visit central asia

Travel to Central Asia – Which country should you visit?

By Joan Torres 8 Comments Last updated on April 11, 2024

I spent 5 months traveling through Central Asia and it was the trip of my lifetime.

It’s the most epic region I have ever been to, and not only because this used to be the heart of the Silk Road and has some truly legendary mountains but also because, despite being a barely visited region, it’s a very accessible, tourist-friendly destination which I would even recommend to my mom.

Central Asia, however, is pretty big, a region where you could spend months exploring and, for those who are short of time, choosing the right itinerary that fits their traveling needs can be a tough decision.

Therefore, it doesn’t surprise me at all when many readers email me asking:

I only have X weeks to travel in Central Asia, which countries would you recommend to me?

The truth is that the 5 Central Asian Republics are, on the one hand, very similar – probably because they are all former Soviet Republics, times in which Soviet leaders tried to implement homogeneity across their socialist state.

However, they are also very different, each country offering a truly unique experience.

In this blog, I wanted to give you a detailed overview of each one of the Central Asian Republics, as well as general travel tips for Central Asia.

Travel insurance for Central Asia IATI Insurance is the perfect one for the region: adventure activities + 5% discount 5% discount if purchasing via this link

In this Central Asia travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• What is Central Asia
• Best time to visit
• How to get in
• How to get around
• Is it safe?
• Travel Insurance
• Which country you should visit

Turkmenistan

• More resources

What is Central Asia?

Note: Geographically, Central Asia is composed not only of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan but also Afghanistan , northern Pakistan, and Xinjiang province in China.

However, when you think about visiting Central Asia, most travelers refer to the 5 former Soviet Republics (also known as the Stans), which is what this travel guide is referring to as well.

If you want to know more about Pakistan, read my Pakistan archives .

⛅ Best time to travel to Central Asia

Most of Central Asia has a continental climate, with utterly hot summers and extremely cold winters but, since each country has something different to offer, each one has a specific best season to come over.

How did I organize my trip across the Stans?

As I told you in the introduction, I spent 5 months traveling in the Stans and, from a timing point of view, this is how I organized my itinerary:

• June 15th to August 15th: Kyrgyzstan
• August 15th to September 15th: Tajikistan
• September 15th to October 15th: Uzbekistan
• October 15th to November 15th: Kazakhstan

It wasn’t a coincidence, but I planned it based on the following criteria:

Visiting Central Asia in summer

Summer is the ideal season for visiting the mountain regions which, in my opinion, should be the highlight of any trip to Central Asia.

However, bear in mind that anywhere outside those areas, the weather will be very hot.

Best time for

Kyrgyzstan – Plenty of nomads and the best season for trekking.

Tajikistan – Same as Kyrgyzstan. If you only have 3 weeks in August, I actually recommend you combine Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Kazakhstan – The southeastern part of Kazakhstan is a mountainous region that belongs to the Tien Shan range. In the east, you also find Katon-Karagay, but that’s very remote.

Not a good time for

Uzbekistan – The highlight of Uzbekistan is visiting cities like Khiva or Bukhara but, in summer, temperatures may reach over 40ºC, so it’s not a good time to visit them. I haven’t been in Uzbekistan during the summer months but during my journey, I met many travelers who were complaining about this.

Turkmenistan – It’s a desert country and, as such, the weather can be extremely hot in summer.

Some parts of Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan is vast and the mountain regions are just a tiny part of it, most of the country comprises endless steppe that becomes overwhelmingly hot in summer.

Moreover, bear in mind that summer is high season, which means the most popular places will be busy.

Read: tips & packing list for trekking in Central Asia

Visiting Central Asia in spring and autumn

In my opinion, these are the best seasons to visit the Central Asian Republics: most crowds are gone, the weather is pleasant and, if you come in late spring or early autumn, the mountains are still very accessible.

Uzbekistan – The weather is pleasant and the Silk Road cities are less busy.

Turkmenistan – Turkmenistan is free of crowds all year long but, like in Uzbekistan, spring and autumn have the most pleasant weather.

Kazakhstan – Except for the mountain regions, these seasons are the best to enjoy the rest of Kazakhstan, especially the southern part, which includes the Aral Sea, Shimkyent, Turkestan, etc.

Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan – Unless you want to go trekking in very high altitudes (we got snow in the month of June), this should be the best time, as the mountains are very accessible, most backpackers are gone and nomads will still be there. By the way, the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan are best explored during this season.

If you come too early in spring or too late in autumn, you might not be able to go trekking or even camping in Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan and Kazakhstan .

For example, I visited the mountainous region of Kazakhstan in November and had to skip any sort of trekking because it was already too cold.

Visiting Central Asia in winter

Most of Central Asia is covered by snow but you can still enjoy it somehow.

Uzbekistan – If you don’t mind sightseeing with freezing temperatures and gray skies, it shouldn’t be a bad time to visit Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan – Same as Uzbekistan, but you really need to wear proper clothes.

Turkmenistan – If you don’t mind the cold, it shouldn’t be that bad!

Kyrgyzstan – In Kyrgyzstan, there is a ski resort, plus you can do some winter nomad sports in the area around Issy-Kul.

From meeting nomads to trekking and wandering around the mountains, winter is not a good time for any adventurous activity which, in my opinion, is the main highlight in Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan and also Kazakhstan .

🛫 Best way to travel to Central Asia

How to travel to the stans by air.

With the region’s increase in popularity, today, traveling to the Stans is becoming easier than ever, and you can find direct flights from many cities in Europe, the Middle East , and Asia.

From Europe, the cheapest cities to travel to Central Asia is by flying to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan), cities where you can find daily flights with Pegasus.

Dushanbe (Tajikistan) is the second easiest city to travel to. You can find budget flights too, but they don’t have as many connections.

Tashkent , in Uzbekistan, has plenty of fights as well but flights to Uzbekistan are much more expensive due to airport taxes.

The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat , is a pretty isolated city with expensive flights.

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How to travel to the Stans by land

You can travel to the Central Asian Republics from:

Entering Central Asia from Russia

From Russia, you can enter Kazakhstan from many different entry points, both by train, bus, or even in your own vehicle.

Entering Central Asia from China

From Xinjiang province, you can enter Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. I entered Kyrgyzstan via Irkeshtam Pass and here you can read my full report .

Entering Central Asia from Afghanistan

Afghanistan shares borders with Uzbekistan (very straightforward and easy border to use), Turkmenistan (which apparently is closed), and Tajikistan (the one that leads to the Wakhan is very safe, the other one not so much).

The security situation is changing constantly. Check my guide on how to travel safely in Afghanistan

Entering Central Asia from Iran

Iran shares a border with Turkmenistan and, assuming you have a valid visa, you can cross that border, no problem. Read my Iran travel guide .

Entering Central Asia from Azerbaijan

There is no border with this country but you can take a ferry across the Caspian Sea from Baku to the Kazakh city of Aktau. Moreover, as long as you have a valid visa, you can also take it from Baku to Turkmenbashi, in Turkmenistan. Here you can learn more about the Caspian Sea ferry .

🛺 How to travel around Central Asia

Traveling between the stans, crossing borders.

Except for a few specific borders which can only be used by nationals, today you can travel from and to any of the Stans, assuming you have a valid visa.

Transportation between the Stans

It’s pretty easy and you can cross all borders by either train, marshrutka, or local shared taxi. The only challenging border crossings (from a transportation point of view) would be between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, for the simple reason that it is a mountainous region with very limited public transportation.

For more information, I strongly recommend you check Caravanistan border crossing reports .

Transportation in Central Asia

The coolest thing about the Stans is that traveling around on a budget, by public transportation is very easy, as you can get to pretty much anywhere around the region by:

Travel by Marshrutka in Central Asia

Marshrutka means mini-bus in Russian and it is the main way of transportation across all former Soviet Union, from Belarus to Tajikistan. They go pretty much anywhere and leave once they are full.

Travel by a local shared taxi in Central Asia

Sometimes, the locals travel in shared taxis because they are faster than marshrutkas, or to reach faraway places where marshrutkas don’t go.

Travel by train in Central Asia

The train is a beautiful way to travel around Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, but in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is not very convenient.

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Central Asia?

Fact: The Central Asian Republics are one of the safest places I have ever been to, no kidding.

I know that this is a difficult thing to prove with just words but the fact is that during my 5-month trip, I never had a single issue and, other than a few drunk men bothering me, everybody was pretty cool.

Moreover, the Stans is a region where you see a lot of solo female travelers, most of them claiming had a great experience with very few incidents.

Nicole has written a guide about it .

The dangers in Central Asia, however, are more related to the adventurous stuff.

In fact, I had a pretty bad horse accident in Tash Rabat , in which I hurt my back pretty badly and had to stay in bed for 2 weeks. It’s the only serious incident I have ever had when traveling.

Therefore, you must travel in Central Asia with proper travel insurance . More on that below.

🚑 Travel insurance for Central Asia

For traveling around Central Asia, you should get travel insurance with at least the following features and benefits:

• Covers adventure activities, including trekking in high altitudes
• Covers multi-country trips for up to 3 months, good for overlanding across the Stans

And, for that, I recommend IATI Insurance . It has budget plans too and readers of this blog get a 5% discount

The best country to travel in Central Asia – Which one should you visit?

Here’s a quick, but complete, overview of all the Stans.

Central Asia travel tip Many of you have emailed me saying that you will only have 3 weeks for traveling in Central Asia, yet you plan to visit at least 3 countries in such a short period of time. While the idea of visiting many countries might sound appealing, the only thing you will achieve with this is seeing nothing. Central Asia is a region made not to rush: spending a few days with nomads or enjoying the mountains are activities one should take easy, besides that moving from one place to another takes a lot of time. If you only have 3 weeks, I recommend you visit a maximum of 2 countries, preferably 1.

Visa for Kyrgyzstan – Most nationalities can get a 2-month free visa on arrival.

In my experience, this was the best country to visit in Central Asia

Lush green meadows, 7,000m-high snow-capped peaks, remote nomadic camps, and the land of horses.

Kyrgyzstan is the ultimate destination for mountain lovers and adventurous travelers, a country composed of some of the most epic mountains I have ever seen, some of them being highly accessible, while others being only suitable for real experts.

Moreover, Kyrgyzstan is a surprisingly easy and cheap country to travel to, with great tourist infrastructure.

In my experience, this was my favorite country to visit in Central Asia.

Top 5 experiences in Kyrgyzstan

Trekking in the Tien Shan range – The main reason you come to Kyrgyzstan. Just real epicness.

Staying with real nomads in a yurt camp – Kyrgyzstan is home to the most accessible nomadic culture ever. They are everywhere and, for very little money, you can stay in their yurts.

Trekking on the back of a horse – This is the land of horses and going over a mountain pass on a horse is a must.

Hanging out in Bishkek – The capital of Kyrgyzstan is surprisingly Westernized and a great city to take a couple-of-days-break.

Going to the Alay Valley and Lenin Peak base camp – My most favorite natural site in the country, bordering Tajikistan, this is the most impressive mountain region.

Kyrgyzstan is good for:

Trekking (all types of trekking)

Getting immersed in the nomadic culture

All Central Asia is cheap, but Kyrgyzstan is definitely the cheapest

Further reading:

• Kyrgyzstan, 1-month itinerary
• Tips for traveling to Kyrgyzstan
• A beginner’s guide to trekking in Kyrgyzstan

Visa for Tajikistan – Most nationalities can get a free visa on arrival but you’ll need a special permit to visit the GBAO region. Read this visa section for more information.

Far less visited than its neighbor Kyrgyzstan but equally epic, perhaps even more, Tajikistan is another mountain destination, the heart of the Pamir range and home to the Pamir Highway, one of the most celebrated and exciting roads in the world to drive along.

The mountains of Tajikistan are less green and cute than Kyrgyzstan, but that’s because they are wilder, more remote, which means that the tourist infrastructure is also poorer, so, if you are seeking a real off the beaten track experience and can’t decide between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, I definitely recommend Tajikistan.

Prices are quite similar, just slightly more expensive but, since some areas are very remote and not suitable for independent backpackers, the total cost can be considerably higher, especially if you travel the Pamir Highway.

5 Top experiences in Tajikistan

Driving the Pamir Highway – One of the most stunning roads in the world, if not the most.

Trekking in the Pamirs – Some of the wildest and most stunning treks ever but keep in mind that those mountains are tough.

Wandering along the Afghan border in the Wakhan Valley – An ancient Silk Road route that goes along the Afghan border and filled with epic fortresses and landscapes.

Discovering remote mountain villages in the Fann Mountains – The more accessible Fann Mountains are also home to unspotted rural villages and settlements.

Explore the millennial city of Khujand – One of the oldest cities in Central Asia is Khujand, a traditional city in its purest Tajik form.

Tajikistan is good for:

Epic road trips

Super remote, offbeat landscapes

• Tajikistan travel tips
• Pamir Highway travel guide
• A guide to the Wakhan Valley in Tajikistan

Visa for Uzbekistan – Some nationalities get a visa on arrival, but others need to apply for an e-visa- Read this visa guide for more information.

Once one of the most hermetic countries in Asia, with very strict visa policies for foreigners, Uzbekistan is today, the most tourist-friendly country to visit in Central Asia, and the only one where you already see some mass tourism evidence, even though – and to be fair – the vast majority of it is concentrated in just 3 cities, the rest of the country remaining quite unexplored.

Uzbekistan has opened its borders to show the rest of the world the majesty of what used to be the heart of the ancient Silk Road, a country filled with absolutely jaw-dropping mosques, shrines and old cities.

However, if you thought the Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva are the only reason to travel to Uzbekistan you would be very wrong, because here you also find some off the beaten track gems, ranging from the dried-out Aral Sea to the less-visited Fergana Valley.

I loved Uzbekistan but, to be honest with you, it’s my least favorite country to travel in Central Asia but this is just my very subjective opinion, as when I travel, I prefer mountains and rural life over visiting cities.

Top 5 experiences in Uzbekistan

Checking out the mind-blowing mosques and madrassas – They are absolutely stunning, and the reason number one to come to Uzbekistan.

Traveling back to the Silk Road times – Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva were some of the 3 most important cities on the Silk Road.

Visit the Aral Sea – The planet’s worst environmental disaster and you can visit a city with a harbor and no sea named Moynaq.

Visiting the Fergana Valley – A real off the beaten track region and the heart of Islam in Central Asia.

Walking among Soviet buildings in Tashkent – The capital of Uzbekistan is an old Soviet-planned city and a fun place to wander around for a few days.

Uzbekistan is good for:

Silk Road monuments & architecture

The best bazaars

A bit of off the beaten track stuff

• Travel tips for Uzbekistan
• Uzbekistan backpacking itinerary
• A guide to visit the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan

Visa for Kazakhstan – Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival valid for 30 days.

If you like visiting weird things and, at the same time, visiting the most Westernized city in Asia or checking out some drop-dead mountains, you are going to love Kazakhstan.

On the one hand, Kazakhstan is a huge country, the 9th largest country in the world and, in order to feel this vastness, I strongly recommend you cross the whole country on a Soviet train, from west to east.

On the other hand, this is home to some of the most off the beaten track attractions in Central Asia, ranging from the forbidden city of Baikonur to a former testing place for atomic bombs, the main city in the dried-out Aral Sea and Nur-Sultan (former Astana), the capital and a city that has quite a few peculiar and extravagant buildings to check out.

Moreover, the old capital Almaty is the most European-like city in all Asia and the mountains in the southeastern part of the country are just gorgeous, even though I couldn’t really enjoy them because I was there in November, but I did enjoy a lot traveling by train, the traditional Kazakh life in Shymkient, the Aral Sea and Baikonur.

Top experiences in Kazakhstan

Travel in a Soviet train through the steppe – Epic multi-day journeys through endless Kazakh steppe.

Discover the gorgeous mountains of southeastern Kazakhstan – Unbelievable scenery filled with alpine lakes and canyons.

Hang out in Almaty – The most European city in Asia, a city where I would not mind living for a while.

Visit the Aral Sea – The worst environmental disaster caused by humans and in Kazakhstan, you find the largest city, today mainly composed of a harbor without a sea.

Kazakhstan is good for:

Trekking (all types)

Train travel

Best city (Almaty)

Weird, offbeat stuff

• Kazakhstan travel tips
• Kazakhstan, 1-month itinerary
• Train travel in Kazakhstan

Visa – There are two types of visa: 1 ) Transit visa , which is a 5-day visa that you can only apply for if you enter overland and exit overland through two different countries. For example, Uzbekistan -> Turkmenistan -> Iran – 2) Tourist visa : You can get a longer, normal visa if you book a full tour with a valid tour operator.

Welcome to one of the most secretive countries in the world .

Along with Eritrea and North Korea, Turkmenistan is, sadly, one of the most repressive countries on Earth, the reason why this is also the most difficult destination to travel to in Central Asia (in fact, the only difficult one).

Actually, this is the only country in Central Asia I haven’t visited, basically because they denied me a visa when I applied from Tashkent . It is very high on my list and I am sure I will travel there soon.

Infamous for being ruled by an egocentric leader who spends billions in building nonsensical, and absolutely strange buildings to worship himself, Turkmenistan is the offbeat capital of Central Asia, but these weird things are not the only reason for visiting the country, but this is also home to some Silk Road wonders such as the city of Merv, and wonderful desert landscapes.

5 Top experiences in Turkmenistan

Exploring Ashgabat – A city made of marble and ridiculous monuments built with the sole purpose of satisfying the leader’s needless caprices.

Visiting Konye-Urgench – Minarets and turquoise-tiled mosques, like in Uzbekistan, but without souvenir shops.

Camping next to Darvaza crater – A living gas crater that has been burning for ages in the middle of the desert.

Checking out Merv – Probably, the most famous archeological site in Central Asia.

Wandering around Yangykala Canyon – Unique shapes, patterns, and colors, this desert is definitely worth to pay a visit.

Turkmenistan is good for:

Silk Road archaeological sites, cities and monuments

Desert landscapes

• Turkmenistan, 1 week itinerary
• Turkmenistan travel tips

📚 Best books about Central Asia and the Silk Road

These are just my top 5 books.

For more options, read: Best books on the Silk Road

Sovietistan, by Erika Fatland

A solo female traveler who travels across the 5 Stans, unveiling and discovering the darkest and most offbeat secrets in Central Asia.

Dictators without borders, by Alexander A. Cooley Ph.D. and John Heathershaw

International politics and the influence of Central Asia in the Western world, and how Western Governments have been involved in plenty of dirty businesses with Central Asian dictators.

Turkestan solo, by Ella Maillart

A solo female traveler who traveled in Central Asia in the 30s, so this travelogue will help you understand what was it like to travel in Central Asia during the Soviet Union times.

The Silent steppe, by Mukhamet Shayakhmetov

The story about the forced displacement that millions of Kazakh nomads suffered during Stalin’s regime, and the author is a survivor who tells the struggles that he and his family had to go through.

Murder in Samarkand, by Craig Murray

The human rights abuse in Uzbekistan during the regime from the previous president Islam Karimov, who ruled the country from its independence until 2016.

❗ More resources for traveling in the Stans

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

For everything related to visas, updated information on border crossings, etc., your best source is going to be Caravanistan .

Guidebooks for backpacking in Central Asia

Central asia travel guide by lonely planet.

If you are traveling to several countries in the region, you may want to get the LP, the most complete travel guide to Central Asia. Since they talk about 5 countries in one single book, however, the information is a bit limited.

Central Asia travel guides by Bradt

If you want to get deeper in each one of the countries, I strongly recommend you get Bradt guides, as they have one separate book for each country.

Bradt is my favorite brand when it comes to guidebooks because their information is always so insightful and they put a focus on off-the-beaten-track places.

• Kyrgyzstan Bradt Guide
• Tajikistan Bradt Guide
• Kazakhstan Bradt Guide
• Uzbekistan Bradt Guide
• Turkmenistan Bradt Guide

You may also want to get a Kindle, so you don’t carry so many books with you.

Hi Joan i read your interview on superblogging.com. It was very insightful. I am looking at starting a blog in 2 languages, I am just a bit confused, so you create the same post in 2 languages, but how do you add the flag feature that changes the language. Thanks Devyani

Hi Devyani, The ”flag” feature is just an option available in WPML, and it’s optional. The reason I have it is that it can be good for SEO purposes, since you are directly telling Google that there’s a translation available for that specific post.

I was disappointed to read your article. If you didn’t want to travel to Uzbekistan, why did you come? What you write is your right. but it is necessary to treat that country and its people with a little respect

what are you talking about dude

Hi Joan I am thinking on travelling to Central Asia this summer, in August or September, for 3 weeks. At the beginning I was thinking on visiting Uzbekistan but then, because maybe it will be hot, and also because I have read many articles here, I am thinking on Kyrgyzstan (and possibly Tajikistan too, or probably not). My doubt is, if I do it as a solo traveller, I think that maybe all the hiking alone could be boring and even dangerous. I am learning a bit of Russian and I think I will be able to communicate with locals, but not too much. So probably Uzbekistan being more a city travel will be better for a solo trip. I would like to know your opinion, thank you so much in advance.

Hello Antonio! I like traveling to countries during the right season and basically, August is not a good season for Uzbekistan, with temperatures in cities being over 40ºC. On the other hand, August is the best season for hiking in Kyrgyzstan. Go to Karakol and do stay in a hostel. Many people go there just for trekking, and you’re likely to meet other travelers you could share the hike with, not to mention that some trails might be busy with other travelers too.

Thank you so much for your answer Joan!!

Central Asia is a captivating region to explore, and this comprehensive guide provides valuable insights for travelers. The author’s personal experience and recommendations make it even more enticing. The information on visas, best times to visit, transportation options, and safety is particularly helpful. The description of Kyrgyzstan as a paradise for mountain lovers and adventurous travelers adds to the allure. Overall, this guide is a fantastic resource for anyone planning a trip to Central Asia.

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Best Tips and complete Packing List for Traveling in Central Asia in 2024 – When to go and what to wear when visiting Central Asia

Here’s the complete packing list for trekking and traveling in Central Asia , including info on when to visit Central Asia, essential travel documents and visas for Central Asia, what to wear in Central Asia, what to pack for trekking and backpacking in Central Asia and much much more!

For the past 5 years, I’ve been traveling in Central Asia extensively. From crossing the Caspian Sea , driving in the steppes of Kazakhstan and visiting the Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan to hiking the rugged and wild mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan . The only country in Central Asia that I haven’t visited yet is Turkmenistan.

During that time, I’ve also done a lot of horse riding, (multi-day) trekkings and day hikes in the 4 countries and it’s been an absolutely incredible experience!

I often felt like I was the only person in the world while traveling and hiking through those remote and majestic landscapes. During my time there, I realized how important it is to prepare yourself well before traveling in Central Asia as the region is geologically very diverse – from vast deserts and grassy steppes to lush valleys and rugged mountaints, often at +3000 meters high elevations.

You need to know when to travel to which countries and regions in Central Asia as many places are hard to visit and even inaccessible due to the weather. It’s also important to know what to wear in each country out of respect for the local culture and religion, especially when visiting rural villages.

Central Asia is also a fantastic trekking destination! With the Tian Shan, Alay, Pamir and Urul Mountains, Central Asia is home to some of the highest mountain ranges and some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world. If you like going off-the-beaten-track, then Central Asia won’t disappoint!

You’ll often find yourself completely isolated when hiking the majestic and wild mountains so it’s crucial that you have the right trekking gear with you and that you pack wisely.

To make sure you’re prepared for any type of travel in Central Asia – whether it’s visiting its stunning Silk Road cities, backpacking through its small villages, going on adventurous road or horseback riding trips to see countless alpine lakes or hiking its many mountain trails – I created a list of everything you need to pack and keep in mind when traveling in Central Asia! Note: the only Central Asian country that I’m not covering in this guide is Turkmenistan.

Would you like to go on an unforgettable adventure in Central Asia? Have a look at my Adventure Tours in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan !

Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Important things to know for traveling in Central Asia

Below I’ve written some very useful information on when, how and what to visit when planning a trip to Central Asia. This is also important to know what to pack for your trip.

Note: I’m only covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan as I haven’t been to Turkmenistan yet (it’s a country where you can’t travel independently to, only by organized tour).

For detailed info about traveling in one of the 4 countries, I highly recommend you read my following comprehensive travel guides:

• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Kazakhstan: 18 things to know before you go
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan: 20 things to know before you go
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Uzbekistan: 18 things to know before you go
• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Tajikistan: 18 things to know before you go

1.1 What is the best country to visit in Central Asia

Travelers often ask me what is the best and most beautiful country to visit in Central Asia. It really depends on what you like to see and do as each Central Asian country has its own beauty and special features.

If you’re an outdoor lover who mainly wants to explore nature and/or go trekking in remote mountains, I’d suggest Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan . If you prefer city trips, stunning architecture, Silk Road heritage and easy travel, I’d recommend Uzbekistan . If you want to visit modern cities and unusual natural wonders, I’d propose Kazakhstan .

Here’s a brief overview of each Central Asian country with its most important features to make it easier for you to decide which destination will suit your travel needs and wishes most.

Kyrgyzystan travel is great for:

• nomadic culture and yurt stay
• wild nature: canyons, alpine lakes, lush valleys and snow-capped mountains
• hiking, trekking and horse riding in remote destinations, often at high-altitude (+3000 meters)
• 4×4 travel
• challenging to travel independently as most of its highlights can’t be reached by public transport
• guesthouses, homestays, tourist yurt camps and shepherd yurt stays

The 25 most beautiful places to visit in Kyrgyzstan

Uzbekistan travel is great for:

• Silk Road history, culture, and stunning architecture
• semi-wild nature: deserts, steppes and mountains mainly below 3000 meters
• train travel
• easy to travel independently between the Silk Road cities
• boutique hotels, guesthouses, homestays and tourist yurt camps

The 26 most beautiful and best places to visit in Uzbekistan

Tajikistan travel is great for:

• Pamir Highway road trip and remote village-life
• wild nature: alpine lakes and rugged snow-capped mountains
• hiking and trekking in remote destinations at high-altitude (+3000 meters)
• guesthouses and homestays

The Complete Tajikistan Travel Guide: 18 things you need to know before you go

Kazakhstan travel is great for:

• a mix of Silk Road Heritage, Soviet Architecture, modern cities and unusual natural sites
• city trips and day hikes
• semi-easy to travel independently
• hotels, guesthouses, homestays and tourist yurt camps

The 26 most beautiful and interesting places to visit in Kazakhstan

1.2 When is the best time to visit Central Asia

The best time to visit Central Asia depends on where you want to go and what you want to visit and do.

Generally, Central Asia has a continental climate with hot summers, cold winters and wet shoulder seasons. The mountainous regions are at high altitudes of above 3000 meters, with short and cool summers and freezing cold winters. Most cities and villages are located at altitudes below 1000 meters, with scorchingly hot summers and cool winters. The shoulder seasons are usually rainy and cool.

Each season has its own charm so below is a brief overview of each season and the best time for specific activities and places to visit in Central Asia.

Visiting Central Asia in summer (June – September)

Summer is the best time for visiting the mountain regions in Central Asia. Most of the snow has melted and all mountain passes, also the ones above 3000 meter altitude, are accessible.

Summer is the high season for all countries in Central Asia, with the exception of Uzbekistan. High-season doesn’t mean that the places of interest will be very crowed. You’ll meet more travelers than during the other seasons but in most places, you’ll still find yourself with only small groups of other people or even totally alone.

In the mountains, depending on the altitude, the average temperatures during the day vary between 10°C (50°f) and 25°C (77°f). At night, the temperatures vary between 5°C and – 5°C (41°f or 23°f).

However, the weather in the mountains can change in the blink of an eye. It might be hot and sunny in the morning but you could end up in a cloudburst or small snowstorm in the afternoon. It’s not unusual to experience the 4 seasons in one day in the Central Asian mountains!

Summer in the cities and low-elevated regions are very dry and hot, with average temperatures of 35°C (95°F). It’s not unusal that the temperature goes up to 45°C (113°F) in the steppes and desert.

Therefore, summer is the best time for trekking in the mountains and traveling to the following destinations in Central Asia:

☞ Kyrgyzstan : all hiking trails are open and all alpine lakes are accessible. Summer is also the season when the semi-nomads head into the valleys with their lifestock and set up their yurt camps. All places in Kyrgyzstan can be visited during summer, making it high-season in the country.

