View allA fast-paced and thorough exploration of the 5 Stans. Lots to take photos of and plenty of filling food.
Victoria, traveled in September
Price based on Cheapest Room
Price based on Shared Room
Price based on Private Single Room
Price based on Private Double Room
Best price guarantee Learn More
- Silver Operator
- Steppe Journeys
- Group Tour
- Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
- Fully Guided
- An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
- Guided in English
- Other languages on offer: German, Spanish
- Group Size 1 - 15
- All Ages Welcome
Highlights
- Explore Bishkek's vibrant city landmarks
- Discover Issyk Kul Lake and ancient petroglyphs
- Journey through the scenic Grigorevka Gorge
- Tour Almaty's historical sites and museums
- Experience the bustling bazaars of Samarkand
Itinerary
- Introduction
- Day 1 Bishkek
- Day 2 Issyk Kul Lake
- Day 3 Issyk Kul Lake / Bishkek
- Day 4 Almaty
- Day 5 Almaty
- Day 6 Dushanbe
- Day 7 Khujand (Leninabad)
- Day 8 Khujand (Leninabad) / Penjikent 300 km
- Day 9 Penjikent to Samarkand
- Day 10 Samarkand
- Day 11 Bukhara
- Day 12 Bukhara
- Day 13 Bukhara
- Day 14 Mary
- Day 15 Ashgabat
- Day 16 Ashgabat
- Day 17 Darvaza
- Day 18 Khiva
- Day 19 Khiva
- Day 20 Tashkent
- Day 21 Departure
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Flights
- Guide
- Meals
- Additional Services
- Transport
- Free eSIMTourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.
What's Not Included
- Insurance
- Optional
- Additional Services
Adventure Type
- Group AdventuresJoin a group and forge lifelong friendships.What to expect
- Group of 15 travelers max.
- Fast booking confirmation
- Carefully planned itineraries
- Travel with like-minded people
- Personalized AdventuresCustomize an existing itinerary or create your own.What to expect
- Travel with your own group of min. 2 travelers
- Choose your preferred dates and duration
- Upgrade your accommodation
- Customize the itineraries
Customer Photos
Operated by
Steppe Journeys
Number of tours
17
Age Range
1 to 89 years old
Response time
12 hours
Response rate
92%
Central Asia is a region of ancient cultures, fairy-tale cities, open...
Read moreCustomer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationExcellent
- FoodExcellent
- Jinny· August 27th, 2025I went on the Central Asia combined Sile Road tour with Steppe Journeys in Sep 2024. Steppe Journeys is one of the few tour operators that go to all five Stans. All in all, it was well organised and the tour covered a large number of amazing sights in all five countries. All hotels were three or four stars. Some were excellent and some less so, but they were all clean and comfortable. Also the transportation was good and comfortable. Ilya, our guide in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan was a gem. Also Ahmed in Tajikistan was very good. Our experience of guides in Uzbekistan was not a good one. It was very disorganised and we had several guides in each city and some were with us for a few hours only. Often the English was not good and it was difficult to understand. Steppe Journeys is a good operator but will be better if they improve communications. My suggestion to the company is to create a WhatsApp group chat with each group so that the company can communicate directly with the members of the group and not through the guides, which is not always effective. Also, please give the group members the names and telephone numbers of the local guides, if possible. If you go on this tour, please bear the following in mind: 1) If you need a visa for Tajikistan, book well in advance as it takes time. the website crashes, payments do not go through etc. 2) If there are any problems contact Odyl (the owner) directly as the members of his team are not that quick and effective. 3) Get the contact details of the local travel agent in each country that Stepp Journeys works with and also the telephone numbers of Odyl and staff members. We were stuck in the Turkmenistan border for over two hours as the local guide did not turn up. It was not a nice experience. Our phones and internet networks did not work inside Turkmenistan. After a lot of attempts, one phone worked and we managed to contact Odyl. It would have been far easier if we had the local agents contact details. 4) In Turkmenistan, there are buses to take the passengers at the borders on either side and they charge a dollar or equivalent local currency per person. We did not have the right money as we were not aware. Therefore keep some local currency or one dollar notes for the buses. 5) Crossing the borders was a hard but interesting experience. You need to walk long distances on broken roads carrying your luggage. So, keep the suitcases light. 6) Download Taxi.Yandex app before you leave home. You cannot download it when you are there. I am so glad I went on this tour and Stepp Journeys did a lot to make us comfortable. A big thanks to Odyl. I will never forget Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva in Uzbekistan, the natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan and the amazing capital cities. I wish I had more time to visit these countries in more detail. Well worth going on this trip.Show more
