Email address: [email protected]
© SAIGA Tours
Start
Jul 9, 2027
Bukhara
Bukhara
2027-07-09
End
Jul 27, 2027
Almaty
Almaty
2027-07-27
Duration
19 days
Price
US$1.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
The aim of this tour is to give you a varied insight into these four Central Asian Stans. Beginning in the Silk Road town of Bukhara in Uzbekistan, we'll start off with taking in the history of the old towns of Bukhara and Samarkand, before crossing into Tajikistan where you'll explore the spectacular Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, with a day in Dushanbe and a night in a Soviet sanatorium.
Returning to Uzbekistan, our tour of Tashkent and surrounds has some pretty cool SAIGA specials, including a solar furnace and a formerly closed Soviet mining town.
Winding our way through the Fergana Valey, next we'll navigate the mountains and lakes of Kyrgyzstan, fitting in some little-known Soviet relics, and eventually arriving in the cosmopolitan city of Bishkek, with our last stop being in the trendy and progressive city of Almaty.
This can also be done as a 5 Stans Tour by adding on Turkmenistan beforehand, and at the end of the tour you can join our Kazakhstan Polygon Summer Tour .
If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.
INCLUSIONS:
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Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels, breakfast included, except when other accommodation is mentioned in itinerary |
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Where itinerary mentions yurt or homestay accomodation, single supplement and twin share may be affected |
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Transport as per itinerary |
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Entrance fees to most sites (as per itinerary) |
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Western and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $700
What is the single supplement? This is paid to guarantee a single room. If you are travelling alone and would like to be roomed with another single traveller, you do not need to pay this.
EXCLUSIONS:
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Visa fees if necessary |
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Visa support if necessary |
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Some activities, eg. treatments at sanatorium (as per itinerary) |
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Meals other than breakfast |
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Transport to and from the start and end of tour |
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Go back in time in the Silk Road gems of Samarkand and Bukhara
Navigate the moutains, valleys and lakes of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan
Explore some little-known Soviet relics in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
Itinerary
Day 1Fri Jul 9
Bukhara, Samarkand
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Those doing the
5 Stans Summer Tour
will have arrived in Bukhara the previous evening, so let us know if you'd like us to meet up before the start of the tour.
- This morning we’ll take a walking tour of Bukhara, strolling through the iconic streets of Bukhara's old town.
- Of course we'll see all the famous minarets, mausoleums, mosques and madrassas, however listing these just doesn't capture Bukhara's charm.
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Aside from the impressive brick and blue tiled buildings, at every turn there are shops selling interesting things you might not have seen before. This is a great place to buy all sorts of kinds of souvenirs.
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We'll have the opportunity to learn about and watch demonstrations of various local handicrafts, such as suzany (a local type of embroidery), blacksmithery, woodwork, cooking (usually of plov), and tons of other stuff.
- We'll end our walking tour at a huge structure that looks like a giant ark. Known as the Ancient Ark Fortress, this was the Palace of Bukhara’s Emirs, and parts of it are still open for visitors. This is probably the single most iconic building in Bukhara.
- In the late afternoon we’ll drive to Samarkand where we’ll check into our hotel and have free time for the rest of the evening.
Day 2Sat Jul 10
Samarkand
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Once known as the “Pearl of the Muslim World”, Samarkand is a city synonymous with the Silk Road, full of towering minarets, shimmering domes and home to a splendid technicolour bazaar, which you will have time to wander around and discover for yourself.
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We'll start with what everybody’s waiting for when they go to Samarkand – the famous and spectacular Registan Square, which is flanked by three beautifully decorated, sparkling blue mosaic madrassas. Once the city’s commercial centre, Registan Square is modern Samarkand’s centre piece and a pride of the Silk Road.
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Having died in September 2016, Islam Karimov, the First President of Uzbekistan, now has his mausoleum on the newly renamed Islam Karimov Street. Often missed on Samarkand tours, we think this is a must-see site and an important piece of the jigsaw that is Uzbekistan's modern history.