☞ Tajikistan : the Pamir Highway is fully accessible and all hiking trails are open. All places in Tajikistan can be visited during summer, making it high-season in the country.

☞ Kazakhstan: all mountainous regions in Kazakhstan are accessible. The cities, desert and steppes should be avoided if you don’t deal well with heat.

☞ Uzbekistan : with the exception of the Chimgan Mountains , all places of interest in Uzbekistan will be scorching hot.

Traveling in Central Asia in spring and autumn (March – May and October – November)

The shoulder seasons spring and autumn are also a great time to visit Central Asia. While the highest mountainous regions (above 3000 meters) might not be accessible due to snowfall, there are still a lot of places that can be visited.

With the exception of Uzbekistan, spring and autumn are less croweded (not that it gets very crowded in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan anyways…).

However, spring and autumn are not a good time for trekking in the mountains in Central Asia. Most hiking trails and mountain passes are closed and it will still/already be freezing cold at higher altitudes. Spring is also the season during which avalanches occur so you should not head out into the mountains by yourself!

Spring and autumn is a great time for traveling to the following destinations in Central Asia:

☞ Uzbekistan : the shoulder seasons are the best time to visit all the highlights in Uzbekistan : from the Silk Road cities to the Kyzyl Kum desert. It’s also the perfect weather to go hiking in the mountains in Uzbekistan . The temperatures are pleasant and you won’t encounter much rain. May and September are high-season in Uzbekistan so you’ll encounter lots of crowds in the cities.

☞ Kyrgyzstan : while a lot of hiking trails and alpine lakes won’t be accessible, there are still beautiful places to visit and great hikes to go on during the shoulder seasons in Kyrgyzstan . The semi-nomadic yurt camps won’t be around but you can still stay in one of the tourist yurt camps, especially the ones around Issyk Kul lake .

9 places to visit in Kyrgyzstan in spring and fall, including best hikes

☞ Tajikistan : similar as Kyrgyzstan. The Pamir Highway will be mainly inaccessible and the hiking trails in the Pamir Mountain Range will be closed. You can still go hiking in the Fann Mountains , although you’ll need to check beforehand which trails are open and where you need to watch out for avalanches.

☞ Kazakhstan : except for the mountainous regions, you can visit all places in Kazakhstan. You can still visit the southeastern region of Almay and go hiking in the mountains near Almaty (although, be careful there for avalanches in spring!).

Visiting Central Asia in winter (November – February)

Most of Central Asia will be covered in snow. If the cold doesn’t scare you and you love winter activities, then you’ll enjoy traveling in Central Asia in winter! Not only is the scenery a magical winter wonderland, there will be almost no other travelers and you can go skiing and snowboarding in truly off-the-beaten-path ski resorts!

Winter is a great time for traveling to the following destinations in Central Asia:

☞ Uzbekistan: if you dress warmly and you don’t mind grey skies, you’ll have a good time visiting the Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan. You can also go skiing in the Chimgan Mountains.

☞ Kyrgyzstan : the country has some of the best ski-resorts , offering possibilities for first-time skiers and free riders. There are also plenty of winter activities around Issyk Kul lake and in Karakol and Jyrgalan .

6 reasons why you should visit Kyrgyzstan in winter

☞ Kazakhstan : similar to Kyrgyzstan. It will be cold but the country has some great ski-resorts – and the highest ice-skating rink in the world!

☞ Tajikistan : not the best time to visit the country as you won’t be able to visit its highlights such as the Pamir Highway and the Fann Mountains. The main cities will be possible to visit but they are – in my opinion – not worth a winter trip to Tajikistan.

Are you looking for a  customized guided tour  in Kyrgyzstan and/or other countries  in Central Asia ? Do you need help  planning your itinerary ?

Have a look at my   C e n t r a l   A s i a  tour and itinerary planning services !

1.3 Is it safe to travel to Central Asia

I can honestly say it’s safe to travel to Central Asia. I dislike how most websites from the Departments of Foreign Affairs advise against traveling to the Central Asian countries as it’s supposedly dangerous and how there’s a chance for terrorist attacks and kidnapping…

Terrorist attacks can happen everywhere, even in Europe! Remember what happened in Paris and in Brussels a few years ago…And yes, the Central Asian people might kidnap you into their homes and force-feed you. But you’re free to leave whenever you’ve finished your plate (and shared some glasses of vodka…).

One of the main concerns in Central Asia is that political instability at the border regions between the countries is not uncommon, particularly in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. If you’re planning to travel to any of the rural border areas, you should check the situation in advance.

Additionally, you should watch out for petty crime, such as pickpocketing and theft in larger cities and tourist areas. I never experienced or heard any stories of stolen belongings but it’s good to be aware of it, especially at busy markets.

The biggest thieves, however, are taxi drivers who tend to higher their prices when they see you’re a tourist. Inform yourself about taxi rates beforehand and don’t be afraid to bargain or walk away if you have the feeling they’re ripping you off.

If you’re planning to go trekking in the mountains, you should be aware of the potential for natural disasters such as earthquakes and avalanches. Read my safety tips for trekking further below in What to pack for hiking in the mountains in Central Asia.

I suggest you read the following safety guides and tips:

• Uzbekistan Safety Guide: 14 useful tips
• Kazakhstan Safety Guide: 15 useful tips
• Kyrgyzstan Safety Guide: 15 useful tips

2. Central Asia Travel Essentials

No matter where and when you go and what you plan to visit and do in Central Asia, here’s what you definitely need to bring on your trip to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikstan.

Travel Documents

☑ P assport : your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months when entering any of the 4 countries.

☑ Visa: The visa requirements for the 4 countries have become very easy in the last few years. A lot of nations are now eligible for visa-free travel or can apply for an e-visa without needing to go to an embassy. In case you need visa support, I recommend the services of iVisa . Always bring a printed version of the e-visa . Here are the resources to check if and what type of visa you need:

• Kyrgyzstan Visa Requirements
• Kazakhstan Visa Requirements
• Uzbekistan Visa Requirements
• Tajikistan Visa Requirements

☑ T ravel Insurance : this isn’t mandatory to visit any of the 4 countries but I strongly advise to get coverage. You just don’t never know when you may need it! You should get cover for theft, illness and activities when traveling at high altitudes. If you don’t have travel insurance yet, I highly recommend  HeyMondo  as it covers medical costs, theft and activities at high altitudes.

What are the 3 best budget-friendly travel insurance companies

It is generally a good idea to have paper and electronic copies of all important documents such as your passport, visas, tickets and insurance.

Need Travel Insurance for Central Asia? I use and highly recommend HeyMondo Travel Insurance . As a reader of Journal of Nomads, you get a 5% discount of your insurance plan!

It will be hard to exchange money in advance as most (western) countries won’t have the currencies of Central Asia available at the banks.

☑ USD Dollars: widely accepted in any of the countries and easy to exchange at any of the local banks or exchange offices (make sure your bills are crisp and clean or they might give you a lower rate!). It might also be cheaper to exchange USD (or EURO) instead of using an ATM, depending on your withdrawal fees.

☑ Visa or Mastercard: while cash is still king in Central Asia, you can nowadays pay by credit card at most restaurants and hotels in the major cities. However, withdraw local currency at the ATMs before going to rural areas as you won’t be able to find ATMs or pay by card there.

• How much does it cost to travel in Uzbekistan
• How much does it cost to travel in Kyrgyzstan

☑ Moneybelt : as western people, we’re nowadays so used to pay cashless and not carry around much money so you might feel more comfortable with having a moneybelt to travel safely with cash and important documents.

Suitcase or backpack?

If you’re only planning on doing city trips in Central Asia, then you can bring a suitcase or trolley on your trip. However, if you want to visit Central Asia’s stunning nature, go hiking and trekking – even with an organised tour – and/or you’re planning a yurt stay, you better bring a backpack.

There are often no solid roads when visiting a yurt camp, let alone if you’d go hiking. You might have a hard time carrying your suitcase around, even if it’s a trolley (the terrain will be rough on its little wheels).

If you’d go on an organised trekking tour, porters, horses or donkeys are usually included in this trek to carry your luggage in special bags. These bags are suitable for a large backpack but not for suitcases.

☑ Large backpack (50L – 70L): You need a light but strong backpack that is capable of carrying weight but still sits comfortably on your back. Ideally, the backpack is made out of waterproof material. The zippers need to be big and strong and the material very durable. If you want to have an example, here’s a large backpack I recommend for him and one I recommend for her .

☑ Small daypack (20L – 30L): Whether you go city touring, day hiking or horse riding, bring a small and comfortable daypack to carry snacks, water and other essentials you need during the day.

☑ Waterproof cover for your backpack(s ) : This is an essential when traveling in Central Asia during spring, autumn or winter. You should also have a rainproof cover when going on a (day) hike or horseback trip in the mountains in summer. The weather can be very unpredictable and you need to be prepared. Nothing sucks like having a wet backpack and all of your belongings soaking wet! If you backpack doesn’t have one, you should get an additional waterproof cover .

First aid travel kit

You should always bring a compact first aid kit with personal medication on any of your trips. Here’s what you definitely should bring along in your kit:

☑ Anti-diarrheal medicine : yes, I’m afraid that this is an essential… 80% of the travelers I’ve met struggle at some point with stomach issues in Central Asia, due to a certain bacteria in the food. I always have Furazolidone tablets (which you can buy over the counter at a local pharmacy) as it has proven its worth. These tablets tackle the bacteria causing bowel problems within a day.

☑ Paracetamol: always handy to have along for any aches or pains. It’s also useful to take it during your first days at high altitude, in case you experience some headache.

☑ Altitude sickness pills : Please seek medical advice first. If you’re planning on traveling to the mountains, especially when visiting Kyrgyzstan and/or Tajikistan, you’ll often find yourself at altitudes higher than 3000m. If you’re sensitive to high altitudes, Diamox could help you.

☑ Motion sickness pills: The mountain roads in Central Asia are extremely scenic but can be rough, windy and bumpy. If you’re prone to motion sickness, you should definitely bring them along.

☑ Here’s a great compact first aid kit specially made for traveling and outdoor adventures.

Aside from the usual toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and soap, you should also bring the following, especially when traveling to rural villages or planning a yurt stay:

☑ Biodegradable toilet-paper : With the exception of the major cities and tourist hotels, most toilets you’ll encounter will be squatting toilets ( train those upper leg muscles, ladies! ). Some squat toilets have toilet paper but of the rough type, some don’t have toilet paper at all. So it’s a must to bring your own toilet paper, preferably the compostable one , to stay eco-friendly. Also a must if you go hiking (toilets are non-existent in the mountains…).

☑ H and sanitizer : I always carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with me in case there’s no water source nearby when I want to clean my hands after going to the toilet or touching something suspicious.

☑ B iodegradable wet wipes : some homestays and most yurt camps don’t have hot showers (except for the fancy tourist yurt camps and even then it’s not always certain you’ll have hot water. That’s why I always carry biodegradable wet wipes to freshen myself up until I’m back at a hot water source.

☑ Travel towel:  a microfibre towel  the perfect travel towel as it’s small, light-weight and  dries quickly. 

☑ Biodegradable shampoo and body wash : I often spent multiple-days at a yurt camp in Kyrgyzstan, traveling through remote areas or hiking in the mountains without finding a hot shower. Whenever I came across a river or lake, I like to freshen myself up so I use biodegradable shampoo and bodywash to be kind to the environment.

☑ Sun block and lip balm: It’s important to bring good sunscreen with you, even if it’s not very hot. The sun is very strong in Central Asia, especially when you’re heading into the mountains as the impact of the sun is more intense as the air gets thinner. I recommend bringing SPF 30-50 , even if you’re only doing city trips. Don’t buy sunscreen in small local grocery or corner shops as it’s often not good quality or even can be fake. If you forgot to bring some, then buy it in a large supermarket in the city. When hiking at high altitdue, a lot of people struggle with sore lips so bring protective lip balm too.

☑ For women: it’s not much fun having your period when traveling but we have to deal with it. A lot of female travelers recommend a menstrual cup. Although I’ve used one in the past and I’ve been happy with it, it’s been messy when traveling in Central Asia, unless you have a menstrual cup with a travel cleaning system . Most squatting toilets don’t have a nearby water source (and you don’t want to waste your drinking water). I prefer to take tampons with me and I collect them in a small bag when hiking, which I dispose of once I’m back in civilization.

Water bottle and filter system

I strongly advise not to drink tap water in Central Asia! Buy bottled water in the local supermarkets or better, bring a reusable water bottle to reduce the use of plastic. A reusable water bottle will also come in very handy when hiking in the mountains as you can often refill your bottle with fresh spring water instead of carrying liters of water on your bag. However: use a steripen or filter – see my explanation below.

☑ water bottle with a filter system : these are reusable bottles that filter water using a microfiltration device. When you drink tap water or even mountain spring water using a water bottle with a filter, any dirt, bacteria or parasites will be trapped in the fibers of the filter, while the clean water passes through. It’s not only good for your belly and wallet, but it’s also great for the environment because you don’t have to buy any plastic bottles of water. I often used and highly recommend the  Lifestraw Water Filter Bottle . 

☑ filter or steripen : if you already have a reusable water bottle, you don’t need to buy a new one, of course. I nowadays use a steripen ,  a compact and lightweight device which uses ultraviolet light to sterilize water. I never encountered any stomach problems while using it (and I’ve been drinking a lot of spring water in the mountains!). You can also buy a seperate Lifestraw Filter .

Electronics & camera gear

☑ Travel adaptor : the power sockets in Central Asia are of type C and F (the same as in Europe). The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. In case you need an adaptor, I use and recommend this  all-in-one Universal Travel Adaptor  as you can use it worldwide.

☑ Portable charger : a portable charge is handy to have in case of a power outage (which sometimes happens, even in the major Central Asia cities), during long bus or train rides, or if you’re planning a yurt stay (no electricity there) or camping. I use and recommend the  Anker Powercore  as it has a 26,800mAh cell capacity providing at least 5 full charges for my phone. I can even charge my camera batteries with it!

☑ Camera gear : If you’re a professional and/or passionate photographer, you can’t visit Central Asia without capturing its beauty on camera! Below is an overview of the gear I use. You can also read my Photography essentials guide  for more information and a detailed overview:

• Camera: Panasonic LUMIX DC-90
• Main lens: Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6
• Wide-angle lens for landscapes and architecture: Leica DG Vario-ELMARIT 8-18mm f/2.8-4.0
• Prime lens for portraits: Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7
• Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod (Hybrid Head)

What is in my camera bag – Photography essentials and travel cameras

☑ Drone: Drones are allowed in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. You can fly them everywhere, except near airports, border areas, military, and governmental buildings, and urban centers. Drones are strictly prohibited in Uzbekistan. If you would try to bring one in, it will get confiscated and you might spend your holiday in prison instead of in its stunning cities…

What are the 6 best drones for travel photography and videography

Other travel essentials

☑ Swimsuit: this applies the most for Kyrgyzstan where you can swim in the alpine lakes (if you can handle temperatures of around 5°C) and hot water pools.

☑ Head light : handy during power outages in the city but definitely an essential when going on a camping trip in the mountains or staying at a yurt camp. The tourist yurt camps run on generators which don’t always function very well. A yurt camp run by local families often don’t have (much) electricity so a head light will come in handy to find your way to the outdoor toilets at night.

☑ Ear plugs : very useful if you’re sensitive to noise. I get quickly auditory overstimulation, especially when traveling by public transport in Central Asia where locals don’t use earplugs to watch YouTube videos or have loud phone conversations. They can also come in handy during a yurt stay: yurts are like tents so any outside noises are easily heard (snoring of other travelers, barking dogs, munching cows and horses,…). Ear plugs will help you get a quiet night of sleep.

☑ Travel Guides: The Lonely Planet for Central Asia and the Bradt Travel Guides for Central Asia are good but most were published before 2020 and lots has changed since then. The Lonely Planet Central Asia Phrasebook is also a handy book to have.

☑ Open mind and good attitude: you’re in a foreign country with a different culture and habits so things often don’t go the way you’re used to. The best way to deal with getting out of your comfort zone: have an open mind, be respectful towards different cultures and people, and embrace the new experiences!

Useful Travel Apps for Central Asia

☑ Maps.me : This is one of the most practical apps you could use to navigate in Central Asia. You download the map of the country so you can use it offline. It gives you very accurate directions (Google maps gets lost in Central Asia…) and shows you where you can find the nearest restaurants, bus stations, ATM, hotels, places with wi-fi, points of interest, etc. This is also a great app to use while hiking as it shows most of the trails.

☑ Wikiroutes : a handy app if you travel by public transportation. It shows you the bus and/or metro route and tells you where to hop on and off. 

☑ Google Translate :  Translates written and spoken Russian, Uzbek, Kazakh, Kyrgyz or Tajik. Only Russian is available to download for offline usage.

☑ Booking.com :  You’ll need internet to use this app but it’s a great tool to find (last-minute) accommodation throughout Central Asia.

☑ Y andex Go Taxi :  Yandex is the Central Asian version of Uber. I use this app to get around the major cities in Central Asia by taxi without having to bargain for the price and/or getting ripped off by a taxi driver.

☑ Xe currency :  very handy to check exchange rates, also works offline.

3. What to wear in Central Asia cities and villages

All of the capitals of Central Asia are located below 1000 meters, which means that the weather will be very hot in the summer (averagely 35°C/ 95°F), cool and rainy in spring and autumn (averagely 15°C/ 59°F) and cold and snowy in winter (averagely -10°C/ 14°F). Pack appropriate clothing for the season in which you’re traveling.

While you’ll see young girls and women walking around in short skirts, dresses, and shorts in the capitals of Central Asia during summer, most of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and especially its rural areas and villages are conservative.

You’ll see many women wearing beautiful colored scarves tied around their heads. This is a cultural thing so female travelers don’t need to worry about covering their hair.

It’s okay to wear shorts, dresses, skirts and tops or T-shirts with short sleeves in the capital cities or tourist places like the Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan but it’s disrespectful to parade around in revealing mini-skirts, dresses and crop tops. If you’re an influencer who wants a nice photo for Instagram, please remain respectful for the culture.

If you like to explore less-touristic places like small towns and villages, dress modestly. Wear a T-shirt or a tunic over long trousers or a long skirt. Knee-lenght shorts or skirts are also fine, just don’t walk around the village in a vest top and short shorts/skirts. If you visit mosques and religious sites, even in touristic cities, cover up your shoulders.

What to wear in Central Asia as male traveler

☑ T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, button-up shirts , sweater

☑ Knee-length shorts, long trousers

☑ Comfortable sneakers, sandals

What to wear in Central Asia as female traveler

☑ Loose-fitting tops and T-shirts (don’t show cleavage or belly buttons), loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts , blouses or sweater

☑ Knee-length shorts, dresses and/or skirts, long loose-fitting trousers, maxi dresses or skirt

☑ Leggings but wear then a long shirt or tunic on top

☑ Scarf (to cover shoulders and/or head at religious sites)

4. What to pack for horse riding, camping and hiking in Central Asia

The weather in the mountains of Central Asia is very unpredictable. You can wake up and start walking with sunny and clear skies but a few hours later, it can rain heavily or even snow. It will also be cooler in the mountains in comparison with the cities. The higher you go, the colder it gets. The average temperatures in summer at altitudes between 2500 meter and 3000 meter is 15°C – 20°C/ 59°F – 68°F during the day and 2°C – 8°C/ 35°F – 46°F at night. You need to be prepared for all types of weather . Pack versatile, think in layers , and aim for functional, comfortable, and fast-drying clothing, suitable for hiking and/or horse riding.

Rain gear Essentials

☑ Rain jacket : bring a lighweight rain jacket that can endure wind and rain. Here’s a waterpoof hiking jacket I recommend for him and for her .

☑ Rain pants : this is also a necessity, especially when horse riding or hiking. If there’s a lot of wind and your hiking pants are wet, you’ll get cold easily. Here are rain pants I recommend for him and for her .

☑ Poncho: a poncho is lightweight and compact and it covers both you and your backpack. However, don’t wear a poncho while horse riding as it scares the horses.

☑ Waterproof gloves : I always bring waterproof gloves along, especially for horse riding. You can’t stuff your hands in your pockets to keep dry and warm while riding. I used to wear my normal gloves on horseback trips but one day they got soaking wet and my hands were hurting from the cold. Since I got waterproof ones , I never had this issue again. These also come in handy when hiking at high altitudes.

☑ Raincover for your backpack : you want to keep your daypack and/or backpack with your sleeping gear dry in the mountains!

☑ Dry bags : put all your electronics, clothes (and sleeping gear when camping) in seperate dry bags in your daypack/ backpack. I once got so soaked during a trek that even my raincover wasn’t sufficient to keep my belongings dry! Luckily I could spent that night at a guesthouse where I was able to dry all of my things but if I had to camp that night, it wouldn’t have been a pleasant experience!

Horse Riding essentials

Aside from a daypack (20L – 30L) with rain cover that fits your water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, lip balm, camera, phone, and rain gear (no poncho!), you’ll need to bring the following along if you plan to go horse riding in Central Asia:

☑ Ankle-high hiking boots : High boots will protect your ankles in the stirrups while horse riding and will give you more protection while hiking on the rough mountainous terrain in case certain parts would be too steep on horseback. Here are good hiking boots for him and for her .

☑ Pair of long pants or leggings (can be hiking pants) : don’t wear shorts or a jeans for horse riding as it will be very uncomfortable! Wear pants that are soft, comfortable and dry fast in case you get rain. Here are riding/hiking pants for him and for her .

☑ T-shirt or long-sleeve shirt

☑ Sweater with zipper: bring a sweater that you can easily take off or put on without losing control of the reins while riding. Also good to bring along in case it’s windy on the mountain passes.

☑ Downjacket: this is a lighweight, comfortable and warm jacket that keeps you warm while horse riding. Here’s a downjacket for him and for her .

☑ Hat and sunglasses : to protect your head and eyes from the sun and ones that don’t fall off easily

☑ Woolen hat, scarf and gloves : for riding on colder days

☑ Padded cycling pants : The saddles in Central Asia are very hard. Padded cycling pants or underwear (for him and for her ) will give you a soft layer to sit more comfortably in the hard saddle. Tip: wear comfortable underwear, no strings or thongs…

☑ Equestrian helmet (optional) . The horse riders in Central Asia don’t use helmets. Some tour companies offer helmets but not all. You can always bring your own to make you feel more safe.

Reading tips for horse riding in Central Asia:

• The best horse riding trips in Kyrgyzstan
• The best horse riding trips in Uzbekistan

Day Hike essentials

Aside from a comfortable day pack (20L – 30L) with rain cover that fits a water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, lip balm, camera, phone, and rain gear, you need to bring the following on a day hike in Central Asia:

☑ Waterproof hiking boots : You’ll need sturdy, ankle-high, waterproof hiking boots, suitable for rough, uneven and steep terrain in the Central Asian Mountains. Make sure your shoes are 1/2 size bigger than your usual size to give your toes and ankles some space while hike up and down steep hills. Coming across river crossings, rain or snow are is very common so make sure your boots are waterproof. Here are my hiking boots recommendations for him and for her .

☑ Hiking socks : I really recommend to get merino wool hiking socks ! They keep your feet dry, they’re not too warm on hot days and they’re just super comfortable! I have 2 pairs of these hiking socks and I’m really happy with them!

☑ Comfortable and fast-drying hiking clothes

☑ Downjacket: this is a lighweight, comfortable and warm jacket that keeps you warm while hiking or when you take a break. Here’s a downjacket for him and for her .

☑ Hat and sunglasses : to protect your head and eyes from the sun

☑ Woolen hat, scarf and gloves : for hiking at high altitude or on cold days

☑ Hiking GPS or offline GPS App : comes in very useful when the path isn’t clear. I recommend using the apps maps.me (download the maps for offline use), Wikiloc or All Trails (you need to pay for offline use). You can connect these apps to the Garmin Foretrex Waterproof Hiking GPS . Check out its features  here .

☑ Hiking poles : very useful when you go hiking in the Central Asian mountains! They don’t only make hiking more comfortable, they also help you maintain balance on slippery surfaces and rough terrain, add more grip when descending a steep hill and act as a probe to give more information about the depth of the snow, puddles and muddy paths. I recommend getting lightweight telescopic trekking poles  so you can easily attach them to your backpack when you don’t need them.

☑ Emergency survival whistle : This might seem like an unusual tool to take with you on a trek. How small it might be, this whistle could save your life when you end up in an emergency situation. Blowing a survival whistle is less tiring than shouting for help in case you got lost or fell, and the noise can be heard from miles away across the mountains. Any shepherds or other hikers who might be in the area will be able to hear you and locate your position by following the noise.

Reading tips for hiking in Central Asia:

• Hiking guide with best day hikes in Kyrgyzstan
• Hiking guide with best day hikes in Uzbekistan
• Hiking guide with best day hikes in Almaty (Kazakhstan)

The Complete Trekking Guide to Kyrgyzstan with the best day hikes and treks

Essential Packing list for Camping & trekking in Central Asia

When it comes to packing for a trek, keep it as light as possible . Remember that you have to carry everything yourself and if you have ever done a 20 km hike that included ascending steep hills, you’ll know that there’s a big difference between hiking with 10kg and 15kg on your back!

Aside from the travel essentials (see 2. Central Asia Travel Essentials above), rain gear and day hiking essentials (see the above lists), here is a list of everything you need when hiking and camping for a few days in the mountains.

Note: You can rent camping and cooking equipment in Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek, Karakol and Osh) and Tajikistan (Dushanbe).

☑ Sandals or light sport shoes: It’s good to carry an extra pair of shoes with you in case your boots get wet. It will also do your feet well to take your shoes off at night and put on some comfortable footwear. Carrying an extra pair of hiking boots takes too much space in your bag but I suggest you pack a pair of sandals or light sneakers. There won’t be any fashion police around to judge if you walk around with socks in your sandals (and it’s soooo comfy!). I recommend  Teva Sandals .

☑ Fleece jacket or sweater : It’s necessary to pack at least one warm sweater for the cold evenings. Unless you’re hiking outside the summer season, you won’t need a big winter jacket but it’s still essential that you’ve got something that will keep you warm in the mountains. A fleece jacket or sweater (for him and for her ) doesn’t take up as much space as a winter jacket but they’re thick enough to protect you from the cold and wind.

☑ Thermal underwear: The last time I went on a trek, I forgot to pack my thermal underwear . I didn’t think I would still need it since it was June. Ooh, how I regretted that!! This type of underwear (ideally made from merinowool ) is lightweight, doesn’t take much space and it really keeps you warm during the day or at night! It’s a must to pack when you’re in the mountains! I recommend thermal leggings for him and for her and long-sleeves for him and for her .

☑ Down socks : Buying down socks has been the best investment for me!! I easily get cold feet at night or while camping. Nothing is worse than trying to sleep and not getting warm feet. These down socks have made my camping life so much more comfortable, highly recommend them!!

☑ Lightweight tent : Having a good tent is very important! It has to shelter both you and your backpack from all the elements. Ideally, you have a lightweight one as some tents can be pretty heavy. Here’s a 2-person lightweight tent I recommend for trekking.

☑ Sleeping bag : You’ll need a lightweight sleeping bag that can keeps you warm at night. Keep in mind that when you’re camping at a higher altitude, the temperatures can go down to 0°C (32°f) or lower, even during summer! My 3-seasons sleeping bag is comfortable until -2°C/ 28°F and is pretty compact to travel with.

☑ Sleeping bag liner : I also have a fleece sleeping bag liner. These don’t take much space, they’re pretty light and they add an extra 10°C of warmth at night. Fleece liners are very affordable and can be a good addition if you want to be extra warm and comfortable at night.

☑ Inflatable sleeping pad : For a very long time, I used to travel with a cheap sleeping pad that you can roll up and easily attach to your backpack. However, those types of pads don’t insulate very well if you have to sleep on a cold surface and they don’t last very long. My back started suffering from the hard and cold surfaces I often slept on so last year, I invested in a Sea-to-Summit Lightweight Sleeping Pad . They’re lightweight to carry, comfortable to lay on and insulate your body well from the cold ground.

