - we had our passports checked by six different border staff on a couple of occasions! Watch out also for some of the locals pushing in the passport control queues, but if you develop a group strategy to shield you, you'll be fine!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/18/2023
Deborah Evans - Traveled, July 2019
Amazing, Extensive, Exhausting Trip If you want to see classic Silk Road architecture then go to Uzbekistan. If you want to see amazing mountain scenery then go to Kyrgyzstan. If you want to see both of the above plus three other countries in Central Asia, whilst experiencing a wide range of ‘best of’ activites plus a few off the beaten track sights, all crammed into three hectic weeks, then the Five Stans trip is the one for you. My expectations were high, but this trip surpassed them. Most Inspirational Moment I can't pick one, here are a selection of things that blew me away: Surreal Ashgabat. Beautiful Bukhara. Samarkand. Obviously. The night sky (and entire yurt experience) at Son Kul lake Thoughts on Group Leader Suzie Grant is a one woman whirlwind. She held our great group together, looked after us all, kept our spirits up and used her natural curiousity to help make it the best trip possible for us. It was a privilege to travel with her. Advice for Potential Travellers Bear in mind that the itinerary is very 'full on' and, although I consider myself to be relatively fit, I was quite tired by the end of the trip. That said, I am grateful for the opportunity to do so much in such a short period of time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/26/2019
Susi Quinn - Traveled, July 2019
A long and varied road This amazing trip was like several holidays rolled into one. From the surreal weirdness of Ashghabat and Darvaza, through ancient archaeological sites to the stunning monuments in Bukhara and Samarkand, through the desert to the Afghan border then up into beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers and nomad camps, before descending back down to the modern post-Soviet cities… every day there was something new and wonderful to see. Most Inspirational Moment So many! Ashghabat set us up with three weeks' worth of jokes; we all fell instantly in love with Bukhara; the necropolis in Samarkand was an unexpected delight; the drive into the Fann Mountains was a welcome return to awesome scenery, and the whole of Kyrgyzstan was jaw-droppingly beautiful, especially the ever-changing colours of Son Kul lake and the brilliant stars on a clear night. Thoughts on Group Leader Our fantastic tour leader Ale(jandro) was a major reason for the success of the trip - always on hand to organise things or deal with any issues, endlessly cheerful and calm, and full of entertaining stories about his previous trips. The local guides sometimes varied in quality, but the best ones were truly stellar - Bek in Uzbekistan and Valentina in Kyrgyzstan in particular were excellent. Advice for Potential Travellers The Tajik visa is valid for about 45 days, so allow a few days' leeway at the start rather than trying to calculate your exact entry date (a few people got this wrong and had to get new visas over dodgy Turkmen internet). The Turkmen LOI can arrive very late, not the "month in advance" suggested in the trip notes, but nobody got rejected. Take plenty of rehydration salts even if you have bowels of steel - nearly everyone had some troubles, and the salts are also good if you're sweating buckets (which will definitely happen at 46 degrees!). Learn some Russian if you can, it's spoken almost everywhere, and will help you understand the bill at restaurants. The transfer window at Istanbul Airport on the way home is very tight - do whatever it takes to speed things up, whether going through the VIP security check or hitching a ride with a motorised wheelchair (have some $$ ready to tip the driver), as you may have over a mile to run to make it before boarding closes - we all made it, but only just.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/23/2019
Sarah Eddington - Traveled, June 2019
Leave the West Behind If you want to leave the west behind until the last city on this incredible journey, then welcome to the former Soviet States that make up the silk road. This trip has everything, religion, wildlife, nomad living and amazing countryside and mountains. Forget McDonalds and Burger King, at times you won’t even get social media! Most Inspirational Moment staying in a Yurt high in the mountains, seeing the nomad people living their lives as they have done for 1000's of years Thoughts on Group Leader our group leader was good, and the local guides and drivers were exceptional Advice for Potential Travellers Do not expect western standards, the food is basic at times as are the toilet and shower facilities. There are no home comforts which is what makes this trip what it is. Do not go expecting to get Wifi and social media, it isn't going to happen at times
