Original
Explorer
Astana to Tashkent
27 days • 5
5
Excellent
6 reviews
27 days
Start
Astana, Kazakhstan
Finish
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Trip Code
KFSKC
Min Age
16
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
26 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Plane, Train, High Speed Train, Local Train, Metro, Overnight Sleeper Train
Accommodation
Hotel (17 nights), Overnight Train (1 night), Homestay/Guesthouse (5 nights), Yurt (3 nights)
From £4,740(27 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Discover Central Asia’s fascinating mix of ancient Silk Road culture, Soviet influence and post-independence nations with local leaders to show you the way.
Learn about the Silk Road and its history – see the Registan in Samarkand (one of the pinnacles of Islamic architecture), spend time in UNESCO World Heritage-listed, 6th-century Bukhara and uncover the charm of the legendary Turkistan.
Immerse yourself in the unique natural landscapes of this seldom-travelled part of the world – be surrounded by the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, take a train ride through the vistas of the Kazakh steppe, see the little 'Grand Canyon' at Charyn and discover the sunken forest of Kolsai Lakes.
Be wowed by Song Kol Lake and Issyk-kul Lake, where you may see flocks of sheep, goats and herds of horses with their nomadic herdsmen. Stay in a yurt camp at the shore and live like the locals have for centuries in these traditional tents.
Experience traditional Central Asian hospitality – there's really nothing like being welcomed into a local home or yurt for a meal, chatting with stall holders at bazaars or simply chatting with the locals at the sites.
Is this trip right for you?
This is an overland journey, so there will be some very long days of travelling and driving, often over rough terrain. This can be tiring at times and will require a great deal of patience at others, especially at border crossings. The vehicle size can be rather compact when the group is almost full. This is to enable us to travel to small villages where the general road condition doesn't allow big buses. We find this is a great way for the group to bond and share an amazing journey together and there will be stops along the way to take photos and stretch your legs too.
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! In other words, while you’ll be comfortable, don’t expect luxury.
Accommodation may be more basic than what you are used to in homestays, guesthouses and the yurt stay. Shower and toilet facilities will be limited in some places and non-existent in others. While the comfort level won't always be high, the rewards of living in true local style in this far-out part of the world are immeasurable.
This trip is a combination of two trips. Please review the Itinerary for details of when your fellow travellers and leader will change.
Itinerary
Enjoy a unique exploration of Central Asia across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Beginning in the futuristic cityscapes of Astana, take a journey from mighty Kazakhstan to mountainous Kyrgyzstan and historic Uzbekistan. From the ancient city of Turkistan and the Silk Road ruins of Sayram and Otrar, the sights along the way are unlike anywhere else on earth. Take in the tranquil landscape of Son-Kol Lake, see Solomon's Throne in historic Osh and wander mosques and museums in Samarkand and Bukhara. Dive into ancient culture and natural beauty on an adventure that will leave you yearning to discover more of Central Asia.
Inclusions
Meals
26 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Plane, Train, High Speed Train, Local Train, Metro, Overnight Sleeper Train
Accommodation
Hotel (17 nights), Overnight Train (1 night), Homestay/Guesthouse (5 nights), Yurt (3 nights)
Included activities
Astana - City tour
Astana - Local Jewler Visit
Turkistan – Caravan Serai complex
Otrar - Ancient settlement
Turkistan - Yasui Mausoleum
Almaty – Winery visit and wine tasting
Almaty – Turgen Gorge
Almaty – Lake Issyk
Almaty - Zenkov Cathedral
Almaty - Panfilov Park
Almaty - Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments
Almaty - Zelenyi Bazaar
Charyn Canyon - National Park
Kolsay Lakes National Park - Hiking
Karakol - Dungan Mosque
Karakol - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
Karakol - Jeti Orghuz Canyon Hike
Cholpon Ata - Petroglyphs
Lake Issyk-Kul - Boat tour
Bishkek - City walking tour
Shamsy Valley - Burana tower
Don Aryk - Kyrgyz family visit and home-cooked lunch
Issyk-Kul Lake - Yurt workshop
Kochkor - Market
Kochkor - Women's Felt Co-op
Kyzyl-Oi - Boorsok Cooking Demonstration
Uzgen - Uzgen Minaret & Complex
Osh - Sulaiman-Too Mountain
Osh - National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex
Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
Tashkent - Amir Timur Square
Bukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace
Bukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
Bukhara - Ark Fortress
Samarkand - Leader-led orientation walk
Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Samarkand - Registan Square
Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
Samarkand - Plov cooking demonstration & family visit
Optional activities
Bishkek - State Historical Museum - KGS150
Osh - Bazaar - Free
Bukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque - UZS6000
Samarkand - Afrosiab Museum - UZS60000
Samarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory - UZS50000
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
















Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4, Day 7 and Day 13-16 where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for flight and train tickets booking no later than 45 days prior to departure. Fees may apply for amendments or failure to provide the required details within 45 days of departure..
Reviews (6)
5 stars
6
Karen
Aug 31, 2024
Astana to Amity, what a great trip. So lucky the local market was on the day we were in Turkstan. The locals were so inviting. Nazira, our guide spoke perfect English and her local knowledge is very impressive and her bubbly personality was infectious. The city we visited were very clean and surprisingly modern. Definitely a must do trip
Nikita
May 27, 2024
This trip surpassed my expectations - from the diversity in locations, to the guides and the tour group mates, I can't recommend it enough.
Jai
May 22, 2024
Great first experience of Central Asia. Covered a lot of varied terrains and histories. Came back with a lot more knowledge of its fascinating people and history. A fantastic place to visit. The tour leaders were very knowledgeable and made the whole experience of travelling in Central Asia that more memorable.
Paul
Jul 27, 2023
A fantastic trip. The geography, history and culture of Central Asia was an unforgettable experience. The itinerary was busy but well worth it to experience so much. We now have many memories to enjoy. We have traveled a lot in the past decade, and this trip exceeded our expectations.
Kate
Jul 16, 2023
If you want to experience a completely different culture and terrain, consider this trip. The whole journey was a scintillating assault on our senses. We were welcomed in all three countries by local people wherever we were, astonished that we were from England, and how old we were! It is not a trip for anybody who does not enjoy being transported away from their normal life and being absorbed into another .
steve
Jul 06, 2023
This trip was my second choice after the 5 Stans trip was cancelled. However I found it thrilling, full of opportunities to experience a vastly different culture, landscape, food, languages. From driving 500 miles off road in two days and camping by a salt lake under the full moon, to sleeping in comfortable beds in heated yurts at 10k feet by a lake with snow on the mountains. From the temp in the 40's (105+) in cities to a bit chilli ( not freezing) in the mountains but all good. Trains, planes, automobiles, metros and vans. The experiences you will have to process one by one for some time after. Packed days of activities or driving but nothing extreme. I was able to use my credit card most of the time for food etc but carried some pocket cash where I could not. We had 3 guides in total for the full month, having two would've been a bit nicer but it is what it is. Highly recommend. It is a good value for what the on sale cost was.
Friends and Family Travel is an agent of Intrepid Travel. All Trip content and associated images are copyright of Intrepid Travel.
You are protected
Contact Information
Call us at
0208 058 4003
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM GMT.
Contact our customer support
contact@friendsandfamily.travel
We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

© 2024 Friends and Family Travel | All rights reserved.