☑ Inflatable pillow : I usually put my head on my scarf wrapped around my backpack but it’s not as comfortable as having a lightweight inflatable pillow …

☑ Reusable emergency safety blanket : I’ve been traveling with a Reusable Emergency Safety Blanket ever since I started my overland journey from Ireland to Central Asia and it has proven to be super useful! Not only is it a good blanket to keep me warm in case of extreme weather, I’ve also been using it to insulate the tent from the cold ground. Before I put my sleeping pad in the tent, I always cover the bottom of the tent with this reusable blanket . It has made a big difference during cold nights and it doesn’t take much space!

☑ Swiss army knife: has all the tools you need when hiking and camping.

☑ Camping stove : A small and lightweight camping stove will allow you to cook a nice meal at night and boil some water for tea or coffee. I have a recommend the ultralight Jetboil camping stove , ideal for hiking and backpacking. Tip: bring matches instead of a lighter. Due to the changes in the atmosphere, some lighters won’t work at higher altitudes.

☑ Camping cookware, cutlery, and mug : You’ll need some good cookware to use on your camping stove. I recommend this lightweight cooking set , a spork-knife , collapsible camping bowls that you can use as a plate or a bowl and a lightweight thermal mug .

Reading tips for trekking in Central Asia:

• Hiking in Uzbekistan: 6 hiking best trails
• The 14 best hikes and treks in Kyrgyzstan
• Hiking in the Fann mountains in Tajikistan

What to pack for a Yurt Stay

And last but not least, what do you need to bring when planning a yurt stay in Central Asia?

The yurt camps in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will be tourist ones as there are barely any nomadic shepherds in both countries. You might still come across nomadic yurt camps in the east of Tajikistan. If you really want to experience a yurt stay with a nomadic shepherd family, then you should head to Kyrgyzstan.

Most yurt camps are located at higher altitudes and while most of them have stoves inside, you should bring warm clothing for the evenings.

The tourist yurt camps have nowadays beds with blankets and pillows. The yurt camps from nomadic shepherds will offer thick floor carpets as mattress and they’ll have blankets and pillows. You don’t need to bring any camping or cooking gear but I’d bring a sleeping bag liner as it’s warm and more hygienic (the blankets don’t get washed on a daily basis).

There might be some sort of electricity at some camps but you should bring your portable charge and headtorch. Some tourist yurt camps have some sort of shower and outdoor sitting toilets, but most don’t. If you pack everything I mention in 2. Central Asia Travel Essentials, then you’re all set for a yurt stay as well.

I hope this guide will be useful for planning your trip to Central Asia. I you amazing adventures and feel free to c ontact me or comment below if you have questions or useful updates/ information to share!

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10 thoughts on “best tips and complete packing list for traveling in central asia in 2024 – when to go and what to wear when visiting central asia”.

Hi Lydia, Thank you for all the amazing tips on your website! I am travelling to Kyrgyzstan for one month (August) and was wondering if and where and which kind of stove fuel I can buy. I was also wondering if I need to bring a special adapter for my Electronic devises. Kind regards, Nora

Hi Nora, you can check with RedFox if they have stove fuel there (they sometimes do). The plugs are the same as in Europe so if you’re coming from Europe, no special adapter needed.

Thank you for such a comprehensive blog, Cynthia! I’m living in Armenia right now and planning a 2 week trip to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in early June.

I’m planning to go to Kyrgyzstan the first week of June and then Uzbekistan afterward (simply because I’d rather refresh myself with hiking first and explore cities later). But I wanted to ask you if you think there is a notable difference in how rainy it is and what yurt camps are available even between the first and second weeks of June. Just thought I’d ask in case you think it’s worth it to switch the order of things.

Hi Christina,

The yurt camp availability will really depend on the weather (which is unpredictable at this moment in time), but it won’t make much of a difference between the first and second week of June. The chances of rain in June in Kyrgyzstan are high. I hope this helps!

Hey! I loved reading your blog 🙂 My boyfriend and I are going to Kyrgyzstan in August this year and are really looking forward to it! We’re doing the Ak-suu traverse and were wondering where you left your food while camping? (since you don’t wanna leave it in your tent in remote areas)

Hi Jill, I’m happy to hear you’re going to Kyrgyzstan! You’ll fall in love with the country 🙂 We usually hang our food in a tree in a closed bag so animals can’t reach it. If we’re camping at high altitudes above the tree line, we keep our food in a closed bag in or near our tent (at these altitudes, we usually don’t encounter many wild animals that are after our food 🙂 ).

Have a great time hiking and camping in Kyrgyzstan!

These maps are still not available for sale online! Very frustrating in 2019! It shouldn’t be difficult to have them available for sale.

Any idea where I can buy them before I travel?

Hi Jake, sorry to hear that. I’ll check today with a local friend how come they’re still not available. But one thing I know is that things in Kyrgyzstan take time 😉 I don’t think you can get them anywhere else online before you travel. In Kyrgyzstan, you should be able to buy these maps at the DMO offices of each region. Wishing you a great trip to Kyrgyzstan!

I couldn’t have found a better and more useful guide for packing and trekking Kyrgyzstan, Cynthia! As trekking in Kyrgyzstan is on my bucket list for a while now, I found your post very inspiring. When’s the best time of the year for hiking in Kyrgyzstan?

Thank you Lydia, I’m so glad to hear this! You will love hiking in Kyrgyzstan! It’s one of the few countries with such untouched nature. I’d say that the best time for hiking would be between June and September. All the mountain passes are open, it won’t get too cold to camp and you’ll come across many nomadic camps, which is already a reason on its own to hike in Kyrgyzstan 🙂 I’m currently working on a trekking guide with an overview of the treks in Kyrgyzstan, which I hope will be online within the next 4 weeks 🙂 if you would have any questions, feel free to send me an email!

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The Five 'Stans: The Best Places To Visit In Central Asia

Where to go and what to do in central asia.

Steven Hermans

• In this guide

The Karakum Desert

Bukhara and khiva.

• Need to know
• Where to go

The Pamir Highway

The Five ‘Stans… just a handful of countries, but covering a vast swathe of Central Asia.

Where do you start an introduction to a region that stretches from China in the east, to the Caspian Sea in the west, when just one of the countries, Kazakhstan, is almost the same size as Europe?

Some definitions to get us going: the Five 'Stans consist of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and the largest, Kazakhstan. Although these five countries have much in common, they also have quite different cultures and traditions.

Their histories are endlessly fascinating: violence and conquest, mixed with the most breathtaking scientific and cultural breakthroughs, the evidence of which is with us today. Yes, Genghis Khan swept through the region with an unimaginable ruthlessness, creating an empire which has never been equalled in size. And yes, Timur (Tamburlaine) was an equally brutal warlord whose influence extended even into India thanks to his descendants.

But the architecture! The scientific advances! The enlightened education! All while Europe was a wallowing backwater. Much of this impressive legacy remains for the visitor to gaze at and admire in awe. This civilisation created buildings which are still among the most stunning to be seen anywhere in the world. Here was where Ulugh Beg built an observatory (you can still see the ruins) at which he mapped the stars and calculated the length of the year; here was the first paper factory which eventually allowed us in the west to write and to read. The (restored) cities of Samarkand and Khiva are like nowhere else on earth. It's all here, and it's criminally underrated by the world's tourism industry.

Ready to go? Here's our summary of the best places to visit in Central Asia, what to do, and how to get there.

Statues around the Monument of Independence in Ashgabat

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Historical Cities of Central Asia

Following in the footsteps of marco polo.

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Best of Central Asia

Experience the people, history and nature of the 'five stans, best places to visit in the five stans, the highlights of central asia.

The Five 'Stans are the countries at the heart of the Silk Road, along which goods travelled between China and the West. They have vast mountains, vast deserts, vast valleys, vast plains – you get the idea: everything out here is on an epic scale.

They have Soviet-style cities, true, sometimes with immense monuments to past strongmen rulers, but they also have remote villages and nomadic communities where the old traditions endure.

What's in a name?

The “stan” in the names means “land of”. So Kyrgyzstan is the land of the Kyrgyz, Uzbekistan is the land of the Uzbeks, and so on. It follows that although these five countries have much in common, they also have quite different cultures and traditions.

Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand

Samarkand, one of the major stops along the ancient Silk Road, is a bustling city with, at its heart, one of the world’s unmissable sights - the Registan.

Built as madrassas, or schools, they are covered in ceramic tiles that sparkle in the sun. Dating from the 15th century and restored in the 20th, they are among the finest examples of Islamic architecture anywhere.

The Registan is just one of the highlights. The Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, dating from the 11th century, is an extraordinary collection of mausoleums and shrines – more than 20 buildings of stunning beauty, packed together in a relatively small space. Legend has it that the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad is buried there.

And don’t miss the remains of the 15th century observatory on the edge of the city, built by Ulugh Beg. Here is where he mapped the stars and worked out the length of the year, among other things, with astonishing accuracy.

Visiting Samarkand

No place on the long and winding Silk Road captures the imagination quite like Uzbekistan's Samarkand, the beautifully-preserved 14th-century city and centre of the mighty Timurid Empire…

Aksu Zhabagly Nature Reserve near Shymkent

This busy town in the south of Kazakhstan, is one of the country’s ancient settlements. Destroyed by Genghis Khan, it recovered to become a major centre along the Silk Road, and in the 20th century developed as one of the country’s main trade and industrial hubs. It has a number of historic sights, but the main attractions are outside the city. The region is famous for its rare tulips that in spring blanket the meadows of the mountains that form a stunning backdrop to the town.

The beautiful national parks that protect the tulips and are sanctuaries for bears and snow leopards, are wonderful to explore on horseback or on a hike: The sight of wild horses roaming through the tulip fields will stay with you forever.

The nearby old oasis towns will give you an unbeatable insight into what life must have been like for the Silk Road traders, and for accommodation try a homestay to sample a genuine Kazakh welcome and the local cuisine which developed out of the traditional nomadic lifestyle.

Visiting Shymkent

If Almaty is the queen of Kazakhstan, Shymkent is the eager lady-in-waiting…

Park of the First President of Kazakhstan in Almaty

The biggest, Kazakh city, Almaty very pleasant and green, surrounded by mountains, with tree-lined streets and many parks – Panfilov Park in particular is well worth strolling through with colourful wooden Zenkov Cathedral and the Musical Instruments Museum.

The city is known for its cultural life. With its theatres, opera house, and museums, and outdoor cafés, restaurants and international cuisine, it has become the favoured home of Central Asia’s literati. The Arasan baths are a great place to relax. You really need to try the luxury spa experience at what is said to be one of the country’s most striking modernist buildings.

There also much to see beyond the city. The nearby mountains are great for hiking and there’s skiing and open-air ice skating on offer too. And don’t miss the spectacular Charyn Canyon - its red sedimentary rock make it a smaller version of the Grand Canyon and it’s home to a wonderful collection of flora and fauna.

Visiting Almaty: How To Get There & Things To Do

The biggest, most vibrant Kazakh city was the capital until 1997…

Yurt camp at Song Kul Lake

Want to get a taste of nomadic life in remote Kyrgyzstan? This is the place to head for, although it’s not an easy journey.

The lake is over 3,000m up in the Tian Shan Mountains, an area covered with snow for up to 200 days a year, and the water freezes in winter, thawing in April-May. The winters are harsh, but in spring the landscape bursts into life. Nowhere is greener than the slopes around this beautiful lake and dozens of nomadic shepherd families come here to set up camp with their flocks.

You can join them, accept their wonderful hospitality, and have the experience of a lifetime thanks to community-based tourism: Sleep in a yurt, eat and drink as the locals do, soak up the amazing beauty of the landscape, hike or ride to explore it.

It’s remote and difficult to get to, and cold even in summer. But the warmth of the welcome you’ll get will be worth it.

How To Get To Song Kul Lake

Central Asia’s archetypal semi-nomadic culture is alive and well in Kyrgyzstan, and nowhere is this more evident than at Lake Song Kul…

Arslanbob mountain range

Arslanbob is a village, a valley, a mountain range and even a large walnut forest, all in Kyrgyzstan.

The village is tucked away on the edge of a fairytale forest, and it is perfect if you want to spend some time away from cities and the heat of the summer, and hike in glorious surroundings.

Waterfalls and sacred lakes make this a place pilgrims are drawn to, and any visitor will find it irresistible. The walnut forest is vast and ancient. According to legend Alexander the Great took walnuts from here which led to them spreading through Europe and the rest of the world.

That may or may not be true. What is certain is that time spent here, perhaps in a delightful homestay getting to know the locals, will be unforgettable.

Visiting Arslanbob: Highlights & How To Get There

The fairytale walnut forest of Arslanbob in southern Kyrgyzstan is a year-round destination for visitors…

The Darwaza Crater in Turkmenistan

The black sands of the Karakum spread over a vast swathe of Turkmenistan – about 70 per cent of the country. Rainfall is scarce and there are few people, but the desert is home to wildlife - lizards, snakes and turtles, foxes and gazelles.

The area was ravaged by Mongol conquests and major cities were destroyed, but there are monuments still standing to give you an idea of what was lost, and in the desert is the eerie Yangikala Canyon which was carved out 5 million years ago by the retreating sea which once covered the whole area.

And then there’s possibly the desert’s weirdest sight of all – the Darwaza Crater, popularly known as the Door to Hell. It’s large, about 70m in diameter and 20m deep, and it is on fire, constantly. It has captured the public imagination and you’ll understand why when you camp nearby and see it glowing ominously in the dark.

Visiting The Karakum Desert

The black sands of the Karakum Desert were once the domain of roving bands of Turkmen slave raiders that terrorised the Caspian basin…

Alem Cultural and Entertainment Centre in Ashgabat

The capital of Turkmenistan is weird and unsettling, but fascinating at the same time. It’s huge, richly decorated – and largely empty of people.

Think marble-clad tower blocks looming over wide, but empty, streets and extravagant monuments and gilded statues honouring various heroes of the country. It’s all bizarre, but still worth seeing.

But as befits a city that was founded in the 19th century, there is an old town, and some real life with the Russian bazaar where you can bargain for fruit with the locals.

There are also a number of museums, including the Turkmen Carpet Museum, Fine Arts, and the National Museum of History. There are also mosques and churches worth seeing, the highlights being Turkmenbashy Ruhy mosque and Ertugrul Gazi mosque.

How To Get To Ashgabat

Described as the city “where Las Vegas meets Pyongyang”, nothing can prepare you for the desert mirage that is Ashgabat…

Cyclists on the Pamir Highway

Now this is probably not for the faint-hearted. Properly known as the M41, the highway connects Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan via the towering Pamir Mountains. It’s the second highest highway in the world, and it’s an epic road trip – if you dare!

The highway attracts pedal and motorcyclists, and drivers, looking for a unique adventure. For much of its length the road is mostly a rough track, but there are also ruins of ancient forts that once guarded the Silk Road trading routes.

The area is unstable, prone to landslides, earthquakes and rock falls – and it goes very close to the Afghan border. The ride is extreme and it’s challenging, but you see the most spectacular mountains, raging rivers and breathtakingly beautiful lakes.

Visiting The Pamir Highway & Mountains

Known locally as “the roof of the world,” the Pamir Mountains dominate with their superlatives…

Poi Kalan in Bukhara

Don’t count on seeing either of these two striking cities in a day. The history that’s waiting for you in both the ancient centres will blow you away.

Bukhara was one of the major trading posts on the Silk Road and although it has been rebuilt and restored there are many unmissable key sites, too many to list here. It’s easier simply to quote UNESCO’s view: “…the centre is unquestionably of outstanding significance as an exceptional example of a largely medieval Muslim city.”

A big bonus is that it’s easy to get to – it’s on a high-speed train line from Samarkand and Tashkent.

Khiva can be overlooked because of its distance from Bukhara, but that would be such a mistake. It too has an abundance of cultural and historical sites to visit – the old town itself has more than 50 monuments. The city is more than a thousand years old, and its inner walled town was the first site in Uzbekistan to be placed on the UNESCO world heritage list.

Visiting Bukhara And Khiva

Bukhara, sited on the remains of a Buddhist monastery, was to become one of Islam’s most important places during the Middle Ages…

Historical Uzbekistan

Where and how to see uzbekistan's historical cities, about the author.

Steven is the creator and editor of Caravanistan , an online travel guide to the Silk Road that was described by the Lonely Planet as a "peerless online travel guide to the region". He has been travelling the region since 2010, and has dedicated himself to improving tourism on the Silk Road, both for travellers and locals.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Central Asia Travel: Discover the Silk Road

Updated March 2024 ,   A Beginner’s Guide to Central Asia Travel was originally written in February 2019

For travelers looking for something different, this mostly unspoiled region will surely deliver. Personally, if I was only allowed to travel one region of the world for the rest of my life  Central Asia  would be my choice.

Central Asia is a region where east meets west, snow-capped mountains beg to be explored, where Silk Road empires conquered, claimed, razed, and repeated, ancient architectural gems dot barren desert landscapes, nomadic families still move their yurt camps from jailoo to valley and back again, and evidence in historical human movement is present from ancient languages still spoken, cuisine and cultural traditions.

Before I arrived in Central Asia I thought it’d be a one-and-done trip. My trip of a lifetime, a place that would prove difficult to travel. I left knowing I’d be back, what I didn’t realize then was that it would be every year.

I thought bureaucracy would test my patience (although it killed it in  Xinjiang ), visa debacles would ruin my plans (it sorta did in  Turkmenistan ), bribes would break the bank (not as often as you’d think), that I’d just like  Tajikistan  (not fall head over heels for it) and food poisoning would plague my ambitions (it’s only slowed me down a couple of times at best). These concerns have proven to be more the minority than the norm.

Things are quickly changing in Central Asia. Tourism is opening up (except maybe in Turkmenistan and Xinjiang), visa acquisition is becoming easier and easier with relaxed schemes (except Turkmenistan and  Afghanistan ), more foreigners are visiting and community-based tourism is exploding.

If you’re considering making your first venture to travel Central Asia this first-timer’s guide will help to share practical information and to answer common questions about Central Asia travel. This guide includes information on  Kazakhstan ,  Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,  Uzbekistan , and additionally, information on Afghanistan,  Northern Pakistan , and Xinjiang (Western China).

Need Travel Insurance and Evacuation Services for Central Asia?

Start shopping for travel insurance plans over at  IATI Insurance . Readers of the Adventures of Nicole get a 5% discount off your plan.

The Adventures of Nicole partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading medical evacuation and security advisory services. To travel with peace of mind, shop evacuation coverage at Global Rescue .

The bane of most Central Asian travel plans existence. For many years the rigorous visa policies, a carryover from (most of) Central Asia’s Soviet years, kept all but the most intrepid travelers away. But things are changing— visa policies are loosening, visa on arrival and e-visas are becoming more common.

A couple of countries still remain a pain-in-the-arse with stringent visa policies, but overall the region is opening its doors.

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan are offering e-visas now to many nationalities, and Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are offering visa-free travel to more nationalities than ever before. Meanwhile, most nationalities will still need to obtain full-blown visas prior to travel in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Xinjiang (China).

Learn more about visas in my  Quick Guide to Central Asia Visas

The sheer number of languages and dialects spoken in this region is mind-boggling. The good news is: In Post-Soviet Central Asia Russian is still widely spoken and understood.

If you are headed to Post-Soviet (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan) I recommend learning some basic Russian phrases. It also doesn’t hurt to learn a few basics in each local language as well.

A great pocket-sized book to pick up before you travel Central Asia is the  Central Asia Phrasebook  by Lonely Planet .

Kazakhstan : Kazakh and Russian are the official languages. Kazakh is a Turkic language.

Kyrgyzstan : Official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian. Kyrgyz is a Turkic language with similarities to Kazakh, however, Kyrgyz is typically written in the Cyrillic Alphabet.

Tajikistan : Tajik is the official language in Tajikistan, but Russian is still used and understood. Tajik is a dialect of the Farsi spoken in Iran and the Dari spoken in Afghanistan, but the main difference is that Tajik is written in the Cyrillic alphabet. Tajikistan has a plethora of languages and dialects spoken within it, including Wakhi, Shughni, Yagnobi (ancient Sogdian), Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Yazgulyam, Ishkashimi, Parya, and more.

Turkmenistan : Turkmen is the official language but Russian is still widely used. Turkmen is a Turkic language, officially written in a Latin script but Cyrillic is still commonly used.

Uzbekistan : Uzbek is yet another Turkic language and is closely related to the Uyghur language.

Since 1992 it has been written in the Latin script. Russian is still widely used and understood. In the desolate region of Karakalpakstan, Karakalpak is spoken as well which has ties with Uzbek and Kazakh.

Xinjiang :  Uyghur and Mandarin Chinese are official languages in the Xinjiang Province of China. Uyghur is the language spoken by the Uyghur people historically, though the Chinese government has launched a campaign recently banning the use of Uyghur in schools and even detaining and sending those using the language publicly or showing interest in it into labor camps. Uyghur is a Turkic language and is written in an Arabic script.

Afghanistan : The two official languages of Afghanistan are Dari and Pashto. Dari, which is a dialect of the Farsi spoken in Iran is the most widely spoken of the two in the country. Dari is written in modified Persian-Arabic, while Pashto is written in Arabic script.

Pakistan : Urdu and English are the official languages of Pakistan, however, there are over 60 languages spoken in the country. I’ve included Northern Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in this guide). Languages spoken in northern Pakistan include Shina, Burushaski, Khowar, Wakhi, Balti. Pashto, Hindko, Saraiki, and Kohistani.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to travel Central Asia is largely dependent on what areas you want to visit and what activities you’d like to take part in.

If planning to trek in the high mountains of  Tajikistan , Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan,  Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor , or Northern Pakistan then July-September are going to be the best months.

For desert and lower-lying areas such as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the Ferghana Valley, mainland  Afghanistan  and much of  Xinjiang  spring and fall months (April, May, September, October) will be the most comfortable months to visit in.

Winter sports enthusiasts wanting to get in a little downhill action on their trip should visit in January and February to the ski resorts and lifts in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan or trek in and ski down in Tajikistan and  Bamyan  Province in Afghanistan.

Transportation

Marshrutka & Shared Taxi

Marshrutka and shared taxi are the most common and usually easiest way to get between places traveling Central Asia. They usually do not have schedules and depart when full from a designated place in the town or city (many times near a bazaar). The best way to find out where the marshrutka or shared taxi you need to be on is leaving from is to ask locals or staff at your accommodation.

Trains can be a comfortable way to travel in Central Asia, and the least nerve-wracking (driving in Central Asia is a bit crazy).  Uzbekistan  and Kazakhstan have the best network of railways in the Central Asian countries.

Not a very common form of transportation in Central Asia, but it can be a comfortable alternative to shared taxis where available.

Often you will cross paths with cyclists on a giant Silk Road adventure, especially on Tajikistan’s  Pamir Highway — a huge bucket list route for many cycling enthusiasts.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is fairly common in Central Asia, with the exception of Afghanistan and extremely remote areas. Do note that drivers will typically expect a little money from hitchers as pretty much anyone with a car in Central Asia seconds as a taxi driver.

Organized Tour

For those with time constraints, organized tours can be a great way to optimize your Central Asia trip. Those not wanting to deal with logistics and language barriers will likely get more enjoyment out of group or private tours.

Big overlanding companies like  Intrepid ,  G Adventures , and Dragoman offer several Central Asian itineraries.

I have traveled and written extensively on Tajikistan, and have crossed paths with several of the owners of Tajik travel companies. You can find a list of Tajik tour operators  here .

If you’re planning a trip to this breathtaking country, it’s always a good idea to seek guidance from experienced tour operators who know the ins and outs of Tajikistan’s diverse landscapes and rich culture. You can find a list of reputable Tajik tour operators here on a resource called  Top Essay Writing . Whether you’re interested in trekking through the Pamir Mountains or exploring the historical sites in Dushanbe, connecting with knowledgeable tour operators can greatly enhance your travel experience.

Accommodation

Accommodation options in Central Asia vary widely. In big cities like Tashkent ,  Almaty ,  Dushanbe , and more you can find luxurious hotels at one end and homestays at the other end of the spectrum.

Once you start heading off to smaller towns options dwindle and offerings are extremely basic. If headed to the mountains you can expect to find homestays at very most, otherwise yurt camps or plan to bring your own tent.

My preferred platform for making accommodation bookings is of course, Booking.com , but you will find that many smaller out of the way locations you will either need to call ahead or take your chances and show up and see if there’s space.

Start shopping  Central Asia accommodation

If you’re scratching your head wondering what Central Asia cuisine is, you’re not alone. Central Asia (not including Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Xinjiang) is not a region known for its gastronomy, and there’s ample reason for this– it’s not exactly the most exciting the world has to offer- though there are some great dishes to try.

In general food in Central Asia is a tad bland, meat-centric, and fairly unimaginative. Food is more of a means of survival and not exactly the healthiest of all. With that said there are some good dishes out there and chefs hither and thither that can work a typically bland Central Asian dish into something delicious.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Xinjiang are total exceptions to the blandness of Central Asia, food in these three areas is a food lover’s dream come true. There are dishes that are typically only found in certain countries or regions of countries that you can read more about in my country-specific guides.

Vegetarians will have difficulties at times and vegans will really struggle with Central Asian cuisine. It’s not impossible either (I have traveled with both a vegan and a vegetarian at times in my Central Asia travels and they both survived).

Just try to plan ahead and learn how to communicate your dietary needs in the local language and/or Russian. I also recommend getting a copy of the  Vegan Passport , a multilingual vegan phrasebook (it includes several Central Asian languages) to help you communicate your needs.

People throughout Central Asia are learning about vegetarian and vegan diets and many times will be happy to try to help accommodate your needs.

Here are some commonly found foods throughout the region:

Plov : A rice dish fried in mutton fat and often includes mutton, onion, carrots, chickpeas, and sometimes raisins

Laghman : A personal favorite, a somewhat soupy dish served with meat and noodles and vegetables. Laghman can vary greatly from one cook to another.

Manti : Little noodle dumplings stuffed most often with minced meat and onions. My favorite? Potato manti and pumpkin manti.

Shashlyk : Meat skewers, that we would call shish-kabobs in the west.

Samsa : Similar to an Indian samosa, these deep-fried packets are usually filled with minced meat and onions.

Non : No meal is complete in this part of the world without bread, bread  is  life after all.

Chai : A hot glass of chai will accompany nearly every meal in Central Asia. Many times hosts will excitedly refill your cup over and over even if you plead no more.  Tip : If you are finished with chai simply swill down the remainder in your glass and flip your cup upside down– this is the universal no more chai sign.

Where To Go In Central Asia

TURKMENISTAN

XINJIANG (CHINA)

AFGHANISTAN

NORTHERN PAKISTAN

Money In Central Asia

ATMs and money exchangers can be found in major cities throughout Central Asia, though smaller towns may be a challenge. Do check exchange rates prior to your Central Asia travel as currencies are known to fluctuate dramatically over here.

If planning to carry in cash, the US dollar seems to be the preferred currency for exchanging. In some countries, like Tajikistan and Afghanistan, it’s sometimes the preferred currency for payments (especially large for larger purchases).

It’s worth noting that the black market is no more in Central Asia, Uzbekistan being the last country to abolish its currency black market.

Central Asia Packing List

General gear.

• Water Purifier – I personally use the  Katadyn water filter . Tap water is not safe to drink in much of Central Asia.
• External battery pack – Perfect for keeping things charged on long journeys.
• Headlamp – Perfect for camping, dark streets, and the occasional power outage.
• Camera — Don’t miss out on bringing your memories back home with you.
• Sunscreen – Sometimes difficult to find in the region. Sun is very powerful, especially at high altitudes.
• Toilet Paper
• Prescription & Over the counter medications

Recommend Gear For Trekking

• Inreach Explorer+ – GPS & SOS beacon, great for remote hiking in Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
• Solar charger – Keep those electronics charged in remote areas.
• Backpack – I recommend the  Osprey Ariel 65L backpack  for women.
• Daypack – My personal favorite is the Osprey Daylite Plus.
• Hydration Pack — Have water available without having to reach for a water bottle.
• 3 Season tent – I use the  MSR NX Hubba-Hubba 1 man tent  and love it! I also use a Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 2 tent when I’m traveling with others.
• Sleeping bag – Useful for trekkers & cyclists. I use a  Nemo sleeping bag  cold rated to 20ºF/-7ºC.
• Hiking Boots – My personal favorite is the  La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX  hiking boot.
• Lightweight cooking camp set – Prepare your own meals on the go.
• Trekking Poles – Great for steep slopes.
• Mosquito Repellant – Recommended in the summertime.