- We'll also pay visits to Bibi Khanum Mosque, Amir Timur's Mausoleum, Siyab Bazaar, and the grave of St. Daniel which is said to grow a foot in length every ten years.
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In the afternoon we'll visit Romanenko House, a place that is difficult to describe. This small suburban house has been transformed into a completely unique textile workshop where thirty men and women redesign ancient Central Asian clothing into colourful, modern designs.
- We'll organise an optional wine tasting at one of the local wine factories for anyone who's interested - this can be a really fun way to see another side of Samarkand life.
- After dinner we'll stop at the front of the Registan for the epic sound and light show that is put on every evening after dark. Some say it's tacky, others find it spectacular - whichever camp you find yourself in, it is definitely something!
Day 3Sun Jul 11
Samarkand, Dushanbe
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Today we'll be leaving Uzbekistan (for the first time on this tour), and going to Tajikistan, crossing the border at Jarteppa.
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Once inside Tajikistan, of course we'll do the usual things of getting everyone some local currency, and stopping for a cold drink no doubt, before visiting a few ancient sites in and around Penjikent.
- Our first stop will be the UNESCO listed ruins of Sarazm, an archeological site dating back to the 4th Millennium BC (yes, millennium, not century!).
- In Penjikent you’ll visit the Museum of Rudaki, the local bazaar, and the ruins of Sogdian and Sarazm.
- In the evening we will arrive in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital city.
- Overnight in Dushanbe.
Day 4Mon Jul 12
Dushanbe
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We’ll take a tour of Dushanbe's city centre, including Rudaki Street, the Somoni Monument,
and the Building of National Spirit (unfortunately it’s not possible to go inside, but it’s still
impressive from the outside).
- We'll also walk through Ce ntral Park, where you can gawk at the huge flagpole which was the largest in the world from 2011 to 2014.
- We’ll visit the largest teahouse in the world, which is actually a series of insanely impressive funtion rooms, all adorned with incredibly ornate, but very varied, decorations. From the room that is lined in entirely mahogony, to the mirror room, or the pastel detail of traditional Tajik decor, they all share one thing - the resplendence.
- Then we'll visit the Museum of National Antiquities, where we'll see one of the biggest (literally and figuratively) objects of Tajik pride - the "Buddha in Nirvana" (Reclining Buddha), an impressive 13 metre long clay statue.
Day 5Tue Jul 13
Dushanbe, Khoja Obi Garm
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Leaving Dushanbe, we’re going to spend the afternoon and evening at an amazing building which really encapsulates what we're all about.
- Khoja Obi Garm is a Brutalist behemoth Soviet-era sanatorium that is still in operation. The drive there is like the opening scene from the film The Shining. It's run by the Tajikistan Trade Union organisation to provide workers with rest and relaxation. The treatments are a little unorthodox as they include radon baths, electric shock therapy, pulsating circulation treatment as well as mud baths and acupuncture (treatments not included in tour price). It’s an absolute dream for any lovers of weird Soviet stuff.
- We'll spend the afternoon and evening soaking in everything that is Khoja Obi Garm, getting treatments, exploring the unimaginably insane buildings, and just generally enjoying the Soviet
Day 6Wed Jul 14
Fann Mountains, Iskanderkul Lake, Khujand
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This morning you'll have a chance to get some more treatments, take some photos in different light, or just explore the buidlings and grounds some more, before we leave the Soviet splendour of the previous night behind us.
- Today we will be doing a full day drive through the famous Fann Mountains to Khujand.
- We'll be driving via Istiklol Tunnel, sometimes known as the “Death Tunnel”, 2,630m above sea level.
- There will be plenty of stops on the way though for photos, toilets and of course lunch.
- The best stop though will be at Iskanderkul Lake (2,255m above the sea level), wh ere there will be an opportunity to go for a 40 minute hike to the local waterfall after arriving at the lake, or if you’d prefer, you can just relax by the lake or go on a shorter walk around it.
- Overnight in Khujand.
