Email address: [email protected]
© SAIGA Tours
Start
May 13, 2026
Almaty
Almaty
2026-05-13
End
Jun 6, 2026
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
2026-06-06
Duration
25 days
Price
US$3995.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
This is the tour for those who want to get a great snapshot of what Central Asia has to offer, and there is plenty of amazing, special and weird stuff for us to explore. Starting in the trendy and progressive city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, we'll cross the border into Kyrgyzstan where we'll navigate the mountains and lakes that Kyrgyzstan is famous for, fitting in some little-known Soviet relics.
We'll explore the spectacular Fann Mountains of Tajikistan, with a night in a Soviet sanatorium, and of course a day to see what Dushanbe is all about.
In Uzbekistan we'll visit all the must-sees such as the Registan and the old town of Bukhara, but there's more to Uzbekistan than the historical sites its famous for, and our tour of Tashkent and surrounds has some pretty cool SAIGA specials, including a solar furnace and a formerly closed Soviet mining town.
Eventually of course we will arrive in Turkmenistan to round out the tour with the Turkmenistan Carpet Day Tour .
The tour can be done as a whole, or if your time is limited, it is also made up of the Turkmenistan Carpet Day Tour and the 4 Stans Spring Tour .
There is also a shorter verison of the Turkmenistan section of this tour, the Turkmenistan Carpet Day Budget Tour .
And for those who'd like to see even more while you're here, we also have a Kazakhstan Polygon Spring Tour which can be done as an extension before this 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.
| Start | End | Days | Price | Single Sup. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
$ | $ | |
|
May 3
|
May 29
|
17 | $2795 | $800 | |
|
5 Stans Spring Tour |
May 3
Almaty |
June 6
|
25 | $3995 | $1200 |
|
5 Stans Spring Budget Tour |
May 3
Almaty |
June 2
|
21 | $3395 | $1000 |
|
May 30
Ashgabat |
June 6
|
8 | $1595 | $450 | |
|
May 30
Ashgabat |
June 2
|
4 | $995 | $150 |
INCLUSIONS:
| ✓ | Letter of Invitation for Turkmenistan |
|
✓ |
Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels, breakfast included, except when other accommodation is mentioned in itinerary |
|
✓ |
Where itinerary mentions yurt or homestay accomodation, single supplement and twin share may be affected |
|
✓ |
Transport as per itinerary |
|
✓ |
Entrance fees to most sites (as per itinerary) |
|
✓ |
Western and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1200
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:
|
⨯ |
Visa fees if necessary |
|
⨯ |
Visa support if necessary, other than Turkmenistan |
|
⨯ |
Some activities, eg. treatments at sanatorium (as per itinerary) |
|
⨯ |
Meals other than breakfast |
|
⨯ |
Transport to and from the start and end of tour |
|
⨯ |
Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
|
⨯ |
Any COVID related expenses |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Spend the night mesmerised by the horrendous but exhilirating Gates of Hell
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 1Wed May 13
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.
Day 2Thu May 14
Almaty, Bishkek
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This morning we'll jump in the car and head to our second Stan, Kyrgyzstan, doing our first land border crossing of the trip.
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Arriving in Bishkek around lunchtime, we'll do 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, stand 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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If there's time 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.
- In the evening, you'll have free time to explore all the many eating and drinking options that Bishkek now has, however we will be visiting our favourite restaurant in Kyrgyzstan, which we think is the best Japanese restaurant in Central Asia.
Day 3Fri May 15
Tokmok, Burana, Kochkor, Kok boru, Song Kol
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Our first stop after leaving Bishkek the town of Tokmok, a stereotypical Soviet town and home of the former air force training base. To honour the town’s past, there’s a MiG-23 mounted as a memorial, which we'll have a quick photo stop at.
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Continuing on, our next stop will be at 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.
- Next up is a real local treat – a game of Kok Boru, which is played on horseback, and the aim is to get a newly decapitated goat into the other team's goal. They'll also demonstrate other horseback sports such as shirtless wrestling.