Guide Books

• I recommend Bradt’s Guidebooks to help you plan an in-depth visit to Central Asia. They have updated editions for Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , and Uzbekistan .
• Central Asia  by Lonely Planet . Great to have on hand or phone on the road, though don’t treat it as a Bible.  Central Asia Phrasebook  by Lonely Planet  is a great pocket-sized book with basic phrases and translations for the plethora of languages spoken in the region.

Safety In Central Asia

Central Asia safety is one of the most commonly searched topics about the region on google. I’m going to break this into two sections: Post-Soviet Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) and the remainder of Central Asia, for simplicity’s sake.

Post-Soviet Central Asia

In general, the core of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) is a safe destination to visit. After spending several months in these countries I can honestly say I’ve never felt in danger or concerned for my safety in any of them. With that said, things do on rare occasions happen here.

The most recent: in June 2018 there was a  terrorist attack  in Tajikistan that left 4 dead and 2 injured foreign cyclists.

Tensions do at times build up with fighting in the Fergana Valley (last notable was in 2012). These events are not the norm. The standard precautions are typically enough to ensure safety in these countries.

The biggest risks and dangers you will face are chaotic driving, altitude illness, and food poisoning.

Check out these popular itineraries: 2 weeks in Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan or 2 weeks in Uzbekistan & Tajikistan

Northern Pakistan

Northern Pakistan, especially Gilgit-Baltistan is reasonably safe to visit. Occasional things have happened (such as the 2013 Tahreek e Taliban  attack on climbers at Nanga Prabat  base camp that left 9 dead). At times sectarian violence against Shia Muslims does break out in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Afghanistan

As of August 2021, Afghanistan has fallen under control of the Taliban. Visiting is not recommended right now for obvious reasons, and you probably can’t even find an embassy to issue you a tourist visa at the moment anyway.

Not all of Afghanistan is at war as you would be lead to believe by western media. The  Wakhan Corridor  for instance has remained untouched by war and terrorism and is realistically the only safe place to visit in the country.

Travel in mainland Afghanistan is a much dicier prospect with some areas being *safer* (in terms of Afghanistan) to visit and others essentially off-limits. For visits to mainland Afghanistan, I highly recommend an experienced and knowledgeable guide such and Noor, Sakhi, and the team at  Let’s Be Friends Afghanistan .

Travel in Afghanistan does come with big risks, however, there are measures that can be taken to reduce them.

Read: Tips for Solo Female Travel in Central Asia

In general, Xinjiang is a safe place for travelers, however, there is turmoil there at the moment and many places are closed to foreigners. In the past, there have been a handful of terrorist attacks carried out in Xinjiang by radicalized people, but this is not a regular occurrence.

Since early 2017 the Chinese government has been effectively kidnapping Uyghur and other Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang (after sending in mass numbers of Han Chinese to take the Uyghur down from being the majority population in the area) that show interest in Uyghur culture, practice their religion or use their language out in the open and placing them in “re-education” camps.

There are speculations that these camps are forcing people held in them to hard labor, and some that they are first taking to camps and then transferring them to full-on Chinese prisons. Many are never seen or heard from again.

Read more about the Cultural Genocide as it’s been coined  here . Learn more in an interesting interview about the Han Chinese being sent to occupy Uyghur homes  here .

Need More Central Asia Travel Info?

Check out my country guides and itineraries below, or ask your Central Asia travel questions in the comments!

More Posts from Central Asia:

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8 thoughts on “a beginner’s guide to central asia travel: discover the silk road”.

Your post has reminded me of the importance of sustainable and responsible travel.

This is an incredible source of info. I salute you.

Do they offer e-visas for Australians? Would love to travel the Stans soon so just want to know. Thanks!

Hi Sharon, Here is the current visa policy for the ‘stans for Australian passport holders

Tajikistan- evisa Uzbekistan- visa free Kazakhstan- visa free (KZ’s visa free program is suspended through Dec 2021 as of now) Kyrgyzstan- visa free Turkmenistan- visa (Turkmenistan still is not open to tourism and it’s unclear when it will again)

Many thanks for this very useful list of attractions and destinations. It helped us a lot, as we are planning a trip to Central Asia.

Hi Maria, I hope you enjoy Central Asia! I have lots more posts on each destination too if you need more help planning 🙂

Wow, so much good information here. Thank you for sharing all your expertise on the region, I’m excitedly awaiting visiting Central Asia

Happy to hear it’s helping you plan!

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Central Asia Travel Guide and Backpacking Itinerary

Travelling in Central Asia is like a fairytale. From the white peaks of the Kyrgyz mountains to the wild horses on the steppes of Kazakhstan. From the pearls of architecture in Uzbekistan to one of the world’s most closed countries of Turkmenistan and intriguing landscapes of Tajikistan. Central Asia lies off the beaten path for most of the tourists, but it intrigues and fascinates those adventurous ones. Here, I share with you my Central Asia travel guide and full Central Asia itinerary to help you plan your next backpacking trip to one of the world’s underrated regions.

CENTRAL ASIA TRAVEL

When I talk about my recent trip when I was travelling in Central Asia, I often get the question “what countries are in Central Asia”, and “Where exactly is it”? There is still not much information among western travelers about this part of the world. Well, when others miss out on the gorgeousness of those countries, we can enjoy the unique places hidden from the crowds.

You can travel through Central Asia in many ways and visit all, or only part of the “stans”. The “Stan countries” include Uzbekistan , Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. All Central Asian republics are different, and all are fascinating. The Central Asian itineraries vary from spending just a few weeks to a few months in the region. There is a lot to discover and the more time you have the better. Travelling the stans might not always be easy, and there are some things to know about Central Asia, that are helpful, but it is worth it.

CENTRAL ASIA ITINERARY

This Central Asia itinerary is very condensed and allows you to see the highlights of the region in a relatively short time. Obviously, more days would be recommended in each of the countries to be able to visit them properly, but unfortunately, this is not always possible. Some of us are trying hard to travel more with a 9-5 job and are limited with time. Hopefully, this itinerary will help you make the most of your time travelling Central Asia.

I took a trip to Central Asia this year and I covered a part of the silk road route. I managed to do some of the best things Central Asia has to offer, together with visiting quite remote places located entirely off the beaten path. But not any less fascinating.

Dive into the dazzling world of Central Asian countries.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. More details here .

Table of content

• Backpacking Central Asia

Safety in Central Asia

Central asia tours, what countries to visit in central asia, best time to visit central asia, length of travel in central asia, point of entry and exit to central asia, visas for central asia, transport in central asia, money and prices in central asia, language in central asia.

• Central Asia itinerary day per day, map of the route through Central Asia 
• Kazakhstan itinerary
• Uzbekistan itinerary
• Kyrgyzstan itinerary

Read more: 13 Unique & Interesting things to do in Kyrgyzstan 

CENTRAL ASIA TRAVEL TIPS AND TRIP DETAILS

Backpacking central asia .

I was backpacking Central Asia, mostly on my own, with my boyfriend joining at the end. My travels are usually focused on budget backpacking, looking for unusual places and being close to local people. I prefer independent travel and also tend to value new experiences and things to do more than a relaxing time, and I am very active. Stan countries are perfect for that. Backpacking Central Asia is easy, cheap and probably the best way of exploring the region.

If you are concerned about Central Asia safety, you shouldn’t be. As a solo female traveller I felt safe in most of the places. You can read the post with my answer to the question is Uzbekistan safe and my experience from there, which also translates to other countries of Central Asia.

However, as everywhere else, you need to be vigilant and cautious. Small pickpocket crime can happen anywhere and in touristy places, some of the locals might try to squeeze more money out of you than necessary. Those are just exceptions from the very nice rest.

Please, note that I haven’t been to Tajikistan or Turkmenistan yet, so cannot personally vouch for those countries. However, I’ve heard from other travellers that those countries are also generally safe.

If you don’t feel comfortable travelling in Central Asia on your own, you can look into some Central Asia tours, that are widely available. Viator offers some good looking tours, that you can check out:

• Kazakhstan 2 day tour to Charyn Canyon, Kolsai and Kaindy lakes – Check details here
• Son Kul Lake tour in Kyrgyzstan – Check details here
• Horse riding in Kyrgyzstan – Check details here
• 2 Days desert Yurt camp tour in Uzbekistan – Check details here
• 4 Days Pearls of Uzbekistan Tour – Check details here

I managed to visit Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan , and Kyrgyzstan . The region also covers Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Due to time limitations, the weather in the mountains and problems with visas to Turkmenistan I needed to exclude them from my Asian itinerary at the time.

Turkmenistan is one of the hardest countries to get to, as you either need to go there with a guide (which costs money) or apply for a transit visa. A transit visa only gives you 4-5 days in the country and can easily be rejected.

Read more: Backpacking Uzbekistan itinerary

I visited the region in April/May 2019. While this is a perfect time to go to Uzbekistan with bearable temperatures, it’s not ideal for hiking conditions in Kyrgyzstan or mountainous regions of Kazakhstan. It is still possible to do some hikes in the lower parts of the mountains, or in the canyons, as well as visiting higher peaks with proper equipment. This is a quieter time in places, that can be popular with people otherwise.

If your main focus is Kyrgyzstan hiking, Tajikistan trekking, and otherwise high-altitude walking anywhere else, focus more on the summer months. In winter, early spring and late autumn many passes are still covered in snow and the roads might be impassable.

Read more: Is Uzbekistan safe? I traveled there solo and this is what I discovered

I spent a total of 20 days in the region. I needed to use three days for work in Nursultan (Astana) in Kazakhstan. The rest I used purely for traveling. Below you will find my 3 weeks Central Asia itinerary. With the region so vast and diverse, the more time you have to spare the better.

For me, it was Nursultan (Astana) in Kazakhstan. The point of entry was connected to my work trip. However, Nursultan is also a good starting point in Central Asia for people coming from Europe . It’s well connected with Europe through Poland and Russia. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that the city is located quite far away north from other points of interest in this itinerary.

If you want to focus mainly on the southern parts, you can try to enter the region through Almaty, Bishkek or Tashkent, which are located closer to the main places covered here and are also well connected to the west.

Another alternative if you come from Europe is to travel by land and a ferry through Azerbaijan.

As a European citizen, I had a 30-day visa-free entry to all three countries. Most nationalities have free visa entry to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan (which has recently relaxed its visa rules). Tajikistan requires an easy-to-get e-visa. Turkmenistan is the only country in the region that still holds a strict visa regime and can reject the majority of applications.

Check the information about the visa requirements for Central Asia before departing. You can read the latest visa information for Central Asia on the official country website. For Central Asia visas for Uzbekistan , you can click on the blue link, for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, you can check in the embassy in your own country.

To move between the countries and inside them, I used planes, trains, local buses (marshrutkas), shared taxis and cars.

You can travel Central Asia by train, as it would be the fastest (apart from flying) on the long distances. Trains work well in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, not so much in Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan. Trains are quite fast and comfortable. There are three classes to choose from and all are fine.

Marshrutkas

Marshrutkas are the minibuses that travel either on short or long distances. They are usually small and cramped but it’s the cheapest option to travel around in Central Asia and a great one to meet locals.

Shared taxis

The very popular mean of transport in Central Asia. Shared taxis are the cars where you share places with other people. Their price is normally a bit higher than the marshrutkas, but they can get you to the destination faster, as they don’t need to wait to fill up a lot of empty spaces.

There are airports in most of the cities around Central Asia and it’s quite easy to fly in and out. However, the tickets often get fully booked and the prices of the flights are not so cheap. I flew with Uzbekistan airways and Air Astana, both were fine. The best place to looks for flights is through skyscanner.net  or on the carrier websites.

Central Asia is mostly a cash-driven society. Especially in Uzbekistan, don’t expect to be able to pay by a card or even find an ATM working with a foreign card. I’ve walked for hours in the heat with no food trying to find one that was working and just ended up changing the USD dollars with a local, as I had no other choice.

Take cash in USD dollars to exchange later. The best place to do it is in the bank, as the black market is now illegal in Uzbekistan.

In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, ATMs are easier to find, especially in the big cities and some places also take cards.

VISA cards are more common to be accepted than Mastercards. I used my Revolut Mastercard in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with no problems.

Prices in Central Asia are very affordable, with Uzbekistan being the cheapest of all the countries that I visited. Kyrgyzstan is slightly cheaper than Kazakhstan.

Read more: Unique and interesting things to do in Kyrgyzstan

Each of the countries has their own language, but many people are bilingual, with Russian being their second language. Not all of them though. I’ve had multiple situations of friendly Uzbek ladies chatting away to me in their local dialects and having the fun of me not understanding a word 😉

Russian is definitely helpful, and I recommend learning at least the basics. Especially reading the Cyrillic alphabet, it will help you a lot. Some people also speak English, but most are more comfortable with Russian. I used this Lonely Planet Russian phrasebook & dictionary and found it very handy!

What to pack for Central Asia

A few things that I recommend bringing when you travel to Central Asia:

• Revolut card for fee-free ATM withdrawals (some of the local ATMs will still charge a small fee, but it’s not the bank fee). Order your card here .
• US dollars in cash (especially for Uzbekistan)
• Water filter, especially if you plan on hiking. I recommend SteriPen , that also filters viruses or LifeStraw . You can buy SteriPen here , LifeStraw here .
• Russian phrasebook & dictionary – I used the one from Lonely Planet and found it very helpful. Buy it here.
• Sunscreen, always. I love this 50+La Roche Posay .
• Hiking shoes if you plan to hike
• Waterproof/windproof jacket, especially if you plan to be on the higher altitudes
• Good sunglasses for the harsh sun and higher altitudes
• First aid kit

CENTRAL ASIA ITINERARY DAY PER DAY

1-3 – Nursultan, Kazakhstan (can be reduced to 1 day or skipped) 3-4 – Tashkent, Uzbekistan 4-5 – Samarkand , Uzbekistan 5-6 – Bukhara , Uzbekistan 6-7 – Khiva, Uzbekistan 8 – Qalas, the desert castles, Uzbekistan 9 – Bishkek and transfer to Karakol, Kyrgyzstan 9-13 -Karakol and around, Kyrgyzstan 13-14- Bokonboaveo, Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan 15 – Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 16-20 – Almaty, Charyn Canyon, Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan

CENTRAL ASIA MAP – MY CENTRAL ASIA BACKPACKING ROUTE

CENTRAL ASIA ITINERARY PER COUNTRY

KAZAKHSTAN CENTRAL ASIA ITINERARY

I started my Central Asia trip in the capital of Kazakhstan, Nursultan (previously named Astana). It has just changed its name a few days before my arrival).

I spent several days working and visiting Nursultan at the same time. Since I was initially on a business visa, I needed to leave the country if I wanted to travel on my own. The only way of doing it in a timely manner was by flying out. I flew to Tashkent in Uzbekistan and started the trip from there.

Alternatively, to go south instead of flying to Uzbekistan, you can go by train to Almaty and make the itinerary in the reverse direction. Another option would be to get to Shymkent in the south of Kazakhstan, visit the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve and then go by public transport to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Since my return flight back to Europe was also from Nursultan, I needed to finish the trip there. Before flying out, I spent some time in south Kazakhstan.

Where to stay in Nursultan: 

Astana Marriott Hotel – I stayed there 4 nights for work and I can definitely recommend it. It’s located just next to Khan Shatyr (the shopping center that looks like a massive tent), and within a short walk to the city center and several restaurants. It also offers a spa, swimming pool, and a rooftop bar. Check prices and availability here.

For backpacker-friendly hotels in Nur-Sultan check out Hostelland Astana with a great vibe and dormitory rooms. Check prices and availability here.

The main city of south Kazakhstan is Almaty. It used to be the capital of the country and you can see it in its size and development. The city itself is very green and surrounded by the mountains. Full of good cafés (such a difference after drinking instant coffee in other parts of Central Asia), chic bars and restaurants, it’s a buzzing place perfect for chilling in for a few days.

In the proximity to Almaty lies Ile-Alatau National Park with glaciers and lakes. The place popular with locals and travelers alike is a Big Almaty Lake. If you have time, it’s also worth to go to Shymbulak ski resort and Medeo ice rink.

Where to stay in Almaty: 

Hotel Tahar – located in the typical post-Soviet block of flats, it doesn’t look like a hotel from the outside. We stayed there twice, as we thought it was a good value for the price for both of us. Nearby, you can find cheap local eatery for breakfast (and not only). Also, a Georgian restaurant on the street next door is great. Check prices and availability here.

For solo travelers looking for hostels and interaction with other backpackers, Almaty Backpackers is a place to go. Check prices and availability here.

South of Kazakhstan

You can take a few days to travel in the south of Kazakhstan. We rented a car (you can check rental prices through rental cars or message some local companies) and we drove around for 2 days. The main points that we visited were the Charyn Canyon, village Saty and Lake Kaindy. Not far from there also lie the beautiful Kolsai Lakes, but we didn’t have time for them.

Where to stay in Saty: 

Guest House Arcabay-Karligash – family-run guest house with home-made food that guests love. All the meals are included and the owners can also arrange transport to Kaindy Lake, Kolsai Lakes and back to Almaty. Check prices and availability here .

KAZAKHSTAN TRAVEL

Days spent in kazakhstan.

4 days + 3 days in Nursultan for work

Places visited in Kazakhstan

Nursultan, Almaty, Big Almaty Lake, Charyn Canyon, Kaindy Lake with sunken forest, Saty.

What to add with more time

Kolsai Lakes, Altyn Emel National park, Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve, Turkestan, Chundza hot springs

Border crossings

There are several border crossings between Kazakhstan and neighboring countries. The main border crossing between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan is the one on the way between Almaty and Bishkek. In the summer months, there is also another crossing opened that connects the east part of the country through Karkara Valley. However, the road closed in winter, spring, and autumn, so make sure you check the opening times before you decide to travel there.

The main border crossing in the south of Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan is Zhibek Zholy. You would need to take it if you travel from Shymkent to Tashkent.

Total cost in Kazakhstan (excluding Nursultan and flights)

For 2 people for 4 days: 69906 tenge (185 USD). This equals to 35 000 tenge or 92 USD per person.

UZBEKISTAN CENTRAL ASIA ITINERARY

Silk road travel.

During my Uzbekistan itinerary , I decided to visit the main cities located on the ancient Silk Road route. This is the country that is famous for the places that must be put on the silk road itinerary.

I am not the biggest fan of the cities – I prefer outdoor adventure and off the beaten path travel. Luckily, the silk road cities in Uzbekistan, that I visited were really interesting. Even though they were sometimes crowded, it was mainly with local tourists from the region. This added to the fascinating and colorful vibe of those places. In Uzbekistan, I mainly used trains as transport and shared local taxis. I was travelling as a solo female in Uzbekistan.

I started my trip to Uzbekistan from Tashkent. I was quite tired, so I didn’t manage to see much of the city, but if you have time, spend at least half a day there and make sure to see some of the Soviet architecture, like the famous Uzbekistan hotel . A trip to the beautifully decorated Tashkent metro stations is also worth a go.

Where to stay in Tashkent:

Sunrise Caravan Hotel – I stayed there for one night after arrival. Location is central. The interior was really nice and wooden, with a clean bathroom and a comfortable bed with a curtain in a mixed dormitory room. Simple breakfast was included. They also offer private rooms. Check prices and availability here .

Tashkent Amir Khan Hostel – nice hostel, located close to the airport (I walked for my flight). I stayed in a female-only dormitory room and it was clean and comfortable. Plugs and curtains for each bed. Clean bathroom. Breakfast included. The staff were really nice and offered me a takeaway breakfast with no additional charge as I was leaving early for my morning flight. Check prices and availability here .

From Tashkent, I took a train to Samarkand, where I spent 1,5 day. The city has a busier vibe from other places in Uzbekistan. There are a lot of amazing things to do in Samarkand . The most famous landmark is the Registan .

I managed to see everything on the first day after arrival, so during the second day, I was mainly walking around, talking to people, eating, drinking tea and wandering the streets. I would say that one full day there would be enough, but do not miss sunrise and sunset in Registan!

Where to stay in Samarkand:

B&B Emir – nice hostel, located close to Gur Emir complex and a short walk away from Registan. Traditional wooden interior, rooftop (it wasn’t fully ready when I was there though) and clean rooms. Breakfast wasn’t included, but there are plenty of places in the city where you can get food. Check prices and availability here.

If you want something on the other side of town, check Tilyakori Hotel or Hotel Caravan Serail , both traditional and with beautiful interior.

After Samarkand, I visited Bukhara . Bukhara was much quieter than Samarkand, with the very distinctive old town. Again, I managed to see most of the places during the half a day in the old part of the city, so I wandered out of the city walls and explored other landmarks.

Where to stay in Bukhara:

Bukhara Rumi hotel – I stayed there for two night in a mixed dormitory room. There were bunk beds with curtains, which was nice. The building is rather old and has a courtyard inside. The toilet was a basic one. We had a good and very big breakfast, unfortunately, the owner didn’t want to give me anything for takeaway as I was checking out before breakfast was served. The wifi was working mainly in the common area. The location was good enough, but further from the tourist attractions. It was ok for a few nights. Check prices and availability here .

If you look for a hotel closer to the main tourist attractions check Old Bukhara with very good reviews – check prices and availability here .

For nice hotels with a bit higher price range, Hotel Malika Bukhara with their spa center is a good choice. I wanted to stay in a beautifully decorated Boutique Hotel Minzifa that has traditional Uzbek architecture, but it was fully booked. It gets quite popular, so make sure to book in advance. Check prices and availability here .  

My last city in Uzbekistan was Khiva. The old town there is still surrounded by the city wall and felt more touristy, as inside the walls you can mainly see the visitors. The mud walls of the buildings and walking off the main paths, as well as waking up for the sunrise on the city walls added more magic to my stay there.

Where to stay in Khiva:

Khiva Meros B&B – family-run hotel with rooftop terrace and wonderfully decorated ceilings. It’s located within the Old Khiva walls, perfect for peaceful strolls amongst the historical buildings and offering great sunset and sunrise views. It gets very popular and it’s hard to get a room, so be quick with booking. Check prices and availability here .

Desert  Qalas of Karakalpakstan

I finished my trip in Uzbekistan with a day trip to the desert castles – qalas. I was looking forward to this part of the trip, as it sounded very unusual to me. The ruined castles located in the middle of the desert were empty and we could visit the walls in peace. It was a very interesting experience, that I can definitely recommend. The landscape reminded me a little bit of intriguing rock formations of Wadi Rum in Jordan in the Middle East.

I returned to Tashkent by flight from Urgench (the bigger town near Khiva) and moved from there to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.

UZBEKISTAN TRAVEL

Days spent in uzbekistan, places visited in uzbekistan.

Tashkent, Samarkand , Bukhara , Khiva, Desert Qalas (castles)

What to add with more time in Uzbekistan

Nukus, Monyaq, Aral Sea

Border crossing with Kazakhstan on the east part of the country is through Zhibek Zholy.

To get to Kyrgyzstan from Tashkent, you can go through Kazakhstan border crossing Zhibek Zholy, through Shymkent and back to Bishkek. Or you can go through the Fergana Valley in direction to Osh. Both options require at least 2 additional days for travel.

Means of transport

Trains, shared taxis, planes

Total Uzbekistan cost

For 5 days per person travelling solo: 1,321,209 som (154 USD)

Other posts about Uzbekistan

Full Uzbekistan itinerary

10 Astonishing things to do in Samarkand

Is Uzbekistan safe?

KYRGYZSTAN CENTRAL ASIA ITINERARY

Northern kyrgyzstan.

During my time in Kyrgyzstan, I focused on the northern part of the country. There are many things to do in Kyrgyzstan , especially if you like hiking and outdoor adventure. This is the country with some of the most beautiful Central Asia mountains. You can explore the numerous trails on foot or horses for weeks and even months.

Located on the eastern part of the Issyk-Kul lake, around 150 km from the Chinese border, Karakol is a city surrounded by mountains. One of the best spots for trekking in Kyrgyzstan with interesting culture and variety of places around to choose from. I’ve stayed there for a few nights, taking trips around into the outdoors.

Where to stay in Karakol:

Green Yard Hotel – family-run hotel with delicious home-made food, immediately stole my heart. The tranquility of the area, mountain views and the everywhere greenery made for a wonderful stay. Rooms are clean and sleek, colorful pictures of the region decorate the walls. Green Yard Hotel is famous for its breakfasts, and there is no surprise why – I could easily eat them several times a day, every day. And the tea (chai) with a selection of homemade jams and cakes! You got to try it. Check prices and availability here.

Sary-Jaz Valley

I also wanted to discover places located more off the beaten path in Kyrgyzstan. One of them was a hidden Sary-Jaz valley with the half-abandoned soviet city surrounded by the 7000+ meters high mountains of Tian Shan. This was a highlight of my trip to Kyrgyzstan.

Some of the other hidden places in Kyrgyzstan, that I could visit were canyons on the south shore of Issyk Kul lake. I had a chance to explore the region around Karakol and discover those unknown areas, thanks to Visit Karakol company, who invited me on a trip and my great travel guide, Ibraim. This local outdoor adventure company specializes in tours to off the beaten path places and takes people to the most beautiful parts of Kyrgyzstan.

Issyk-Kul Lake

After visiting the east part of Kyrgyzstan, with Karakol and Jyrgalan Valley, I was joined by Alex and we spent some time in the south shore of Issyk-Kul lake in Bokonbaevo. We stayed in a traditional yurt camp by the lake, from where we also organized a horse riding in the mountains. Amazing experience and very strongly connected to the local culture.

Where to stay in Issyk-Kul Lake:

Jurten Camp Almaluu – we stayed near Bokonboaveo, but still out of the city, by the lake in the traditional yurt camp. We had our own yurt with a fireplace and cozy mattresses. The food was served in the big common yurt and was delicious. The yurt camp also organizes the activities and we went horse trekking in the nearby area with them. The bathrooms were located outside, as well as showers, but there was hot water and everything was clean. Check prices and availability here .

After that, we were hosted in Bishkek by the local family of one of Alex’s friends, who treated us like the kings. The hospitality of the local Kyrgyz people is outstanding.

Bishkek is the capital city of Kyrgyzstan. Contrary to what you can see on the internet, I actually like Bishkek and I think there is a lot to do there. The city is surrounded by mountains and it’s very easy to get to the national park straight from the city center.

Where to stay in Bishkek:

In Bishkek, we stayed with a local family, but some of the recommended hotels in Bishkek are:

Friends guest house & Hostel – nice hostel in a good location, preferred by backpackers for its good prices and friendly atmosphere. Check prices and availability here.  

Capsule Hotel – modern and clean hostel with capsule dormitory beds. Sleek and private. Check prices and availability here. 

Garden hotel & SPA – 4-star hotel with a perfect location and great amenities. Check prices and availability here. 

KYRGYZSTAN TRAVEL

Days spent in kyrgyzstan.

 7 days

Places visited in Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, Karakol, Sary-Jaz valley, Jyrgylan valley, Issyk-Kul lake, Bokonboaveo, Canyons – Skazka canyon, Canyon of Forgotten rivers, Mars canyon

Spend more time in the mountainous areas, visit Song Kul lake and lakes in the region, go on a road trip to the south via Pamir highway, visit more known places like Alakol, Altyn Arashan, Jeti Oguz, Burana tower

The easiest way to get from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan is by marshrutka (local bus) from Bishkek to Almaty. It takes 5 hours and goes through the main border crossing.

In the summer the Karkara Valley crossing is also open, that makes for a shortcut when coming from Karakol area into Kazakhstan.

The main crossing with Uzbekistan is through the Fergana Valley.

Total cost in Kyrgyzstan

The total cost of my trip to Kyrgyzstan is hard to estimate since part of my tour was in collaboration with Visit Karakol , and during other days we were hosted by the local family. I will try to write a post about the general prices for items in Kyrgyzstan to help you with estimates (spoiler alert – it’s not expensive! A little bit more expensive than Uzbekistan, but cheaper than Kazakhstan).

