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- Operator
- Central Asia Travel LP
- Explorer
- Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
- Group Tour
- Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
- Partially Guided
- Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
- Low Intensity
- Travelers can expect some light physical activities
- Guided in English
- Group Size 4 - 18
- Ages 12+
Highlights
- Explore Nohur village and tribal sites
- Witness Darwaza gas crater at night
- Tour ancient cities of Merv and Bukhara
- Visit Registan Square and Samarkand
- Discover the Charyn Canyon's grandeur
Itinerary
- Introduction
- Day 1 Ashgabat, arrival
- Day 2 Ashgabat, round trip to Darwaza gas crater by road, 600 km
- Day 3 Ashgabat - Mary by morning flight
- Day 4 Bukhara
- Day 5 Bukhara - Samarkand by road, 280 km
- Day 6 Samarkand
- Day 7 Samarkand, day trip to Tajikistan by road, 120 km
- Day 8 Samarkand - Tashkent by morning train
- Day 9 Tashkent - Bishkek by afternoon flight
- Day 10 Tashkent - Bishkek by afternoon fligh
- Day 11 Bishkek - Burana Tower - Issyk-Kul Lake by road, 280 km
- Day 12 Issyk-Kul - Djeti-Oguz Gorge - Karakol by road, 150 km
- Day 13 Karakol - "Kegen" land border - Charyn canyon - Almaty by road, 380 km
- Day 14 Almaty
- Day 15 Almaty, departure
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Flights
- Guide
- Meals
- 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.
- Optional Extras
What's Not Included
- Additional Services
Operated by
Central Asia Travel LP
Number of tours
25
Age Range
12 to 85 years old
Response time
within 3 days
Response rate
95%
Central Asia Travel is a successful tour operator company with travel...
Read moreCustomer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideGood
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationGood
- FoodGood
- FPFilipinas· November 3rd, 2025Days 7,8 & 9 of the tour schedule needs to be revised for better coordination of time spent in each country ,because there's not enough time to rest for having to wake up so very early to transfer to the next country. There should be a better communication of pick up when transfering to the border like what we have experienced during our transfer from Turkmenistan to Kyrgysztan where we had to ride the shuttle bus two times & then have to walk about half a mile to meet the next tour guide and then transfer to a Van to the hotel in Kyrgysztan. That was really very tiring & stressful. We had also encountered the same problem when we transfered to the border of Kazasktan , where we had to wait for more than 1 hr for the tour guide to pick us up & then later the tour guide told us that they were delayed due to car problems. The tour going to the Darvasa Gas crater was a wonderful experience & I really enjoyed it, the only set back was the rough road with so many potholes that made the road very bumpy & shakes your whole body during the trip. One of our companions in the 4 wheel drive SUV had to tell the driver to stop immediately to empty her urinary bladder under the bushes because we were in the middle of a desert. In regards to the trip to Tajikistan, the only set back was the rough & bumpy road going up the mountain to visit the 7 Lakes that took 4 hrs roundtrip. Overall I have experienced 75% positive & 25 % negative .Show more
Central Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewDear Lina, Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We truly value your assessment. We are sorry that some aspects of the journey, particularly the transfers and the road conditions, caused you discomfort, and we apologize for this. At the same... Show moreTrip date: October 2025 - MBManfred Paul· October 10th, 2025I was very happy. I think it was not easy to make a programm with so many details in 14 days.Show moreCentral Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewThank you so much for your kind words, Dr. Buhl! We’re truly happy to know you enjoyed the trip and appreciated the detailed itinerary. It means a lot to us that the program worked well for you — it’s always our goal to make every journey through the... Show moreTrip date: September 2025
Walter· October 1st, 2025All the guides were good and the itinerary was comprehensive. The first couple days are pretty tough just because you generally get in early in the morning and start at a normal 9 am time and then the next day driving out to the gas crater, you get home at midnight. So the first couple days you are sleep deprived, but to do it differently you'd be wasting time. I wouldn't change it, but be prepared for a couple of tired days.Show moreCentral Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewDear Walter, Thank you so much for your kind feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed the itinerary and the guides’ work across the region. You’re absolutely right — the first days can be intense, but it’s the best way to experience as much as possible in... Show moreTrip date: September 2025- ONOFRE· September 29th, 2025Each of the 5 Stan country has their own unique individual cultural and customs but at the same time has similarities due to the fact that they’re once under the governance of the former USSR. Each has their own appeal for tourist’s point of view. Wish to go back but there are more countries to visit.Show moreCentral Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewThank you very much for your wonderful feedback, Onofre! We’re so glad you enjoyed discovering the diversity and shared heritage of the Five Stans. Each country truly has its own charm, and we’re happy you could experience that! Wishing you many more... Show moreTrip date: August 2024
