Original
Explorer
Astana to Tashkent
27 days • 5
5
Excellent
circle6 reviews
location_on 27 days
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Start
Astana, Kazakhstan
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Finish
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
tour
Trip Code
KFSKC
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Min Age
16
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Trip Size
1 - 12
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Physical Rating
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Meals
26 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners
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Transport
Private vehicle, Plane, Train, High Speed Train, Local Train, Metro, Overnight Sleeper Train
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
- DAY 1Day 1 • Astana
- DAY 2Day 2 • Astana
- DAY 3Day 3 • Turkistan
- DAY 4Day 4 • Turkistan/ Overnight Train
- DAY 5Day 5 • Almaty
- DAY 6Day 6 • Almaty
- DAY 7Day 7 • Kolsay Lakes National Park
- DAY 8Day 8 • Kolsay Lakes/Border Crossing/Karakol
- DAY 9Day 9 • Karakol
- DAY 10Day 10 • Bishkek
- DAY 11Day 11 • Bishkek
- DAY 12Day 12 • Bishkek
- DAY 13Day 13 • Issyk-Kul Lake
- DAY 14Day 14 • Issyk-Kul Lake
- DAY 15Day 15 • Song-Kol Lake (3016 metres)
- DAY 16Day 16 • Kyzyl-Oi
- DAY 17Day 17 • Suusamyr Valley/Chychkan River/Toktogul
- DAY 18Day 18 • Osh
- DAY 19Day 19 • Osh
- DAY 20Day 20 • Border Crossing/Andijan/Tashkent
- DAY 21Day 21 • Tashkent
- DAY 22Day 22 • Bukhara
- DAY 23Day 23 • Bukhara
- DAY 24Day 24 • Samarkand
- DAY 25Day 25 • Samarkand
- DAY 26Day 26 • Tashkent
- DAY 27Day 27 • Tashkent
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
26 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners
airport_shuttle Transport
Private vehicle, Plane, Train, High Speed Train, Local Train, Metro, Overnight Sleeper Train
bed Accommodation
Hotel (17 nights), Overnight Train (1 night), Homestay/Guesthouse (5 nights), Yurt (3 nights)
festival Included activities
circleAstana - City tour
circleAstana - Local Jewler Visit
circleTurkistan – Caravan Serai complex
circleOtrar - Ancient settlement
circleTurkistan - Yasui Mausoleum
circleAlmaty – Winery visit and wine tasting
circleAlmaty – Turgen Gorge
circleAlmaty – Lake Issyk
circleAlmaty - Zenkov Cathedral
circleAlmaty - Panfilov Park
circleAlmaty - Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments
circleAlmaty - Zelenyi Bazaar
circleCharyn Canyon - National Park
circleKolsay Lakes National Park - Hiking
circleKarakol - Dungan Mosque
circleKarakol - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
circleKarakol - Jeti Orghuz Canyon Hike
circleCholpon Ata - Petroglyphs
circleLake Issyk-Kul - Boat tour
circleBishkek - City walking tour
circleShamsy Valley - Burana tower
circleDon Aryk - Kyrgyz family visit and home-cooked lunch
circleIssyk-Kul Lake - Yurt workshop
circleKochkor - Market
circleKochkor - Women's Felt Co-op
circleKyzyl-Oi - Boorsok Cooking Demonstration
circleUzgen - Uzgen Minaret & Complex
circleOsh - Sulaiman-Too Mountain
circleOsh - National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex
circleTashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
circleTashkent - Amir Timur Square
circleBukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace
circleBukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
circleBukhara - Ark Fortress
circleSamarkand - Leader-led orientation walk
circleSamarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
circleSamarkand - Registan Square
circleSamarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
circleSamarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
circleSamarkand - Plov cooking demonstration & family visit
museum Optional activities
circleBishkek - State Historical Museum - KGS150
circleOsh - Bazaar - Free
circleBukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque - UZS6000
circleSamarkand - Afrosiab Museum - UZS60000
circleSamarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory - UZS50000
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£5,577£4,740
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Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 7 spaces left
£5,632
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Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Sunday Sep 28, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£5,814£5,523
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Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£5,896£5,601
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Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
Sunday May 03, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 10 spaces left
£5,528
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Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
Sunday May 17, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 11 spaces left
£5,528
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Tuesday May 05, 2026
Sunday May 31, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 9 spaces left
£5,748
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Saturday May 16, 2026
Thursday Jun 11, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 8 spaces left
£5,264
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Tuesday Jun 02, 2026
Sunday Jun 28, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£5,528
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Tuesday Aug 18, 2026
Sunday Sep 13, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£5,748
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Tuesday Aug 25, 2026
Sunday Sep 20, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£5,748
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Tuesday Sep 01, 2026
Sunday Sep 27, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£5,968
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Tuesday Sep 08, 2026
Sunday Oct 04, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£5,264
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Important notes
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 .
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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.