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/25/2019
Mike Frampton - Traveled, May 2019
The Five Stans - A journey through history and the Central Asian Republice A great holiday with plenty of superb sites and stunning scenery. One reason for calling this the Silk Road was that silk was used to pay people. It started with the Chinese needing horses to fight the nomads from the north. By 53BC, Rome was spending half its silver production on silk and other products from the Silk Roads. Rome also had to introduce modesty legislation because of the number of people wearing only silk. Whilst Julius Caesar was invading Britain in 53BC, his friend Marcus Crassus was leading another Roman army to defeat by Persia, in an empire that stretched from modern day Iran to Afghanistan and north to Merv. 10,000 Roman captives were sold at the Merv slave market to the Chinese, to fight on their northern border against marauding nomadic tribes. The ruins of three cities can be seen at Merv, in southern modern day Turkmenistan. The first was built by Cyrus the Great when he created the first Persian Empire. Next to it is the remains of the city built by Alexander the Great and next to that the remains of the city built after the Arab invasion, which was destroyed by the armies of Genghis Khan 1221 AD, with up to a million people being massacred. Alexander is a hero in Turkmen, after he freed them from Persian rule. In Uzbekistan, Timor is the hero, as he rose from hired sword to ruler of a vast empire, stretching from the Chinese border to Egypt, destroying many armies on the way. He made Samarqand his capital and made it one of the greatest cities. In Tajikistan, it is Cyrus the Great who is remembered, partly because he was murdered there. In Osh, Kyrgyzstan, it is Babur, great great grandson of Timor and founder of the Indian Mughal dynasty who is remembered. Although it is Manus who is the local hero. Most Inspirational Moment Too many. Merv, Bukhara, Samarqand to name three cities. The snow capped mountains, throwing snowballs and sweltering in the heat all on the same day, magnificent lakes, watching flocks of goats and sheep being moved to the high pastures and seeing the yurts of the shepherds. One surprise was the large number of roses and other plants we saw in the first three countries visited. Thoughts on Group Leader Very good. Unusually we had both a western leader for the whole trip, as well as local guides for each of the countries visited. Advice for Potential Travellers You may only spend one day in Kazakhstan, but a day time flight home, clouds permitting, gives you the opportunity to see the steppes and the salt pans of this vast country from the air, either through the window (book seat early) or as an alternative to a movie, using the plane's downward looking camera (which is an option in the My Flight screen). On arrival at Ashgabat airport, you have to take your invitation letter to the Visa desk before going to through passport control. The visa fee is also variable, partly depending on the exchange rate. We also found the fee charged to individuals varied from a low of $99 each to a high of about $130 each. Beware of each fresh fruit and salad, it is usually washed in local tap water, which can cause problems. Our costs per person were around: Turkmenistan - 200 Turkmen Manat for food and photo fees (June 2019 rate 4.42TMT = £1) Uzbekistan - 800,000 Uzbek Som for food and photo fees (10,700UZS = £1). Spending in the markets, pottery, silk and carpet shops is extra. Tajikistan - 380 Tajiki Somoni for food (11.93TJS = £1) Kyrgyzstan - 2,000 Kyrgyzi Som for food plus 500KGS for optional Arslanbob jeep tour (88.24KGS = £1) Kazakhstan - 15,000 Kazakh Tenge for food and market visit (481.79KZT =£1) Istanbul/other airport stop overs - don't forget this. Visa fees and tips are extra. Istanbul
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/24/2019
Christine Raines - Traveled, July 2018