Day 7Thu Jul 15
Khujand, Tashkent
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Start the morning with a sightseeing tour of Khujand including the Panjshanbe bazaar, Sheikh Muslihiddin Mosque and the Mausoleum of Khujand.
- A highlight of Khujand will be the massive Lenin statue, standing majestically on the side of a hill overlooking the city, this is now the largest statue of Lenin still standing.
- In the afternoon, cross the border back into Uzbekistan.
- Drive to Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital city. Despite certain likenesses between Tashkent and Ashgabat, with their wide boulevards, artificially manicured lawns and pristine facades in front of crumbling Soviet buildings, Tashkent is a vibrant capital city with lots to do.
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Arriving in the afternoon, we'll take a stroll from Independence Square, formerly Lenin Square, along the Broadway. On the way we'll also pass the statue of Amir Timur, the Romanov Palace and the Uzbekistan Hotel (a must for any Soviet architecture lovers).
- This is a great way to take in the atmosphere that is modern Tashkent around dusk, a city which is quickly becoming hip and modern. With myriads of food and drink stands, a small market, scooters for rent, and loads of cool Tashkentians, young and old, it's a great place to start getting a vibe for the city. We can stop and browse in the small market full of old Soviet trinkets, sit under a shady pagoda for a cold drink or ice cream, check out the miriads of food trucks and market stalls, and find somewhere nice to have dinner.
- We'll have dinner in one of Tashkent's many up and coming restaurants, and if you're a bit sick of Central Asian food by now, this is a great chance to have something else. We might find something at the Broadway, or there's a great Korean restaurant that's one of our favourites for example.
- Overnight in Tashkent.
Day 8Fri Jul 16
Tashkent
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We'll spend today exploring Tashkent, starting with
the famous Chorsu Bazaar, with its iconic blue dome that's now home to meat, dairy and dried fruits.
Exploring the stalls you'll learn about traditional bread-making methods, local remedies for everything including of course virility issues, and how Uzbek babies are taught to go to the toilet.
- From here, we'll jump on the Tashkent Metro, one of only two metro systems in Central Asia (the other one being in Almaty). As with most Soviet built metros, the stations are unnecessarily lavish, but Tashkent's are particularly ornately decorated. Until June 2018 it was illegal to take photos inside them, but fortunately now pictures of these incredibly photogenic stations are allowed.
- We'll get off at a couple of stations on the way to have a look at our favourites, but we'll use the metro to get to our next stop - the Museum of Railway Techniques.
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This outdoor museum is full of all sorts of old locomotives, and they don't mind us climbing all over them. We can even take a little train ride around the train museum. You don't have to be a train lover to enjoy this charming museum.
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You'll most likely have tried plov by now, but nothing will
prepare you for the National Plov Centre, which will be our lunch stop for today. An absolutely massive operation, with an army of Uzbeks preparing multiple varieties of plov in unbelievably huge cauldrons, it is an exceptionally unique experience, and a great place to try the national dish if you haven't already.
Coffee, ice-cream, salads, all sorts of juices and teas and of course super freshly baked bread are also available.
- From here we'll make our way to the Tashkent TV Tower for fabulous 360 degree views of the city. Another iconic piece of Soviet architecture, the inside of the tower itself is just as interesting as the views or the outside.
- And finally, we'll visit Tashkent Land, Central Asia's answer to Disneyland. With its faded welcome sign, crumbling gift shop and creaky rides, this is definitely a step back in time. Most tourists don't make it to this gem of Soviet infrastructure, but we just can't resist it. It's probably just as well that the exhilirating “Boomerang” rollercoaster has finally been decommisioned, but our favourite ride is still there - the “African tour”, a boat trip through the jungle land.
- Tonight is another opportunity to eat in one of Tashkent's many great restaurants, before we have limited options again for the next few days.
- Overnight in Tashkent.
Day 9Sat Jul 17
Parkent Solar Furnace, Angren, Yangiabad
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Today is full of SAIGA favourites, and is one of the days on any Uzbekistan tour that we look forward to.
