The Five Stans

Kazakhstan

• Visit Almaty’s ‘St Basil’s’ – the stunning Zenkov Cathedral – made entirely of wood with no iron nails
• Enjoy an excursion to Kok Tube Hill for panoramic view of Almaty

Kyrgyzstan

• Take an exhilarating water-raft ride on the Chon Kemin River
• Experience the true nomadic lifestyle and traditional Kyrgyz cuisine at Chon Kemin
• Enjoy a fantastic show of horsemanship including the traditional game ‘Buzkashi’
• Dinner with a local Cossack family at Karakol
• Enjoy an excursion to the striking red sandstone rock formations at Jeti Oguz Gorge
• Superb BBQ lunch in the beautiful  Valley of the Flowers

Tajikistan

• Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the oriental bazaar at Dushanbe
• Enjoy a walking tour along the beautiful Karakul River
• Enjoy lunch with a local family at Sary Tag village surrounded by the Fann Mountains
• Visit the 8^th century fortress at Khujand
• See one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the world, Iskanderkul, in the Fann Mountains

Uzbekistan

• Explore the extraordinary Uzbek city of Samarkand and its bustling market
• Admire the exquisite architecture of Bibi Chanum mosque
• Travel across the great Kyzyl Kum Desert on the legendary Silk Road route
• Explore the great Ark Fortress of Bukhara
• Enjoy a city tour of Bukhara including the superbly preserved Chasma-Ayub mausoleum
• Visit Bukhara’s vibrant trading domes where traders sell local goods and handicrafts
• Watch a magnificent Uzbek folk show
• Stay one night in a madrassah in the heart of Khiva
• Enjoy an extensive walking tour of the World Heritage-listed city of Khiva – the jewel in Uzbekistan’s crown

Turkmenistan

• Overnight stay at the extraordinary Darvaza gas crater outside Ashgabat – known locally as ‘The Door to Hell’
• Exclusive Travel Directors’ dinner at the Darvaza gas crater as the sun goes down
• City tour of the fascinating capital, Ashgabat
• Visit the World Heritage site of Nissa, the 2000-year-old capital of the Parthian Empire
• Excursion to the famous golden horses – ‘Akhal Teke’ – of Turkmenistan

Inclusions

• All flights between Australia and Kazakhstan/Turkmenistan and Australia (inc. domestic from your preferred capital city)
• All internal flights
• All accommodation (twin-share)
• All transfers and ground transportation
• All meals as specified
• Travel Directors tour leader throughout
• Expert local guides throughout
• All entrance fees for specified sightseeing
• All ticketable air taxes (NB. may be subject to change)
• All visas and courier fees
• All tips and gratuities

Please note that whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the above pricing, currency fluctuations beyond our control can affect final costs. A booking form is to be completed by all passengers, and a non-refundable deposit of AUD $3,000 per person paid at the time of booking. All escorted tours are based on a minimum group size of 10 people travelling.

31/08/2025 Australia – Dubai

Depart from your chosen Australian airport on the flight to Dubai.

01/09/2025 Dubai – Almaty (D)

In Dubai connect with your flight to Almaty.

Depart Dubai Air Astana KC 896, 11.25

Arrive Almaty 17.40

On arrival in Almaty we transfer to our hotel.

Rixos Hotel

Almaty

02/09/2025 Almaty (BLD)

Situated in the shadows of the Tian Shan Mountains, Almaty is the cultural and commercial hub of Kazakhstan. Literally meaning ‘rich with apples’ the former capital is known as the ‘Garden City’ for its large areas of fragrant gardens and the majestic firs and spruce of the Tian Shan Mountains that surround it. Today we explore this beautiful city before moving high up to the outskirts to see the magnificent panorama of Almaty before us.

03/09/2025 Almaty – Chon Kemin Valley (BLD)

This morning we leave Almaty and soon begin to see the high peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains. Crossing the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border at Black River, we then follow the Chuy River, and, skirting briefly back into Kazakhstan, we reach the turnoff that will take us around the back of the mountains into the serene valley of Chon Kemin.