Steppe Journeys commented on this reviewDear Jinny Pohl Thank you very much for sharing such a detailed and thoughtful review of your Central Asia Combined Silk Road Tour with us. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed the overall organization of the trip, the comfort of the... Show more
Trip date: September 2024 - DDDipendra· June 30th, 2025Excellent trip from start to finish. Very happy with all the sights visited in the short time. The only thing I would change is the time spent in Bukhara felt excessive and the time spent in Almaty was too short. If those could be switched around it is a perfect trip. Furthermore, the stay in Issyk Kul felt wasteful we literally drive hours and just stay there and head back to Bishkek the day after. It would be good to include a some activity or a short trip to the lake itself even if its the following morning. The guides were exceptional, Nurisa, Amin, Utkir and finally the best Nur-Mohamad.Show moreSteppe Journeys commented on this reviewDear Dipendra Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback and for joining us on this journey through Central Asia. We’re delighted to hear that you had an excellent trip overall and that you enjoyed the sights and especially appreciated our guides... Show moreTrip date: June 2025
- PSPiet-Hein· June 9th, 2025Automatic translation available in English. View in EnglishIn April'25 we were participants on this fantastic 21-day trip. Since only the organization Steppe Journeys offers all 5 countries in Central Asia, we chose this trip. The group size of 9 participants (max. 10) was ideal. The trip was well organized except for a few points (postponed night flights, Almaty on Monday when everything is closed). To compensate for this, we were given delicious food. The tour guides and drivers were friendly, nice, punctual and well prepared in all countries/cities. In Uzbekistan, the tour guides changed for each city. The hotels/accommodation were good/very good and mostly centrally located. We also had good weather, only rain on 2 days and temperatures between 2 degrees in the mountains and 43 degrees in the desert. We had doubts about the departure on April 10th because we thought that it might still be cold in the "early season", but the weather was perfect and we didn't need a winter jacket. A transition jacket is still recommended for the mountains. The road conditions are sometimes very adventurous (maybe think of travel pills), at the border crossings you need a lot of patience. Only Uzbekistan was very touristy, but we saw few tourists in the other countries. From our point of view, the stay in Bukhara was far too long and in Kazakhstan (Almaty) and Dushanbe far too short. Thank you for a very good and varied trip! We recommend TourRadar to others.Show moreSteppe Journeys commented on this reviewDear Piet-Hein Thank you so much for sharing your thoughtful and detailed feedback following your April 2025 journey through Central Asia with us! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the 21-day adventure and found the itinerary diverse, the group... Show moreTrip date: April 2025
- KTKim Chi· May 8th, 2025My partner and I went on a 21-days tour to the 5 Stans countries along the silk road organized by Steppe Journeys on 10-30 April 2025. Our tour had 9 people, the right size for a group tour. We had an excellent trip, very well organized logistically and good hotels besides 1 night in a guest house and 1 night in a yurt. The drivers and tour guides were very reliable and punctual. They were always at the pickup points before we arrived to save us from being anxious of what would happen. We saw many beautiful sceneries of nature, such as mountains and lakes, many mosques, madrasah (religious schools), mausoleums, bazaars (local markets), and UNESCO World Heritage places. Culturally, the trip was very good. I learnt so much about various ancient sites along the Silk Road, the history and the cultural aspects of Central Asia. The food was very good. Steppe Journeys generously offered us a few free meals in very nice restaurants. I tried a Turkish hammam and a few massage session, all that was memorable. The cost of the trip was inexpensive for the values we received. I highly recommend this trip with Steppe Journey.Show moreSteppe Journeys commented on this reviewDear Kim Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had a memorable and enriching journey through the 5 Stans with us. It was a pleasure organizing this adventure for you, and we truly appreciate your recommendation! Cheers and... Show moreTrip date: April 2025
