Original
Central Asia Adventure: Astana to Ashgabat
37 days • No reviews yet
37 days
Start
Astana, Kazakhstan
Finish
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Trip Code
KFSWC
Min Age
16
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
34 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 11 dinners
Transport
Private Vehical, Metro, Train, Overnight Train, Plane, 4X4
Accommodation
Guesthouse/Homestay (6 night), Hotel (24 nights), Yurt (4 nights), Overnight train (2 nights)
From £7,447(37 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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 Khiva.
See the natural landscapes of this corner of the world – travel through the vast Kazakh steppe and the sunken forest of Kolsai Lakes, journey through the mountainous Kyrgyzstan to Issykul Lake and toast to the eternal flames of the Darvaza Crater.
Experience traditional Central Asian hospitality – learn about the nomadic life in the yurt stays, enjoy hearty home-cooked meals, visit local families, chat with the stall owners in local bazaars and learn about traditional crafts in local workshops.
Tour the fascinating capitals of the Stans, each with its own unique character and turbulent historical events that shaped them into what they are today.
Enjoy the journey – take an overnight train in Kazakhstan, hop on fast trains in Uzbekistan, take a 4WD into the desert in Turkmenistan and experience life on the road like the locals do!
Is this trip right for you?
This trip covers a lot of ground in an epic 37-day journey. It is for those who are keen to travel in depth in the region and understand each country through a variety of destinations rather than only ticking off the iconic sites. It’s suitable for experienced travellers who want see an unknown part of the world. You’ll need to be reasonably fit to enjoy this epic adventure.
In true adventure style, the trip involves some long travel days by private vehicle. The road may be bumpy and dusty, but the experience and the journey will be rewarding. This is a great opportunity to sit back, unwind and let the sweeping views roll by. Drives range from 3 to 10 hours in duration. Though the longer travel days and single-night overnight stays can be tiring, you'll be in a private vehicle for the majority of the trip, and much of the scenery in this part of the world is simply stunning.
You’ll experience varying temperatures in the desert and out on the steppe or in the mountains from below zero to over 40 ºC, so check the weather forecast online before you visit and pack accordingly.
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. You are not allowed to travel on your own without a guide while you are in Turkmenistan either. 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.
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! A range of different accommodations are used on this trip, including yurt camp, home stay, guesthouse, hotels and camping. The conditions at the yurt stays and the home stays are basic with shared facilities. This means the group being split between different houses, multi-share rooms/yurts and the bathroom facilities are separated from your sleeping quarters. You won't be able to take a shower every day on this trip.
This trip is a combination of 3 trips. Please review the Itinerary for details of when your fellow travellers and leader will change.
Itinerary
Take an epic journey across Central Asia from Astana to Ashgabat
This is a totally epic 37-day adventure through Central Asia – a region combining Silk Road history, Soviet influence, nomadic living and scenic natural beauty. Journey from the shining capital of Astana to the whitewashed Ashgabat, taking your time to savour the nuances of different Stans along the way. Come face to face with the iconic architecture, rub shoulders with locals in the bazaars, stay in yurt camps and stand in front of the ever-burning crater - ‘The Gates of Hell’. Experience life well off the tourist track and explore a region that’s been the confluence of so many cultures and people throughout history – all with highly experienced local leaders by your side.
Inclusions
Meals
34 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 11 dinners
Transport
Private Vehical, Metro, Train, Overnight Train, Plane, 4X4
Accommodation
Guesthouse/Homestay (6 night), Hotel (24 nights), Yurt (4 nights), Overnight train (2 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
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 bookable if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4 & 7, Day 13-17, Day 28, 31 & 32, where you will be in shared accommodation. Single supplement 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 ticket 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.
3. This is a multi-country trip. Please read the visa section of the Essential Trip Information carefully for the visa requirement. You'll need to travel with one passport throughout the trip as using different passport for exiting and then entering a different country may cause issue at the immigration. Visa for Turkmenistan requires a Letter of Invitation in advance which needs to be organized by our local operator. Essential documents for the letter of invitation should be submitted no later than 60 days before the trip.
4. 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 pre-trip accommodation in Ashgabat.
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