Other posts about Kyrgyzstan

22 Unique and interesting things to do in Kyrgyzstan

Read more about Central Asia:

  13 Unique & Interesting things to do in Kyrgyzstan 

Is Uzbekistan safe? I traveled solo to Uzbekistan and this is what I discovered

Backpacking Uzbekistan itinerary

21 Impressive Things to do in Bukhara

Would you use this plan for Central Asia trip? Would you like to add any places? What is your Central Asia itinerary? Let me know in the comments!

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Related posts:

• Full Backpacking Uzbekistan Itinerary in One Week (Or More) + Tips
• How to plan a perfect trip to Asia – tips for your first Asia vacation & how to choose the best travel itinerary
• 22 Unique & Interesting Things To Do In Kyrgyzstan
• Is Uzbekistan Safe? 5 Things I Discovered Traveling Solo

3 thoughts on “ Central Asia Travel Guide and Backpacking Itinerary ”

Wow, Bukhara city walls are so impressive, I used to live in Almaty (11 years ago) and visit some of the countries but never visted Bukhara

Bukhara has really a lot of places worth to see!

Wow amazing loved each and every place gorgeous images too. The one I liked the most is Kul Lake such a beautiful lake. Thanks for sharing these awesome destination with us!

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Two-week traveller: adventures across Central Asia

Aug 3, 2015 • 5 min read

Bucket list view: sunset at Bukhara Kalon Minaret in Uzbekistan. Image by Stephen Lioy / Lonely Planet

Once the realm of Silk Road merchants and Great Game spies, the Heavenly Mountains and Black Sand deserts of the 'Stans, as the five countries of Central Asia are affectionately known, have historically been the stuff of epic overland trips taking many months and much bureaucracy.

With the region’s flight connections burgeoning and red tape shrinking, it’s finally possible for the two-week traveller to experience Central Asia.

Limited time means tough choices, though, so here’s how to know which two-week Central Asia adventure through this fascinating and unspoilt region fits you best.

Nomad life – Kyrgyzstan

Stay a day or two in capital city Bishkek for a taste of modern Kyrgyzstan : open-air bazaars near American-style cafes, and young couples strolling together under statues of Lenin and local folk hero Manas. Then, head for the mountains to get back to Kyrgyzstan’s roots. This is the land of nomads, where yurt tents dot all but the remotest of valleys and the size of one's herd is still a legitimate way to judge a person's wealth. Spend your days on foot or horseback crossing jailoo (summer pasture) mountain valleys that double as grazing ground, and by night tuck into a big pot of boiled horse cooked by your hosts at a yurt homestay. These can be organised by one of many community-based tourism offices throughout the country - the most popular base is Karakol on the east edge of the Issyk-Köl  lake. Independent travelers with a tent and a map can also strike out on their own to explore the variety of trekking routes around Kyrgyzstan. If you have extra time, you can grab a few days' relaxation in one of the Soviet-era resorts on the south shore of Issyk-Köl or party with vacationing Russians and Kazakhs on the north shore .

Silk Road history – Uzbekistan

While branches of the Silk Road weaved throughout Central Asia, nowhere can compare to Uzbekistan for exploring this most famous period of the region’s history. The mausoleums of 14th-century conqueror Tamerlane’s capital Samarkand are the most popular (and well-photographed) for good reason: the imposing face of the Registan’s three medressa  religious schools and the brilliantly shining mosaics of the Shah-i-Zinda tomb complex are themselves worth the trip to Uzbekistan. Don’t stop here, though. Further into the Kyzylkum desert, the smaller cities of Bukhara and Khiva are open-air museums in their own right and the ‘40 Fortresses’ lining the road beyond Khiva evoke every camel caravan fantasy you’ve ever entertained. If mounting an expedition is out of reach, you can always opt to stay in one of Bukhara’s restored caravansaray  (courtyard inns) or medressa hotels for a modern boutique take on the Silk Road lifestyle - the wi-fi’s a lot better these days!

Roof of the World road trips – Tajikistan

Find a few friends, hire a car, and set off on one of the world's greatest road trips: the Pamir Highway through Tajikistan. From the town of Khorog – capital of Tajikistan's Gorno Badakhshan region in the Pamir Mountains – the Pamir Highway stretches 726km through a barren and barely populated but starkly beautiful landscape to the border with Kyrgyzstan and beyond to the city of Osh . On the way, remote Murghab makes an excellent base for trekking and visiting holy hot springs or lingering for a day at the Karakul alpine lake just a few hours from the border – inexplicably home to the world’s highest regatta. If you still have time to spare, you can return via the Wakhan Valley, where the Yamchun Fortress had already been guarding this important trade route for 1500 years by the time Marco Polo dropped in. Alternately, if the Afghan border is calm, you can cross into no-man’s-land at Ishkashim for an international weekend market that hosts traders from Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Gas craters and golden guardians – Turkmenistan

The difficulty or cost of getting a visa is one of the biggest hindrances for would-be visitors to  Turkmenistan , but those that make the effort will find a country full of rarely-visited attractions. The 'Doorway to Hell' Darvaza gas crater and the capital city of Ashgabat , with its many gold-plated monuments to former ruler Turkmenbashi, get most of the attention from the tourists that do visit the country. Push a little further, beyond the Silk Road ruins of Merv and Konye-Urgench, and hike the Kopet-Dag mountains on the border with Iran, or spot migratory birds and protected ungulates in the Kaplankyr Nature Reserve that abuts Uzbekistan.

Winter delights – Kazakhstan

If you're looking at a winter visit to the region, Kazakhstan is easily the best choice for both infrastructure and activity options. In the mountains rising above cultural centre and former capital, Almaty , the Shymbulak ski resort’s 12km of pistes and the Medeu ice skating facility (once known as the best venue in the Soviet Union) are popular with both locals and visitors. If you just want punishingly cold, well, national capital Astana is closer to Siberia than to Almaty. If the -40 ° C temperatures on the street are too intimidating, head to the city-in-a-tent Khan Shatyr , a shopping mall with an artificial beach that boasts imported Maldivian sand. Where else can you experience a beach party in sub-Siberian winter? We wager, nowhere.

Central Asia travel pro-tips

Though improving, visas and border crossings in Central Asia still require a bit of preparation, especially if you don’t want to get stuck waiting around in the capital cities. Kyrgyzstan is the easiest, with 60 passports now able to travel visa-free for up to 60 days. Kazakhstan is just behind, with a recent pilot program handing out 15 days of visa-free travel for 20 nationalities. Most countries require a visa for travel to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, with an additional permit necessary to visit the Pamir region of Tajikistan (be sure to request this at the same time you apply for your visa). Turkmenistan is still the most onerous, forcing travellers to choose between a five-day transit visa (if you’re lucky) or booking a (comparatively expensive) guided trip – this is the only way to get a tourist visa.

If you're only coming for two weeks or so, arriving by air is your best option. Turkish Airlines offers the most connections from their Istanbul hub, but budget carriers Pegasus and AtlasJet offer cheaper flights from the same city. Air Astana also now offers non-stop flights to Kazakhstan from several European cities, including London and Frankfurt.

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10 Extraordinary Places to Visit in Central Asia

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Often referred to collectively as Central Asia, the countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan contain a diverse array of cultures and landscapes worth experiencing in person. Cultural landmarks along the Silk Road, like the 11th century Burana Tower, showcase the ancient architectural ingenuity found within the region, while majestic wonders like Charyn Canyon and Iskanderkul Lake reveal its stunning natural beauty.

Here are 10 extraordinary places in Central Asia worth exploring.

Pamir Highway

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Formally known by its Soviet road number M-41, the colloquially known Pamir Highway follows part of the ancient Silk Road trade route through the rugged Pamir Mountains. The famous road was paved mostly by the Soviets in the 1930s and has little in the way of signage or formal routing. The Pamir Highway passes through Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, along scenic mountain terrain, across rivers, and through parts of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan as well—making it one of the best ways to see the region up close.

Kaindy Lake

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Situated within Kolsay Lakes National Park in southern Kazakhstan, Kaindy Lake was formed in 1911 when a limestone landslide dammed up a gorge and it was filled with water from a mountain river. The beautiful lake, which reaches 1,300 feet long and 98 feet deep, has a blueish-green hue due to the deposit of limestone in the water. Kaindy Lake is also notable for the Asian spruce trunks rising above its surface, giving it the nickname “sunken forest.”

Mo'ynoq

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In the sands of western Uzbekistan lies the former fishing town of Mo'ynoq. The once populous community has dwindled by the thousands since its heyday in the 1980s, when the Aral Sea still lapped up against the shores there. Over time, destructive irrigation practices of nearby cotton farms depleted the water to such an extent that it eventually evaporated altogether. Today, the fishing, the sea, and most of the people who once lived there are gone, leaving only the rusting remnants of the former beachfront stuck alone in the sand. Visitors to Mo'ynoq can take Jeep tours of what's left of the former seaside village and see the city museum, which details what life was once like there.

Burana Tower

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In the Chuy Valley of northern Kyrgyzstan, the 82-foot-tall Burana Tower stands as the last remaining vestige of the ancient city of Balasagun. Built by the Karakhanids in the 11th century, the structure is what’s known as a minaret—a tower built near mosques often used in the Muslim call to prayer. Burana Tower is made of brick and features an external staircase to the top, as well as a staircase on the inside. Although the tower is one of the oldest standing structures in Central Asia, it is not in its original state, having been reduced over the years from the height of 148 feet by earthquakes.

Door to Hell

Dunk / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

A collapsed natural gas reservoir in a Turkmenistan cavern known as the Darvaza gas crater has been burning for decades and is often referred to as the Door to Hell. Although the specific dates are disputed, the story goes that Soviet engineers discovered the gas field sometime in the 1970s, and when they tried to assess the viability of the site and set up a rig, the reservoir collapsed. In an attempt to keep poisonous gases from the nearby village of Darvaza, the engineers set fire to the site and it has been burning ever since. Today, the Door to Hell has become a popular tourist attraction, with visitors pitching tents to camp in the desert sand close by.

Charyn Canyon

YRABOTA / Shutterstock

Part of Charyn National Park in Kazakhstan, Charyn Canyon is a mesmerizing natural wonder that runs 56 miles along the Charyn River. Beautiful rock sculptures formed by water and wind erosion can be found along the stunning two-mile-long Valley of Castles. The colorful and intricate red sandstone patterns adorning the walls throughout the canyon can be observed from a variety of hiking trails or from a white water raft or canoe in the river below.

Registan Square

Carol Adam / Getty Images

Registan, or “sandy place” in Persian, was the center of the ancient city of Samarkand in modern day Uzbekistan, and stands today as an impressive remnant of the Timurid Empire. The highlight of Registan Square are the three "madrassas," Arabic for “schools,” that border the square. The first one built, Ulugh Beg Madrasa, was constructed from 1417 to 1420 by the grandson of the first Timurid ruler, Timur, and features a large, vaulted hall called an iwan, with two towering minarets on either side. The other two madrassas, Sher-Dor Madrasa and Tilya-Kori Madrasa, were built centuries later in the early and mid-17th century.

Iskanderkul Lake

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Roughly 7,000 feet up in the Fann Mountains of the Sughd Province of Tajikistan lies the greenish-blue waters of Iskanderkul. The glacial lake was formed by a landslide that blocked the Saratogh River and is named after Alexander the Great, who passed through Tajikistan during his conquests. Along with the forests, rivers, and meadows surrounding it, the lake has been designated as a nature reserve and is popular tourist attraction due to its close proximity to the country’s capital, Dushanbe. Iskanderkul and the nature reserve that it’s a part of are home to a wide variety of birds—from sulphur-bellied warblers and white-winged snow finches to Himalayan rubythroats and fire-fronted serins.

Tomb of Ahmad Sanjar

Michael Runkel / Getty Images

Located within the medieval city of Merv in modern-day Turkmenistan, the Tomb of Ahmad Sanjar stands as a stunning example of 12th century architecture in the region. The structure is built from stucco, brick, terra cotta, and plaster, and features 46-foot-high walls in the shape of a cube with a large dome on top if it. Originally built in 1157, the mausoleum was made in honor of the recently deceased Seljuk ruler Ahmad Sanjar and was destroyed by the Mongols in 1221. The tomb was rebuilt several times over the centuries by a variety of groups, however, and today it's a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the rest of the ancient city of Merv.

WITGOAWAY / Getty Images

The alpine lake of Song Kul sits 9,895 feet high in the mountainous northern region of the Naryn Province in Kyrgyzstan. The 167-square-mile lake is the largest freshwater lake in Kyrgyzstan and is nestled between the Moldo Too mountains to the south and the Songkul Too ridge to the north. Song Kul and the grassy fields surrounding it are especially popular among travelers in the summertime. Visitors to the beautiful mountain lake enjoy swimming, hiking, camping, and horseback riding at the scenic alpine getaway.

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Our Complete Central Asia Itinerary

25 April 2018.

Wedged between China, Russia, Iran and Afghanistan, Central Asia or ‘the ‘stans’ are slowly gaining momentum as the next big travel destination.

Striking mountains and the boundless desert set the scene for epic hikes and bucket list worthy road trips, while harsh Soviet cities and dazzling silk road masterpieces weave together fragments of this region’s fascinating and often brutal past.

There are so many ways to travel through Central Asia and at a first glance it can all feel a little overwhelming, and that’s before things like transport logistics and visas get thrown into the mix. But things are changing slowly with the relaxing of entry requirements and constantly improving tourist infrastructure meaning it’s never been a better time to visit.

We spent almost four months in Central Asia guided by the changing seasons and chopping and changing plans on a whim as new and exciting destinations popped up on our radar. We were forced to skip over a number of places that sat high on our list for the simple reason that there was no reasonable or affordable way to get there. We lost far too much time in the cities merely because they provided the comforts of home we had so desperately been craving. In short, our trip didn’t always unfold in the most logical of ways, but it was pretty amazing nonetheless.

Need some help in planning your own adventure? This was our complete Central Asia itinerary, where we went, where we loved, what we wished we’d done differently and where is earmarked for next time around.

* This post includes affiliate links and any purchases made through these links will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. *

Entry + Exit Point  |   Almaty, Kazakhstan

Duration  |  This route took us 3.5 months or 110 days – 25 in Kazakhstan, 47 in Kyrgyzstan, 22 in Tajikistan, 14 in Uzbekistan and a final 2 days in Kazakhstan before flying out. In the capital cities, we made use of the decent wifi to catch up on work and so generally spent far more time there than was strictly necessary. For those with less time, this route could absolutely be condensed into a shorter period or chopped to leave out one country or another altogether.

Time of Year  |  We arrived in Almaty in mid-July at the height of summer and left in early November when the leaves had fallen from the trees and snow covered the mountains. The seasons heavily dictated our route and ultimately, this was probably the best time frame for this length of trip and itinerary. Yes, the cities were excruciatingly hot but the mountains were lush green and comfortable for hiking while the Uzbek desert offered up cool autumn days.

Countries Covered  |  Of the 5 Stans, Turkmenistan was the one we didn’t make it to. For this trip, the difficulty in obtaining a visa just didn’t seem worth the hassle for the very limited number of travel days allowed if approved. Plus, there was so much we were excited to see in the remaining countries that it didn’t feel like we were missing out.

25 days   |   July + August

Our journey through Central Asia began in Kazakhstan, between the leafy boulevards and bustling markets of its former capital,  Almaty , incidentally a perfect place to begin your own trip through the region.

After getting lost in the Green Bazaar, touring the city’s churches and parks, gorging on the fantastic international cuisine on offer and enjoying a sunset from Kok Tobe, we took a day trip to the mountains to enjoy the hiking near Medeu and Shymbulak. There are a variety of trails leading to waterfalls and spectacular viewpoints, though our favourite was the fairly challenging Four Peaks Trail .

Once you’ve had your fill of the city, head east toward the desert where you’ll find the burnt orange Charyn Canyon  and the brilliant blue oasis of  Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy . Though transport in these parts is a little tricky, it’s well worth staying overnight to give you a little more time to explore.

If bright city lights are your thing, don’t miss the sparkling metropolis of Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana) in the country’s north along with a day or weekend trip to the lakes at nearby Borovoe National Park . In truth, our main reason for heading north was to attend the Astana Expo but otherwise we’d probably have skipped this area in favour of exploring the beautiful landscapes of the south instead.

Kazakhstan Itinerary  |  Almaty  – Charyn Canyon – Kolsai Lakes – Saty + Lake Kaindy – Almaty – Astana – Borovoe National Park – Astana – Almaty

Border Crossings  |  Flew in direct with Air Astana from Beijing and left via the Kordai crossing on the marshrutka between Almaty and Bishkek.

Highlights  |  Almaty, Kolsai Lakes, Lake Kaindy and Charyn Canyon

Next Time  |  Kazakhstan is enormous and there were a number of places that fell off our itinerary purely based on price and logistics. Multi-days tours were often wildly expensive and with few other tourists to share the costs with, we often struggled to justify the high prices and instead chose to splurge on the bucket-list items later in the trip like the Pamir Highway and Peak Lenin. With a bigger budget or simply more time to spend in the south, places on the list for next time would include Altyn Emel National Park, Altay Mountains, Mangistau, Turkestan and Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve. The Baikonur Cosmodrome could also be an interesting addition if your trip coincides with a rocket launch.

Things We’d Change  |  In hindsight, we’d probably skip over Astana as it didn’t quite win us over and the long travel time to and from Almaty left us needing a few days to recover. Instead, we’d have used the time to visit some of the places mentioned above or take the Karkara Valley border crossing between Charyn Canyon and Karakol, Kyrgyzstan instead of backtracking to Almaty.

Things To Do In Nur-Sultan: Kazakhstan’s City of Lights

A Complete Guide To Charyn Canyon | Kazakhstan’s Mini Grand Canyon

The Best Things To Do In Almaty | Kazakhstan

Kolsai Lakes and Lake Kaindy: Everything You Need To Know To Plan Your Trip

Things To Do In Burabay | Kazakhstan

47 days   |   august + september.

After more than a week of catching up on work in Bishkek, enjoying the cafe scene and eating our body weight in Korean fried chicken, it was time to hit the trails.

In a country that’s more than 90 per cent mountains, prepare to be doing a lot of hiking. From Karakol, the popular 3-day trek to turquoise Alakol Lake and the rejuvenating hot springs at Altyn Arashan is a good place to start. For something truly off the beaten path, explore the trails around Jyrgalan before setting off for the ochre rockface of Jeti-Oguz and its lush Valley of Flowers.

Mountain antics aside, be sure to allocate some time for relaxation along the southern shores of Issyk Kul. The tiny villages dotted around the lake provide a tranquil setting to slip into a slower pace. Choose one and stay a while or hop your way along the shoreline. I chose to spend my time in tiny Tosor in the hopes of visiting Fairy Tale Canyon and the Barskoon Valley, but Tamga and Kaji Say also sound like decent options.

From Bishkek make your way toward Osh by taxi, flight or overnight cargo bus and either head to Arslanbob to enjoy the shade of the world’s largest walnut grove or make a beeline for the Pamir Highway .

Our final night in Kyrgyzstan spent at Tulparkul Lake in the shadow of Peak Lenin and amidst a sea of rolling hills and shimmering lakes was one of the highlights of our time in Central Asia.

Kyrgyzstan Itinerary   |  Bishkek – Karakol – Jyrgalan – Alakol and Altyn Arashan Trek – Karakol – Jeti Oguz – Tosor – Bishkek – Osh – Arslanbob – Osh – Tulpar Kul Lake

Border Crossings  |  Arrived by marshrutka through the Kordai crossing between Almaty and Bishkek and left via the Kyzylart Pass between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Highlights  |  hiking in the mountains around Karakol, southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake, Tulpar Kul Lake

Next Time  |  Kyrgyzstan is experiencing something of a tourism revolution with spectacular new destinations being added to the map every few months along with better tourist infrastructure. A few I’d love to check out are Kol Suu, Son Kul, Ala Archa National Park and Karavshin Gorge. There were also a number of places I’d love to have spent more time, such as the many villages along the southern shore of Issyk Kul and the stunning mountains at Sary Moghul and Tulpar KuI.

Things We’d Change  |  Despite being in the midst of the walnut harvest season, a bad spring meant the forests around Arslanbob were somewhat disappointing. If you’re planning to visit, definitely check up on the situation before arriving.

Climbing Lenin Peak: The Mountain, The Mystique and The Very Misleading

Hiking to Alakol and Altyn Arashan Without A Guide

Walnuts and Waterfalls: The Best Things To Do In Arslanbob | Kyrgyzstan

A Short Guide To Jeti-Oguz | Kyrgyzstan

Hiking in Jyrgalan, Getting Off The Beaten Path in Kyrgyzstan

22 days   |   september.

The Pamir Highway is the road trip of a lifetime and should absolutely be on your Central Asia itinerary.

From Osh, Tulparkul Lake on the Kyrgyzstan side is an ideal starting point and one of the most spectacular places we’ve ever seen. From there, trace the lonely road through the Pamir Mountains past mirrorlike lakes, jagged peaks and the verdant knot of the Wakhan Valley. Throw in a few high altitude hikes and a collection of remote mountain villages and you’re in for one hell of an adventure.

We opted to head away from the classic route, travelling instead to Rangkul and Jarty Gumbez before weaving through the Wakhan Valley and onwards to Khorog and Dushanbe . We spent about 10 days in Dushanbe relaxing, working and organising our Uzbek visas but ordinarily one or two days in the city is enough, especially as Uzbek visas can now be done online.

Truth be told, we found Tajikistan much harder to get around than the other countries in Central Asia and by this point in the trip the travel fatigue was definitely starting to creep in. Almost every destination required a 4WD taxi that may or may not be going on a certain day, was generally rather expensive and came with the extra hassle of negotiating fares. The Pamir Highway was absolutely incredible, but these other factors certainly limited our willingness to explore much further afield.

Tajikistan Itinerary  |  Pamir Highway via Wakhan Valley – Khorog – Dushanbe (see exact itinerary here )

Border Crossings  |  Arrived via the Kyzylart Pass between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and left into Uzbekistan at the Turnisoda/Denau crossing. In 2018, the Penjikent border was finally reopened and is now the much better option for travelling between Dushanbe and Samarkand.

Highlights  |  Pamir Highway

Next Time  |  The Fann Mountains and Bartang Valley are definitely on the cards.

The Best Things To Do In Dushanbe | 24 Hours In Tajikistan’s Capital

16 Useful Things To Know Before Driving The Pamir Highway

An Epic 10-Day Itinerary For The Pamir Highway

14 days   |   october.

From the stark mountains to the riches of the ancient silk road. Immaculate blue mosaics, soaring minarets and rambling alleyways unite the main cities of Uzbekistan, though each reveals a unique character of its own.

Marvel at the enormous madrassas of Samarkand and the narrow corridors of Shah-i-Zinda before moving onto the bright chambers and leafy plazas of Bukhara . While these cities are the most famous, understated and often overlooked Khiva  was our favourite of the lot.

Uzbekistan Itinerary  |  Samarkand – Bukhara – Khiva – Tashkent

Border Crossings  |  Travelled to Samarkand via at the Turnisoda/Denau crossing from Dushanbe, though these days the Penjikent border is the much better option. Left on the overnight fast train between Tashkent and Almaty.

Highlights  |  Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, as well as the refreshing change in cuisine.

Next Time  |  The environmental devastation of the Aral Sea and the remaining cargo ships in the desert.

Exploring Samarkand, The Magnificent Ancient Kingdom Of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road

A Short Guide To Bukhara | Uzbekistan’s Holiest City

If planning our itinerary through Central Asia left us scratching our heads, then trying to figure out the best way to actually get there took us to new realms of confusion.

An initial search on Skyscanner offered up the best flight routes as 40+ hour ordeals from Sydney with no less than three pointless layovers in random cities across China (that would require an extra visa) before finally touching down in the ‘Stans at a cost higher than a month’s rent each. No thanks! With no logic behind the options that were provided, I decided to ditch the search engines and instead set about mixing and matching every possible combination of flights between Sydney and destinations in Asia or the Middle East that offered direct connections to Central Asia.

Truth be told, depending on where you’re arriving from, there may be very little choice of flights. In general, Almaty is served by a wide range of airlines making it an excellent and economical arrival point, while Kyrgyzstan’s growing popularity makes Bishkek the next best option. Tashkent, Dushanbe and Ashgabat still have very limited international flights and are served by few airlines.

From Australia, it worked out much cheaper to book our flights separately. This also allowed much better connections than those offered on any of the search engines and with more reputable airlines. From Sydney, we flew to Beijing with Qantas for a 5-hour layover before changing to Air Astana direct to Almaty. Air Astana’s widening network across Asia makes it a good choice from most major hubs in the region.

From the Americas, virtually everyone I met had arrived via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or via Moscow with Aeroflot, both of which offer easy connections at competitive prices.

Getting to Central Asia from Europe is easy with direct flights from a number of capital cities, particularly during summer. Low-cost airline Pegasus is generally the cheapest option with regular flights to Europe via Istanbul year round.

Start looking at flight options on Skyscanner here.

Overlanding your way from Asia or Europe? It’s possible to cross into Central Asia from all neighbouring countries, though China, Iran and Russia are the most common entry/exit points and all require special visas. For up-to-date info on all relevant border crossings in the region, see here .

If you’re travelling the Trans-Siberian, it’s also possible to travel across the border into Kazakhstan, but you’ll need a double entry visa if you intend on returning to Russia.

At Central Asia’s far eastern point, where the sprawling desert runs into the Caspian Sea, it’s possible to leave by ferry. Running on an unpredictable and highly changeable schedule, ferries depart from Aktau in Kazakhstan and Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan for Azerbaijan and Russia. See this guide for more info.

Central Asia Travel : A Complete Beginner’s Guide To Travelling The Silk Road

The Ultimate Packing Guide For Central Asia

A Quick Guide To The Visas You’ll Need For Central Asia

Hi, this is incredible. It’s so helpful, I can’t thank you enough. I wanted to know if you got around okay with just English, or if there’s a language barrier, and what you did to overcome it.

So glad it was helpful for you! I did manage to get by, but there is definitely a language barrier and outside of the major cities and touristy towns you’ll find very few people who speak English. I would definitely recommend learning the Cyrillic alphabet and downloading Google Translate with the Russian dictionary as it’s very widely spoken in all countries. Of course, this isn’t foolproof and I had many locals in small rural villages type things in their local dialect or the national language which wouldn’t translate, but generally, people were so friendly and keen to help that you just muddle your way through. A good attitude, a smile and some charades are always a good place to start. Learning at least a few key phrases will also be a big help!

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You are here: Home » Travel » Central Asia Travel: The Ultimate Guide and Resource

Central Asia Travel: The Ultimate Guide and Resource

Last Updated on November 12, 2022 by Audrey Scott

Travel in Central Asia, the little known and under-visited ‘stans along the Silk Road. What is there really to see and do? And is it safe to travel there? After spending over three months traveling overland through Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) we've answered these questions countless times.

Our Central Asia Travel Ultimate Guide and Resource provides an overview to the region for those unfamiliar. Then it offers an extensive recommendations on what to do and see in each of the countries in this fascinating region, as well as practical travel details to help you plan and book your trip.

Deserts and dictators. Yurts and nomads. Silk Road cities, staggering yet underrated mountain ranges, Soviet detritus, and one of the world's greatest road trips.

This is Central Asia. The ‘Stans. Never well understood, but absolutely worth an attempt to understand.

Although a visit to Southeast Asia kicked off our around-the-world journey, the former Soviet Union – the Caucasus and Central Asia (known as the ‘Stans) — was the real impetus for our trip. Before we'd set off, Audrey had worked with these countries (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan) remotely from a desk in Prague, Czech Republic for over four years. During that time, she'd built up an appetite to experience them firsthand.

I, too, was game. But our guidebook made the region sound somewhat menacing.

Truth was, we weren't really quite sure what to expect.

Some of you may be thinking and many of you have asked: “Central Asia? Is there really anything to see and do there? What about safety? ”

Yes, and yes. Now let's go!

Note: This post was originally published on May 6, 2011 and updated on November 6, 2018.