- Heading out of Tashkent, we'll drive to Parkent, where we'll visit one of our absolute favourite examples of Soviet architecture. The second largest solar furnace in the world. "What's a solar furnace?" you might be wondering. Good question! Come and find out.
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From here we'll continue into the mountains. But first we'll stop in the often-overlooked town of Angren, to whet our Soviet appetite even further, with several cool murals and statues and a really well-preserved House of Culture.
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And next we'll make it to our final destination of the day - the town of Yangiabad. A closed town during the Soviet Union, not even appearing on maps, it was built as a mining town where exiles were s
ent. Once home to about 10,000 people, the population got down to just over 300, and it felt like a crumbling little Russian enclave within Uzbekistan.
However, in the past couple of years the mountain air and scenic views have grabbed the attention of Tashkentians, and the area has become a popular local tourism spot.
- We'll spend the afternoon wandering the streets of the town, exploring the Soviet architecture, and soaking in the atmosphere - a difficult-to-describe mix of lively and summery, and decrepit and derelict.
- We'll spend the night at a nearby Soviet “resort”. If it's hot you can go for a swim in the river, or if you just want to relax, we might be able to find the massage lady.
Day 10Sun Jul 18
Yangiabad, Osh
- We'll drive through the Fergana Valley in the morning, crossing the border into Uzbekistan around lunch time, and arriving in Osh in the afternoon.
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Our first stop in Kyrgyzstan, Osh feels a lot different to Bishkek. There’s a bit of a rugged, w
ild west sort of feel, that’s quite charming.
- We’ll visit the sacred Sulaiman Too Mountain, the main attraction in Osh.
- We’ll walk to the top of the rocky outcrop, no doubt meeting lots of local pilgrims happy to have a chat on the way.
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Not only is the scraggy hill a site in itself, with amazing views out over the whole city, and also peppered with ancient petroglyphs, but it’s also home to Sulaiman
Too Museum, one of those famous crazy Soviet buildings that appear on all the lists of weird Soviet structures.
- If there's time we’ll go to the Osh bazaar, one of Central Asia’s largest open-air markets. This is a great opportunity to find some cool souvenirs – hats, coats, rugs, fabrics, ornaments, loads of the cool stuff you’ve been admiring on locals and in their houses since being in Central Asia.
Day 11Mon Jul 19
Osh, Toktogul
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Leaving Osh today we'll start our road trip through rural Kyrgyzstan. The next few days, until arriving in Bishkek, will be full of naturally beautiful waterfalls, lakes, mountains, yurts, horses, small villages, plains covered in flowers, and roadside fruit and honey stalls.
- Our first stop will be at the Uzgen Minaret, an 11th Century, 27.5m tall tower, alongside three mausoleums.
- We'll be driving along the extremely picturesque Naryn River for most of the day, as we wind our way through western Kyrgyzstan.
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We might stop and buy a watermelon or a box of strawberries, so we can kick it local style and have a lake-side picnic at Toktogul Reservoir.
A very popular place for locals to set up for an entire day, with makeshift tents, camp seats and tressle tables everywhere, we'll stop here for a refreshing swim and just to relax and hang out for a while.
- We'll arrive at our destination for the day in the late afternoon. The town of Toktogul, 1000 metres above sea level, was originally named after Toktogul Satylganov, a well-known Kyrygz poet and musician. His contributions and talent were so extensive that he is featured on the 100 Som note.
- You can go for a wander around the town if you want to, before we have dinner at our homestay for the night.
Day 12Tue Jul 20
Toktogul, Kyzyl Oi
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Leaving Toktogul, we’ll drive through the Suusamyr Valley towards Kyzyl Oi. On the way though we'll take a slight detour to follow the It Agar River and make a stop at Ozero Sazka - Reflection Lake. Named for good reason!
- After a short walk past a yurt camp, a bunch of horses, and across a small stream, we'll come out at the edge of the picturesque lake.
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Continuing on our way we'll stop in the very small village of Manas, where there's a wonderful, you guessed it - statue of Manas.
- Our next small detour will be to the even smaller village of Kojomkul, where you'll never guess what there is - a monument to Kojomkul! Kyrgyzstan's most famous strong man, who you'll a lot about during our trip.
