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Best price guarantee Learn More
- Gold Operator
- Explore!
- Explorer
- Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
- 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
- Group Size 7 - 16
- Age range 16 to 85
Highlights
- Explore Bishkek's main monuments and Oak Park
- Witness horseback wrestling and polo in Tokmok
- Learn yurt-making and felt carpet weaving
- Tour Karakol's historic sites and wooden churches
- Visit the majestic Registan Square in Samarkand
Itinerary
- Introduction
- Day 1 Join trip in Bishkek and have an afternoon exploring the city
- Day 2 Drive to Burana Tower and visit a stadium for horse games. Drive onto Chon Kemin and learn how to make Kyrgyz fried bread
- Day 3 Drive onto Lake Issyk Kul to sleep in a yurt
- Day 4 Explore Skazka Canyon on foot and then drive onto Karakol for a city tour
- Day 5 Cross the border into Kazakhstan and explore Charyn Canyon before driving to Almaty
- Day 6 Tour the wide boulevards and green parks of Almaty
- Day 7 Morning flight to Dushanbe. Afternoon orientation tour of the city
- Day 8 Further exploration of Dushanbe including Navruz Palace and the market
- Day 9 Full day drive into the Fann Mountains. Picnic stop for a scenic lunch and walk to a waterfall
- Day 10 Drive to the 'Seven Lakes' for a half day walk among the picturesque lakes
- Day 11 Drive to historic Samarkand to discover Registan Square and Gur Emir Mausoleum
- Day 12 More highlights of Samarkand and free time in the afternoon
- Day 13 Morning train to Bukhara, discover blue-tiled domes and minarets; learn about the city's history
- Day 14 Another day exploring Bukhara
- Day 15 Drive from Bukhara to Khiva
- Day 16 A full day wandering the narrow streets of the 'Open Air Museum' of Khiva
- Day 17 Free day in Khiva; Optional half day trip to the desert fortresses
- Day 18 Cross the border into Turkmenistan and drive onto Darvaza to camp by the flaming crater
- Day 19 Continue onto Ashgabat, stopping via the Erbent Desert community
- Day 20 In Ashgabat, visit Nisa Fortress and Gypjak Mosque
- Day 21 Trip ends in Ashgabat
What's Included
- Accommodation
- 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
- Flights
- Insurance
- Optional
- Additional Services
Where You'll Stay
Freedom Hotel
Hotelday 1Kemin Guesthouse
Guesthouseday 2Sonun Yurt Camp
Yurtday 3Reina Kench Guesthouse
Guesthouseday 4Kazzhol Hotel
HotelDays 5, 6Shumon Hotel
HotelDays 7, 8Hotel Penjakent Plaza
HotelDays 9, 10Hotel Registon Saroy
HotelDays 11, 12Hotel Sasha & Son
HotelDays 13, 14Hotel Asia Khiva
HotelDays 15, 16, 17Darvaza Camp
Campingday 18Sport Hotel
HotelDays 19, 20
Operated by
Explore!
Number of tours
531
Age Range
16 to 85 years old
Response time
within 1 day
Response rate
92%
Explore is a global adventure travel company with 42 years’ experience in...
Read moreSustainability Initiatives
Reduce Carbon Emissions
Animal Welfare
Supporting Destinations
Sustainability Programs
Customer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationExcellent
- FoodGood
- APolly· May 29th, 2023So many wonderful experiences it's difficult to pick just a few. Goat polo with family lunch, Yurt stay with musicians, Concert in Dushambe "Music Museum", Walking in Tajikistan at Seven Lakes, Top Gear across the desert in Turkmenistan and overnight at Darvaza Crater.Show moreTrip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AJane· May 30th, 2023The three famous towns of Uzbekistan are obvious highlights but having seen them before I am choosing different ones for this trip. Two absolute highlights stand out. The day on the south side of Issyk Kul, where we constructed a yurt, met an eagle hunter and watched how a felt rug is made from scratch was then topped off with a local family of musicians performing for us over dinner. I will remember this day for a long time. One stunning experience after another! The other outstanding day for me, was the day which was the main reason for my doing the trip. This was the day in Nukus and the visit to the Savitsky art gallery. What a fabulous place!Show moreTrip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AMargaret· May 30th, 2023The Devaza gas crater. Also the friendliness of everybody I metShow moreTrip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- ASarah· May 30th, 2023Tatiana Potanina our guide from Kolpak Travel was outstanding- very thoughtful and always eager to keep everyone happyShow moreTrip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AMary· June 1st, 2023Visiting the mountain lakes, staying in charming accommodations, exploring the historic sights, especially KhivaShow moreTrip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AJohn· August 16th, 2023Khiva and Darvaz gas craterShow moreTrip date: July 2023Review collected by Explore!