Table of Contents

What to See and Do in Central Asia

If you're looking for something off-path in all ways literal and figurative, Central Asia makes a good travel candidate. Filled with incredible mountain landscapes , friendly people and quirky experiences of the Soviet hangover variety, Central Asia is hard to beat when it comes to raw, discover-the-world potential. To this day, it remains one of our favorite and most fulfilling travel experiences.

Because tourism is still relatively new across Central Asia (for us, this was one of its appeals), there isn't the same fully fleshed out tourism infrastructure that you’ll find throughout the rest of Asia. So you'll have to make an effort. The flip side is that you’ll find friendly locals to shepherd you to your next — and often unexpected — adventure.

Still curious and undaunted about what you’ll find in the ‘Stans of Central Asia? From west to east, here’s a country-by-country beginner’s guide to some of our favorite travel spots and experiences in the region.

Kyrgyzstan Travel Information

If you must choose one country to visit in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan might just be it. Not only is the country over 90% mountainous and studded with beautiful landscapes, but the traditional nomadic culture and people are warm and welcoming.

Kyrgyzstan also has good community-based tourism (CBT) and DMO (Destination Management Organization) networks throughout the country that make it easy to get information in English, connect and interact with locals, book local tours, stay in yurts, and take mountain treks by foot or on horseback with local guides.

Additionally, Kyrgyzstan has visa-free travel for many nationalities, making it free from many of the bureaucratic headaches in the region.

Standing at a crossroads geographically, culturally and even culinarily, Karakol in eastern Kyrgyzstan has a multi-ethnic diversity that influences its people, food, markets, and general feel of the town. Only a few years ago, however, Karakol was seen only as a jumping off point for trekking in the nearby Tian Shan Mountains without much to do in the town itself except to visit the Dungan Mosque, Russian Orthodox Church and a cafe or two.

Much has changed recently in Karakol and its worth planning a few days there, whether you're heading into the mountains or not. The town — via Destination Karakol — is now engaging travelers in its multi-ethnic and crossroads cultural and culinary context through a series of immersive food, walking and cultural tours .

Disclosure: We helped Destination Karakol develop these tours as part of our tourism development advisory . So, we think they are pretty cool and think you will as well.

More reading: An Experiential Travel Guide to Karakol, Kyrgyzstan: 25 Ideas to Get You Started

Karakol Animal Market

We arrived in Karakol, a sleepy town on the eastern fringe of Kyrgyzstan in time for its Sunday animal market. With an early rise, we enjoyed the scene as old men in kalpaks (traditional Kyrgyz hats) bargain away for stubborn donkeys and fat-rumped sheep.

Altyn Arashan Trek

Hike around 4-5 hours from the town of Karakol to Altyn Arashan, a natural mountain hot spring. Stay for the night and you can spend as long as you'd like relaxing in pools of piping hot water. Feels sooooo good after a day of hiking. Stars up there are also amazing.

If you have more time, continue in the morning to Ala Kol Lake. Although we and our companion had to turn back because of a blizzard whiteout due to it being late in the season, other friends all had great things to say about the trek.

Update: If you're interested in exploring other lesser known trails, take a look at this list of treks near Karakol . These trails were marked in 2017 and are included in the trekking map you can find at the Destination Karakol office.

Jyrgalan Village

If you're interested in outdoor activities and staying close to the mountains check out Jyrgalan village about 60 km from Karakol. Located in Jyrgalan valley the village offers the ideal jumping off point for trekking, horse back riding and mountain biking as you don't need to arrange transport to the trailhead; you can start straight from the village. And the village atmosphere and laid back nature is part of Jyrgalan's charm.

In addition, Jyrgalan has quite an interesting and inspirational transformational story — from dying former Soviet coal mining village to eco-tourism hub focused on adventure travel activities. This means that when you book a trekking tour , horseback riding trip , rent a mountain bike or stay at a family guesthouse your tourism money is staying in the community.

Recommended treks in Jyrgalan Valley: We've done the 3-day Boz Uchuk Lakes Trek and can highly recommend that trail. We've also heard good things about the 4-day Kesenkiya Loop . Here is a full list of day and multi-day treks in Jyrgalan Valley .

South Shore of Lake Issyk Kul and Manjyly

Various subranges of the Tian Shan mountains surround both the southern and northern shores of Issyk Kul, the world's second largest mountain lake. The point? You never have a bad view when you’re at Issyk Kul.

Spend a night at Manzhyly yurt camp on the south shore of the lake. Do some hiking, talk with a friendly shepherd, eat a wonderful home-cooked Kyrgyz meal and sleep as soundly you ever have in the dark womb of a Kyrgyz mountain yurt.

If you really want to go into traditional Kyrgyz nomadic culture you can also now take part in Salbuurun (traditional Kyrgyz hunting with a golden eagle and taigan hunting dog), yurt building, and shyrdak making (traditional Kyrgyz felt carpet) workshops and tours with CBT Bokonbaevo.

More reading: A Perfect Day in Kyrgyzstan and Issyk-Kul South Shore Experiential Travel Guide

Song Kul Lake

Combine great mountain scenery and a glimpse into rural Kyrgyz life with a three-day horse trek from Kochkor to Song Kul Lake. Sleep in yurts along the trail and on the edge of the lake. In the spring to summer months, you'll run into shepherds tending their animals in the hills.

We went in October and were blessed with a view of the first snows on the lake and the animal drive as shepherds took their animals to their villages in lower altitudes for the winter. Even if you have no experience on a horse (like us), you'll be able to manage. After all, we did. Just don't expect to walk normally the next day.

More reading: A Ramadan Experience at Song Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan

Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan was considered a midpoint along one of the main Silk Road East-West arteries and it has been a crossroads trading center for millennia. In fact, the city is estimated at over 3,000 years old and Jayma Bazaar, still the city's biggest market, has been operating in that same place for over 2,000 years. Trade and migration over the centuries helped evolve Osh into the culturally diverse urban center you see today, one that is home to more than 80 ethnicities.

Many travelers come through Osh on their way to/from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or China as the city is in close proximity to these border crossings. That was how we first visited Osh over ten years ago as we were en route to the Pamir Highway and Tajikistan.

More recently, however, we've had the opportunity to spend more time in Osh and its laid back, hospitable, and multi-cultural feel has made it one of our favorite cities in Kyrgyzstan. It's worth spending a few days walking its streets and engaging with friendly locals. Not to mention, its food scene is considered one of the best in the country.

Because it's a big city and spread out, Osh can be hard to get your head around and really understand well. Fortunately, in the last few years a series of walking and food-related tours have been created to help travelers connect better with the city's unique history, culture and cuisine. Disclosure: We worked with the founder, Atabek, as part of our tourism development consulting in Osh. So, we think they are pretty cool and think you will as well.

More reading: An Experiential Travel Guide to Osh, Kyrgyzstan: 20 Ideas to Get You Started

Pamir-Alay Mountains (Southern Kyrgyzstan)

It's hard not to be blown away by the beauty of the Pamir-Alay Mountains in southern Kyrgyzstan — no matter whether you are on a road trip along the Pamir Highway or if you are immersing yourself into the mountains with a bit of trekking.

We'd recommend stopping off for a few days in the Alay Region , perhaps using Sary Mogul as a base, and go on one of the newly marked day or multi-day treks in the area. Many of these treks have views of snow-covered Peak Lenin at 7,134 meters / 23,406 feet, which is truly stunning. And, you often have the opportunity to meet shepherds and their families living in yurts along the trail. Special.

Our favorite treks in the Alay Mountain area include the multi-day Heights of Alay Trek (four or six days) or the Koshkol Lakes day trek. You can find a full list of treks and information on guided treks and tours .

More reading: Trekking in the Alay Mountains, Kyrgyzstan: The Ultimate Guide

Uzbekistan Travel Information

Uzbekistan offers some of the best-developed tourism infrastructure in the region thanks to its Silk Road cities. A range of guest houses, train connections, and tour companies connect the region and make it easy to get around independently.

For additional stories, experiences, and information, check out all of our articles about travel in Uzbekistan .

Classic Silk Road Cities: Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva

Get your fill of Silk Road snapshots and history along Uzbekistan's Silk Road route: Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Shakhrisabz. Although Samarkand is the most architecture-loaded, each of the cities is worth a look.

Our favorite is Bukhara, perhaps because it feels like living history. People still live in many of its old buildings, and merchants still bargain in the same market areas, much as they might have a thousand years ago. Additionally, it’s hard to find a friendlier and more colorful fresh market than the one on the outskirts of town.

More reading: A Real Peek at Uzbekistan's Silk Road: A Reflective Scavenger Hunt

Nukus and Moynaq

Nukus doesn't have any Silk Road glam, but it is home to the eclectic Savitsky Museum, which somehow escaped Soviet censorship. It's also home to Mizdakhan, an extraordinary cemetery featuring mini-mosques and marble- and stone-engravings of the dead.

Once a fishing town on the Aral Sea, Moynaq is today's bone-dry testament to man's stunning ability to prosecute war on nature. Rusted boats lay across land that was once shoreline, but is now desert. In full disclosure, we did not visit here but after talking with other travelers we regret this decision.

Turkmenistan Travel Information

From a red tape and visa perspective, Turkmenistan is the trickiest of all Central Asian countries to navigate. But don’t cross it off your list immediately, for it will likely surprise you and reward you for your perseverance.

For additional stories, experiences, and information, check out all of our articles about traveling in Turkmenistan .

Caspian Sea

If you have some flexibility in your schedule and you find yourself in Azerbaijan looking for a way out, we highly recommend taking the overnight ferry across the Caspian Sea from Baku, Azerbaijan to Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan. Talk about a stunning and peaceful way to transition to a new region. Just stay away from the woman attendant on board who looks like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

More reading : Reflections Crossing the Caspian Sea .

Las Vegas meets Pyong Yang in Turkmenistan’s quirky capital city of white marble, fountains and 20-mile “health walks.” While the rotating gold statue of Turkmenbashi is no longer on display, there are still plenty of reminders of Turkmenistan's bizarre, self-consumed former leader (let us know if Turkmenbashi vodka is still on the market – good stuff).

Ashgabat's Tolkuchka market on Sundays is the largest open air market in Central Asia. It's definitely worth getting yourself out of bed to get there early. And if you look hard enough, you’ll find an active disco scene complete with Russian mafia, gorgeous women and enough drama to pack a Brazilian soap opera.

More reading: Ashgabat, The City of Love: A Scavenger Hunt

Gonur Depe, Merve and Konye-Urgench

Kick up 1000s of years of relatively undiscovered history as you walk just about any of Turkmenistan's archaelogical sites. Check out the mostly unexcavated site of Gonur Depe where you're literally sifting through 4,000 years of history. Yes, 4000 years! Then, stop by the cities of Merv and Konye-Urgench for a taste of Turkmenistan's station on the Silk Road.

More reading: Kicking Up 4,000 Years of History in Turkmenistan

Darvaza Gas Crater

Standing at the edge of a collapsed, blazing natural gas crater in the Karakum desert is one part hellishly hot, another part downright cool, particularly when you appreciate it from a tent, full moon overhead. Along the way there, pop by the oasis village of Jerbent for a peek at desert life that feels Thunderdome-ish and otherworldly.

More reading: Natural and Not-so-Natural History Sites in Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan Travel Information

Even though we enjoyed two “we’re going to die here” experiences in a relatively short time — crossing the land border from Uzbekistan and getting lost in the Tian Shan mountains – we still recommend you visit Kazakhstan. Among other things, you'll find that the film Borat is more than a little shy of reality.

For additional stories and experiences, check out our catalog of articles from our travels in Kazakhstan .

Big Almaty Lake and Kosmostancia

The Tian Shan mountains just outside Almaty provide some great hiking opportunities. Take a city bus into the base of the mountains and follow the trails up or walk atop a giant water pipe to Big Almaty Lake and enjoy the mountains and its surreal blue water.

After the lake, continue further up the mountain path for more surreal, this time of a Soviet variety, at Kosmostancia. Don’t be deterred by the rusted vehicles and abandoned look of the place. Astronomers still live and work in those hills and they usually have a few rooms to rent out. Try to squeeze in a stargazing session with the mad Russian astronomer (if he's still there) and his big telescope. If you continue over the mountain pass, be sure to carry a real trekking map. We didn't and very nearly disappeared, for real.

More reading: Big Almaty Lake and Kosmostancia: The Hike and The Observatory and Getting Lost in the Tian Shan Mountains (or, How Kazakhstan Nearly Killed Us)

Tajikistan Travel Information

Unlike their neighbors, Tajiks are of Persian rather than Turkic origin. For this reason, Tajikistan features cultural, physical and culinary differences from the rest of Central Asia.

For additional stories, experiences, and information on traveling in Tajikistan, check out all of our articles about traveling in Tajikistan .

Pamir Highway Road Trip

Most of our time in Tajikistan was spent in the Pamir Mountains on the border with Afghanistan. We began our journey across the Pamir Highway in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, which we highly recommend for a view of Peak Lenin (7135 meters or 23406 feet) on the way to the border.

Make your way from the high desert outpost of Murghab through a series of mountainous roads with views of the Hindu Kush in Pakistan to Langar at the start of the lush Wakhan Valley. The local Pamiri people are renowned for being some of the friendliest people on earth; they will literally try to give you the shirt off their back if you need it. Try to fit in a visit to Bibi Fatima hot springs (supposedly good for fertility) and the nearby ruined fortress. You’ll be peeking into Afghanistan across the river the whole way.

To visit the Pamir Mountains, you must apply for a GBAO permit at the same time you apply for your visa. It's now available online as an e-visa these days which simplifies the process greatly.

More reading: Pamir Mountains: A Beginner's Guide

Tajik Air Over the Pamir Mountains

Among the most frightening and stunning flight we’ve ever experienced. In an unpressurized plane where person and bag has been weighed before takeoff, we flew through (not over, through) the Pamir Mountains on the way from Khorog, Tajikistan to the country's capital city of Dushanbe.

Once you arrive in Dushanbe, we recommend spending time in the city's fresh markets where people are incredibly friendly and curious.

More reading and video: Badakhshani Express: Scraping the Pamir Mountains with Tajik Air

Central Asia Travel Itinerary

If you don’t have a few months to spend in the region, let your theme of choice (e.g, Silk Road cities, desert, mountain adventures and trekking) guide you. Or, combine a few together like a bit of history in Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan paired with some trekking our nomadic culture in Kyrgyzstan.

Then, find a country (or two or three) that suits your needs. You can cross over from country to country by flight or land transport. For more ideas on where and what to do and see in Central Asia, read: Golden Camel Awards: Sights, People and Scenery . You can also see the (mostly) overland route we took from Turkmenistan to Tajikistan on the Google Map below.

If you are hesitant to travel independently because of the logistical arrangements required, or you prefer to travel with a small group and local guide, check out the new G Adventures Central Asia tour that covers many of the same sites mentioned above. We've taken more than a dozen tours with G Adventures. We can recommend their style of tours, and we also commend how they invest in the local communities and work with local partners where they operate.

Map of our Route Through Central Asia

We began our journey in Central Asia by taking a boat across the Caspian Sea into Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan and crossed into China from Kyrgyzstan over the Torugart Pass just over three months later. You can see the route we took in our three-month journey across Central Asia in the Google MyMap below.

Since then, we've traveled extensively in Kyrgyzstan on a tourism development project. Despite the relatively significant amount of time and depth of our travel in this region, a long list of places we'd like to visit “next time” in Central Asia remains.

When to Travel to Central Asia

This region is great from springtime to fall, albeit it is a bit hot in the cities and lower elevation areas in the summer. In general, you'll probably want to avoid traveling in Central Asia in the winter unless you are targeting a specific outdoor activity, favor extreme winter adventure in the mountains or generally enjoy cold temperatures and gray skies.

We traveled through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in July/August. Although it was the hottest time of year (100+ F), the dry desert heat didn't bother us. Mountain areas in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (e.g., Pamir Mountains, Wakhan Valley, Tian Shan) can become numbingly cold as early as October. If you travel in the mountains during this time (and even as early as late August or September), be prepared to dress warmly at night, and in removable layers during the day.

Is Central Asia Safe to Visit?

Yes, it is currently safe to travel in Central Asia. We never felt unsafe during the three months we traveled through Central Asia independently. Note that we were on every form of public and private transport available. And, we traveled on a budget.

At the time, our guidebook made us fearful of police harassment and bribery, but we never once encountered this. We were asked for our papers once, from a policeman in the Tashkent metro, whereupon we pretended not to speak Russian. He apologized and went on his way. If you must provide your passport, begin with a paper or laminated copy first ( read this for more passport safety tips ). Regardless, safety precautions and current event awareness is important while traveling in Central Asia, especially as you select which destinations you'll visit.

Languages Spoken in Central Asia

Each country in the Central Asia region has their own language (e.g., Turkmen, Kyrgyz, etc.). Most of them use the Cyrillic alphabet, but some are changing over to the Latin alphabet. However, Russian is the lingua franca throughout the region. Many young people are learning English, but don’t expect a lot of English speakers anywhere.

Our suggestion is to learn the your numbers in Russian and Cyrillic alphabet (it really isn't that hard) so you can read street and bus signs. Carry a dictionary or download a translation app on your smartphone in case you get stuck.

Central Asia Visas

The visa process is one of the biggest barriers to travel in Central Asia. Bureaucracy and cost can sap both your savings and patience. We arranged our visas independently as we traveled — (i.e., a Turkmenistan visa in Yerevan, Armenia, an Uzbek visa in Baku, Azerbaijan, Kazakh and Kyrgyz visas in Uzbekistan, a Tajik visa in Kyrgyzstan).

Fortunately, the visa application process has become simplified for most Central Asian countries. Kyrgyzstan now offers a visa-free regime for 60 nationalities (and an e-visa process for the rest). Kazakhstan is visa-free for 45 nationalities . Tajikistan now has visa-upon-arrival at Dushanbe Airport as well as an e-visa and GBAO permit process , both of which allow 45 days of travel in the country. From February 2019, Uzbekistan is visa-free for travelers from 45 countries (unfortunately, the United States is not one of them…yet) and has a simplified e-visa program for other travelers.

Turkmenistan's visa regime is still as rigid as ever and usually require sponsorship and a Letter of Invitation from an authorized tour to get a tourist visa.

If you are setting off from your home country we advise you to arrange all of your visas ahead of time, if possible.

For all the nitty gritty details of our said headaches, read: Sex and the Central Asian Visa .

Central Asia Accommodation

Hotels and guest houses in Central Asia run the gamut from pleasant to appalling. In Kyrgyzstan, we used the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) program to book family homestays throughout the country. Many of these homestays are now also available for direct booking on Booking.com and there is a wide range now of accommodation in the towns and cities for all budgets and styles.

Uzbekistan also features guest houses for all budgets, particularly in the major Silk Road cities. It's worth noting that Tashke nt hot els can get expensive.

In the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan, the only place with proper hotels is Khorog. You'll likely have to stay with families in the other Pamir Mountain areas (one of life's greatest experiences). Accommodation in Kazakhstan, especially Almaty , can be shockingly expensive, and you may find yourself sleeping in a brothel if everything else is booked.

For the best and worst of logistics across Central Asia, read: The Golden Camel Awards: Logistics

Central Asia Transportation

Public transportation in Central Asia is surprisingly good, accessible and inexpensive – buses, mashrutkas (minivans), trains and shared taxis run throughout the region, with the exception of along the Pamir Highway/GBAO. In general, shared taxis are a bit more expensive than buses or mashrutkas , but they are often the fastest way to get you to your destination.

Hitchhiking is also common in some areas, and may be required along the Pamir Highway for those on a tight budget.

Central Asian Food

Most don't set off to travel Central Asia for the food. However, the selection, variety and quality of traveler food options in the region has increased over the last few years.

For more details on what to expect from food across Central Asia, read our Central Asia Food and Markets Guide and our deeper dive on Central Asian Food: The Good, the Bad, and the Inedible .

Vegetarianism is not widely understood so it's useful to have a vegetarian useful phrases translation card with you to avoid misunderstandings.

Traveling as a Woman in Central Asia

What is it like traveling as a woman through Central Asia? The Central Asian countries are Muslim, but of a more moderate, open and secular variety than you might find in parts of the Middle East. This, combined with Soviet and Russian influence, can make Central Asia feel like the land of paradox. This paradox can positively impact a woman's travel experience in Central Asia.

How? You will find village women in colorful headscarves, but you'll also find city women wearing mini-skirts so mini that you might be wondering if someone ran out of fabric. Audrey always kept her legs and shoulders covered and wore a head scarf in a few areas of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, partly to fit in and partly to help with the fierce heat and sunshine.

Local women absolutely loved this and Audrey and her headscarf became an attraction and a point of tea, conversation and connection. In places like Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, headscarves are more an exception than a rule. We met several solo female travelers in Central Asia and their experiences echoed similar themes.

Central Asia Guidebooks and Reading

• Central Asia Lonely Planet Guide : Although the section on security and harassment in this guidebook freaked us out a bit before our trip, we found the city maps, historical background, and general information about logistics useful.
• The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia : Great historical context on the geo-political Great Game played by the Russian and British Empires to control routes and access to trade and goods in India and the East.
• Central Asia Phrasebook : If you don't have some Russian language skills under your belt, it might be useful to have a phrasebook like this to navigate public transport, accommodation, food and more.

Any questions about traveling in Central Asia? Leave a comment below and we'll do our best to help.

About Daniel Noll

89 thoughts on “central asia travel: the ultimate guide and resource”.

I’m so happy you did this ’round up’ of central asia. Our experiences traveling through Kyrgyzstan really mirrored yours. Our CBT stays were some of the most memorable and wonderful of any travel, most notably the *very* cold August night we spent in a yurt in the Jai lo. (Summer pastures). I have a few dozen posts with photos and reflections on our trip there, 2 summers ago. I, too, wore a head scarf through most of the country. For sun/dust protection, and to feel less conspicuous, as well as to respect the local mores.

Now, reading this, I want to go back.

Wow – timing-wise, I don’t think this would work for us (we would likely be there in January), unless of course we go around the world TWICE, but would I ever love to!! This seems like such an unknown frontier, I can’t even imagine how incredible this would have been…thanks for sharing!!

This is incredible, you been to places that most of the people I know haven’t visit yet. Love the photos and the deserts.

epic post about what seems to be an epic region. i wish i was going there now just so i could put this guide to use! love the people photos. especially the kyrgyz sheperd. wow.

This is a part of the world I had (I’m almost sad to say) kind of written off – especially Turkmenistan since I have seen it described as being very similar to North Korea.

However, this really makes it look like an awe inspiring, beautiful, and interestingly unique place. To me, the most interesting thing is the mix of middle eastern and asian culture that seems to come through the pictures (and of course Russian as you mentioned). This may be simplifying it a bit – but its certainly there!

This really makes me think that I shouldnt be so quick to assume some parts of the world are “off limits” in some way.

Three months traveling through Central Asia? What a wonderful opportunity to visit essentially an unspoiled part of the world that is beautiful by all accounts! Really enjoyed your photos and clear presentation about the foods, gas craters on fire, local customs, camels and camels and more camels, and the cemetery overview. Very interesting post, really liked it. “TheGourmetCoffeeGuy”

I haven’t even considered a trip to Central Asia before but you photos and descriptions make it look very interesting. It must be nice to travel to an area that isn’t overrun by tourists.

This is so fantastic! I have been really wanting to visit Central Asia (particularly Uzbekistan) for quite awhile now, although I have no idea where the source of this fascination is. Sadly it’s not on the agenda for any time soon, but I’m definitely bookmarking this for later…

This is really useful and inspiring, thanks! Am pretty sure Central Asia is going to be my next big adventure (looking at those photos makes my jaw drop!), but there’s a lot of research to be done first!

@LJCohen: A late-summer yurt in Kyrgyzstan: so cold outside, so warm inside. CBT, yurt stays, Kyrgyz people, the landscape, unbelievably peaceful and cozy nights sleeping in yurts. An epic experience. Although we’re biased (we picked up more than a few Kyrgyz friends while in Kyrgyzstan), the country has a special place in our hearts.

@Skott and Shawna: If you don’t manage to get there this go-round, catch it next time around. You could always try Uzbekistan in January. Not unbearably cold (hovering in and around freezing), but probably not the greatest. Why not go around the world twice? That’s what we’ve done, a few times 🙂

@Sarah: We count ourselves very fortunate for the opportunity to visit this region, particularly when we did. There were so few tourists anywhere (except maybe Uzbekistan’s Silk Road sites). Our interactions with people were all the more special, enlightening for it.

This region is photographically loaded. I hope we managed to do it a fraction of the visual justice it’s due.

@Jamie: Thank you. An epic region, for sure. There’s a lot of history up and down those roads. And a lot of stories, some still hanging around, others unfortunately having died with the people who knew them.

@Jerimi: The news makes Turkmenistan sound pretty far out. On one level, it is. On another level, it’s just full of really engaging, friendly people. I remember walking down the beach along the coast in Turkmenbashi and being invited (over and over again) to picnics with families drinking vodka and eating watermelon.

From that standpoint, not quite North Korea. We were also supremely fortunate in our timing because our visit was only 6 months after the death of Turkmenbashi, so there was an unprecedented level of freedom (and pent up curiosity).

Central Asia is very much a mix of Middle Eastern and Asian. Perhaps Turkic, Mongolian, and with the Tajiks, Persian. The fascinating thing is that as you make your way east, you can see the changes in physical features, until you reach Xinjiang Province in western China.

Man, as I write this, I get chills. Really. This part of the world is a mind-bender in terms of its history and how it connects various parts of the Asian world (I’m thinking Russia, China and South Asia).

Nothing is totally off-limits, I suppose. Let’s just say that everyday media portrayal just makes it seem so.

@Michael: Not overrun by tourists, full of curiosity and loaded with visuals that we travelers are not even accustomed to seeing. In other words, there’s very little cliche in Central Asia (aside from the statues of Lenin, perhaps).

@Stephanie: Uzbekistan equates with the Silk Road, maybe? Also, the name Uzbekistan, just for its pronunciation conjures up something exotic and far out, tucked away. It kinda is.

@Tim: Thanks, Tim. Although the process of writing a post like this is time-intensive, we hope it’s helpful and engaging for readers. Aside from helping people to travel to Central Asia, we’d like to think we’re helping to chip away at some prejudices and stereotypes along the way. Putting a human face on a place seems to help.

@megan: Glad you enjoyed it. There’s a lot of research and there’s certain to be a bureaucratic headache or two on the ground, but it’s worth it.

Absolutely stunning pics!

Amazing trip with pictures to tell…just found you through twitter. Reminds me of my trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan 20 years ago- amazing, looks the same. Great post. Safe trip!

@Pete: Getting your hands dirty in Central Asia — there’s almost no avoiding it. Have fun planning and going and give us a shout if you have questions.

@Claudia: Great to see you here. Gotta love Twitter. Now the ‘Stans 20 years ago — that must have been something else. I’d be especially curious about Kazakhstan under the surface. I feel like we saw it when it was a bit awash with oil wealth.

Excellent post Daniel. We are really going to make a go of this region. We have lots of time, so we can take advantage of each country. I can imagine the visas being the toughest barrier. We would like to take care of these in our home country, but that won’t be an option. Looks like we will have to get our hands dirty on this one… Thanks for the link, I’m certain it will be a valuable resource (already bookmarked).

wow, what a timely article, at least for me. I’ve been planning to go to the ‘Stans awhile back but never managed to sort out any visa. Yes the red tape seems horrendous. Definitely in my list

Great read, guys! I’ve always wanted to visit the ‘Stans! I was curious, how affordable is the region for your typical budget traveller? Is it possible to travel on a daily budget of around $50?

@Amer: Keep it on the list, and let us know when you decide to dive in.

@Tom: In Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan definitely. In Tajikistan, yes also, but the biggest exception in Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan is transport/jeep costs along the Pamir Highway and Wakhan Valley corridor, which you can help to reduce by sharing. In Kazakhstan, accommodation is expensive in the cities. Turkmenistan is tricky. I believe the Turkmen visa regime still recognizes a split: 1) transit visa, 5 days only, you can do your own thing and keep it within budget or 2) tourist visa, but a tour is required, and costs are beyond $50/day.