- Nazmul Karim· November 11th, 2024Itinerary, tour guide and the accommodations were excellent. I would love to do this tour again with steppe journeys.Show moreTrip date: September 2024
- AFAstrid· October 11th, 2024Wonderful trip through Central Asia, perfectly organized 21 days through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in August 2024 Since we, 3 Germans and Austrians, wanted to get to know all 5 Stan countries in Central Asia, we decided to book directly with Steppe Journeys (Tashkent). We did exactly the right thing! When we booked, we received immediate answers to our questions and everything went very smoothly in the 21 days on site (communication in English). Tour guides and drivers were ready on time in all countries/cities according to the program. They were all professional and very nice. The hotels were good/very good and mostly centrally or well located. At this point we would particularly like to mention the hotels in the old towns of Bukhara (Komil, in a historic building with a sensational dining room) and in Khiva (Zukhro, roof terrace with a great view over the old town of Khiva). An example of the excellent service: During the difficult entry into Turkmenistan, the Turkmen tour guide waited for us already before the whole procedure and accompanied us confidently through the various stations (customs declaration, visa, cashdesk, entry, customs, etc.). In advance, the tour guide / caravan steppe in Bukhara (Uzbekistan) considered our first aid kit to be too voluminous for Turkmenistan. Medications in particular pose a problem when entering the country as if they could be drugs (it is best to carry medication in the original packaging and with an information leaflet). In order to avoid any difficulties in advance, we had the opportunity to give a large part of our unneeded first aid kit to a driver from Bukhara to Tashkent. After re-entering Uzbekistan, we picked up the bag at the hotel in Tashkent on our last day. Based on our consistently positive experiences, we can highly recommend Steppe Journeys (taschenknt). We would like to thank Odil, Bobur and the entire team. Astrid F., GermanyShow moreTrip date: August 2024
- Ronald Dwight· October 6th, 2024Our operator Steppe Journeys delivered each and every item exactly as they were supposed to. The trip went off without a hitch. Most of the guides were excellent in both knowledge and communication skills. Very enjoyable trip,Show moreTrip date: September 2024
- Hanh· October 3rd, 2024It was a good experience visiting five stan countries. Steppe Journeys, especially Odil, provided outstanding customer service before and during the trip. Local tour guides were all friendly and knowledgeable. Accommodations were generally comfortable throughout the trip, except for the guesthouse in the Seven Lakes, Tajikistan. Overall, it was a good trip, and I highly recommend Steppe Journeys to anyone who wants to visit the stan countries in Central Asia.Show moreTrip date: August 2024
- Xin· September 30th, 2024This tour is to visit 5 countries in Central Asia. I looked other agents. Only Steppe Journeys do a 5 countries in Central Asia and most agents does not do the trip in Turtmenistan. It is called Central Asia 21 day tour. In general, the tour was very good.Show moreSteppe Journeys commented on this reviewDear Xin Tong Thank you very much for your kind appreciation of our service. We are very happy to know we could help you to realize your dream to Central Asia. You are always welcome ack to Central Asia. Cheers OdilTrip date: August 2024
- BCBinjia· September 29th, 2024Knowledgeable guides, nice hotels close to the attractions, great experience.Show moreSteppe Journeys commented on this reviewHi Bnjia Thank you very much for the feedback and review, it is a great help to improve our services and it inspire us to work better. We are very happy to hear you had a great time in Central Asia. You are always welcome back. Thank you OdilTrip date: September 2024