- If you're game you can even have a go yourself, whether it's just seeing if you can pick up the dead goat (not as easy as they make it look!), or getting on a horse and actually trying to play.
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Next will be Kochkor. Although most of the time this would be considered a small, rural town, compared to where you're about to spend the next 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.
- Getting back in our transport, next on the agenda is the main event of the day. Leaving the main road and heading up into the mountains, we'll make the epic drive to Song Kol. Set high in the mountains, the lake itself is in the middle of a fertile plateau, dotted with horses, sheep and yurts.
- This is where we'll really start our road trip through rural Kyrgyzstan. The next few days, until arriving in Osh, will be full of naturally beautiful waterfalls, lakes, mountains, yurts, horses, small villages, plains covered in flowers, and roadside fruit and honey stalls.
- As we gain altitude, the temperature will suddenly drop, and even though we’ll have been hot down in Bishkek and Almaty, we’ll now be very glad to have stoves on in each yurt for warmth.
- 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 4Sat May 16
Song Kol, Kyzyl Oi
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Before leaving Song Kol in the morning, you'll have a chance to do any more horse riding, walking, swimming, or simple view-watching, that you might want.
- Then we’ll continue on our way through rural Kyrgyzstan, driving through the Jumgal Valley and crossing the Kara-Keche Pass.
- 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 at our destination for the day, and meet our favourite local family in Kyzyl-Oi.
- A n old village located in the Suusamyr Valley in a narrow gorge of the powerful Kokomeren River, this is a place to get a real insight into rural living in Kyrgyzstan. 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.
- 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 5Sun May 17
Kyzyl Oi, Toktogul
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Leaving Kyzyl Oi, we’ll drive through the Suusamyr Valley towards Toktogul, with a few stops and detours on the way.
- Our first small detour will be to the tiny 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.
- 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.
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And our next slight detour will follow the 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.
- Continuing on our way, 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 6Mon May 18
Toktogul, Osh
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Leaving Toktogul this morning, we'll continue our road trip through rural Kyrgyzstan.
- We'll be driving along the extremely picturesque Naryn River for most of the day, as we wind our way through western Kyrgyzstan.
- 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.
- If we've got time, we'll stop will be at the Uzgen Minaret just before arriving in Osh, an 11th Century, 27.5m tall tower, alongside three mausoleums.
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Although in some ways it’ll feel like we’ve re-entered civilisation after a few days in the Kyrgyz countryside, Osh feels a lot different to Bishkek.
There’s a bit of a rugged, wild 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 7Tue May 19
Osh, Angren, Yangiabad
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Leaving Osh this morning, we'll cross the border into Uzbekistan.
- We’ll spend the morning driving through the Fergana Valley into the mountains to visit the town of Yangiabad. Before arriving at our final destinatition though, we'll make a few stops in Angren. Not famous, and certainly not in any way a "tourist spot", Angren has some excellent Soviet stuff in it, which we love to check out. There are several murals, a couple of statues and the House of Culture.
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We'll arrive in Yangiabad in the afternoon. A closed town during the Soviet Union, not even appearing on maps, it was built as a mining town where exiles were sent.
- 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 atmposphere - 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 8Wed May 20
Parkent Solar Furnace, Tashkent
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Setting
off from Yangiabad in the morning, 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.
- In the afternoon, we'll drive to Tashkent. 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 9Thu May 21
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.
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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 10Fri May 22
Tashkent, Khujand
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Today we'll be leaving Uzbekistan (for the first time on this tour), and heading to Tajikistan, crossing the land border into our fourth Stan.
- Arriving in Khujand around lunchtime, we'll have a sightseeing tour in the afternoon, 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.
- Overnight in Khujand.
Day 11Sat May 23
Fann Mountains, Iskanderkul Lake, Khoja Obi Garm
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Today we will be doing a full day drive south through the famous Fann Mountains towards Dushanbe.
- 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.