Ashu Guesthouse

Chon Kemin valley

04/09/2025 Chon Kemin Valley (BLD)

This morning we explore the Chon Kemin valley, which is flanked by snow-capped mountains on both sides. The entire valley was formerly a collective farm and much of the Soviet rural atmosphere remains as we are transported back in time. During our walk we meet friendly and inquisitive locals and are also treated to a fantastic exhibition of horsemanship by the skillful Kyrgyz horsemen. In the afternoon we board a craft for two hours of exhilarating fun on the fast flowing Chon Kemin River. Passing through canyons and gorges we finally reach the basin and disembark.

05/09/2025 Chon Kemin – Karakol (BLD)

After breakfast we depart for Karakol and soon begin to skirt the north shore of Issyk Kul Lake. The second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea, Issyk Kul is virtually a basin within the Tian Shan Mountains. A combination of vast depth, salinity and underground thermal activity ensures the lake never freezes. Issyk Kul is also the second largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca. We take a boat ride on the lake before we continue around the north shore to the Cossack outpost of Karakol.

Hotel Tagaytay

Karakol

06/09/2025 Karakol – Jeti Oguz – Karakol (BLD)

Today we travel to nearby Jeti Oguz. Here inside the canyon there are extraordinary formations of red sandstone cliffs known as the ‘seven bulls’. We continue into the Valley of Flowers before reaching the magnificent Oguz valley glacier, and in this pristine environment we enjoy a BBQ lunch before heading back to Karakol.

07/09/2025 Karakol (BLD)

After breakfast we start to explore the town of Karakol. Formerly known as Przewalski, after one of the most intrepid explorers of the 19thcentury, Karakol today is a pretty Russian town filled with quaint cottages shaded by rows of huge poplar trees. We visit the fascinating memorial of Nikolai Przewalski, which charts his various expeditions, including the one to the steppes of central Asia in which he discovered a wild horse that was subsequently named after him – Przewalski’s horse. An animal rehabilitation centre in Karakol currently has two of these very rare horses and we visit the centre before walking through Karakol itself.

08/09/2025 Karakol – Bishkek (BLD)

This morning we drive around the south shore of Issyk Kul Lake. Although still ringed by the snow-capped mountains of Tian Shan, the south part of the lake is a very different landscape and at times the road skirts the very shoreline of the lake itself. Late afternoon we arrive in Bishkek and check into our hotel.

Hyatt Hotel

Bishkek

09/09/2025 Bishkek – Almaty (BLD)

Bishkek is a czarist planned city; laid on a grid with wide boulevards flanked by irrigation canals and large trees. Today we enjoy a walking tour of the city visiting Ala Too Square, the State History Museum, Oak and Victory Parks. After an early dinner we transfer to the airport for the flight to Almaty.

Depart Bishkek Air Astana KC 110, 19.25

Arrive Almaty 20.15

On arrival in Almaty we transfer to our hotel.

Shera Park Hotel

Almaty

10/09/2025 Almaty – Dushanbe – Hissar – Dushanbe (BLD)

After breakfast we transfer to Almaty airport for our flight to Dushanbe.

Depart Almaty KC 131, 10.35

Arrive Dushanbe 11.30

Tajikistan, like Turkmenistan, can be considered one of the last unexplored frontiers in the world. Totally unspoilt by tourism, this delightful country is home to a warm and open-hearted populace. Upon arrival we head 30km out of Dushanbe to the fortress town of Hissar which lies on a wide mountain-fringed plain. Due to its strategic location and commanding views along the valley, the fortress was attacked numerous times in its long history, by such notables as Alexander the Great, Ghenghis Khan and Tamerlane. In more recent times it was a stronghold of the Islamic guerrilla fighters known as Basmachi. The Basmachi fought a guerrilla war against Soviet rule in central Asia from 1917 until 1924, when the Red Army eventually besieged the fortress. Later we return to Dushanbe.

