Original
Explorer
Bishkek to Ashgabat
27 days • 4.6
4.5
Excellent
5 reviews
27 days
Start
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Finish
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Trip Code
KFSRC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
25 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 9 dinners
Transport
Private Bus, Metro, Train, Overnight Train
Accommodation
Guesthouse/Homestay (3 night), Hotel (18 nights), Yurt (4 nights), Overnight train (1 night)
From £4,754(27 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Explore Central Asia – a fascinating and unique mix of ancient Silk Road culture, post-soviet culture and redefined nations living in post-independence.
Discover the history of the Silk Road – see the much-photographed Registan in Samarkand (one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture), spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara (a 6th-century city), visit the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva and explore the sprawling ruins of Mary.
Be treated to traditional hospitality and get a unique insight into the daily life of locals during a Kyrgyz homestay, a night in a guesthouse in Uzbekistan and the rare chance to stay with a local family in Turkmenistan.
Marvel at the beautiful natural landscapes in this ever-changing land – see Son-Kol Lake’s flocks of sheep, goats and horses, witness the majesty of the Kyrgyzstans Mountains, visit Issy-Kul Lake, watch the ever-burning flames of ‘The Gates of Hell’ and take in the vast desert of Turkenistan.
Rub shoulders with locals, bargain in the bazzars and sit down for a homemade plov meal – with your expert leader by the side, you’ll really get into the local insight and learn what’s common and what’s different between these three stans.
Is this trip right for you?
Central Asia is a remote destination, perfect for intrepid travellers in the true sense of the word! You will venture well away from cities, right off the beaten track and be able to immerse yourself in local food, life and culture.
There is one night of camping on this trip. This is, of course, all part of your adventure in the Karakum Desert. Sleeping bags, mattresses and tents are provided, but there are no facilities at the campsite.
Accommodation may on occassion be more basic than what you are used to in homestays, guesthouses and yurt stay, usually in multishare arrangement. Shower and toilet facilities will be limited in some places and shared. 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 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.
Tourism is strictly controlled in Turkmenistan, with Letters of Invitation needed in advance in order to apply for your visa (which you can then get on arrival) and guides tending to be protective of what tourists see and fiercely proud of their nation and its leaders. Those used to more freedom of exploration and tour guides with a more global perspective may find their experience here different from in other destinations. Please see the ‘Passport and visas’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
Itinerary
Journey from Bishkek to Ashgabat through Central Asia
Be entranced by the beauty and the wonder of Central Asia on this overland journey from the capital of Kyrgyzstan through the heartland of Uzbekistan to the forgotten yet futuristic Ashgabat. Take in the tranquil landscape of Son-Kol Lake, watch for wild boar and deer around Chychkan Gorge, hike up the sacred Sulumain-too Mountain in historic Osh, and get your fill of mosques and museums in Samarkand. Venture into the mysterious Turkmenistan, watch the eternal fire from the 'Gates of Hell', and explore Ashgabat with architecture from a sci-fi movie. Abounding with ancient culture, divine natural beauty, intriguing relics and welcoming people, this is a journey that will leave you eager to discover more of Central Asia.
Inclusions
Meals
25 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 9 dinners
Transport
Private Bus, Metro, Train, Overnight Train
Accommodation
Guesthouse/Homestay (3 night), Hotel (18 nights), Yurt (4 nights), Overnight train (1 night)
Included activities
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
Tashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum
Tashkent - City tour
Tashkent - Metro tour
Khiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
Khiva - Juma Mosque
Khiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace
Khiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
Khiva - Kuhna Ark
Darvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater
Yerbent - Village visit
Nohur - Village walking tour
Geokdepe - Horse breeder visit with bread & snack cooking demostration
Ashgabat - Anau ruins
Ashgabat - Neutrality Arch
Ashgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
Ashgabat - City tour
Ashgabat - Nisa ruins
Ashgabat - Russian Bazaar
Merv - Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum
Merv - Erk Kala & Gayur Kala
Merv - Big & Small Kizkala
Mary - City tour
Optional activities
Bishkek - State Historical Museum - KGS150
Osh - Bazaar - Free
Bukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque - UZS6000
Samarkand - Afrosiab Museum - UZS60000
Samarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory - UZS50000
Tashkent - Art Gallery of Uzbekistan - UZS50000
Tashkent - Museum of Applied Arts - UZS60000
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 3 to Day 7, Day 18 (overnight train), Day 21 (Yurt) & Day 22 (Guesthouse) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This is a multi-country trip. Please read the visa section of the Essential Trip Information carefully for the visa requirement. Turkmenistan visa requires a letter of invitation to be organized no later than 3 months before your trip.
3. Independent travel is not allowed in Turkmenistan. If you have pre trip accommodation booked with us, you won't be allowed to leave your hotel without a guide in Ashgabat. Please consult with your booking agent if you need to book post-trip accommodation in Ashgabat.
4. This is a combination trip of 2 itineraries and your tour leader and group composition may change on Day 17.
Reviews (5)
5 stars
3
4 stars
2
Jennifer
Sep 11, 2024
The best intrepid trip I’ve done despite a little apprehension and nerves initially as a solo woman and what to expect. Miko our guide was fantastic and a wealth of information and amazingly well organised. I felt completely safe at all times and able to completely enjoy these amazing countries and have good and engaged interaction with the local men and women in the different areas. Amazing people history wilderness and architecture.
Kate
Nov 18, 2023
Great trip I really enjoyed it & would do it again
Kathryn
Sep 19, 2023
More people need to come to this part of the World - come to Kyrgyzstan for the amazing scenery, Uzbekistan for the phenomenal architecture and Turkmenistan because it'll be like nowhere you've been before. And do it with Intrepid as if your trip was anthing like mine, it will have been the trip of a lifetime.
ANNE
May 19, 2024
The 3 countries are very different culturally, politically and in landscape. Highly recommend travelling to this little known area. I am 67 and can assure the facilities are not basic so don't let that put you off! Wonderful leaders and fellow travelling companions. Sent from Outlook for Android
Edward
Jul 29, 2023
Three countries that are all starkly different and gob-smackingly amazing in different ways. A huge amount is crammed into the four weeks and you’ll come away with a feeling that you’ve done justice to each of them. The itinerary is excellent and the Intrepid guides were first class. It’s tough - you cover a lot of ground - but it’s worth it
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