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The best stop though will be at Iskanderkul Lake (2,255m above the sea level), where 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.
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Arriving at today's destination, 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.
Day 12Sun May 24
Khoja Obi Garm, Dushanbe
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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.
- Arriving in the capital around lunch time, 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.
- Overnight in Dushanbe.
Day 13Mon May 25
Dushanbe, Samarkand
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Today we'll be leaving Tajikistan and will re-enter Uzbekistan, crossing the border at Jarteppa.
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However, before farewelling Tajikistan, there are
a few ancient sites in and around Penjikent that we'll make stops at.
- 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.
- Arriving in Samarkand in the evening, you'll have free time to start getting your bearings around this fascinating city.
Day 14Tue May 26
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 15Wed May 27
Samarkand, Bukhara
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This morning we'll head off from Samarkand and drive to Bukhara.
- Arriving in the afternoon, you will have an opportunity for some free time.
- We'll be staying very close to the centre of the old town, so anyone who wishes to start exploring, you can, or for those who need some down time to catch up on laundry, messages, sorting photos, sleep, or whatever else you might be running behind on this is a great chance for that too.
- In the evening we'll meet up with anyone who wants to have dinner together at our favourite spot in Bukhara, next to the lake in Lyabi Hauz square - a beautiful setting right in the centre of the old town.
- In the evening we'll sit by the lake, chilling out and taking it all in over a cold drink and a chat.
Day 16Thu May 28
Bukhara
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We've got the whole day to explore Bukhara, starting with a walking tour
, 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.
- We'll spend the evening soaking in the atmosphere. Not only is the old town of Bukhara popular with tourists, but it's always absolutely buzzing with locals too, and there's a great lively vibe.
Day 17Fri May 29
Farap, Turkmenabat, Ashgabat
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Today we will cross the land border at Farap, into Turkmenistan, our fifth and final Stan - another great item to add to your list of quitessential Central Asian experiences. And this in itself can be quite the experience. Hopefully there won’t be many locals crossing and it’ll be relatively quick, but you need to have your wits about you for this crossing.
- Arriving in Turkmenabat in the afternoon, we’ll visit the Lebap Regional Museum. You wouldn’t expect much, but it’s actually a pretty cool little museum, with a fascinating array of taxidermy, multiple dioramas, and huge models and murals of the surrounding area, including depictions of dinosaurs making the footprints in the nearby Dinosaur Plateau. Not to mention some very informative displays about the wheat production and oil production of Turkmenistan of course.
- We'll have a quick dinner at our favourite Fitchi House - a local hotspot. And you'd never believe it, but it's not the only one. They also have a branch in Seattle!
- And then we'll head to the airport and you’ll fly on Turkmenistan Airlines! Departing from the very impractical, but equally as beatuiful star-shaped airport in Turkmenabat, we'll catch the evening flight to Ashgabat.
- And if you thought the airport in Turkmenabat was unnecessarily impressive, just wait til you land in Ashgabat!
- Arriving in the capital for the first time, we'll check into the hotel in Ashgabat and free time for the rest of the evening.
Day 18Sat May 30
Ashgabat
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Our first day in Ashgabat, you’re going to be in awe of everything that the capital has to offer. We’ll spend the day taking in all the main sites of Ashgabat, including all those crazy monuments you’ve probably seen pictures of, as we begin explaining all the weird and wonderful aspects of Turkmenistan that make it such a special place.
- We’ll start with a driving tour of Ashgabat's main sites, including Independence Park and Independence Monument, the Monument to the Constitution, the Arch of Neutrality, Lenin Park, and a drive-by of the Olympic Complex which was built for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. The complex is home to the famous Horse Stadium ( the largest structure in the shape of a horse in the world – you’ll hear plenty more of these records! ), but unfortunately is closed to the public.
- A highlight of the day will likely be the Alem Centre, the complex which houses the Wheel of Enlightenment, the largest indoor ferris wheel (yes, there’s another one). And YES, for just $2.50, you can even take a ride!