Serena Hotel

Dushanbe

11/09/2025 Dushanbe (BLD)

Today we explore the beautiful parks, fountains and monuments of Dushanbe.

12/09/2025 Dushanbe – Iskander Kul Lake (BLD)

This morning we board 4WD vehicles and drive high up into the Fann Mountains, following the Varzob River through some of Dushanbe’s most affluent neighbourhoods before ascending into stunning landscapes. We then enter the Anzob tunnel, an extraordinary 5.5km tube through the mountains which leads us towards Iskander Kul Lake. Skirting the lake we come to Sary Tag village, located beneath rugged mountain peaks punctuated by glaciers, and perched amongst some of the most beautiful vistas in the world. After lunch with a local family we walk along the Karakol river gorge back to Iskander Kul Lake where we check into our chalets that are located on the edge of the lake itself.

Iskander Kul Turbaza

Iskander Kul Lake

13/09/2025 Iskander Kul Lake – Khujand (BLD)

After breakfast we take a short walk along the river to a beautiful waterfall that tumbles into a ravine soon after the river leaves Iskander Kul Lake. We then drive north through spectacular landscapes, climbing high above the Zerafshan valley. The road then plunges into the Shahrston tunnel. Built by the Chinese and opened only in November 2012, this 5km tunnel is one of the greatest engineering feats in the world. Shortly afterwards we descend to the edge of the fertile Fergana valley which is lined with orchards and cotton fields, as we continue on to Khujand.

Parliament Palace Hotel

Khujand

14/09/2025 Khujand – Tashkent (BLD)

Khujand is Tajikistan’s second largest city. It was founded 2,300 years ago and was the easternmost outpost of Alexander the Great. This morning we immerse ourselves in the labyrinth of the Khujand bazaar. In the afternoon we make the short journey to the Tajik-Uzbek border at Oybek. After customs and immigration formalities we make the two hour journey to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.

Tashkent Palace Hotel

Tashkent

15/09/2025 Tashkent (BLD)

Today we explore Tashkent, renowned for its fountains, parks and tree-lined streets. In 2007, Tashkent was named the cultural capital of the Islamic world as the city is home to numerous historic mosques and Islamic locations of interest. Tashkent also houses the earliest written Koran which has been in the city since 1924.

16/09/2025 Tashkent – Samarkand (BLD)

After breakfast we transfer to the railway station and board the high-speed train, the Afrosiab, which gets us to Samarkand in two hours and ten minutes.

Depart Tashkent, 08.00

Arrive Samarkand 10.10

Perhaps no name is more evocative of the Silk Road than Samarkand. This fabled city has fired the imagination of writers and poets from all over the world. On our arrival we explore the old town which is full of Uzbeks, Georgians, Tajiks and Russians, as well as many other central Asian nationalities.

Hotel Grand Samarkand

Samarkand

17/09/2025 Samarkand (BLD)

This city of fables and legends is perhaps the most exotic on the Silk Road. Known as the ‘Rome of the Orient’, Samarkand was already a flourishing city when Rome and Babylon were founded. The great Tamerlane was determined to make the city the most beautiful and magnificent in the world and today the city is an enduring reminder of his legacy. Today’s highlights include breathtaking Registan Square, where the finest collection of buildings in Asia dominates the most public place in Samarkand. Intricate tile-work and fluted cobalt tile domes provide a spectacular vista. In a wonderful day of sightseeing we also visit Tamerlane’s mausoleum, the observatory of Ulugbek and the Shahi-Zinda Necropolis.

18/09/2025 Samarkand – Bukhara (BLD)

This morning we transfer to the station and board the Afrosiab to Bukhara.

Depart Samarkand, 09.48

Arrive Bukhara 11.19

On arrival we visit the Fayzulla Khodjaev house in the old section of the city. The house belonged to Fayzulla Khojaev’s father, Ubaydullokhoja, a rich merchant who traded in karakul pelt in Russia, Germany and other countries. Fayzulla Khodjaev’s house is a wonderful example of 19th century residential architecture.

