Original
Explorer
Central Asia: Five Stans Express
24 days • 5
5
Excellent
circle42 reviews
location_on 24 days
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Start
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
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Finish
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
tour
Trip Code
KFSS
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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
23 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
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Transport
Private Vehicle, Flight, Metro, High Speed Train
bed
Accommodation
Hotel (17 nights), Guest House (1 night), Tourist Yurt Camp (3 nights), Home Stay (2 nights)
From £5,418(24 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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Explore all the essential highlights of Central Asia, uncovering fascinating culture, natural landscapes and diverse history alongside unforgettable local interaction.
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See the incredible Darvaza Crater (the Gates of Hell – an eternally burning flame), Kolsai Lakes and Issyk-Kul Lake, soaking up the natural landmarks far off the common tourist trail.
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Take a step back in time as you explore the history of the Silk Road, with visits to Khiva’s ancient town, Registan, in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khujand.
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Get to know the locals with a carpet-making workshop, through the streets of the bustling bazaars and with a homecooked dinner of plov (Uzbekistan's national dish) during an immersive homestay.
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Camp in yurts near Lake Issyk-Kul, stay in local villages and make yourself at home in a boutique hotel that used to be an old Jewish house in Bukhara.
Is this trip right for you?
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Central Asia is a destination for the adventurous and the open-minded. Alongside its rich culture and history, comes poor infrastructure, lengthy processes and basic facilities. Patience and flexibility will ensure you enjoy this region to its fullest.
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This trip involves long travel days on rough and winding roads. You’ll be travelling by private vehicle, and in one day you could be driving anywhere between three and ten hours. Please review the Itinerary for more details.
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Temperatures vary greatly throughout this trip, from below zero to over 40 ºC depending on the location. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and plan to wear layers.
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Tourism is strictly controlled in Turkmenistan. If you’re accustomed to more freedom to explore and take photos as a tourist, you will find the experience differs here. Locals are fiercely proud of their nation and its leaders.
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You’ll stay in a range of accommodations on this trip, including multishare arrangements in yurts, homestays and guesthouses. Facilities are shared and basic, but the experiences are unforgettable.
Itinerary
Take a Central Asian adventure full of history, natural landscapes and fascinating culture
To see all five Stans in Central Asia, this epic trip will start in the grand Ashgabat of Turkmenistan, explore Samarkand in Uzbekistan, then head to Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. See the best of the Silk Road and deep dive into the fascinating history, captivating landscapes and beautiful culture that’s intertwined throughout this region. You'll stay in yurts near Lake Issyk-Kul, explore Registan Square in Samarkand and watch the eternal flame of Darvaza Crater – a 70-m-wide hole in the Karakum Desert known as ‘The Gates of Hell’. From wide open plains full of wild horses to homestays and dinners with locals, there’s so much to see, do and learn in this region – so why not spend 24 days uncovering all you can, with a local leader by your side?
- DAY 1Day 1 • Ashgabat
- DAY 2Day 2 • Ashgabat
- DAY 3Day 3 • Darvaza Crater
- DAY 4Day 4 • Border crossing/Khiva
- DAY 5Day 5 • Khiva
- DAY 6Day 6 • Bukhara
- DAY 7Day 7 • Bukhara
- DAY 8Day 8 • Samarkand
- DAY 9Day 9 • Samarkand
- DAY 10Day 10 • Tashkent
- DAY 11Day 11 • Tashkent
- DAY 12Day 12 • Border crossing/Khujand
- DAY 13Day 13 • Iskanderkul lake/Sary Tag Village
- DAY 14Day 14 • Dushanbe
- DAY 15Day 15 • Dushanbe
- DAY 16Day 16 • Border crossing/Almaty
- DAY 17Day 17 • Almaty
- DAY 18Day 18 • Kolsay Lakes National Park
- DAY 19Day 19 • Kolsay Lakes National Park/ Border Crossing/ Karakol
- DAY 20Day 20 • Issyk-Kul Lake
- DAY 21Day 21 • Issyk-Kul Lake
- DAY 22Day 22 • Bishkek
- DAY 23Day 23 • Bishkek
- DAY 24Day 24 • Bishkek
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
23 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
airport_shuttle Transport
Private Vehicle, Flight, Metro, High Speed Train
bed Accommodation
Hotel (17 nights), Guest House (1 night), Tourist Yurt Camp (3 nights), Home Stay (2 nights)
festival Included activities
circleAshgabat – Complimentary Arrival Transfer
circleAshgabat - Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
circleAshgabat - Anau ruins
circleAshgabat - Independence Monument
circleAshgabat - Turkmenbashy Ruhi Mosque & Family Mausoleum of the First President of Turkmenistan
circleAshgabat - Neutrality Arch
circleDarvaza - "Door to Hell" Crater
circleKonye-Urgench - City tour
circleKhiva - Juma Mosque
circleKhiva - Islom Hoja Minaret & Medressa
circleKhiva - Tosh-Hovli Palace
circleKhiva - Kunya Ark
circleKhiva - Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
circleBukhara - Lyabi-Hauz Plaza
circleBukhara - Taki Zargaron Trading Dome
circleBukhara - Ark Fortress
circleBukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum
circleBukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace
circleSamarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
circleSamarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda
circleSamarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque
circleSamarkand - Registan Square
circleSamarkand - Plov cooking demonstration & family visit
circleTashkent - Chorsu Bazaar
circleTashkent - City tour
circleTashkent - Metro tour
circleKhujand - Jami Mosque
circleSary Tag - Iskanderkul Lake
circleDushanbe – Hissor Fort
circleDushanbe – National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan
circleDushanbe - Rudaki Square and Somoni Museum
circleDushanbe - Navruz palace
circleAlmaty - Zenkov Cathedral
circleAlmaty - Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments
circleAlmaty - Panfilov Park
circleCharyn Canyon - National Park
circleKolsay Lakes National Park - Hiking
circleKarakol - Dungan Mosque
circleKarakol - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
circleIssyk-Kul Lake - Fairy Tale Canyon picnic lunch
circleIssyk-Kul Lake - Home-cooked meal
circleIssyk-Kul Lake - Carpet workshop
circleIssyk-Kul Lake - Yurt workshop
circleShamsy Valley - Burana tower
circleDon Aryk - Kyrgyz family visit and home-cooked lunch
circleBishkek - City walking tour
museum Optional activities
circleBukhara - Chor Minor - UZS4000
circleBukhara - Bolo Hauz Mosque - Free
circleBukhara - Kalon Minaret & Mosque - UZS6000