Varied and Interesting Trip A busy and varied trip covering five countries, encompassing a wealth of culture and history, and some amazing scenery. Most Inspirational Moment Riding a horse above Lake Song Kul. Beautiful blue and gold ceiling in the Registan in Samarkand. Many encounters with friendly and welcoming local people, especially when we had homestays in the villages. Thoughts on Group Leader Suzie Grant is one of the best leaders I have come across. The trip would not have been half as good without her. Very well organized, very attentive to the wishes of all her clients, and a lovely personality. Advice for Potential Travellers Be prepared for a busy schedule: you are moving on almost every day, and there are long hours of driving. Bring clothes for all climates: temperatures ranged from 40 Centigrade in Ashgabat to near freezing at night in the highlands. Learn some Russian if you can: it is the lingua franca in all the countries, restaurant menus are usually in Russian, and all our drivers were Russian. Be aware that there is often no internet.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/17/2018
John Cross - Traveled, August 2018
The must see's of the Five Stans This is my 17th trip with Exodus and this has been one of the best so far, if not the best. There is so much to see, though there is quite a lot of travelling to enable this to happen. However the scenery, mostly deserts and mountains, are delightful. The accommodation ranged from the sublime (A Sheraton!) to the plain and simple, homestays, which gave us an even better chance to interact with local people. If you have the time to do this trip, do it, the scenery is stunning and the history of this region is the history of the civilised world. Brilliant! Most Inspirational Moment Seeing the Gur E Amir (Timur's tomb) during the day and then again by Moonlight. Thoughts on Group Leader Suzie Grant's organisational skills are simply outstanding. Her experience and endless patience ensured that we all had a fantastic, trouble free trip, without feeling rushed or manipulated in any way. Don't ever let her go, your company will be much the worse for it Advice for Potential Travellers Go on this trip and maybe read John Frankopan's 'The Silk Road' first?
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/23/2018
Ros and Peter Buck - Traveled, July 2018
An Incredible Trip An incredible journey across a region that has not always been easy to visit.The trip encompasses grand landscapes, huge distances and wonderful opportunities to learn much from the local guides. Bek in Uzbekistan and Aibek in Kyrgyzstan/ Kazakhstan particularly endeared themselves to the group, bringing knowledge, consideration and enthusiasm to the task. The trip endeavours to give wide and varied experiences and “gets off the worn track” with inclusions such as Termes, Uzbekistan near the Afghanistan border. Most Inspirational Moment Expect to be amazed ! ... From bizarre Ashgabet, historically dense Bukhara and Samarkand, roadside interactions with local herders in their Yurt camps to stunning high altitude lakes. Thoughts on Group Leader For a trip such as this, which encompasses moving almost every day, 5 currencies , many meal arrangements and visa challenges at borders, an extraordinary guide is paramount for success. Our guide Alejandro (Alex) was without doubt the reason for the smooth progression of the trip. His positive manner, perceptive nature, great humour and organisation skills endeared him to us all. Advice for Potential Travellers Beware: The trip is exhausting (particularly with temperatures averaging around 40 degrees celsius in August for much of the trip) even though much of the time is spent sitting in the vehicles. Pack light but include extra layers for high altitude. Be very sure your visa arrangements are correct.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/03/2018
S M Turbett - Traveled, July 2018
Fantastic trips This is a really fascinating, busy, exhausting and quite unique trip across 5 countries in just over 3 weeks. Go with an open mind and you will enjoy the most amazing experiences, see incredible sights, meet really lovely people and learn so much. Most Inspirational Moment My favourite time was in the yurt camp at Son Kul lake. After a really hectic couple of weeks this was a brilliant place to relax and chill, walk and ride local horses. There are very few places in the world with no phone or internet access and no sound of roads, planes or trains - but this is one of them. I would have stayed another week here just to unwind and enjoy the spectacular surroundings if I could have. Thoughts on Group Leader Our group leader, Alejandro, was quite exceptional - his patience, calmness, kindness and good humour kept us all together as a group for this long and quite intense trip. Advice for Potential Travellers This trip requires a really small wardrobe in order to manage a lot of one-night stopovers, with very cool lightweight, easily washable clothing for the incredibly hot places (Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and a down jacket, hat, gloves and thermals for the much cooler places (Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan). If you take the Astana extension - just make sure your free day is NOT a Monday, when everything (yes, literally everything!) is closed.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/11/2018