Minorai-Kalon Hotel

Bukhara

19/09/2025 Bukhara (BLD)

Today we explore Bukhara where, a thousand years ago, a thriving slave trade was conducted. This city is a treasure chest of ancient monuments. We see the Ark Fortress, the crumbling city wall and the superb Samanid Mausoleum, which dates back to the 9th century. We walk through the narrow streets of the old city to the splendid covered bazaar, where we enjoy meeting the colourful locals.

20/09/2025 Bukhara (BLD)

Surrounded by the vast expanse of the Kyzyl Kum Desert, Bukhara still retains the atmosphere of an ancient Silk Road city. Today we further explore this amazing settlement, strolling through its warren of narrow medieval streets to discover historic sites such as the 16th century trading domes, the beautifully decorated Bolo Hauz and Kalyon mosques, and the Labi Hauz pond, where old men in traditional dress while away the afternoon drinking tea and playing chess.

21/09/2025 Bukhara – Khiva (BLD)

Early this morning we begin our 450-km drive across the Kyzyl Kum Desert to Khiva. The city of Khiva has retained its exotic image of a medieval oriental town thanks to the older part of the city, known as Ichan-Kala. All of Khiva’s famous architectural monuments are located here. Among them are the Kunya-Ark Citadel and the Tosh-Khovli Palace, residence of the Khan, which has been preserved intact along with its ornate gates. The silhouettes of Ichan-Kala’s towering minarets, hemmed in by flat-roofed houses, and surrounded by the powerful clay walls of the fortress, give a clear idea of a typical Central Asian feudal city. This afternoon we explore the remarkable minarets and monuments of Khiva.

Orient Star

Khiva

22/09/2025 Khiva – Dashoguz – Darvaza (BLD)

Today we drive to the Uzbek–Turkmen border at Shavat. After crossing the border we continue to Dashoguz where we visit the fort and have lunch. In the afternoon we depart for Darvaza, transferring to 4WD vehicles for the final leg of the journey to the one of the most extraordinary sights in the world: the Darvaza gas crater. The Derweze area is rich in natural gas, and, whilst drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 80 metres. To avoid poisonous gas discharge it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. Geologists had believed at the time that the fire would burn all of the gas in a matter of days. Forty-eight years later the crater still burns! Locals call it “The Door to Hell”.

Darvaza

23/09/2025 Darvaza – Ashgabat (BLD)

After breakfast we drive to Ashgabat and on arrival, check into the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Divan Hotel

Ashgabat

24/09/2025 Ashgabat (BLD)

This morning we embark on a city tour of Ashgabat including the Turkmenbashi Mausoleum. Later we visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Nissa, once the capital of the Parthian Empire., before heading into the countryside to a farm where we see the magnificent Akhal-Teke horses in action.

25/09/2025 Ashgabat (BLD)

After breakfast we explore more of the gleaming golden-domed capital, often described as the North Korea of Central Asia.  Late evening we transfer to the airport for our homeward flight.

26/09/2025 Depart Ashgabat Fly Dubai EK 2483, 04.55

Arrive Dubai 06.40

On arrival in Dubai we connect with our flight to Australia.

27/09/2025 Arrive Australia

We arrive back home in Australia today.

Why is the tour Fitness Level rated as ‘Active’

The tour involves a reasonable amount of walking, some of it in wilderness areas, climbing steps and stairs and getting on and off boats. Some of the areas we visit are quite remote and some of the accommodation is more basic due to this. In order to get the most from this tour it is important to have a good level of fitness.

I have heard that the borders are really difficult on this tour. How difficult are they?

With the exception of Kyrgyzstan, borders in the ‘Stans’ can be very difficult. These countries are even more bureaucratic than the Soviet Union ever was. However, we have excellent contacts in these countries and indeed much of our paperwork will have already been completed before arrival thereby obviating the need to spend time filling in forms that are written only in Russian!