- Stop for lunch at Berkarar Shopping Centre, where you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and even have a cappuccino in a hipster café – bet you weren’t expecting that!
- In the afternoon we’ll visit the university bookshop, a great chance to pick up some very cool, unique Turkmenistan swag, including where you can find amazing coffee table books written by and about the former president (and father of the current president, Serdar Berdimuhamedov), Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as ones about Ashgabat and Turkmenistan. You can even get them in English! They also have postcards and posters, and if you're lucky they might even have a copy of the Ruhnama, the book written by Turkmenbashy.
- Spend the night at the Ak Altyn Hotel.
Day 19Sun May 31
Carpet Day, Ashgabat
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Happy Carpet Day!
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Today is a very one off opportunity to see the Carpet Museum in Ashgabat in all its glory, with exhibitions, shows, and loads of Turkmens milling around taking part in the festivities. There will be a great atmosphere, and we'll spend most of the day just soaking it in.
- There will be stands set up and a little yurt village, with exhibitions and displays of local food and drinks, carpets of course, historical heroes, and plenty of singing and dancing in traditional clothing. There will be cauldrons of plov, buckets of kumus and chalap, pastries, and who knows what else.
Day 20Mon Jun 1
Ashgabat, Gates of Hell
- This morning we will have free time, so you'll have a chance to organise yourself for the evening ahead. We'll be checking out of the hotel in Ashgabat, but you can leave luggage behind for the overnight.
- In the early afternoon, we'll set off on our desert adventure, driving the 250km north to Darvaza, The Gates of Hell.
- One the way we’ll make a few stops – including to see a salt lake, and two other craters (one full of mud, one full of water).
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Our favourite stop on this drive though is the town of Erbent, where you'll get a real up-close look at how rural Turkmens live - very different to what you've seen so far in Ashgabat and other regional cities and towns.
We'll patronise the village shop, no doubt take some photos of some dust, possibly an old motorbike or two, maybe even a camel, and if we're lucky we might bump into some school kids. We will also of course use their toilet (not a luxurious one!) before continuing on our way.
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Crossing the sand dunes to get to Darvaza, we’ll arrive in time to watch the sunset over the fiery crater and experience dusk turn to dark at this breathtaking site.
- We will either set up tents near the crater, or stay in one of the nearby yurt camps, depending on many factors, including weather. Either way though, we'll spend the evening viewing the fiery crater from every angle, seeing the colour change as the sun sets and the darkness creeps in, until the crater is in full glow. It's completely mesemerising.
Day 21Tue Jun 2
Gates of Hell, Ashgabat
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We'll wake up this morning at the Gates of Hell. What a place to wake up!
- Make sure you get your fill of fiery pits over breakfast, before we drive back to Ashgabat, arriving around lunchtime.
- We'll check into the hotel and have free time for the rest of the afternoon.
- Most people will probably want to head to one of our favourite bazaars in Central Asia – the Russian Bazaar. Here you'll have the opportunity to get some super cheap, local food for lunch, do some souvenir shopping, or if you’re in the market for a Turkmen carpet we can show you a good place to get them.
- This is also where one of the main shops for buying the famous Turkmenistan tracksuits is, so if you've made it to this point in the tour without one, and you're a bit jealous of your tracksuit-adorned fellow travellers, this is your chance to get one.
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You also might like just to go exploring, whether it's a walk to the psychadelic Ashgabat Mall, or to Tashkent Park, or to the alabay (dog) statue, or you could simply walk through one of the areas of new white marble buildings. And of course we'll be there to help you figure out what to do with your time.
- For dinner this evening we’ll go to the Yyldiz Hotel – the newest and most expensive hotel in Turkmenistan, where you can have a real 5 Star restaurant experience for 1 Star prices, complete with 360 degree views of the city.
Day 22Wed Jun 3
Kow Ata, Nokhur, Balkanabat
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Checking out of our hotel in Ashgabat, we'll begin heading west, with our first stop at an underground thermal cave lake which is said to have many medical attributes, but is also used by locals as a swimming hole and makes for a very fun and relaxing swim.