- ATony· August 17th, 2023The eagle hunter in Kyrgyzstan was fascinating. The musical evening on our last night in Uzbekistan was delightful.Show moreTrip date: July 2023Review collected by Explore!
- ABeryl· August 28th, 2023Day 4 was the best - Yurt making, Eagle hunters and felt maker which is a shame as it peaked a bit early!!Show moreTrip date: July 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AVicki· September 25th, 2023Too many to mention! The eagle hunter in Kyrgyzstan, 7 lakes in Tajikistan, Charyn Canyon walk in Kazakhstan, first glimpse of the Registan in Samarkand, ‘Door to Hell’ in Turkmenistan, to name a few!Show moreTrip date: September 2023Review collected by Explore!
- ATracey· September 27th, 2023Kygrstan in general and in particular the golden eagle. Samarkand. And Turkmenistan like nowhere I’ve ever been.Show moreTrip date: September 2023Review collected by Explore!
Dates & Availability
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- Instant Confirmation-20%From Monday25 Aug, 2025To Sunday14 Sep, 2025EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$11,440$9,150
- -20%From Monday15 Sep, 2025To Sunday5 Oct, 2025EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$10,600$8,480
- From Monday22 Sep, 2025To Sunday12 Oct, 2025This departure date is not available or sold outSold outFrom:$11,440
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday4 May, 2026To Sunday24 May, 2026EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$12,000
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday25 May, 2026To Sunday14 Jun, 2026EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$11,910
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday8 Jun, 2026To Sunday28 Jun, 2026EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$11,910
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday29 Jun, 2026To Sunday19 Jul, 2026EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$11,860
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday10 Aug, 2026To Sunday30 Aug, 2026EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$11,790
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday24 Aug, 2026To Sunday13 Sep, 2026EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$11,860
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Monday14 Sep, 2026To Sunday4 Oct, 2026EnglishMultiple Room TypesFrom:$11,910
Best price guarantee Learn More
What our customers ask about this tour
The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.- B
Bianca
Asked on May 6th, 2025Do you have fixed departure tour on Sept 2025?
Explore!Operator•Written May 2025We do have a trip it is a 20 night/ 21 day trip to the Stans. We do not have a 30 day trip to offer. We do offer the following departures in September for this tour. Mon 14 Sep 2026 to Sun 4 Oct 2026. Mon 21 Sep 2026 to Sun 11 Oct 2026. Mon 28 Sep 2026 to Sun 18 Oct 2026.
- H
Helen
Asked on February 14th, 2025Is it possible to have gluten-free meal options during the trip, especially in smaller villages?
- Explore!Operator•Written February 2025
We've had gluten free passengers on this trip before. You will have access to naturally gluten free carbs like rice, potatoes, and buckwheat in some places. Just be aware of potential cross contamination.
- R
Rick
Asked on July 20th, 2022If I am by myself, do I have to pay a singles supplement?
- R
Rick
Traveler•Written July 2022please let me know if i have to pay a singles supplement on the Five Stans of Central Asia tour.
- Explore!Operator•Written July 2022
Answering your question about paying singular supplement, yes you will have to pay it. The price is £900.
1 more answer - T
Timothy
Asked on January 29th, 2022Do you organise flights or do we have to sort ourselves?
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2022
We can certainly book flights for you. Please can you let me know your preferred airport and I can check the flight availability and cost for you?
- T
Timothy
Traveler•Written January 2022Our preferred airport is Manchester but depending on price we would go from Birmingham or Heathrow
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2022
Flights from Manchester are possible with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. However, they are instant purchase with the airline and require a non-refundable deposit. Therefore we can't book them until the trip is guaranteed to run. We could book you land only and then when the trip is guaranteed quote flights at that stage.
- T
Timothy
Traveler•Written January 2022When would you expect to be able to guarantee the tour will go ahead Is there still problems in Kazakhstan?
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2022
At the moment we're not able to travel to Kazakhstan so it won't be guaranteed just yet. We'll continue to monitor this and a final decision would be made prior to when the balance is due at 60 days to departure.
T4 more answers
Good to Know
Tour ID: 209747
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