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We'll arrive in Kyzyl Oi in the late afternoon, an old village located in the Suusamyr Valley in a narrow gorge of the powerful Kokomeren River.
- At 1800 metres above sea level, and characterised by scattered reddish clay houses, it gets its name which means “Red Bowl” from the formation caused by the high red mountains surrounding it.
- We'll arrive in the late afternoon and meet our favourite local family in Kyzyl-Oi.
- You should have some time to explore the town a bit if you like, or you can watch/help the ladies of the house prepare dinner.
- If the grandfather of the house is around, he'll show you ordo (a tradtional game involving throwing animal knuckles at other animal knuckles), and his chicken rearing techniques, and tell you all sorts of stories about life in rural Kyrgyzstan during and after the Soviet Union.
Day 13Wed Jul 21
Kyzyl Oi, Song Kol
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Today we’ll drive to Song Kol Lake through the Jumgal Valley, crossing the Kara-Keche Pass, stopping for a picnic lunch on the way.
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After the epic drive, we’ll arrive at Song Kol. Set high in the mountains, the lake itself is in the middle of a fertile plateau, dotted with horses, sheep and yurts.
- Even though it’s summer and we’ll have been hot up until now, we’ll now be very glad to have stoves on in each yurt for warmth, and you might even pull out a jumper in the evening.
- Depending on how early we arrive, you'll have the opportunity to go horse riding, or just take a walk around the area or if you’re really brave, a dip in the lake. Either way it’ll be a relaxing and peaceful evening under the stars.
- Dinner will be in the main yurt at our camp, cooked by the family we’re staying with.
Day 14Thu Jul 22
Song Kol, Kochkor, Bishkek
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Leaving Song Kol this morning, we'll gradually head back to civilisation today.
- Other than some spectacular photo ops, our first stop on the four-hour drive to Bishkek, will be in the town of Kochkor.
- Although most of the time this would be considered a small, rural town, compared to where we've just spent the last few days, this will feel like the big smoke!
- We'll stop at the Soviet WWII memorial and the Lenin statue, both in the centre of town. We'll also take you to our favourite souvenir shop in Kyrgyzstan - run by local women, it's a great spot to find most things you might be looking for, from handicrafts, to antiques, and everything in between.
- We'll take a short walk through the market, and have lunch.
- This afternoon we'll visit Burana Tower, one of Kyrgyzstan's most famous sites. A 25 metre brick tower, this was once a 45 metre tall minaret, which was once the minaret of a mosque in Balassagyn city. Now you can climb to the top of it for some great views over the nearby landscape.
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With a couple more quick stops, such as the mounted MiG aircrafts in the nearby town of Tokmok, we'll arrive in Bishkek in the evening.
- And now we're really back to civilisation!
- Now in Bishkek, we might want to take the opportunity to eat something other than Central Asian food - there's an excellent Japanese restaurant that we love, we could get burgers or pizzas, Chinese or Korean, or of course there are plenty of options if we want to stick with Kyrgyz food.
- Then afterwards we can go out and experience some of Bishkek's rapidly gentrifying nightlife, maybe at Save the Ales or some of the many other cool ever-emerging options.
Day 15Fri Jul 23
Bishkek
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We'll start the day by doing a walking tour of Bishkek, a quintessential Soviet city with an amazing mix of Stalinist and Brezhnev era architecture. The wide boulevards and Brutalist apartment blocks, in stark contrast to the snow-capped mountain backdrop.
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We’ll start with the Frunze Museum, dedicated to Mikhail Frunze, whom the city of Bishkek used to be named after (and why the airport code is still FRU!).
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Making our way past Victory Square, the circus and Tsum, we'll visit the Lenin Statue and Ala Too Square, home to the National Museum of Kyrgyzstan and a large Kyrgyz flag. Although this flag isn't quite as famous as their world-record holding neighbours, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan , it is still impressive and every hour, on the hour, there's a changing of the guards.