- After a refreshing swim in the cave lake, we'll sit down and chill for a while with some shashlik from one of the restaurants just outside the entrance to the cave.
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We’ll continue driving west, away from Ashgabat, to the village of Nokhur, situated in the Kopet Dag mountains. Unlike the rest of Turkmenistan, even during the Soviet Union and the era of Turkmenbashy, the people in this village were largely left to their own devices, and as such live a much more traditional lifestyle than most Turkmens.
- Here we’ll visit Nokhur Cemetery, where each grave is adorned with the horns of a mountain goat and a small market next to a wishing tree where you can buy all sorts of natural teas and potions.
- Back on the road in the afternoon, we'll keep heading west until we arrive in Balkanabat, the capital of the western Balkan region.
- On arrival we'll check into one of our favourite hotels in Turkmenistan, which is in the shape of a giant yurt, and will walk across the road to check out the local Turkmenbashy statue.
Day 23Thu Jun 4
Yangykala Canyon, Turkmenbashy
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Before leaving Balkanabat in the morning, we'll make a quick stop at a supermarket to stock up on snacks and drinks for the day, as we'll spend the whole of today in the desert with nothing in the way of civilisation until the evening.
- We'll also stop at the Caravan Monument - a sand coloured depiction of a camel and travelers making their way through the harsh desert.
- Leaving Balkanabat, we'll venture off the main road for the highlight of today - Yangykala Canyon. Wide and vast, the area was once a seabed, and scattered with all sorts of fossils, it stretches as far as the eye can see. In 4x4s, we’ll drive over the canyon walls, through the canyon itself, and up the other side.
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We'll make several stops along the way, including our favourite, the crocodile mouth.
This will be our main stop for the day, and we'll spend plenty of time there
so we can enjoy all the shapes and colours of this spectacular natural phenomenon.
- In the afternoon we'll continue on our way, arriving in Turkmnbashy in the late afternoon.
- We'll have some free time before dinner, during which you can use the hotel gym, pool and sauna facilities, have a beer in the bar, or we may take a walk down to the former shoreline of the receding Caspian Sea.
- Overnight in Turkmenbashy.
- Previously we have included Avaza in this part of our tour itineraries, however it is currently closed to foreigners, as of April 2023. We are working on the assumption that it will not be open before the time of this tour, however if it was, we would rearrange the itinerary in such a way that we'd be able to include a visit there.
Day 24Fri Jun 5
Turkmenbashy, Ashgabat
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This morning we will make our way to Turkmenbashy Airport, which has the airport code KRW, in reference to the Soviet name of the city, which was Krasnovodsk.
- We'll fly back to Ashgabat on Turkmenistan's national carrier and the only option for domestic flights, Turkmenistan Airlines.
- Arriving back in Ashgabat you'll have a chance to have some free time, during which you might want to shop for a tracksuit or a carpet, sit down for a coffee or a beer, go for a stroll, or just have a rest.
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In the afternoon we'll hop on a public bus and explore Ashgabat from a slightly different perspective. This is a great way to interact with locals, and get a first-hand view of how normal Ashgabatians live on a daily basis.
- Using the bus, we'll make our way to Berkarar Shopping Centre, going through the new part of the city, past the Presidential Palace, the Ashgabat Monument, and the 2017 Olympic Complex. We'll then have a chance to explore this incredibly Turkmenistan-style shopping centre, where you can go ice-skating, play in the games centre, ride a miniature double-decker bus, and even have a cappuccino in a hipster café – bet you weren’t expecting that!
- We'll catch the bus back to our hotel, before heading out for dinner in the evening.
- Overnight at the Ak Altyn Hotel.
Day 25Sat Jun 6
Ashgabat, End of Tour
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Last day of the tour.
- Transfers to the airport for your flights, or if you'd like to spend longer in Turkmenistan let us know and we can help you arrange something.
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