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Summary Five countries, three weeks, one epic trip along the Silk Road through the heart of Central Asia  Short Itinerary / Route
- Day 1
- Arrive Ashgabat
- Day 2
- Free Morning; Ashgabat City Tour
- Day 3
- Visit Nisa; Afternoon Transfer To Darvaza Crater, ...
- Day 4
- To Ancient Dashoguz; Visit Medieval Kunya Urgench
- Day 5
- Cross Into Uzbekistan; Tour Of Khiva
- Day 6
- Desert Castles Of Khorezm
- Day 7
- Drive To Bukhara Through The Kyzylkum Desert
- Day 8
- Explore Bukhara
- Day 9
- Visit The Summer Palace Of The Bukharan Emirs; Dri...
- Day 10
- Explore Samarkand
- Day 11
- Cross Into Tajikistan; Sarazm And Penjikent
- Day 12
- Explore The Seven Lakes In The Fann Mountains
- Day 13
- Drive To Khujand Via Istaravshan
- Day 14
- Khujand; Back Into Uzbekistan; Rishtan And Margila...
- Day 15
- Cross Into Kyrgyzstan; Visit Osh And Uzgen
- Day 16
- Arslanbob Nature Reserve
- Day 17
- To Son Kul Lake
- Day 18
- Son Kul Lake
- Day 19
- Along The Southern Shore Of Issyk-Kul Lake
- Day 20
- Transfer To Karakol; Sightseeing Tour
- Day 21
- Visit Charyn Canyon; To Almaty, Kyrgyzstan
- Day 22
- Explore Almaty; See Panfilov Park
- Day 23
- End Almaty
Countries (5): Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Travel Cities (10): Almaty, Ashgabat, Bishkek, Bucchara, Darvaza Gas Crater, Karakol, Khiva, Osh, Panjakent, Samarkand Details Vast deserts, rolling steppe, fertile valleys and majestic mountains form the backdrop to the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which are commonly known as the Five Stans. Among this changing and varied landscape are traditional villages, ancient towns and modern cities, which tell a tale of advancing Greek and Persian armies, marauding Mongolian hordes, traders selling wares along the Silk Road, philosophers, astronomers, Communist experiments and post-Soviet eccentrics. Journey past giant burning gas pits, intricately tiled mosques, alpine lakes bordered by yurt camps, grand monuments, rural villages and colourful markets on this epic trip through the heart of Central Asia.About this trip: We have two versions of this trip, with different departure dates. One starts in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and ends in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the other runs in reverse. Apart from the direction of travel, the two itineraries are similar, the main difference is the route taken through Kyrgyzstan and the accommodation there. This itinerary (The Five Stans of the Silk Road), which runs from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to Almaty, Kazakhstan, includes Son Kul Lake and there are three nights staying in yurts in Kyrgyzstan. The reverse itinerary (The Five Stans of the Silk Road - Reverse), includes Chon-Kemin and Bishkek and stays in guesthouses and hotels rather than yurts.Both itineraries include a night in a yurt in Turkmenistan. |
Highlights - Follow the footsteps of ancient traders on a journey along the Silk Road
- Witness the ‘Door to Hell’ at night, a giant burning gas pit in Turkmenistan
- Experience the life of a nomadic shepherd with two nights in a yurt camp
- Discover the great Islamic architecture and ruins of five different countries
- Explore the villages and lakes of the Fann and Tien Shan mountains
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Included in Price - Common dishes in the region include shish-kebabs and plov (rice usually with mutton, onions, carrots, spices, raisins and peas). The kebabs can be from different meats, including lamb and beef, while plov is a rice-based dish (variants elsewhere are known as pilaf or pilau rice). Another main staple is bread, especially in Uzbekistan where it is freshly baked and sold everywhere; in Turkmenistan, churek is a flat, round bread baked in clay ovens. Other traditional dishes include chorba, a meat and vegetable soup; manty, steamed dumplings filled with lamb; qu’urma, a lamb dish; ichlekli, a meat and onion pie; and gutap, a pie filled with meat, potatoes, spinach and pumpkin. There are normally a couple of opportunities to try home-cooked meals. Tea is also plentiful, both black and green, and drunk with most meals and throughout the day. Please note, vegetarian food choices are limited. If you are vegetarian or have any special dietary requirements, please notify us well in advance. In this region, the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, eg gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring such specialised dietary items from home. Drinking water is included and where possible will be provided in large containers for you to refill your bottle from – please bring a reusable bottle with you.
- All accommodation
- All breakfasts, one lunch, and five dinners
- All transport and listed activities
- Western tour leader throughout (plus a local guide in each country)
- Arrival transfers for any flight, departure transfers for group flights only
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NOT included in price - Travel Insurance
- Single accommodation (available on request)
- Visas or vaccinations
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Travel Package Tour... Ashgabat 
Almaty |
 This is an Organised Group Tour: the itinerary has been predefined by the tour operator. The tour destinations, duration, accommodations, departure dates and the price are fix. You can join, enjoy and meet other people.
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Tour Variations The Five Stans of the Silk Road - Reverse (23 Days) Five countries, three weeks, one epic trip along the Silk Road through the heart of Central Asia Next Departure: 24-May-2025
Starting at: ± EUR 5,648.00 |
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