- KPKENNETH· September 19th, 2025Exceptionally well organised tour.Show moreCentral Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewThank you very much, Kenneth! We’re so glad to hear you found the tour exceptionally well organized — that’s the best compliment for our team! It was a pleasure to have you with us on this journey through the Five Stans. Warm regards, Central Asia... Show moreTrip date: August 2025
- TPTennille Erin· June 19th, 2025First and foremost, I'm glad I did this tour with this company. It was well organized and we covered a lot of ground in a short time. Even though everyone was getting "mosqued out" by the end, I think it was a good mix of history, culture, nature/scenery, architecture, and free time. The hotels were very comfortable and for the most part in great locations (wish the Almaty hotel was closer to Arbat Street restaurants/shops). The buses/vans were more comfortable than many other tours I've done. We were supposed to have 2 smaller vans but instead got 1 "bigger" van for our super long drive from Mary - Merv- Uzbekistan boarder. We were all so uncomfortable on that drive and wish they would have stuck to the original plan of giving us 2. Our guides in Turkmenistan (Gulshat) and Kyrgyzstan (Sultan) were amazing. If only we could have had them the whole time! The Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan guides were knowledgeable but condescending and at times inappropriate and unprofessional, so they definitely left the door open for improvement there, despite being amazing countries. One thing I wish was different is that it was 1 day longer, so that an overnight at the gas crater camp can be added. The first few days in Turkmenistan fly by with little sleep after long international travels, which I feel could have been avoided by adding a day. Even if we had arrived the day before the tour started, which I recommend, the combination of a really late night after driving most of the day on incredibly bumpy roads to/from the crater and a super early flight to Mary took away from what could have been a more enjoyable experience. Not to mention, a stay in a yurt would be a great experience! Traveling is never perfect so I never expect that, but with just a few small changes this could be an excellent tour.Show moreCentral Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewDear Tennille, Thank you very much for your review and for traveling with us on the Five Stans journey. We’re happy to know you enjoyed the overall organization, variety of experiences, and the professionalism of our team — especially Gulshat and... Show moreTrip date: May 2025
- samia· June 15th, 2025Amazing tour! The no. Of people was only 7 so it felt very intimate. Guides in each Stan were very knowledgeable and friendly (Gulshad for Turkmenistan, Miron and Ramiz for Uzbekistan, Sultan for Kyrgyzstan and Zhanner for Kazakhstan). The drivers were amazing too stopping whenever we requested and being present in a timely manner. Gulshad switched out the days allowing for Darwaza to be visited on day one with city tour on day 2. This was a good idea letting us rest better as the trip back to hotel from Darwaza could be past midnight. Grab a neck pillow for that car ride to and from Darwaza. Road is not the best. I was unable to go to Tajikstan as i had a single entry visa to Uzbekistan. Tajikstan is a day trip from Uzbekistan so if you require a visa to enter U'stan, make sure to select multiple entry in your application. However, i wasnt disappointed at all as Ramiz planned a trip to the Uzbekistan mountains With wonderful views and local lunch. Sultan was another friendly and amazing guide who was always available readily to take us to dinner etc after the end of the day. Zhanner made us feel like home although we spent only 1 day in Almaty with her. The tour is rich in culture and the people are very friendly. Food is amazing. 15 days pass by very quickly. Allow for flexibilty in the itinerary as things could change based on the grouo you travel or time in general. Overall, would highly recommend.Show moreCentral Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewDear Samia, Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed the journey and the company of our wonderful guides — Gulshad, Miron, Ramiz, Sultan, and Zhanner. It’s great to hear their care and flexibility made your trip so... Show moreTrip date: May 2025
- Matthew· May 8th, 2025Very interesting tour with a lot of history. Landscapes were beautiful and varied (one day you're in the desert, next in mountains, next in steppe). Some of the hotels were great but some weren't up to scratch. Lots of travel on the road (which is in part expected as most tours for this region will do 20+ days so this tour is kind of the express option). It meant some days were back to back travelling which was exhausting (feels some cases it might have been avoidable with a flight). Still, felt like we saw everything we'd want to in region in two weeks!Show moreCentral Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewDear Matthew, Thank you for sharing your feedback and for joining our Five Stans adventure! We’re glad you enjoyed the diversity of landscapes and the rich history along the route — that’s exactly what makes Central Asia so unique. We truly appreciate... Show moreTrip date: April 2025
