Central Asia

The 5 Stans: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan

Key Information

Turkmenistan

Capital: Ashgabat

Language: Turkmen

Highlights: Darvaza Gas Crater, Konye Urgench

Uzbekistan

Capital: Tashkent

Language: Uzbek

Major Cities: Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Termez

Highlights: Silk Road cities, Registan Square, ancient madrassahs

Tajikistan

Capital: Dushanbe

Language: Tajik

Major Cities: Khujand

Highlights: Hisor Fortress, Anzob Tunnel

Kyrgyzstan

Capital: Bishkek

Language: Kyrgyz

Major Cities: Osh

Highlights: Ala Archa National Park, Tien Shan mountains

Kazakhstan

Capital: Astana

Language: Kazakh and Russian

Major Cities: Almaty

Highlights: Tien Shan mountains, Soviet architecture

Summary of Plan

Day	Date	Plan	Accommodation
1	Sun 02-Sep	Arrive Ashgabat & Darvaza Gas Crater	Desert Camp, Darvaza
2	Mon 03-Sep	Konye Urgench & Dashoguz	Hotel, Dashoguz
3	Tue 04-Sep	Border Crossing & Khiva	Hotel, Khiva
4	Wed 05-Sep	Drive to Bukhara	Hotel, Bukhara
5	Thu 06-Sep	Bukhara & Drive to Samarkand	Hotel, Samarkand
6	Fri 07-Sep	Samarkand & Night Train	Overnight Train to Termez
7	Sat 08-Sep	Termez	Hotel, Termez
8	Sun 09-Sep	Border Crossing & Dushanbe	Sheraton, Dushanbe
9	Mon 10-Sep	Drive to Khujand	Hotel, Khujand
10	Tue 11-Sep	Khujand & Border to Osh	Hostel, Osh
11	Wed 12-Sep	Epic 12-Hour Drive to Bishkek	Hostel, Bishkek
12	Thu 13-Sep	Bishkek Free Day	Hostel, Bishkek
13	Fri 14-Sep	Ala Archa National Park	Hostel, Bishkek
14	Sat 15-Sep	Drive to Almaty, Kazakhstan	Hotel, Almaty
15	Sun 16-Sep	Almaty City Tour	Hotel, Almaty
16	Mon 17-Sep	Depart Home	Home

DAY 01 [02/09] – Ashgabat & Darvaza Gas Crater

Desert Camp, Darvaza – night 1/1

Arrive at Ashgabat airport early morning and transfer to the city centre to begin our tour. Visit the square and parks to see the huge monuments and statues of the leaders as well as Ertogrul Ghazi mosque. We will then drive on to visit the Turkmenbashy mosque and mausoleum.

In the afternoon we will drive to the incredible Darvaza Gas crater. En route we stop off for supplies in the desert village of Erbent. We then turn off road and drive across desert dunes.

Arrive at Darvaza early evening when the light is fading and all you can see for miles around is the glow of the crater.

Our guide will set up camp in tents at a safe distance from the crater before cooking dinner while you relax and stare in awe at the Gas crater.

DAY 02 [03/09] – Konye Urgench & Dashoguz

Hotel, Dashoguz – night 1/1

After breakfast we leave Darvaza and drive North to Konye Urgench historical site. It is a UNESCO heritage site and contains the remains of the capital of Khwarezm, part of the Achaemenid empire.

In the afternoon we will drive onwards to the city of Dashoguz, check into our hotel and then take a tour of the city in the afternoon. Rest of the evening at leisure.

DAY 03 [04/09] – Border Crossing to Uzbekistan & Khiva

Hotel, Khiva – night 1/1

After breakfast we drive onto the border crossing and pass through into Uzbekistan. Our Uzbek guide will meet us here and drive to Khiva where we will check into our hotel. After lunch and some free time we will take a walking tour of the city visiting the Ichan Kala fortress with its minarets, madrassah, mosque and mausoleums. After a group dinner there will be free time in the city.

DAY 04 [05/09] – Khiva to Bukhara

Hotel, Bukhara – night 1/1

After a bit of free time for any last minute sightseeing we will depart on the 7 hour drive to Bukhara across the desert. We will have a packed lunch during the journey and also make a stop at a desert Chai Khanah (Tea house) in the early afternoon for tea and kebabs.