Is there a dress code for these countries?

Although these are primarily Muslim countries, they are generally surprisingly liberal. Of them all, Tajikistan is the most conservative. Generally speaking there is no specific dress code for women; three-quarter pants, longer shorts, and short sleeved tops are fine.

What is the standard of hygiene like in Central Asia?

The standard of hygiene in this area is of course not as high as in Australia. However all meals are included in this journey and we have hand-picked all of our eating establishments. Nonetheless, we highly recommend washing your hands with antiseptic hand gel at regular intervals and particularly before meals. Using this method we would not expect our guests to contract any stomach problems or bacterial infections.

Do I need vaccinations for this journey?

Tetanus should always be up to date. Other recommended vaccinations are Typhoid, Cholera and Hepatitis A. Please consult your doctor for more information.

What is the climate like at the various times of the year?

We time our departures for spring and autumn which are delightful seasons in all of the ‘Stans’. However it can by cooler in the evenings in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and rather warmer at times in the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. Our pre-departure information booklets will provide specific temperature and weather guides for your trip.

What is the standard of the hotels?

We choose our hotels for their central locations, which we believe is very important. They are generally 3-4 star quality (or better), comfortable and clean. However, in some areas of this tour it is not possible to adhere to this standard of accommodation. At Iskanderkul Lake accommodation for the one night’s stay is basic and, of course, at the Darvaza Gas Crater there are no hotels at all. However, we spend the night in a tent just metres form the magnificent spectacle of the burning gas crater. The rest of the accommodation on the tour varies from stunning to very pleasant.

If I travel alone, do I have to pay the single supplement?

If you wish to have sole use of a hotel room on the tour, you will need to pay the single supplement. If you are travelling alone but willing to share a room, we will endeavour to match you up with another solo traveller of the same gender. We cannot guarantee that a share-match can be provided, and in the event that this cannot be arranged at the time of final payment, you will need to pay the single supplement.

Do I have to fly straight home from Turkmenistan?

Because of the complexity of the visas, which are all date specific, we will all need to leave Turkmenistan together. However a stop in China in both directions is possible.

A lot of companies have many expensive optional extras on their tours. Do you?

We don’t believe in a lot of expensive ‘optional tours’. Our itineraries are designed to make the best possible use of time and to include all the must-see sights, plus additional surprises. Therefore practically everything is included in the tour cost.

What currency do I need to take?

US dollars is by far the best currency to take as they can easily be changed into the local currency in every country en-route. Some countries on some occasions will accept US$ directly. The notes should be post-2006, clean and unmarked.

How much spending money do I need for the entire trip?

Because almost everything is included, we would suggest an amount of US $900 per person as being ample for the whole month-long journey.

Are credit cards acceptable?

Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the journey and ATMs are available along the entire route. However, we don’t recommend relying on these as your main source of funds. It is advisable to take some cash.

Are there internet and WiFi facilities en-route?

Most of the hotels we use have internet and WiFi facilities, though not all.

Do mobile telephones work?

Telstra and Optus mobiles work throughout the entire journey except in Turkmenistan. You will need to ensure you have global roaming. Contact your service provider for further details.

How much should we tip the guides and porters?

There is no need to tip guides or porters as all tips and gratuities are included in the tour cost.

Listed below is a selection of books which you may wish to read prior to, or during, your journey.

Nazarbayev and the making of Kazakhstan

Jonathan Aitken

Shadow of the Silk Road

Colin Thubron

The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years

Chingiz Aitmatov

The Tulip Revolution

Erica Marat

From Here to There

Jon & Jack Faine

Land Beyond the River

Monica Whitlock

The Birth of Tajikistan

Paul Bergne

The Great Game

Peter Hopkirk

Uzbekistan: The Golden Road to Samarkand

Calum Macleod

Travel with Checkpoints

Oran Burke

Unkown Sands

John W Kropf