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We'll continue on to Osh Bazaar, passing the White House on the way, and we’ll finish off the day learning about some of the weird and wonderful produce and delicacies you’ll find in the market.
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In the afternoon there will be some free time so you can do some exploring yourself.
Day 16Sat Jul 24
Bishkek, Almaty
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Today we'll set off from Bishkek and cross the border at Korday into Kazakhstan, our fifth and final Stan.
- We'll stop on the way for something to eat and a couple of toilet breaks, and will arrive in Almaty in the afternoon.
- After checking into our hotel you'll have the rest of the day to relax or start exploring Almaty by yourself.
- And of course in the evening we'll suggest one of our favourite restaurants for a group dinner.
- Overnight in Almaty.
Day 17Sun Jul 25
Almaty
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We'll spend today exploring
Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, and until 1997, its capital. As is becoming increasingly common in Kazakhstan, Almaty was formerly known as Alma-Ata and before that Verny.
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We'll start exploring Almaty with a walking tour, beginning in Panfilov Park, named after the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen from Almaty, who died during the Battle of Moscow in 1941. Inside this park is Zenkov Cathedral, a Russian Othodox Church, its claim to fame is being the largest wooden structure in the world constructed with only joins, and no nails. Panfilov Park is also home to the very impressive 28 Guardsmen war memorial, a mammoth Soviet monument flanked by plaques to each of the Soviet Hero Cities, and this is also where you’ll find Almaty’s Eternal Flame.
- From here we’ll continue down the Arbat, the pedestrianised street that was the centre of all good Soviet cities. However, Almaty went through a lot of city beautification in 2017, and the old Soviet Arbat is now a lively and modern pedestrian mall, complete with hipster coffee trucks, cute cafes and upmarket restaurants.
- We’ll make our way to Zhibek Zholy metro station, to take a ride on the Almaty metro. One of only two metros in Central Asia (the other being in Tashkent), it has just nine stations, so is largely useless to most people. However, like many metros in the former Soviet world, the stations themselves are ornately decorated, sparkling clean, and well worth a look at.
- This particular station’s name translates to Silk Road, and there are several very impressive mosaics depicting the Silk Road.
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And we’ll use the metro to get to our next stop - something that isn't on other tour itineraries, and in fact most people in Almaty aren't even aware of this gem of Soviet history. Hidden in amongst medium density housing, there's a park which is now home to all the unwanted Soviet statues that were moved from their original places throughout the city and dumped unceremoniously here. Our favourite is the
giant Lenin
which used to be in Old Square, removed from his plinth and just standing flat on the ground with no sign or plaque to be seen.
- Returning to the centre of the city, we'll pass Old Square and Republic Square, the two places where the Kazakh Parliament used to take place before moving to Astana in 1997. These are also where we recently saw fatal riots in January 2022, along with the images of the destroyed city hall and presidential residence.
- If you like to have a night out of any type, whether it’s fine dining, a cosy bar, a noisy pub or even the ballet, Almaty is the city you’re going to want to do it in.
- Overnight in Almaty.
Day 18Mon Jul 26
Almaty, End of Tour 2027
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And sadly this brings us to the last day of the tour.
- Check out our Kazakhstan Polygon Summer Tour if you'd like to see some more of Kazakhstan, or let us know what you'd like to do and we can help you out with organisation or advice.
Other Tours
5 Stans Summer Tour
Looking for somewhere fun and exciting to spend your summer? Join us on this epic road trip from Ashgabat to Almaty, visiting Silk Road cities, unbelievable mountains, modern cosmopolitan cities, and everything in between.
Turkmenistan Summer Extension
You're doing the 5 Stans but would like to see some more of Turkmenistan? Well we've got you covered - that's exactly what this extension is for! This will cover the west of the country and some extra stuff in Ashgabat, on top of what you'll see on the 5 Stans tour.
Turkmenistan Summer Tour
From a fiery crater to a colourful canyon, swimming in a cave lake to exploring a mountain village, and a glistening capital to an ancient city. This tour gives a glimpse of all our favourite spots in Turkmenistan.