- SPSharon Ann· April 30th, 2025A very busy tour with long days, Turkmenistan needs to be changed getting back At 12.30 am and leaving at 4.30am the next morning is not ok especially after arriving in the morning the day before and starting the tour. The sights at Mary were not worth visiting would have been better to fly to Uzbekistan and continue rather than going to Mary. We had a good group which helpedShow moreCentral Asia Travel LP commented on this reviewDear Sharon, Thank you for your valuable feedback and for joining our Five Stans journey! We’re glad you enjoyed the group and the overall experience, even with such a full itinerary. We truly appreciate your comments about the Turkmenistan section —... Show moreTrip date: April 2025
- Christine· January 18th, 2025Guides were great, accommodation good, itinerary covered top highlights, can't complainShow moreTrip date: December 2024
Dates & Availability
Select departure month and travellers
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday22 Dec, 2025To Monday5 Jan, 2026EnglishAlmost Sold OutThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureFrom:NZ $6,344 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant Confirmation-8%From Friday10 Apr, 2026To Friday24 Apr, 2026EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureFrom:$6,344NZ $5,832 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant Confirmation-8%From Saturday16 May, 2026To Saturday30 May, 2026EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureFrom:$6,344NZ $5,832 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant Confirmation-8%From Friday14 Aug, 2026To Friday28 Aug, 2026EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureFrom:$6,344NZ $5,832 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant Confirmation-8%From Friday11 Sep, 2026To Friday25 Sep, 2026EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureFrom:$6,344NZ $5,832 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant Confirmation-8%From Friday9 Oct, 2026To Friday23 Oct, 2026EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureFrom:$6,344NZ $5,832 per personMultiple Room Types
- Instant Confirmation-8%From Tuesday22 Dec, 2026To Tuesday5 Jan, 2027EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureFrom:$6,344NZ $5,832 per personMultiple Room Types
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What our customers ask about this tour
The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.- A
Alison
Asked on September 22nd, 2025Is it safe to do this tour as a solo female traveler in Central Asia?
Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written September 2025Three tour group options available: October 10 (mild autumn weather), December 22 (winter charm), April 1 (spring bloom).
- A
Alison
Traveler•Written September 2025Happy for group 7 departing 10 Oct 2025
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written September 2025
Visas for Australian citizens in Central Asia: Turkmenistan requires visa invitation, all other countries (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan) are visa free.
A2 more answers - R
Rachael
Asked on September 20th, 20251.As per the itinerary,we need to arrive in Ashgabat on 14th August morning.Is this correct? 2.Also,do we book return ticket on 29th August morning? 3.What is the procedure for Turkmenistan visa?Is there an option to take visa in advance from embassy in London? 4.As s British passport holder,my understanding is that we do not need visa for Uzbekistan,Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.We need visa for Turkmenistan as mentioned above.What about Tajikistan? 5.How is the weather in the region at that time of the year?What type of clothes should we pack?
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written September 2025
Visas to Central Asia for the citizens of Great Britain: Turkmenistan - visa invitation + visa on arrival, Uzbekistan - visa-free, Tajikistan - e-visa, Kyrgyzstan - visa-free, Kazakhstan - visa-free. You will need visas to Turkmenistan and Tajikistan only.
- R
Rachael
Traveler•Written September 2025I was looking at a Turkish Airlines flight that leaves Almatty at 0900 on August 28th. Will this flight be ok?
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written September 2025
The flight times provided were only suggestions. You are welcome to fly to Ashgabat with any airline that is convenient for you. The key point is to arrive on the correct date to ensure a timely start for the sightseeing tour in Ashgabat. The tour begins on the morning of August 14th. Therefore, I would recommend arriving in Ashgabat on August 13th to rest after your long flight. Regarding your departure, you can comfortably depart for home on August 28th, as there are no scheduled tours on that day.
R2 more answers - A
Ashley
Asked on September 7th, 2025At what time would the tour start in Ashgabat on the 22. Dec 2026 and at what time will it finish on the 5th Jan. 2027 in Almaty?