On arrival to Bukhara we will check into our hotel and after dinner have free time to enjoy the atmosphere around the Lyabi Hauz pool.

DAY 05 [06/09] – Bukhara & Samarkand

Hotel, Samarkand – night 1/1

In the morning we will take a half day sightseeing tour of Bukhara, visiting Samanids mausoleum, Ark fortress, Polkalon complex, trading domes, the Lyabi Hauz complex and Chor Minor.

After lunch we will drive onwards to Samarkand where we will check into our hotel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

DAY 06 [07/09] – Samarkand & Night Train

Overnight Train to Termez – night 1/1

Today we tour the historical city of Samarkand, taking in Registan square, Gur Emir mausoleum, Slab bazaar, Ulugbek observatory, Afrasiab museum wall paintings and the Meros handicraft centre.

We have dinner in Samarkand before departing on the 22:00 overnight train to Termez.

DAY 07 [08/09] – Termez

Hotel, Termez – night 1/1

Arrive into Termez at 9:30 and drop our luggage off at our hotel before starting a full day tour. We will visit the archaeological museum, Sultan Saadat complex, Kirk Kiz hanaka and Fayaztepa Buddhist monastery.

After a farewell dinner with our Uzbek guide, spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

DAY 08 [09/09] – Border Crossing to Tajikistan & Dushanbe

Sheraton Hotel, Dushanbe – night 1/1

At 9:00 we depart for the Sariosiyo border crossing. Pass the border and meet our Tajik guides.

En route to Dushanbe we will visit Hisor town to visit the Hisor fortress, one of the most important historical sites in Tajikistan. We will also visit the nearby 16th Century Kunha Medrassah, Museum of Tajik Life and the mausoleum of the Sufi Saint, Mahdumi Azam.

On arrival into Dushanbe we will visit the Museum of National Antiquities before checking into the 5 star Sheraton and spending the rest of the evening at leisure.

DAY 09 [10/09] – Dushanbe to Khujand

Hotel, Khujand – night 1/1

After breakfast we drive to Khujand, passing through the 5km Anzob ‘tunnel of death’ en route.

On arrival to Khujand we will visit the Shikh Muslihiddin mosque, Oriental bazaar (the biggest in Central Asia), the Arbob palace and the Lenin monument. Check into our hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant before spending the rest of the evening at leisure.

DAY 10 [11/09] – Khujand & Border to Kyrgyzstan

Hostel, Osh – night 1/1

After breakfast we take a further tour of Khujand visiting the ancient city fortress. We’ll have lunch afterwards before driving to the border and then onwards to the Kyrgyz city of Osh.

Arrive in Osh and check into our hostel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

DAY 11 [12/09] – Osh to Bishkek (Epic Drive)

Hostel, Bishkek – night 1/3

We have an early start today as we begin the longest drive of the journey, a 12 hour journey North up to the capital of Bishkek (an alternative flight option is available on request). This road rivals the Pamir Highway for the most beautiful and scenic journey in Central Asia. We pass huge mountains, canyons and valleys throughout the whole journey as well as crossing a host of different climatic zones and vegetation levels as we pass the natural and cultural divide of the country through the Fergana valley and Tien Shan mountain range.

After arriving in Bishkek early evening, we will check into our hostel before going out for optional meal and beers!

DAY 12 [13/09] – Bishkek Free Day

Hostel, Bishkek – night 2/3

We have a well earned day of rest today with the chance to spend your day at leisure around the capital, checking out the great Soviet architecture and monuments.

DAY 13 [14/09] – Ala Archa National Park

Hostel, Bishkek – night 3/3

In the morning we will drive out to visit Ala Archa, a beautiful alpine National Park situated in the Tian Shan mountain range. The day is free to spend hiking or relaxing around the region before returning to Bishkek in the early evening.

Tonight is the final day of the 4 Stans tour before departure the following day.

DAY 14 [15/09] – Bishkek to Almaty, Kazakhstan

Hotel, Almaty – night 1/2

We will take a 5 hour journey up across the border and into the Kazakh city of Almaty. We will check into our hotel before taking an afternoon tour of the City.

Evening at leisure.

DAY 15 [16/09] – Almaty

Hotel, Almaty – night 2/2

Today the tour continues in Almaty with free time to explore the city.

DAY 16 [17/09] – Depart Home

Today the tour ends and we depart for home.