Dates & Availability
Select departure month and travellers
- From Sunday21 Sep, 2025To Saturday11 Oct, 2025EnglishFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Typesflight ALA-DUS$201
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Thursday2 Oct, 2025To Wednesday22 Oct, 2025EnglishFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Typesflight ALA-DUS$201
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Sunday5 Oct, 2025To Saturday25 Oct, 2025EnglishFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Typesflight ALA-DUS$201
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Thursday30 Oct, 2025To Wednesday19 Nov, 2025EnglishFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Typesflight ALA-DUS$201
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday30 Mar, 2026To Sunday19 Apr, 2026English, German, Spanish +2 moreFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Friday10 Apr, 2026To Thursday30 Apr, 2026English, German, Spanish +2 moreFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday20 Apr, 2026To Sunday10 May, 2026English, German, Spanish +2 moreFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Friday1 May, 2026To Thursday21 May, 2026English, GermanFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Tuesday12 May, 2026To Monday1 Jun, 2026English, GermanFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Friday22 May, 2026To Thursday11 Jun, 2026English, GermanFilling FastFrom:NZ $6,674 per personMultiple Room Types
Why book with TourRadar?
- Trusted and vetted operators
- Rated excellent on
- Best price guarantee
- 24/7 customer support
- Earn $100 in travel credits
- Free eSim with every purchase
To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in Australia, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.
What our customers ask about this tour
The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.- J
Julia
Asked on August 4th, 2025I am the host of a Travel Club for seniors called the Curious Traveler Club. We do NOT travel together, but we meet monthly to talk about travel ideas and get inspiration. Our topic for October 2025 is "Traveling the Silk Road". Would you be willing to have a tour leader or representative appear VIA ZOOM to talk to the group about this tour? You would have 30-45 minutes.
Steppe JourneysOperator•Written August 2025We would be delighted to participate in your October 2025 meeting on the theme of "Traveling the Silk Road". A knowledgeable tour leader or representative from Steppe Journeys can join your session via Zoom to: Present an engaging 30–45 minute talk, Share visuals and highlights from the Silk Road in Central Asia, Offer practical travel tips for senior travelers, Answer any questions about our Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan–Tajikistan–Kyrgyzstan–Turkmenistan tours, Introduce sample itineraries, cultural insights, and yurt or nomadic experiences.
- L
Linda
Asked on July 6th, 2025Can some1 advise abt visas- were from south African
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written July 2025
South African citizens do need visas for most Central Asian countries, but policies vary by country. Kazakhstan – Stay up to 30 days without a visa. Kyrgyzstan – Stay up to 60 days without a visa. Uzbekistan – Stay up to 30 days without a visa. Tajikistan – E-Visa Required. Apply online. Cost: ~$50 USD. Turkmenistan – Visa Required with Letter of Invitation (LOI).
- D
Dean
Asked on July 4th, 2025how long does the process for the turkmenistan visa take? I have a german passport and would like to join a tour in august. Is that still possible?
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written July 2025
we will submit your application for the visa and once it is approved we will give you a hard copy of the LOI in Uzbekistan before you cross the border and the visa will be stamped on your passport at the border. visa fee $95 pp.
- D
Dean
Traveler•Written July 2025Could you please explain me. Do I need to go to the Turkmenistan embassy to get the visa before the tour or not?
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written July 2025
No you don't have to. We will arrange visa here at the border for the whole group members.
D2 more answers - H
Helen
Asked on July 4th, 2025How many are booked so far? I will be traveling by myself. Is there a guaranteed single room available for all hotels on the tour? If I arrive one day earlier, will the free transfer from the airport to hotel be included? I won't need to book an extra night hotel for arriving early.