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written September 2025
The tour starts in the morning in Ashgabat. Please ensure you arrive in Ashgabat by 21 December at the latest to be ready. The tour concludes in the morning in Almaty. We recommend booking your departure flight from Almaty for after 6:00 PM on 5 January to allow comfortable time for transfers.
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Gillian
Asked on September 2nd, 2025Which time of year is best for this tour?
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written September 2025
This trip is perfect for a visit year-round, offering different experiences depending on when you choose to go. If you're seeking lush scenery, mild temperatures, and fewer crowds, late April to early May is ideal. For those looking to enjoy the falling hues and comfortable weather, early to mid-October is the perfect time. Alternatively, if you're after a combination of spring and early summer, mid-May to early June would be the best choice.
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written September 2025
We offer three tour groups: Group #7 on October 10 with mild autumn weather, Group #8 on December 22 with festive winter atmosphere, and Group #1 on April 1 with spring landscapes and comfortable temperatures.
1 more answer - E
Edward
Asked on August 20th, 2025Will you help with getting visa from south africa
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written August 2025
Visa regulations for Central Asian countries for South African citizens: Uzbekistan visa costs 35 USD for double entry. Kazakhstan visa is 80 USD for single entry. Kyrgyzstan e-visa processing takes 3 business days. Tajikistan electronic visa costs 52 USD. Turkmenistan visa can be received on arrival or with invitation, requiring passport copy, photo, and application form.
- J
Judith
Asked on August 2nd, 2025What's the weather like in this area during December?
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written August 2025
Average winter temperature: between +10°C and -3°C. In December, preparations for the New Year begin, so cities have a special atmosphere, which makes the trip even more colorful and unforgettable.
- S
Sabrina
Asked on July 8th, 2025curious to ask the average age/profile of travellers on these types of tours? Very interested in the route, but when I have booked on this type of thing before I have often been in slightly older groups which are less intrepid than I was hoping for!
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written July 2025
Now we have 2 tourists joined this group. They are 70 and 57 years old. The average age of the travellers for this tour is 45-75 y.o.
- S
Sabrina
Traveler•Written July 2025Do you do any tours that are popular with younger tourists? Late 20s-40s?
S1 more answer - D
Derek
Asked on June 22nd, 2025do Canadian needs visa to these countries
- D
Derek
Traveler•Written July 2025Do you deal with a travel agent in Canada?
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written July 2025
Visas to Central Asia for the citizens of Canada
Turkmenistan - visa invitation + visa on arrival
Uzbekistan - visa free
Tajikistan - visa free
Kyrgyzstan - visa free
Kazakhstan - visa free
You will need visa only for Turkmenistan.
1 more answer - K
Kathleen
Asked on June 19th, 2025May you advice the mode of transport travel from one place or city to another besides flight.
- K
Kathleen
Traveler•Written June 2025What is minimum number of persons per tour.
- K
Kathleen
Traveler•Written June 2025Is the flight between countries included?
- K
Kathleen
Traveler•Written June 2025If we make reservation now for 3 persons but later only 2 persons going for the tour. Will the deposit paid can be transfer for the two persons tour?
- K
Kathleen
Traveler•Written June 2025Will there be stop for toilet break along the way for the various trip?
- K
Kathleen
Traveler•Written June 2025May you advice the altitude of each location we are visiting. Could we spend addition day in Ashgabat before start of tour and Almaty after tours end? Do you organise short tour from Almaty to Astana
- K
Kathleen
Traveler•Written June 2025Which place where we stay for more than 1 night? Any place we could have laundry services
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written July 2025
The internal flights are included. International flights are NOT included to the price. The minimum groups size is 4 people, maximum - 15.
KK6 more answers - A
Alan
Asked on June 9th, 2025do you have any details regarding UNESCO sites in the five stans? do you offer any assistance with VISAs and what are the airport codes for the start and finish cities. are there any optional extensions?
- Central Asia Travel LP Operator•Written June 2025
Visas to Central Asia for the citizens of the USA: Turkmenistan - visa invitation + visa on arrival, Uzbekistan - e visa, Tajikistan - visa free, Kyrgyzstan - visa free, Kazakhstan - visa free. You will need visas to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan only. Turkmenistan visa can be received on arrival at Ashgabat airport OR on the land border. Uzbekistan visa you may get by yourself online. Arrival in Ahgabat (ASB), Departure is from Almaty (ALA).
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Good to Know
Tour ID: 172134