Central Asia

Journey Through Central Asia: The Five ’Stans

Photo credit: Michel Behar

Duration

22 Days

Price

From $8,695

Trip Type

Small Group

Group Size

Max 16

Activity Level

1 2 3 4 5

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A Classic Silk Road Survey

Overview

The “5 ‘Stans” of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – are a treasure trove of history, culture, and natural beauty. Marvel at the ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, admire the majestic mountains of Kyrgyzstan, and explore the stunning capital of Turkmenistan. More than 2,000 years ago, the great trade routes linking Europe and China opened Central Asia to foreign cultures, customs, and religions. Join a modern-day caravan on an epic journey to five of these exotic countries.

Travels to: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan

Khudayar Khan's Palace in Kokand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Michel Behar

Map

Itinerary

Days 1-5: Almaty (Kazakhstan), Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), Bishkek
Begin in and around Almaty, the quickly modernizing business capital of Kazakhstan, beautifully situated amid the majestic Tien Shan mountain range. Cross into Kyrgyzstan and spend two nights at beautiful alpine Lake Issyk-Kul before exploring Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Central Almaty’s Panfilov Park, home to the candy-colored Zenkov Cathedral
- A demonstration of traditional Kazakh falconry in the Tien Shan foothills
- A boat ride on Lake Issyk-Kul
- Iron Age petroglyphs at Cholpan-Ata, near Lake Issyk-Kul
- Burana Tower, one of few remaining Silk Road watchtowers in Kyrgyzstan
- In Bishkek, an evening performance of selections from the Epic of Manas, a traditional Kyrgyz poem
Days 6-8: Osh, Fergana (Uzbekistan), Margilan, Rishtan, Khujand (Tajikistan)
Fly to Kyrgystan’s second-largest city, Osh, located in the lush Fergana Valley, which spans three of the five ’Stans. From there ascend UNESCO-listed Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain, one of the holiest Islamic sites in Central Asia. In the Uzbek portion of the valley, visit Margilan and Rishtan, villages specializing in silks and ceramics. Cross the border into Tajikistan for an overnight in historic Khujand.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain, an Islamic holy site known as “Little Mecca”
- Visits to Margilan’s market and the workshop of one of its silk makers
- Lunch and a workshop tour with a ceramics master in Rishtan Village
- Khujand’s huge, pink Panjshanbe covered bazaar
Days 9-17: Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Nukus
The Uzbek portion of the trip starts in the capital of Tashkent and then devotes seven nights to three spectacular UNESCO-listed Silk Road oasis cities: blue-tiled Samarkand, once Tamerlane’s seat of power; Bukhara, site of the 2,000-year-old Ark Citadel; and Khiva, with its classic winding alleys and distinctive dun-colored walls. Then travel through the Kyzyl Kum (Red Sands) desert to the remote city of Nukus, the unlikely home of the world-class Savitsky Museum of avant-garde Russian art.

HIGHLIGHTS
- The wide, tree-lined boulevards of modern Tashkent
- Samarkand’s Registan Square, bordered by three beautiful madrassahs
- The 14th century conqueror Tamerlane’s architectural legacy in Samarkand, including Bibi Khanum Mosque, the largest of its day, and Ulug Nek Observatory
- Old Bukhara’s ageless domed bazaars and its central Lyab-i-Hauz Plaza, adorned with a reflecting pool
- Ark Citadel, Bukhara’s huge 2,000-year-old fortress
- Khiva’s Old Town, known as Ichon-Qala, a “living museum” that looks much as it did centuries ago
- Tash-Hauli Palace and Dzhuma Mosque, two of Khiva’s most impressive structures
- Savitsky Art Museum, the world’s second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art
Days 18-22: Kunya Urgench (Turkmenistan), Dashoguz, Ashgabat, Nisa, Merv
Cross into Turkmenistan and visit the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Kunya Urgench, then board a flight to the capital, Ashgabat, a city of flamboyant gilded architecture born from the rubble of a massive 1948 earthquake. A four-night-stay there includes day trips to two UNESCO-listed ancient cities: Nisa, once capital of the Parthian Empire; and Merv, an oasis that supported human life as far back as the Iron Age.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Kunya Urgench’s 11th century Kutlug-Timur Minaret, standing 190 feet tall and decorated with intricate mud brickwork
- The opulent new architecture of Ashgabat, which holds a Guinness record for highest density of white marble buildings in the world
- The $100-million Kipchak Mosque, with its 164-foot golden dome and room for 10,000 worshippers, located just outside Ashgabat
- The ruins of Nisa’s two fortresses, which show influences of ancient Greek and Roman culture
- A trip outside Ashgabat to a farm that breeds renowned Akhal-Tekke horses
Optional Post-Tour to Darvaza Crater
Stay a little longer and venture across the desert landscape north of the capital to the Darvaza Gas Crater, one of Turkmenistan’s most unusual sights. Remnants of the Soviet era, one of the craters has been set alight and blazes with an incredible strength that’s visible from miles away. The fire crater is best seen at night, so spend the night in a comfortable yurt camp here, before heading back to Ashgabat the next morning.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Flaming gas crater that has been burning for 30+ years
- Take in the night’s crystal clear stars in this remote desert environment