circleBukhara - Ulugbek Madrasa - Free
circleTashkent - State Museum of History of Uzbekistan - UZS50000
circleKhujand - History Museum - Free
circleAlmaty - Central State Museum - Free
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Sunday Jul 13, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Friday Aug 08, 2025
Sunday Aug 31, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 4 spaces left
£6,633£5,638
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Monday Aug 11, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£5,418
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Friday Aug 15, 2025
Sunday Sep 07, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£5,522
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Monday Aug 18, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 2 spaces left
£6,683
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Friday Aug 22, 2025
Sunday Sep 14, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£6,688
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Monday Aug 25, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£6,688
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Friday Aug 29, 2025
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 2 spaces left
£6,688
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Monday Sep 01, 2025
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£6,661
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Friday Sep 05, 2025
Sunday Sep 28, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£6,661
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Monday Sep 08, 2025
Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Sunday Oct 05, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£6,688
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Wednesday Oct 01, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
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 3 (camping), Day 13 (homestay), Day 18 (homestay) and Days 20 and 21 (yurt camp), 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 your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for flight tickets. Fees may apply for amendments or failure to provide the required details within 60 days of departure.
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3. This is a multi-country trip. Please read the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the Essential Trip Information carefully. You should travel on one passport for the duration, as entering and exiting countries on different passports will cause issues at immigration.
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4. We require key documents from you no later than 60 days before the trip to supply your Letter of Invitation to Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan for some nationalities.
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5. Independent travel isn’t allowed in Turkmenistan. If you have pre-trip accommodation booked with us, you can explore nearby your hotel, but please don’t take any photos. Please see Day 1 of the Itinerary for more details.
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6. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 15 days prior to travel. If multiple customers on the same trip arrive on the same flight, this may be a shared transfer.
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7. While travelling in Turkmenistan, you won’t have access to social media and some websites. If you need to stay connected, consider arranging a VPN before leaving home.
Reviews (53)
5 stars
51
4 stars
2
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David
Jun 07, 2025
This trip is amazing, sometimes difficult but rewarding on multiple levels.
The history, people, environment make the Stans a “must do” for an adventure traveller. Accomodation, transportation is excellent. Your guide facilitates the boarder crossings with ease!
Each day I thought, this is amazing, from an ancient fort, a Religious building to large mountains and the pass through them.
Go if your budget allows.
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Dana
Jun 06, 2025
This is an extraordinary tour of an under the radar destination for Western travelers, offering fascinating history, rich culture, and spectacular landscapes. Rejep and Svetlana are dream tour leaders, who both went out of their way to make you feel comfortable, supported, and able to soak every opportunity out of visiting this special region of the world. Highly recommend!
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Alan
Jun 05, 2025
We absolutely loved our 5 Stans Express with Intrepid. It's a lot to take in, with constant movement over the 24 days, but we had an outstanding tour leader (Diana) who deserves a medal for the enthusiasm, professionalism, good humour and knowledge that she brought to the tour. We also had a very good group of experienced fellow travellers who got on exceptionally well which added to the enjoyment of the trip.
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Lee
Jun 05, 2025
Extremely poor and misleading information from ground staff from day one at Intrepid along with outdated essential reading that needs changing.
However the tour was excellent with an outstanding team leader and wonderful organisation on the ground.
Beautiful historic silk road cities especially Khiva and amazing natural beauty throughout the trip.
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Susan
Jun 05, 2025
An amazing and varied trip - stunningly beautiful cities, deserts and mountainous areas. Our two guides, Racep in Turkmenistan and Diana in the other 4 Stans were incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and approachable and went out of their way to ensure that we had a great experience.
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Susan
Jun 03, 2025
Our recent trip to the 5 Stans was exceptional. The outstanding feature of our trip was our guide who was full of enthusiasm, energy and patience. The itinerary was very full but we saw a huge variety of sights plus participated in local handiworks. I would thoroughly recommend this trip
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Brett
Jun 02, 2025
Excellent trip. Would highly recommend. The tour leaders Rejep and Svetlana were really helpful and knowledgeable. It is a fast paced trip, but you see and learn so much about Central Asia with a real contrast between the amazing architecture at the beginning and the amazing scenery at the end.
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Luke
May 28, 2025
The Five Stans Express tour was one of the best trips of my life. I loved every minute of the tour and experienced and learnt so much. The group was amazing and we had so much laughter and fun. It was brilliant to experience so many interesting places and I felt I got a real sense of every city and country. Highly recommend!
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Anders
May 26, 2025
A great, multi-faceted whirlwind adventure along the old Silk Road,
with the superb Xeniya expertly guiding us through this wonderful part of the world -
go if you can!
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Kelso
May 25, 2025
Highly recommend the 5 Stans express trip. Rejep and Svetlana are amazing tour leader. So many sights to see, roads to travel, countryside and lakes to see. Locals are all so friendly and we had many opportunities to interact with them. My group was awesome which helped make it super special.