Original
Explorer
Bishkek to Ashgabat
27 days • 4.6
4.5
Excellent
circle5 reviews
location_on 27 days
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Start
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Finish
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
tour
Trip Code
KFSRC
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Min Age
15
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Trip Size
1 - 12
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Physical Rating
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Meals
25 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 9 dinners
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Transport
Private Bus, Metro, Train, Overnight Train
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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
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Explore Central Asia – a fascinating and unique mix of ancient Silk Road culture, post-soviet culture and redefined nations living in post-independence.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
- DAY 1Day 1 • Bishkek
- DAY 2Day 2 • Bishkek
- DAY 3Day 3 • Issyk-Kul Lake
- DAY 4Day 4 • Issyk-Kul Lake
- DAY 5Day 5 • Song-Kol Lake (3016 metres)
- DAY 6Day 6 • Kyzyl-Oi
- DAY 7Day 7 • Suusamyr Valley/Chychkan River/Toktogul
- DAY 8Day 8 • Osh
- DAY 9Day 9 • Osh
- DAY 10Day 10 • Border Crossing/Andijan/Tashkent
- DAY 11Day 11 • Tashkent
- DAY 12Day 12 • Bukhara
- DAY 13Day 13 • Bukhara
- DAY 14Day 14 • Samarkand
- DAY 15Day 15 • Samarkand
- DAY 16Day 16 • Tashkent
- DAY 17Day 17 • Tashkent
- DAY 18Day 18 • Tashkent / Overnight Train
- DAY 19Day 19 • Khiva
- DAY 20Day 20 • Khiva
- DAY 21Day 21 • Border crossing / Darvaza
- DAY 22Day 22 • Ashgabat / Nohur
- DAY 23Day 23 • Ashgabat
- DAY 24Day 24 • Ashgabat
- DAY 25Day 25 • Merv / Mary
- DAY 26Day 26 • Ashgabat
- DAY 27Day 27 • Ashgabat
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
25 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 9 dinners
airport_shuttle Transport
Private Bus, Metro, Train, Overnight Train
bed Accommodation
Guesthouse/Homestay (3 night), Hotel (18 nights), Yurt (4 nights), Overnight train (1 night)
festival Included activities
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
circleTashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum
circleTashkent - City tour
circleTashkent - Metro tour
circleKhiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
circleKhiva - Juma Mosque
circleKhiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace
circleKhiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
circleKhiva - Kuhna Ark
circleDarvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater
circleYerbent - Village visit
circleNohur - Village walking tour
circleGeokdepe - Horse breeder visit with bread & snack cooking demostration
circleAshgabat - Anau ruins
circleAshgabat - Neutrality Arch
circleAshgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
circleAshgabat - City tour
circleAshgabat - Nisa ruins
circleAshgabat - Russian Bazaar
circleMerv - Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum
circleMerv - Erk Kala & Gayur Kala
circleMerv - Big & Small Kizkala
circleMary - City tour
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
circleTashkent - Art Gallery of Uzbekistan - UZS50000
circleTashkent - Museum of Applied Arts - UZS60000
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£5,665£4,815
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Friday Aug 08, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Sunday Sep 07, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 11 spaces left
£5,594
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Friday Aug 15, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£5,808
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Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 5 spaces left
£5,594£4,754
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Friday Aug 22, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 8 spaces left
£5,946
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Friday Sep 12, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 4 spaces left
£6,078£5,774
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Friday Sep 26, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 8 spaces left
£5,990£5,690
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Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 2 spaces left
£5,990£5,690
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Friday Oct 03, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 9 spaces left
£5,720
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Friday Oct 10, 2025
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£5,902£5,606
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Friday Apr 03, 2026
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 11 spaces left
£5,649
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Friday Apr 10, 2026
Wednesday May 06, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 11 spaces left
£5,379
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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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Kate
Nov 18, 2023
Great trip I really enjoyed it & would do it again
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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.
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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
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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