Detailed Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Small group tour – max 16 travelers

Land tour price, per person. Based on double occupancy and minimum group size of 5 travelers.

What's Included

Activity Level

Level 3: Medium

Gallery

1/16 Musicians in Kazakhstan. Hermann Esser
2/16 A Kyrgyz herder near Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. Michel Behar
3/16 Weaving silk textile in the workshop, Margilan, Uzbekistan. Michel Behar
4/16 Fergana Valley ceramicist at work in Uzbekistan. Michel Behar
5/16 Khudayar Khan's Palace in Kokand, Uzbekistan. Michel Behar
6/16 Sherdor Madrassah in Registan Square, Samarkand. Suresh Mehta
7/16 Tombs at Shah-i Zinde in Samarkand, Uzbeksitan. Michel Behar
8/16 Samarkand Uzbekistan's Registan at night. Michel Behar
9/16 Newlyweds in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Abdu Samadov
10/16 Mir-i Arab Madrassah in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Jered Gorman
11/16 MIR traveler socializing with local women in Uzbekistan. Phil Kidd
12/16 Bukhara's Samani Mausoleum. Michel Behar
13/16 Khiva Uzbekistan's Old Town walls. Michel Behar
14/16 Karakalpak performers in Nukus, Uzbekistan. Michel Behar
15/16 Ashgabat Turkmenistan's glittering statues. Michel Behar
16/16 A traditional dancer. Michel Behar

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Detailed Itinerary Contact Us

Traveler Reviews

"Our family has traveled a lot to many wonderful places but this trip, for me, was second only to our trip to Africa. I just did not want this trip to end."

San Francisco, CA

P. Belardi
"It was the adventure of a lifetime."

M. & S. Zimmer

Sandy, UT
"Many discoveries about a part of the world few people know much about. Fascinating history, exotic people, no two days alike! Our guide always ‘connected the dots’ historically and blended the history with current events and knowledge of people’s lives and concerns."

C. Dobson

Scottsdale, AZ

Journey Through Central Asia: The Five ’Stans

A Classic Silk Road Survey

Overview

Map

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

What's Included

Activity Level

Gallery

Want all the details in one handy package? Download the full itinerary below.

Traveler Reviews

Enthralling Uzbekistan: Our Favorite Things to See & Do

What To Know Before You Go: Kazakhstan

Ashgabat: Turkmenistan’s Lavish Capital of Marble and Gold

Request a Detailed Itinerary

Get Our News Straight To Your Inbox

Journey Through Central Asia: The Five ’Stans

A Classic Silk Road Survey

Overview

Map

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

What's Included

Activity Level

Gallery

Want all the details in one handy package? Download the full itinerary below.

Stay A Little Longer...

Traveler Reviews

Stories To Inspire

Enthralling Uzbekistan: Our Favorite Things to See & Do

What To Know Before You Go: Kazakhstan

Ashgabat: Turkmenistan’s Lavish Capital of Marble and Gold

Request a Detailed Itinerary

Get Our News Straight To Your Inbox