Lawrence Orgee - Traveled, May 2018
The 5 Stans A great trip covering a wide range of experiences – from Turkmenistan [Ashgabat with its somewhat bizarre architecture (the Wedding Palace being a particularly good, if that’s the right word, example) and the welcoming wedding parties at the Arch of Neutrality; the ancient ruins at Nisa and Merv; and the burning pit at Darvaza among particularly memorable sights – all in the presence of a great local guide Jabar]; through Uzbekistan [with spectacular sights and sites at Bukhara, Samarkand and Shahrisabz together with the ruins of one of Alexander the Great’s fortresses by the River Oxus all with the guide, Bek, who is probably the best guide on any tour I’ve been on]; Tajikistan [wonderful journey through the mountains to the gorgeous Iskanderkul Lake]; back into Uzbekistan [to learn about ceramics and the mechanics, and smell (boiling silkworm cocoons), of the silk industry; Kyrgyzstan [marvellous mountain scenery, great homestays, and lovely yurt camp (though be prepared for all weathers in one day – from bright sun to hail and lightning in a matter of minutes)]; and a brief stay in Kazakhstan [could have stayed longer and got to see more of Almaty, etc]. Suzie, the British guide who accompanied the trip throughout was wonderful and made everything easy for us – without her it would have been a lot more difficult. Food was ok to very good (the meal at the family house in Samarkand and the meals at the homestays being favourites), but was very limited for the vegetarians generally. Hotels were good to excellent and the transport was fine, though the air-conditioning on the minibuses in Kyrgyzstan didn’t cope with the high temperatures. Most Inspirational Moment Visiting Samarkand - seeing Registan Square and visiting Timur's mausoleum. This made the history, culture, etc of the region memorable, and together with the whole trip, ranging from visiting 4th century BC ruins to seeing present-day life (from modern cities to semi-nomadic herders living in yurts) vividly brought to life how much this area has contributed to world history yet how little we hear about it. Thoughts on Group Leader Suzie was wonderful - she made everything easy for us, organising things so we had no worries, speedily and efficiently dealing with any issues that arose, and fascinating us with her stories of her earlier travels through the region and telling us about how things had changed in the intervening years. Advice for Potential Travellers While this is advertised as an easy/moderate trip it is a very full trip with little time for relaxing - this is not at all a complaint as the trip covered so many different aspects of life, culture and history in the countries we visited, but is more tiring/physically demanding than it might appear from the trip notes. Also, it is worth noting that the toilets are often of the squatter variety and not always in pristine condition - indeed, far from it - so just be prepared and always have some spare toilet tissue, just in case. Also, for any vegetarians be prepared for a distinct lack of options/variety in what is available.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2018
Carol Penn - Traveled, May 2018
A remarkable trip This was a trip full of variety and dramatic scenery, from the surreal Ashgabat, the amazing Darvaza crater, the beautiful mosques and madrasahs of Samarkand and Bukhara to the truly majestic and ever changing scenery of the Kyrgyzstan mountains. Each of the 5 countries had its own unique character. There are some long journeys but they are full of continuing interest with lots of worthwhile stops on route. 99% of the accommodation was very comfortable, spacious and spotlessly clean. Most Inspirational Moment I found the experience of the continuing journey to new and unexpected sites and places the biggest wonder. There was no tourist commercialism at all. One guide in the walnut grove was highly surprised when I said I would buy 3 packets of walnuts!! Thoughts on Group Leader The experienced and knowledgable Suzie Grant guided us effortlessly throughout and 3 of the local guides were outstanding. Advice for Potential Travellers Be prepared for ‘4 seasons in 1day’ at Son-Kul lake. Take some warm layers. The stoves in the yurts are not lit until 8.30pm and it is c o l d! That said, it is very comfortable glamping.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/23/2018
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