Customer Reviews

• Supratim

  · June 17th, 2025
  The Caucasus Explorer tour offers an outstanding experience. Penguin Travel and the group leader Angelina excels in organizing memorable trips through these countries. The itinerary is well-planned, showcasing each nation's highlights, including the capital cities of Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevan, along with captivating sites such as the Khor Virap Monastery in Armenia. The pace is comprehensive yet well-balanced, maximizing sightseeing opportunities. The trip provides great value for its price. The hotels provided by Penguin Travel are well-located, clean, and comfortable, exceeding expectations. The convenient locations allow for easy exploration during free time. Transportation throughout the tour is well-managed, with comfortable vehicles and skilled drivers. The excellent guides, comfortable accommodations, and smooth logistics make for an unforgettable adventure. Penguin Travel is recommended for its professionalism, value, and commitment to provide unique experiences.
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• Brendan

  · May 28th, 2025
  A great tour and excellent job by Ivo the tour leader. I would rate it a five for otherwise a few minor details, including a desire for more definite/explicit communication from Penguin on the need to book the Kazakhstan to Tajikistan flight ourselves up-front before the tour (as I found out that it needed to be booked via email a week before the flight while on the trip), a desire for more time in Kazakhstan perhaps balanced by less days in Uzbekistan (the most tourist-trapped of all destinations), and a slightly repetitive itinerary at times (multiple bazaars and mosques/churches visited where seeing less of these is probably more; I would have enjoyed more museums and historical sights personally). Tips for local guides and drivers could also possibly be added/absorbed into the overall tour price at a set rate to avoid the need to constantly hold and change relatively small amounts of local currency (although I can admit that might be logistically tricky as not everyone wants to tip). Accommodation and food provided ranged from reasonably good to not-so-great, however I can accept that as part of the regional experience. I got the impression some local guides would at times direct us as a group to "their" preferred restaurants, i.e. where they're incentivised to bring us, with a few of these dining experiences frustrating some in the group. I did notice Ivo working with the local guides at all times to relay what would lead to a better experience for us as a group, whether it was dining options or managing inefficient border crossings, which I highly commend. Otherwise I highly recommend this tour and was thoroughly impressed with the service and experience provided by Ivo over the three weeks.
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• Veselin

  · May 26th, 2025
  Real bonus is the tour leader Ivailo Donchev - 5 stars as for my 5 stans started at 03 of May 2025. English fluent, most open minded, top organisational skills, most helpfull, never missed a detail.. In general so far, cost worthy journey as for product - price. Some hotels are very basic, especially in Kirgistan - Karakol, which was more like hostel. The guest house in Kirgistan was less than basic. Hotel in Penjikent, Tajikistan very basic. Hotel in Hiva, Uzbekistan is actually a very old estate adapted to serve as hotel accomodation. Breakfast at most hotels is real basic with cheapest products available on market. Pretty much soviet times products quality. Transportation in Kirgistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan -basic mini vans for exact 16 persons or so, that are not designed for long distance trips. Small space for legs and seats as a whole. Sometimes luggage partly in cabin seat. Good and proper busses and 4×4 mini vans in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Sightseeings - unexpected sceneries in Kirgistan, Tajikistan. Ancient historical heritage as wonderful preserved architectures from muslim periods mostly in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the hardest country to visit on this trip bar none Turkmenistan. Border time 4 hours in our case, with still PCR Covid test /most formal/. Visas and fees for the entire group handled by the turkman guide. As for our group 107 US dollars per person no matter the nationality, no receit. P.S. Flight Almaty - Dushanbe supposed to be clearly pointed out for self early byuing.
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