Great read! I will be in Central Asia for almost 8 weeks this fall (2011). I only have my visas for Kazakhstan ans Uzbekistan. The Uzbekistan visa is next and I will Get my Tajik visa in Tashkent. After reading about your travel experiences I am more anxious to to go.

Love the landscapes! I have never been particularly drawn to Central Asia but I’m now rethinking. Perhaps it’s time to re-shift my travel priorities.

A great post! I think a lot of people miss out on such a fantastic and unique travel experience because of bureaucracy or how the media portrays the region or maybe its just not that well known. I’m definitely biased as well, but if traveling through all five ‘Stans seems too daunting, then Kyrgyzstan is definitely the one to choose, if for no reason other than that you can get 1-month tourist visas in the airport now (don’t listen to the embassy in DC, they don’t know their own visa policy).

Also, I’m HUGE advocate for traveling in KG in the off-season. I’ve been living in Bishkek for 10 months now and most of that was in the winter months so I had no choice but to make the best of winter travel. There are tons of little, picturesque villages only a few hours’ drive from Bishkek, there’s hiking, skiing (SO many ski hills within an hour of Bishkek), horseback riding, or a whole lot of drinking tea, eating plov and meeting wonderful people. It’s a unique experience.

So, seriously, COME TO KYRGYZSTAN! Issyk-Kul is just starting to warm up, Kyrgyz babies are absolutely adorable, and you can crash on my couch if you’re in Bishkek!

This is going to seem totally weird, but I have to say that I have always been fascinated by Central Asia for the reasons that others mentioned – the rich history, that aura of “romanticism”, the bureaucracy, the unflattering media portrayals, the fact that it’s “in the middle of nowhere”, etc. After reading this website, I was even more interested in traveling through these countries. Unfortunately I am only 17 years old! LOL. So, the trip is pretty much out of the question for me in the near future, but this website has definitely opened my eyes.

Even the visa process seemed more reassuring to me after reading this website. I will definitely have to keep this trip in mind. Thank you so much for sharing!

Great post, awesome pictures, and thorough reading on the ‘stans. I have always regarded the ‘stans as mysterious and off-beat (who actually goes there?!..you do!), a destination to be traveled, but probably never will. You sure have shed some light on this area of the world and I definitely feel as if it’s a little less mysterious now! (Although still somewhat shrouded in the vague-how can it not be with a spelling like “kyrgys..oh whatever.) 😉

@Hayley: Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comment. It really made my day. 17 and interested in Central Asia, that is fantastic! And it’s not weird at all — to us at least — that you would be drawn into this region of the world. When you get the chance — you’ll make it happen — go.

@Claire: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. The ‘Stans are definitely offbeat, and once you’ve gone, a little less mysterious, but all the more fascinating.

As for the spelling of Kyrgyzstan, it will always puzzle. After all, a “z” followed by and “s” — who does that?!

Excellent beginner’s guide to Central Asia! I particularly love the gorgeous mountain photography.

@Sonya: Thanks. Central Asia and mountain photography is pretty easy pickins’. As you head east, you’ve got the Tian Shan mountains in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan is almost entirely mountains — including the Pamirs (which are 2nd/3rd only to the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas) which roll right into Tajikistan. You’ve got more as you head into Xinjiang, China and the Karakoram Highway into Pakistan. No shortage of mountains in those parts.

@Laura: Central Asia was definitely unique. As for the time of year to travel Central Asia, we began in July (in Turkmenistan, it was hot) and slowly made our way east. In late October (in Tajikistan, it was cold) we exited to Kashgar, China.

Sounds incredible. When were you there (year and time of year?) if you don’t mind my asking. Thanks for sharing.

I loved all of these photos. The camel is great! Thanks so much for hosting!

Really interested in doing the Silk Road and great to read about your experiences. Have investigated a tour starting in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Mary, Ashgabat that sounds good. Myself and my husband are in our early sixties (but young and active!)and have done a fair bit of travelling – Trans Siberian last year – but have never even met anyone who has been to Central Asia, so a bit nervous. Thought it might be easier to have it arranged? Thinking of Late Sept./early October. Also, heard that air travel is a bit dodgy in the stans? Think we’ll just do it!!!

@Mary: You’ve picked a great itinerary for your trip! And late September/early October would be great weather – not so hot (it was 45 degrees C when we were in Ashgabat in July!), but before the temperatures really drop. For the route that you’re looking at, you could do it all by land (bus & train & jeep). We did take a flight from Mary to Ashgabat, which was fine. But, the Kyrgyz & Tajik Air flights we took were a little higher on the anxiety counter.

Although Central Asia may sound a little “wild,” it’s a rather friendly region to travel through. However, I can completely understand wanting a little help with making arrangements in advance, especially if you don’t speak Russian. We used StanTours for our Turkmen tour and were happy with their service (also used them for visa support in Uzbekistan). They might also be able to help with Uzbekistan as well. Although we haven’t taken this tour ourselves, I feel confident in recommending the G Adventures Uzbekistan Discovery ( http://www.gadventures.com/trips/uzbekistan-discovered/AUUK/2012/ ). G Adventures is one of our main partners and we have taken tours with them in Iran, Japan, Tanzania, Antarctica and Bali and have been happy with the small group size and style of travel.

If you have other questions about traveling in this region, just let us know!

Hi, my father and I are interested in traveling to central Asia for 3-4 weeks, most likely in may. We were considering visiting Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan (Ashbagat to Bishkek); however I know that 3-4 may be a bit of a rush. Does this sound like a reasonable trip for the time of year and amount of time? Our interest is in the history, culture and adventure. However, our uncertainly is mostly in logistics? is it easy to get city to city? is booking accommodations difficult? These are the main concerns I have regarding this trip. Any thoughts you might have to share would be greatly appreciated.

@Luke: You’ve got a great itinerary ahead of you, but 3-4 weeks may be a bit tight. Transport in Uzbekistan between Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara is pretty straightforward and efficient by train. If you want to go further afield (i.e., to Khiva or Nukus) it’s a bit more tricky with buses and shared taxis. Accommodation is easiest to find in Uzbekistan as it has the most tourist infrastructure. In Kyrgyzstan, shared taxis and buses are easy to find and get you around quickly. There’s a great organization called Community Based Tourism that will help you find homestays (if that’s interesting to you), local guides and other help. As for Turkmenistan, we got around mostly through our tour’s transport so I’m not as familiar with local transport options.

Hi Audrey, Thanks so much for your info and also your emails. We didn’t get to go in Sept/Oct this year but are now looking at May next year. Have checked out the Gap website you recommended and it certainly looks interesting. Travelled with Gap already in Vietnam and they were great. Have got another itinerary from http://www.visit-uzbekistan.com . – Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Have you heard of this company – would like to know if you recommend them. Have just looked at your photos again – they are wonderful and I really want to go!

@Mary: So glad that our advice has been useful in your planning and our photos are keeping you inspired to spend time in this region. We have not heard of Visit Uzbekistan, but that doesn’t mean that they are not good. One idea is to post this on the Lonely Planet Thorntree for Uzbekistan to see if anyone has first-hand experience with the company. We used StanTours for our tour through Turkmenistan and were really happy with our guide and service. I believe they also have tours in Uzbekistan as well. That is another option to get a comparison. Good luck!!

Wonderful to see such enthusiasm for the region. As the current editor-in-chief of Open Central Asia magazine I can only echo the thoughts ad encourage people to go and visit and meet the incredible people of Central Asia. We provide further information via our magazine at ocamagazine.com which will complement the work here.

My recent book, Friendly Steppes: A Silk Road journey also portrays Central Asia not as a faraway place filled with madmen but a place of great history and culture that needs more people to experience just what an incredible place it is.

@Nick: Great to hear from you. Yes, let’s hope Central Asia gets the attention it deserves. We carry many memorable stories with us from the region. It also holds a special place for us because we associate it with the beginning of our journey.

In October, 2011 I hitched a ride at the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border crossing with Tajikistan soldiers driving a caravan of Russian-built trucks full of coal. We drove the Pamir Highway to Murghob. It was a memorable journey.

Hi Audrey, Thanks for your reply to my questions about Central Asia some time ago. Can now report that my self and my husband are just back from an amazing trip in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Wonderful friendly people and so safe – never felt in any danger. We visited Taskent, Khiva, Mary, Merv, Ashgabat, Bukhara and Samarkand. The architecture just stunning – everything so exotic – amazing archaeological sites in Turkmenistan and Ashgabat (the white marble city) so completely over the top but a sight to see. People everywhere so frinedly and helpful. Have such great memories and reading the blog again I just want to back and see more of the Stans. I think people thought we were a bit mad going there and were not really very encouraging but they obviously know nothing about this great part of the world and any fears I had were completely unfounded (including air travel)! Just wonderful.

@Thomas: That sounds like quite a memorable journey. That border area is just stunning, and you probably have quite a few stories to share from the soldiers you hitched a ride with to Murghab!

@Mary: Thank you so much for returning and letting us know how your trip went! I’m so glad that you had such an amazing trip. This region really does surprise, doesn’t it? We still have such good memories of the people and hospitality from across the region. All fears we had before we went also quickly vanished. Let us know if you need help or ideas for visiting other countries in the area (e.g., Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan)!

Thank you for sharing, Daniel. Interesting reading and excellent photos. Pretty sure travelling Stans in central asia and caucasus is a long and wonderful journey. Did you use a tour operator? How would you rate hotel accommodation and transportation comparing with US/EU standards? If this is not a secret what was the overall cost? Thanks in advanced

@Cat: We did most of our travel through Central Asia independently and on public transportation without a tour operator. The only part that needed a tour was Turkmenistan because of the visa regulations. We used Stantours for this.

Public transport standards varied from one country to the next. For example, the trains in Uzbekistan were really great. The Mashrutkas in Kyrgyzstan, although not always the most comfortable, were very efficient and fast. We didn’t really stay in proper hotels as they were above our budget – usually we stayed in simple guesthouses, hostels or homestays (e.g., $15-$25/night). We don’t have a total cost for the entire three months we spent in the region, but on average it was around $40-$50/day for the two of us if you take into consideration activities, food, accommodation and transport.

hey there, when did u travel thru central asia n how much did the whole trip cost u (everything included). cheers

@junaid: We visited Central Asia in 2007, so it’s been a while. Difficult to say how much the whole trip cost, but I would venture that we spent about $30/person a day, but that’s all inclusive: accommodation, food, transport and visas. Probably a bit more expensive. The other thing to note is that (and this depends on which country you come from) visa rules and regulations and visa costs vary. Also, the costs for each country are quite different. Because travel in Turkmenistan required a tour, that was probably the consistently most expensive country in Central Asia, with Kazakhstan being a close second, especially if you happen to visit the big cities where accommodation is not cheap. Uzbekistan was fairly inexpensive relatively speaking, as was Kyrgyzstan. The least expensive area was the Pamirs, however transportation getting there is quite expensive because it typically requires a jeep and driver (if you have time, you can hitchhike). In general, Tajikistan was not terribly expensive, either — probably in the middle of the others. I realize this is not terribly exact, but I hope it helps.

Great read, thanks for sharing. Central Asia has long been on our list.

@Giles: Glad you enjoyed this and that Central Asia has long been on your list. It’s a really fascinating part of the world – still one of our favorite regions.

Hi,thanks for your great site. I haven’t read through all the articles yet, but will do in next few weeks. I am planning on going through this region next year, (2015) leaving my home in Bulgaria on my 70th birthday April 10th. I will spend time in Turkey, to get visas, visit some old sites, before going through the Caucasian countries, then along the Caspian coast in Iran. If possible through to Herat & Bamiyan, west to Mary (Merv). On through the Stans,then by train to Novosibirsk and on to Lake Baikal for a 2 weeks. Down to Ulaan Baator in time for the Naadam festival (12 & 13th July), then head west overland to re-enter Russia, and back to Almaty

Sounds like a terrific trip. The former Soviet Union (specifically Central Asia and The Caucasus) remains some of our best travel memories and stories to date. Hope you have a great time. Any more questions, let us know.

Hi. I am planning to overland from Xian to Istanbul either in March – June or Aug. – November. I like weather that is dry, not too hot and not too cold. I would like to see lots of cultural activities taking place. I would also like to participate in active adventures. Which timeframe would you recommend? Thanks so much.

So you’re doing the Silk Road. We did something similar (by accident, really) from Tbilisi, Georgia to Beijing.

If you would like to avoid hot, then you’re probably best avoiding Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, etc. in the summer months, especially late summer months. If you went August – November, you’d still have some hot weather in August and September and you’d begin approaching some areas in winter. As such, I believe March – June would offer the best weather for your itinerary and a general positive progression of weather.

Thank you so much for this travel guide!! As we travelled Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan this year, we can’t wait to continue with the ‘Stans’ next year! Your guide is a great help in the planning! Have you been back to Central Asia since 2007?

Thank you again!

Hi Spechts. You are welcome! Am so glad our guide helped.

Although we are in touch with plenty of people throughout the Central Asia, Caucasus and former Soviet region, we have not been back since. However, we are considering it.

We’ll be interested to keep in touch and hear about your travel through the ‘Stans. A fascinating part of the world.

Love your entries on Central Asia. I am planning to cover the main 4 countries in September. You think its feasible?

Hi Matthew, To cover four countries in a month would be a bit tight, especially if you are relying on public transport (e.g., buses, shared taxis, trains) to get around. If you have any flexibility I’d add an additional few weeks. Otherwise, perhaps cut out one of the countries (e.g., Kazakhstan) so that you have more time to spend in the other places and get to enjoy the landscapes, cities and more.

Excellent! I lived in Ganchi, Northern Tajikistan (Ferghana Valey) for eight months and was astounded by the environment every day. The people are always friendly and helpful, particularly in the less traveled areas. It’s a tough place to live and yet they smile through all their difficulties. From the Pamir in the east, to Penjikent in the west, to Khojand in the north, it’s a fabled place of jagged mountains and arid steppe. Your blog does it justice. Your photos are true. Thanks.

Peter, thanks for your kind comment and sharing your experiences in this area. We only saw a small percentage of Tajikistan and the Pamirs, so we’d love to be able to return and explore more of this region.

Wow, such a wonderful insight on the region! And the pictures are amazing!

I’m planing a similar 3 months trip this summer, mostly traveling solo. Right now, I’m hesitating between a trip around the 5 Central Asian countries, or a trip from Mongolia to Tadjikistan, through Kazakhstan and Kirghizistan. Can’t quite make my mind up, though I feel that I’d be saving some money and dealing with less bureaucratic issues with the second plan…

At the end of your article, you mentioned meeting some women traveling solo in Central Asia. Were there a lot of them doing the trip? And do you know how they felt about their trip, especially safety wise? Thanks for any info you might have on that, and good luck with future trips!

Hi Marie-Josée, Glad you enjoyed this piece and it’s useful for your upcoming trip. Both options you mention would be great — you’ll have great experiences either way. Visas for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan can be a pain, but they are both fascinating countries. We haven’t been yet to Mongolia, but we’ve heard great things about it.

We did meet solo female travelers during our travels through Central Asia. Our trip there was several years ago so I imagine there would be even more today. At the time of our trip we didn’t hear a lot of complaints of harassment of safety issues, but it’s always wise to be alert and not wander around alone at night. I found that finding other women, especially grandmothers, was great as they served as guardian angels.

Good luck with your decision and in planning your trip! Audrey

I just wanted to know how you rented the cars around your trip, and how you planned the travels around central asia in cars without flying. would you recommend going by yourself? If not why? Thanks

Hi Dmitri, We didn’t rent any cars on our trip through Central Asia, but instead used public transport (buses, trains) and also used shared taxis. This last option usually meant going to a bus station and finding a car going in the direction where we wanted to go. When there were enough people to fill the car, the car would then go. This was usually a bit faster than buses, but slightly more expensive (usually worth the extra price).

I’d definitely recommend traveling on your own. We met quite a few solo travelers during our trip and they didn’t have any additional problems. In fact, many had some great stories 🙂

I loved your post! I’m a young female interested in traveling alone to the Stans next year. I would of course want to find a guide for the Pamirmountains and more rural areas. I was wondering what your overall impression of the region was. Did you have any particular safety concerns? I have talked to a few people and gotten mixed reviews so far.

Hi Ana, While I can’t speak to traveling through the ‘Stans alone as I traveled with Dan the whole time, I do feel like the region is quite safe for solo female travelers. You may get some attention traveling as a single woman, but I found that I was often adopted by grandmothers or other women if I began to get unwanted attention from a man on the bus or someone who had been drinking too much. We did meet a few solo female travelers during our trip and I’ve heard of others since then. Of course, I’d recommend not wandering around at night or going out to clubs on your own. But these are basic safety concerns you’d find in most places. Hope this info helps!

Great post! This has literally been the only post that has been useful in planning my trip along the Silk Road, Thank you!

I had a question on transportation. Where did you find the information and booking information for transport within countries and between countries? I have friends who have rented cars and drove through all of these countries with the car, but it is a bit too much driving for me as a solo female traveler. I was hoping to find a way between and within countries via public transport or tour groups.

Please let me know! Thank you so much for your help and article!

Hi Sophia, Glad to hear that this post has been useful for your upcoming Silk Road adventure! As for transport, we did carry a Central Asia Lonely Planet, but as things changed frequently we found that the most accurate information was when we got to a place — i.e., we’d ask at our hotel/homestay. There are lots of public transport options, so don’t worry about finding ways to get around inside countries and between countries. In much of Central Asia, there is a “shared taxi” culture which means that you can go to the bus station and ask people for where there are taxis/cars going to a certain city/area. Then, you find a car with a driver and essentially wait until it fills up with enough passengers. While sometimes more expensive than a bus, the shared taxis are usually a bit faster.

Also, don’t miss the trains in Uzbekistan!

Thank you so much for putting this together. I am trying to plan my next trip with a friend of mine and AM on the fence as to whether to go to Central Asia for the same reasons you mentioned As I want something new and off the beaten path but also didn’t want to find myself in the middle of a field with absolutely nothing to do

Central Asia is still considered “off the beaten path” even though we are hearing it come up more and more in travel circles. So, you may want to visit sooner rather than later 🙂

And don’t worry about being stuck with nothing to do…even just catching the bus from one place to another is an adventure there 🙂

I’ve never been to any of these places—talk about true bucket list travels!

My wife and I are looking at a very quick trip to the region in September (7 days total). Fly into Almaty and then drive through Kazakhstan down to Karakol and along the southern tip of Issyk Kul to Bishkek and back to Almaty. Is this even feasible / recommended as an independent traveler or would it be more beneficial to hire a guide to take us due to time constraints and thus use local expertise to see as much as possible in such a short period of time?

Hi Andrew, You’ll be covering a lot of ground in a short time, but it should be feasible to do independently if you are flexible. Note that driving times are often much longer than you expect, so planning stops along the way is a good idea. As your trip will be in September the back mountain road between Almaty and Karakol should be clear (it is covered with snow for much of the year) so that helps.

With this amount of time, however, you won’t really be able to do any big treks. There are day trips outside of Karakol and Southern Shore, but if you want to escape into the mountains you won’t really be able to do that. We recently spent some time in Karakol and the Southern Shore of Issyk-Kul and the local communities are beginning to improve their activities and options. A few ideas for you: – Karakol — dinner at a Dungan family and/or cooking course or food/market tour (or explore food & culinary scene on your own). Send a message to the Destination Karakol FB page for more details, tell them we sent you 🙂 – Day trek or horse riding to the mountains outside of Karakol (e.g., Altyn Arashan). – Southern Shore: Jedi Oguz or Sazka (red rock canyons – cool landscapes) – Southern Shore: Stay in a yurt camp, perhaps take a crafts course or go crafts shopping at “Altyn Oimok” (Golden Thimble) Art Center in Bakonbaevo, see an eagle hunting demonstration (outside Bakonbaevo). yurt building

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Great post! This info is super helpful for planning a Central Asia trip.

One question from a solo woman — I’ve read some less-than-fantastic things about creepy CBT homestay hosts in Kyrgyzstan. Any suggestions for avoiding that situation? How much choice do you have? And do you see any other travelers’ reviews of your hosts when you organize the homestay?

Carrie, glad you found this post helpful! That’s really unfortunate that you’ve read about creepy CBT homestay hosts in Kyrgyzstan. We’ve always stayed with families so haven’t encountered that (and, we’re a couple). Usually, CBT makes homestay suggestions based on your budget and style of accommodation (e.g., yurt stay vs. guest house). However, I think it would be possible to request from CBT a host that is a mother or at a minimum, a family (i.e., not solo man).

I don’t believe that CBT has an online review system, but some of the CBT homestays are also on Booking.com so you could cross-check there to see other traveler reviews. Several of the areas covered by CBT have newly developed Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) — Karakol, Bakonbaevo/South Shore, Osh, Jyrgalan –that are trying to support tourism development in the area. So if you do have any bad and creepy experiences like this with accommodation please let these organizations know (most have FB pages) so that they can take action against this.

Central Asia seems like an astonishing place to explore and there are plenty of great destinations which are definitely worth visiting, Daniel. Would you recommend Central Asia as a good road trip destination?

Central Asia is definitely that, a remarkable place to visit and experience. As our experiences traveling overland through all of Central Asia indicate, the road has an appeal. We’ve encountered Mongol Rally participants, overlanders driving an Ambassador from India to Europe, and advocate-travelers driving an Aston Martin from Japan to the U.K. to highlight road safety. Central Asia draws its share of road trippers. That said, it requires a bit of context, pre-thought and planning than other more traditional road trips.

Really Informative Post!! Central Asia is a beautiful land of mountains, rivers, lakes and deserts. At the same time modern cities like Almaty, Tashkent, Astana, Bishkek and Samarkand are a tourist place with absolute modern infrastructure and amenities. In recent times tourists flow in Central Asian countries have increased substantially. There are so many wonderful places in Central Asia which you can visit on your trip.

LOVED this post, these places look like such beautiful hidden gems! I just added them to my bucket list and starting to plan my own adventure there! When did you embark on this? I’ve had the opportunity to travel a lot and I’m a pretty smart cookie. Would you recommend this trip for a solo traveler? Or did you come across any guided trips that aren’t crazy expensive? Like G Adventures! Thanks so much!

Krista, we traveled in this region first in 2007 and then again in 2016-2018. I would definitely recommend this trip to a solo traveler as this region is quite safe and there’s a good tourism infrastructure with public transport and accommodation. We’ve met many solo female travelers who have had a good experience in Central Asia. Of course, stay aware and take the same precautions as you would take anywhere else (e.g., don’t wander around cities in the middle of the night, etc.). However, we do recommend G Adventures tours in Central Asia as they provide all the logistics – transport, accommodation, guide, translation, activities – but you still have freedom and independence to have time to yourself to explore as you like. We’ve had great experiences with G Adventures tours in other countries. Their guides (CEOs) provide so much context and information that really improves the experience. If you take one of their tours, let us know!

What an interesting part of the world. The desert mountain landscape reminds me of the Tibetan plateau. Almaty is also quite the cosmopolitan city!

Much of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are high desert so I can see that reminding you of the Tibetan plateau. Very beautiful!

And yes, Almaty is quite modern and cosmopolitan! I’ve heard Astana is as well, but we’ve yet to visit.

Almaty is a very livable city. Astana was half-built when I visited in 2015 and not the type of city I would want to spend much time in. However, many of the new buildings are a riot. I caught the rather expensive overnight sleeper (the bar takes up one whole car) from Almaty and flew back on Beck Air for about 30 dollars. As we discovered, the highly recommended National Museum (?) is closed on Mondays.

Very pleased to find your blog. It looks great.

I cycled through Central Asia in 2015 during a cycle ride from Tokyo to London. Thoroughly enjoyed the four countries in CA I visited and would recommend them to everyone. However, be prepared to see a lot of roadkill. I saw (and photographed) so much CA roadkill that I deiced to put together a photo book.

Wow, a photo book of Central Asia roadkill! That’s quite a niche. From all the time we’ve spent on roads there I can imagine how much you saw during your bicycle ride.

You can order a copy of the book at this link. 100 yen per book sold is being donated to the WWF (not the wrestling). https://cargocollective.com/senselessphotobook

I live in chicago, but will be in St Petersburg and Moscow in early May, On my way back home I want to detour into CA and was thinking of Kyrgystan. I have been in Bhutan 4 times, Nepal, much of India, Myanmar, etc so I have experience in “non-five star” travel. I have not traveled to CA so this is a wide open experience and I am looking for some help in the logistic of where to go this time of year and how best to get there. I will have about 2 wks before I need to be back in the US. Any suggestions of where to start?

Early May might be a bit early for some of the longer hikes in Kyrgyzstan as the mountain passes will still be snow-covered. But, you could probably do some of the lower, shorter hikes in South Shore and around Karakol at that time. You could pair a week in Kyrgyzstan (mountains, outdoor activities) with a weak in Uzbekistan (Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand) so that you get a good combination of history, culture, nature and food. Enjoy!

Great post! My wife and I are planning a trip this summer and the info you provided will be really helpful.

Glad to hear it, Luke! Enjoy your trip in Central Asia. We’ll look forward to any insights you have upon your return.

I loved this post. My husband and I are in the early (very early) planning stages of doing an overland trip along the silk road focusing on central Asia. I was wondering if you camped at all along this 3 month trip and if you had your own vehicle–I saw you mentioned public transportation, but didn’t know if you had used a vehicle or known someone who has.

Sunnie, sounds like you have a fabulous overland trip ahead of you! The only camping we did during our 3-month trip through the region and subsequent trips was up in the mountains during treks. However, we did meet a few overlanders from the Mongol Rally and also bicyclists who traveled through the region and camped quite often. Some would still stayed at guest houses or parked there from time to time so that they could use water, electricity and other services. Good luck with your planning!

Hi Audrey, Great blog full of invaluable info. We are planning a self drive trip through the region over many months and was wondering if you are aware of any companies or places where we could hire 4×4 dual cab Land Cruisers (or similar vehicle), ideally with roof top tents, capable of getting us into the very remote mountainous areas. Ive been unable to find anything is eastern europe or central asia yet. Thanks Audrey.

Hi Paul, Glad you found this article useful for your upcoming trip. We personally have not done a self-drive trip ourselves and are mostly familiar with options in Kyrgyzstan. I don’t think you’ll be able to find something with a roof top tent, but you should be able to find a 4×4 to get you into remove mountainous areas. Two places to look at 4×4 rentals would be Visit Alay (they offer cars from Bishkek and Osh) and Iron Horse (in Bishkek, but they also do delivery to other places in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan).

We’d be curious to find out how your experience is renting a car for a self-drive trip so please let us know.

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Central Asia Tours

Adventures along the silk road & himalayas.

Stretching from the Caspian Sea to China, Central Asia is home to the five “Stans,” where adventurers find high mountain trails, sublime lakes, traditional nomad culture, Silk Road monuments, and a warm welcome.

All Trips to Central Asia

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Central Asia Explorer

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan

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Kyrgyzstan: Hiking in the Celestial Mountains

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The Great Game

Uzbekistan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan

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The Silk Road

From $12,495

Ultimate Uzbekistan

From $5,695

Pakistan: Hiking the Hunza Valley

From $9,195

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Republics of the Silk Road Rail Journey

Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

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Caspian Odyssey

Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan

From $28,095

Treasures of Uzbekistan Rail Journey

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Everything You Need to Know

The same topography that makes this region spectacular—from perennial snow-capped peaks to boundless deserts—also creates its weather patterns. Temperatures in summer and winter can be extreme, so WT operates trips during spring and fall, from March to June and September to October. During these months, expect temperatures that average between the low 50s to high 70s. Still, be prepared for temperatures to vary according to topography and altitude.

Each time of year is unique and offers its own attractions. See below to understand the differences between seasons and what to expect with each.

Experience Central Asia

REVIEWS FROM OUR CLIENTS

Excellent exposure to the heart of Central Asia. I really got a feel for the culture, people, and environment.

One of the most pleasurable and interesting trips I have been on. It is a part of the world that I have been interested in for a long time. The various opportunities to explore local culture through the food, felt making, yurt construction, and eagle hunting were exceptionally good. The walking allowed us all to enjoy the spectacular landscape at our own pace.

The history, culture, and sights on this journey are amazing and the pace of our trip allowed time to enjoy it.

Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful country and each area we visited was a unique experience. I enjoyed the added cultural and historical additions to our hiking days. The felt demonstration, yurt building, home visit, eagle hunters, and boat ride added much to our adventure.

Each day was a new adventure. We felt as though we were totally in another world, especially in the mountain communities of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

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Our Asia Specialists know every detail about our Central Asia trips. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

Travel Central Asia: 15 Tips

October 27, 2014 by Janice Waugh

Today, I'm pleased to share with you a guest post by a person who has made travel his lifestyle and has tips for the more adventurous solo traveler – those who want to travel Central Asia.

Nick is one half of the traveling couple over at Goats On The Road. I know, he's  a non-solo traveler, but the knowledge he offers delivers solid information on how to travel Central Asia that I just can't give you. So, in the interest of providing as much valuable travel information as possible, here's Nick's post. You can follow him on Twitter @goatsontheroad and on Facebook .

Central Asia is fast becoming the next frontier of travel. Hushed whispers are making their way outside of these once secluded borders as more and more travelers are beginning to explore this enchanting post-Soviet region. But, despite the increasing number of solo travelers, backpackers and tour groups to the area, Central Asia still isn't the easiest place in the world to travel. There are quite a few things that you should know before you plan your trip here. This article will help you to tick all of the boxes and get all of your affairs in order before strapping on your backpack and exploring one of the least visited places on Earth.

Make sure your visas are in order.

Solo Travelers, Groups And Couples Will Find These Tips Useful For Traveling Central Asia

1. Know Where You're Going: This is such an undiscovered land that many people don't know what countries are included. Central Asia stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to China in the east and from the Wakhan Valley in the south to Russia in the north. It is comprised of the 5 Stan republics of the former Soviet Union: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. (Note: Some texts include Afghanistan as part of Central Asia)

2. Get Your Visas In Order: As a group of former Soviet republics, Central Asia comes with a dizzying array of bureaucracy for travelers to navigate. Depending on which passport you hold, you'll need to obtain visas for at least 4 of the 5 countries listed above. If you're from the United States, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Malaysia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Korea and Japan, starting from 15 July 2014 and ending 15 July 2015, you can now enter visa-free for a total of 15 days. Any longer than that and you'll need a visa.

Kyrgyzstan offers visa-free travel for more than 40 countries. If your country doesn't make the visa-free cut for Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan, you'll need to obtain the visas from embassies in your home country, or from neighbouring countries on your travels. Keep in mind that many of these visas require invitation letters, which will have to be paid for and ordered before you go to the embassy to pick up your visa. Talk to Stan Tours for help with all of your visa needs.

3. Procure The Appropriate Permits: As if hunting around for invitation letters and completing paperwork for visas wasn't enough, you'll also need permits to enter certain regions of Central Asia. If you plan to travel along the Pamir Highway for instance (highly recommended), you'll need to procure a secondary GBAO permit from the embassy where you obtain your tourist visa. These permits are often included in the cost of the visa but you MUST ask for them as they won't be automatically processed for you.

4. Plan Your Route: You may be one of those spontaneous travelers who likes to do everything on a whim, and that's great, but Central Asia doesn't allow this type of impromptu transit. You'll have to state entrance and exit dates on many of your visa applications so you'll need to know exactly when you'll be arriving and departing from each country. The good thing is that the dates you write down don't have to be exact so give yourself a few extra days on either end just in case. If you plan on being in Tajikistan for three weeks, write down four weeks on your visa form, leaving yourself a couple of days leeway on each end of the journey. You never know what kind of issues you may run into while traveling in Central Asia so it's best to give yourself some room for error!

Exchanging About $200 USD To Uzbek Som

5. Budget Your Trip: No matter where you go in the world, it's good to know how much you plan to spend in each country. Central Asia is of good value, but it's not the cheapest place in the world to travel. Expect to spend around $40 / person / day for most of your trip. You'll spend more on tours and in major city centers. Note For Solo Travelers: Most homestays have a flat rate per person, so you'll get a private room for the same price as a shared one!

6. Know Where Your Money Will Be Coming From: Believe it or not, you won't have access to ATMs for much of your trip through Central Asia. You'll need to carry large sums of US dollars, a Visa Card, a MasterCard, a debit card and local currency. Most of the time you'll be exchanging your US dollars on the black market to get the best possible rate so prepare to have thousands of dollars on you at all times. There are some ATMs in the region, but they are few and far between and they give a horrible exchange rate, so don't rely on them .

7. Beware Of Scams: Central Asia is actually very safe but there are a few petty crimes that you'll encounter while traveling there. The most notable scams are when exchanging money on the black market. Tourists often feel as if they're doing something illegal so they rush to complete the transaction. DON'T make this mistake! Take your time, count all of the bills and make sure you're getting the current exchange rate. With such high inflation, you'll be dealing with huge stacks of money, especially in Uzbekistan where the exchange rate is around 2800 soms to the dollar. Note for solo travelers: Try to exchange your money at the local market with lots of people around. You are less likely to be taken advantage of if you're in public!

Most other scams will happen when traveling in Tajikistan on the Pamir Highway where corrupt border guards may try to charge you random fees for crossing checkpoints. Just know what fees are applicable and pay no more. If you're in a jam, consider threatening to call your embassy.

8. Decide On Land Border Crossings And Checkpoints: There are many areas in Central Asia where tourists simply cannot go. Always check the current situation and make sure that the borders and checkpoints that you plan to cross are open to foreigners. Most home stays and guest houses will know exactly where you can and can't go. Don't be afraid to ask the owners.

Note: To apply for your Turkmenistan Visa, you will need to know which borders you plan to enter and exit the country from. Once you’ve decided, those border crossings will be stamped on your passport and you will not be able to change your mind and use different crossings.

9. Know The Current Political Situation: There have been some conflicts in the region in the past and some areas are still volatile. Particularly the Fergana Vally between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and some parts of the Pamir Highway can be unpredictable. Make sure you ask around and be aware of the current situation wherever you plan to go.

10. Understand The Transportation: For the most part, you will be traveling Central Asia by shared taxi. These are just local cars, but they're a fast, efficient and comfortable way to get around, and you should have no problem figuring out how to get from point A to point B. There are shared taxi stands in every major city and town where you will find the taxi that you want to take, and then you'll have to wait for it to fill up. You will likely be charged an escalated tourist price if you don't already know the local fee, so ask your hotel or guest house what the price should be before setting off. Note for solo travelers: Shared taxis are easy to find when you're not in a group. You'll almost always be able to squeeze into a departing car!

11. Learn A Little Language: There are dozens of languages spoken throughout the region, but luckily Russian works as a unifying tongue for most areas in Central Asia. Pick up a Russian Phrasebook and try to learn a few key sentences, your trip will be better for it.

12. Get Ready For Some Amazing Home Stays! One of the best parts of traveling through this region is having the opportunity to spend time in local families' homes. This is incredibly easy to do thanks to community based projects like CBT, Shepard's Life and Meta, which manage a huge network of beautiful home stays throughout the area . Sleep in your own room, enjoy delicious home cooked meals with your host families and learn about the local culture and way of life. Home stays are a huge bonus of traveling here.

Dariece With A Home Stay Family In Kyrgyzstan

13. Study Up On Your History: From the days of Genghis Khan, the Mongol conquerer, to the Soviet take over, the events that have happened in Central Asia throughout history have shaped this region and its people. Conversations often revolve around past kings, presidents, heroes and soldiers so it's best to know a bit of history. Your guide book will have a good summary of past and current events, and Wikipedia also has some useful information . If you're not much of a reader, don't worry, you'll learn a lot about Central Asia's compelling past as you travel through this historical region.

14. Try To Hit Up Some Festivals! There are some amazing festivals and events that go on in Central Asia. Try to make it to some of them as they will enrich your travels and better your understanding of the local culture. The most notable festival is Nawruz, the Persian New Year around March, 22nd of each year. Nawruz is celebrated throughout the region. Buzkashi is not a festival, but it's a common game in the Stan countries where horse mounted players try to throw a goat carcass into a goal to score points. Very strange but extremely entertaining.

15. Don't Miss The Highlights: With so many amazing countries, it's no wonder that there are many highlights that you shouldn't miss along the way. The mountain fringed capital of Almaty in Kazakhstan, the warm high altitude lake of Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan, the rough and rugged Pamir Highway in Tajikistan and the opulent silk road cities of Uzbekistan are just some of the main sights that you should be sure to see in your travels. You won't be able to see everything, but you can certainly pick a few things that you don't want to miss and be sure to see them while you're there.

What are you waiting for?

When you first start planning your trip to Central Asia you may feel overwhelmed by the visas, paperwork and permits, but once you've got an understanding of how things work in the region, you'll be ready to experience the adventure of a lifetime. Get your hiking shoes and your trekking poles ready and prepare for a cultural experience like no other. This is Central Asia, the final frontier of travel.

Visit Goats On The Road for more information about traveling to Central Asia!

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When is the Best Time to Visit Central Asia? A Seasonal Guide by Minzifa Travel

Spring in Central Asia

Spring, from March to May, is an excellent time to visit Central Asia . The weather is mild and pleasant, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities such as hiking and exploring the cities. The flowers and trees are in full bloom, adding a touch of beauty to the landscape. During this season, you can also witness several traditional festivals such as Navruz, which celebrates the Persian New Year.

Summer in Central Asia

Summer, from June to August, is the peak tourist season in Central Asia. The weather is hot and dry, with long sunny days perfect for sightseeing. This season is also a great time for outdoor activities like trekking and camping in the mountains. The famous Silk Road Festival takes place in July, which is a great opportunity to experience the region’s cultural heritage.

Autumn in Central Asia

Autumn, from September to November, is another excellent time to visit Central Asia. The weather is mild and comfortable, making it an ideal season for exploring the region’s natural beauty. The colorful autumn foliage adds a stunning visual touch to the landscape. During this season, you can witness several cultural events, such as the Almaty Marathon and the Golden Autumn Festival.

Winter in Central Asia

Winter, from December to February, can be extremely cold in Central Asia. However, this season offers its unique charm and attractions, such as skiing in the mountains, ice-skating on frozen lakes, and experiencing the traditional winter festivals. The famous Shab-e-Yalda festival, which celebrates the winter solstice, is a must-see event in Iran.

In conclusion, the best time to visit Central Asia depends on your preference and interests. Each season offers its unique attractions, whether it’s exploring the cities and historical sites, enjoying outdoor activities, or experiencing cultural events and festivals. Contact Minzifa Travel to plan your next Central Asian adventure and make the most of your trip!

Best of Central Asia Tour

Discover the highlights of Central Asia in 3 Weeks

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Take a guided tour to explore Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, the gems of the ancient Silk Road.

Tajikistan Trekking Tour

Explore the spectacular Fann mountains on foot

Kyrgyzstan Tour

Experience the cultural and natural highlights of Kyrgyzstan

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Central Asia Group and Private Tours

Central asia tour with kalpak travel is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, immersing you in cultural diversity and awe-inspiring natural beauty across kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, tajikistan, turkmenistan and uzbekistan. from the bustling streets of modern metropolises to the ancient capitals steeped in history, our itinerary invites you to uncover the rich tapestry of traditions that define this vibrant region. whether it's tracing the footsteps of nomadic tribes or exploring the architectural legacies of silk road civilizations, every moment promises a deeper connection to central asia's diverse heritage. at kalpak travel, we understand that every traveler is unique, which is why we offer two distinct tour options to suit your preferences. our fixed departure tours provide the ideal blend of structure and flexibility, ensuring a seamless journey filled with enriching encounters. with carefully curated itineraries and set departure dates, you can embark on your adventure with confidence, knowing that every detail has been meticulously planned to offer you the best of central asia. for those seeking a more personalized experience, our private tours are tailored to cater to your individual preferences. whether you're traveling solo, with a partner, or in a small group, our expert team will work closely with you to craft a bespoke itinerary that aligns with your interests and desires. from choosing the destinations and activities to selecting accommodations and dining options, you'll have the freedom to explore at your own pace, guided by our knowledgeable local guides who are dedicated to ensuring an unforgettable tour. whether you prefer the structure of a fixed departure tour or the flexibility of a private tour, kalpak travel is committed to providing you with an exceptional travel experience. join us as we embark on a journey of discovery through the heart of central asia, where every moment is tailored to create memories that will last a lifetime..

Land of the great steppe

The land of nomads, the land of rugged mountains, turkmenistan, the land of marble & sand, the land of ancient culture, our five stans tour departures.

Book your Central Asia small-group tour with guaranteed departures. Explore the popular travel highlights of Central Asia on our single-country or multi-country tour.

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Testimonials

"We had the best time on our trip and will treasure our memories for years to come. We are extremely well-traveled and yet Central Asia still provided wonders, beauty, warmth and excitement not found elsewhere."

We had a fabulous tour of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. We were very lucky to have Kalpak Travel as our tour company which exceeded our expectations with flying colours. We highly recommend Kalpak Travel if you are planning a hassle-free tour of Central Asia.

We had a wonderful 3.5 week trip through the 5 Stans. I feel like I've seen the highlights in case I don't get the opportunity to return, but I most certainly DO want to return and see more. These are the warmest and most welcoming people I have every encountered.

My trip with Kalpak to Central Asia was phenomenal. It far exceeded my expectations. Everything was top quality including the accommodations, food, sights, itinerary and outstanding guides in each country. It was an excellent quality tour for the money. Great quality value. I would highly recommend the trip to anyone considering going. Central Asia is the best kept secret that one doesn’t hear much about. Kalpak is outstanding.

Visit of SRSG Miroslav Jenča to Moscow

MOSCOW, Russia -

On 7 July the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Ambassador Miroslav Jenča visited Moscow and held talks with Deputy Foreign Ministers Mr. Borodavkin and Mr. Karasin, Deputy Foreign Minister. He also met with Mr. Lebedev, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Mr. Badalian, and Deputy Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

During the meetings in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs state officials indicated that Central Asia remains one of the priority areas in the foreign policy of Russian Federation. There was a constructive exchange of views on existing challenges in the Central Asian region such as trans-boundary water management, developments in Afghanistan, fight against terrorism, extremism and illicit drug trafficking.

Cooperation between the UNRCCA and regional organizations was one of the topics discussed in the meetings with the CIS and CSTO. Future support of different activities and information exchange were agreed between the UNRCCA and the CIS and CSTO Secretariats.

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

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Cameron seeks ‘new era’ in UK-Central Asia relations on visit to region

The Foreign Secretary is travelling across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Lord David Cameron has heralded a “new era” in relations between Britain and Central Asia on a visit to the region amid concerns about trade sanctions on Russia being side-stepped in neighbouring countries.

The Foreign Secretary is travelling across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia in a diplomatic bid to boost trade, security and environmental ties with the UK.

He will warn Central Asia is “at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face” as he announces a series of measures aimed at supporting its “hard-won sovereignty”.

In a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe on Monday, Lord Cameron said there was “more we can do” to co-operate on key areas like business, climate change and counter-terrorism.

“I’m delighted to be the first foreign secretary to visit your country. I’m only sorry that it’s taken so long for one to come,” he told President Rahmon.

“We want to signal a new era in relations between Britain and all of the Central Asia republics, starting here in Tajikistan.

“Overall we’re here to say ‘let’s make the partnership bigger, let’s do more things together’.”

The trip, which is the first by a British foreign secretary to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, comes as reports suggest luxury UK cars are still making their way to Moscow through former Soviet states.

Exports of high-end vehicles to Russia were banned by Britain after President Vladimir Putin waged war in Ukraine two years ago, but there are concerns over a sudden spike in sales to nearby countries.

In talks with leaders from across the region, Lord Cameron will seek to “advance discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform,” the Foreign Office said.

He will double the amount of funding for Chevening scholarships, which support people from overseas studying in British universities, and announce £50 million over the next three years in development spending across the region.

A new scheme designed to promote the English language will also be announced, including online teaching resources with tailored local content available to teachers throughout Central Asia, the Foreign Office said.

The Foreign Secretary will also visit a number of key sites including the hydro-electric project at the Nurek Dam in Tajikistan, which is heavily reliant on Russia for fuel, and a canal irrigation site in Kyrgyzstan.

Ahead of the trip, Lord Cameron said: “We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

“Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it’s vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.”

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Cameron to raise Russia sanctions side-stepping on Central Asia visit

The foreign secretary will travel to tajikistan, kyrgyzstan, uzbekistan, turkmenistan, kazakhstan and mongolia..

Lord David Cameron is visiting Central Asia in a bid to boost British ties with the region amid concerns about trade sanctions on Russia being side-stepped in neighbouring countries.

On a five-day trip, the Foreign Secretary will travel to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia seeking to promote business and cultural links with the UK.

He will warn the region is “at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face” as he announces a series of measures aimed at supporting its “hard-won sovereignty”.

The trip, which is the first by a British foreign secretary to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, comes as reports suggest luxury UK cars are still making their way to Moscow through former Soviet states.

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Exports of high-end vehicles to Russia were banned by Britain after President Vladimir Putin waged war in Ukraine two years ago, but there are concerns over a sudden spike in sales to nearby countries.

It is believed that vehicles are then sent on to Moscow, with Sky News reporting a 1,860% increase in vehicles sold to Azerbaijan last year compared with five years preceding the invasion.

In talks with leaders from across the region, Lord Cameron will seek to “advance discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform”, the Foreign Office said.

He will double the amount of funding for Chevening Scholarships, which support people overseas studying in British universities, and announce £50 million over the next three years in development spending across the region.

A new scheme designed to promote the English language will also be announced, including online teaching resources with tailored local content available to teachers throughout Central Asia, the Foreign Office said.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will visit sites including a hydro-electric project in Tajikistan, which is heavily dependent on Russia for its economy, and a canal irrigation site in Kyrgyzstan.

Lord Cameron said: “We live in a contested, competitive world.

“If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

“Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it’s vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.”

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Cameron: Russia using Central Asia to side-step sanctions

Cameron seeks ‘new era’ in UK-Central Asia relations on trip to region

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Cameron admits Putin is using central Asia to dodge Western sanctions

David Cameron has admitted Russia is using central Asia to dodge Western sanctions following Vladimir Putin 's invasion of Ukraine .

The Foreign Secretary used a visit to countries in the region, known as 'The Stans', to urge them to work with Britain to halt Russia's ability to 'feed its war machine'.

Lord Cameron's trip will see him become the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the first to visit Uzbekistan since 1997.

His will also be the first visit to Mongolia by such a senior UK minister in over a decade.

The Foreign Secretary's tour comes amid concerns about a recent spike in sales of drone equipment and heavy machinery from Britain to countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

British exports to Kyrgyzstan, the small former Soviet satellite state, were found to have risen by more than 1,100 per cent.

Speaking in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital, Lord Cameron said Britain was talking to central Asian countries about the so-called 'common high-priority list' of Western items critical to Russian weapons systems.

He told ITV News: 'We have a very good relationship with the government here and in other countries in central Asia and we're able to talk to them about what we call the common high priority list - the things that Russia wants to feed its war machine.

'Of course we are not against trade between Kyrgyzstan and Russia – it is natural that it should happen.

'But it shouldn't be these items are being exported here and then re-exported into Russia, simply building Russia's war machine, without there being much advantage for Kyrgyzstan.

'So we're going to be working with the government to try to put a stop to that.'

The Foreign Secretary added the world is 'undoubtedly a more dangerous place' than when he was PM, with 'the lights on the global dashboard flashing red'.

'This is a more dangerous, more difficult, more disputed, more competitive world,' he said.

'There are things we must do to strengthen our defences… our protections against interference, but also we strengthen our alliances – hold friends close and build new alliances as I'm doing here.'

In a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe, Lord Cameron said there was 'more we can do' to co-operate on key areas such as business, climate change and counter-terrorism.

'I'm delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit your country. I'm only sorry that it's taken so long for one to come,' he told President Rahmon in the Tajik capital.

'We want to signal a new era in relations between Britain and all of the central Asia republics, starting here in Tajikistan.

'Overall, we're here to say let's make the partnership bigger, let's do more things together.'

Following bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and foreign minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, the Foreign Secretary said he believed the trip was 'the start of something very serious'.

Lord Cameron was also asked by independent local journalists whether he raised the issue of press freedom and civics in his talks with the leader amid concerns of a crackdown on civil society groups and non-state media in the region.

He said they discussed 'all of the issues you'd expect us to' including 'the importance of voluntary bodies, charities, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations – they're part of our countries, part of our democracies'.

'Of course we should always respect each others' differences and each others' approaches, but in my view civil society organisations, they play a role in helping democracies work better,' the Foreign Secretary added.

The Foreign Secretary said: 'We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

'Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it's vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.'

In talks with leaders from across the region, Lord Cameron will seek to 'advance discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform', the Foreign Office said.

• Entertainment

Cameron: Russia using Central Asia to side-step sanctions

It comes amid concerns about a spike in sales of drone equipment and heavy machinery from Britain to countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Lord David Cameron has acknowledged that Russia is using Central Asia to side-step sanctions and said Britain wants to work with countries in the region to end the circumvention.

The Foreign Secretary warned that items which could be used to build Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine should not be being exported from the UK to neighbouring states only to be sent on to Moscow.

Speaking on a visit to the Ata-Beyit memorial to victims of Soviet repression near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Lord Cameron suggested Britain can talk to Central Asian countries about the so-called “common high-priority list” of western items critical to Russian weapons systems.

He told ITV: “Of course we aren’t against trade between Kyrgyzstan and Russia – it is natural – it shouldn’t be that these items are exported here and then simply re-exported, simply building Russia’s war machine, without there being much advantage to Kyrgyzstan – so working with the government to try to put a stop to that.”

The Foreign Secretary is travelling across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia in a diplomatic bid to boost trade, security and environmental ties with the UK.

In talks with leaders from across the region, Lord Cameron will seek to “advance discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform”, the Foreign Office said.

British exports to Kyrgyzstan have risen by more than 1,100% since the Kremlin was hit by sanctions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to Sky News.

It comes amid wider fears over the expanding influence of countries such as China and Russia, which have sought to deepen ties in the region.

Lord Cameron famously hailed a “golden era” in UK-China relations while prime minister, which have since deteriorated as Beijing grows increasingly assertive on the global stage.

His engagement with Central Asia signals a bid to limit the scope of powers in the east and encourage countries in the region to look west instead for partnerships.

The Foreign Secretary said the world is “undoubtedly a more dangerous place” than when he was prime minister, with “the lights on the global dashboard flashing red”.

“This is a more dangerous, more difficult, more disputed, more competitive world,” he said.

“There are things we must do to strengthen our defences … our protections against interference, but also we strengthen our alliances – hold friends close and build new alliances as I’m doing here.”

In a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe on Monday, Lord Cameron said there was “more we can do” to co-operate on key areas such as business, climate change and counter-terrorism.

“I’m delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit your country. I’m only sorry that it’s taken so long for one to come,” he told President Rahmon.

“We want to signal a new era in relations between Britain and all of the Central Asia republics, starting here in Tajikistan.

“Overall, we’re here to say let’s make the partnership bigger, let’s do more things together.”

During the trip, Lord Cameron announced a doubling in the amount of funding for Chevening scholarships, which support people overseas studying in British universities, and £50 million of funding over the next three years in development spending across the region.

A new scheme designed to promote the English language will also be announced, including online teaching resources with tailored local content available to teachers throughout Central Asia, the Foreign Office said.

On Monday, the Foreign Secretary visited a number of key sites including the hydro-electric project at the Nurek Dam in Tajikistan, which is heavily reliant on Russia for fuel, and promised UK financial backing for green energy initiatives.

Speaking to local media at the plant, Lord Cameron said Tajikistan is a “big part of the solution” to reducing the region’s reliance on coal.

“(You are) at the sharp end of climate change with the melting of the glaciers and the problems that you face here. But you’re also a big part of the solution by providing that clean, green energy,” he said.

Following bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and foreign minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, he said he believed the trip was “the start of something very serious”.

Lord Cameron was also asked by independent local journalists whether he raised the issue of press freedom and civics in his talks with the leader amid concerns of a crackdown on civil society groups and non-state media in the region.

He told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty they discussed “all of the issues you’d expect us to” including “the importance of voluntary bodies, charities, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations – they’re part of our countries, part of our democracies.”

“Of course we should always respect each others’ differences and each others’ approaches, but in my view civil society organisations, they play a role in helping democracies work better,” the Foreign Secretary added.

The Foreign Secretary said: “We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

“Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it’s vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.”

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Where should i learn russian and travel to in russia/central asia, etc july 16, 2009 9:47 pm   subscribe.

Cameron seeks ‘new era’ in UK-Central Asia relations on visit to region

The Foreign Secretary is travelling across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Lord David Cameron has heralded a “new era” in relations between Britain and Central Asia on a visit to the region amid concerns about trade sanctions on Russia being side-stepped in neighbouring countries.

The Foreign Secretary is travelling across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia in a diplomatic bid to boost trade, security and environmental ties with the UK.

He will warn Central Asia is “at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face” as he announces a series of measures aimed at supporting its “hard-won sovereignty”.

“I’m delighted to be the first foreign secretary to visit your country. I’m only sorry that it’s taken so long for one to come,” he told President Rahmon.

“We want to signal a new era in relations between Britain and all of the Central Asia republics, starting here in Tajikistan.

“Overall we’re here to say ‘let’s make the partnership bigger, let’s do more things together’.”

The trip, which is the first by a British foreign secretary to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, comes as reports suggest luxury UK cars are still making their way to Moscow through former Soviet states.

In talks with leaders from across the region, Lord Cameron will seek to “advance discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform,” the Foreign Office said.

He will double the amount of funding for Chevening scholarships, which support people from overseas studying in British universities, and announce £50 million over the next three years in development spending across the region.

A new scheme designed to promote the English language will also be announced, including online teaching resources with tailored local content available to teachers throughout Central Asia, the Foreign Office said.

The Foreign Secretary will also visit a number of key sites including the hydro-electric project at the Nurek Dam in Tajikistan, which is heavily reliant on Russia for fuel, and a canal irrigation site in Kyrgyzstan.

Ahead of the trip, Lord Cameron said: “We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

“Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it’s vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.”

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Host Cities for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™ announced

Tashkent, Bukhara and Andijan will be the three venues for the 24-team competition

The tournament will make history as the first FIFA event to take place in Central Asia

Draw to take place on 26 May

The three Host Cities for the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024™ , the first FIFA event to be staged in a Central Asian country, have been decided, with the capital, Tashkent, being joined by the ancient Silk Road trading centre of Bukhara and the city of Andijan in the Fergana Valley.

The tenth edition of the FIFA Futsal World Cup™, which will feature 24 teams, including holders Portugal and record five-time champions Brazil, will be contested from 14 September to 6 October. The draw is scheduled to be held on 26 May in Samarkand and so far there will be two debutants in the hat, namely France and New Zealand.

“We are delighted with the choice of these three incredible cities, which represent the contrasting faces of Uzbekistan, and I am sure that the 24 participating teams will feel at home here and be able to perform at their best,” said FIFA Director of Tournaments Jaime Yarza.

“This will be the first-ever FIFA tournament to take place in Uzbekistan, and indeed Central Asia, which makes it very special for FIFA and supports our mission of becoming truly global.”

Ravshan Irmatov, the Senior Vice-President of the Uzbekistan Football Association, said: “We feel very honoured to host this great event. Uzbekistan is a wonderful country that is developing at a tremendous rate, and now we can prepare to welcome the world’s best futsal players and coaches and give them a taste of this fascinating place. Given futsal’s huge popularity across the globe, we expect thousands of fans from all over the world to pack out the stands and support their teams, setting the stage for everyone to enjoy the action and creating a great atmosphere.”

The tournament, which is being hosted by an AFC member association for the fourth time, comes at an exciting juncture for football and futsal in Central Asia, where rapid development is afoot. For example, Tajikistan made their debut at the AFC Asian Cup this year, with Kyrgyz Republic taking part for the second time following their first appearance in 2019.

Futsal, for its part, has grown greatly in Uzbekistan over the last decade. The national team participated in the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time in 2016 and reached the knockout stage in 2021, losing out 9-8 to IR Iran in the last 16 in one of the most pulsating games in the tournament’s history. The White Wolves have also finished as runners-up at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup four times and featured on the podium in its last four editions.