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written July 2025
Currently, we have 7 travelers confirmed for this departure. It is a guaranteed group departure, and we are happy to welcome solo travelers on this journey. Yes, we can provide a guaranteed single room for all hotels on the tour. A single supplement fee may apply. If you arrive one day earlier, we are happy to provide a complimentary airport transfer to your hotel even if your tour officially begins the next day. Early check-in may not be guaranteed unless the room is reserved from the night before, but we can try to arrange luggage storage and early access if the room is ready.
- R
Rosemary
Asked on June 30th, 2025How much is single supplement for September or October please
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written July 2025
single room supplement is US$680 per person
- E
Emma
Asked on June 16th, 2025Are we able to go on this trip? We are 80 and 81 years old at time of trip. Very healthy with no medical issues.
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written June 2025
You would absolutely be able to join this tour if you don't have health issues, walking long distances in a day, altitude sickness. The tour is designed to be comfortable and well-paced, with private transportation, centrally located comfortable hotels, daily programs starting after 9:00 a.m., optional walking segments, and assistance from experienced local guides. Many travelers in their 60s to 80s have enjoyed this tour thoroughly.
- E
Emma
Traveler•Written June 2025Please send full itinerary and hold for 48 hours.
E1 more answer - K
Ken
Asked on June 2nd, 2025We're interested in the tour departing the 10th of August. We notice that day 1 includes a city tour and checkin to the hotel. What time does that start? Also what time would be good to arrive at the airport to start day 1?
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written June 2025
the tour starts in Day 1 at 10 am usually and you may arrive a day earlier or early morning and check in hotel for extra night for $85. We will pick you up from airport.
- S
Sara
Asked on May 28th, 2025How many have booked this tour for the September 21, 2025 date? Are there single rooms still available as I will be traveling on my own? If I arrive on September 20, 2025 instead of September 21 for beginning of tour, will I still have Free airport transfer to hotel?
- S
Sara
Traveler•Written May 2025what are the hotels for this trip?
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written May 2025
At present, we have [8] travelers confirmed for this departure. The group is made up of a diverse mix of nationalities, primarily from the USA, Canada, and Australia, with an age range between approximately 45 to 70 years old. We are pleased to confirm that single rooms are still available, and we would be happy to accommodate your request as a solo traveler. If you plan to arrive on September 20, we can absolutely arrange a complimentary airport transfer to your hotel, provided you share your flight details with us in advance. Please let us know if you would also like us to arrange pre-tour accommodation for the night of September 20. We would be glad to assist with booking the same hotel where the group will stay for the tour's first night. Cost is $95 per night in single room.
1 more answer - J
Judith
Asked on May 20th, 2025Is there an issue with your website, or can you provide more information?
- J
Judith
Traveler•Written May 2025Are Visas included? We are from Canada
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written May 2025
As Canadian you don't need any visa except Turkmenistan. Actually all needs to obtain visa to Turkmenistan. We will submit your application on your behalf and the visa will be stamped on your passport at the border.
1 more answer - S
Stephanie
Asked on May 6th, 2025Can you please give some more details of the places we will stay and food type .. also please confirm the best offer price per person for this trip
- Steppe JourneysOperator•Written May 2025
We will provide only breakfast in the hotels on this tour and some complimentary lunch or dinner in several places like in Kyrgyzstan in a village, in Bukhara in local madrasah with a show, in Turkmenistan at the crater Yurt stay Dinner and Dinner in Khiva on rooftop restaurant. All other meals are on your own. The price is $3990 per person in DBL room share, ALMATY-DUSHANBE flight $120 pp. This is a group tour price not a private group so you will travel others on this tour. usually we have 4-6 people small group and 8-15 people in high tour season. July is hot time in Central Asia so this departure may have fewer people.
Price based on Cheapest Room
Price based on Shared Room
Price based on Private Single Room
Price based on Private Double Room
Best price guarantee Learn More
Good to Know
Tour ID: 138324
Video
