Discover Central Asia’s remarkable contrasts on our “5 Stans Tour”, from Ashgabat’s white-marble avenues and the ancient ruins of Merv to the dramatic Darvaza Gas Crater in the Karakum Desert.
Explore the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, where grand madrasahs, ornate mausoleums, lively bazaars and the magnificent Registan Ensemble bring centuries of history to life.
and landmarks of Kyrgyzstan’s capital. With local guides, included sightseeing and a high-speed train journey, this is an enriching introduction to the amazing landscapes and ancient cultures of Central Asia.
Includes
- Accommodation in a double or twin share room (see hotel list below).
- English-speaking escort guide.
- Meals as per final itinerary: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner. Included dinners may be replaced by an included lunch on some dates due to itinerary limitations.
- Air-conditioned transport suited to the group size, including 4WD vehicles where required.
- Domestic flight from Ashgabat to Mary.
- Economy-class train tickets listed in the programme.
- Entrance fees for included sightseeing.
- Hotel breakfasts.
- BBQ dinner at Darvaza.
- Lunch at the Seven Lakes.
- 1.5 litres of water per person per day.
- Travel tax.
- Assistance with entry visas.
- Provision of letter of invitation (required).
Accommodation
- Ashgabat: Sport Hotel – 2 nights.
- Mary: Mary Hotel – 1 night.
- Darvaza: Stantrips Yurt Camp – 1 night.
- Khiva: Kail Palace or Erkin Palace – 1 night.
- Bukhara: Shahristan 4*, Paradise Plaza or Amiran – 1 night.
- Samarkand: Siab or Royal – 2 nights.
- Penjikent: Panjakent Plaza 3*+ or Fariz 3* – 1 night.
- Dushanbe: The Rumi 4*+ – 2 nights.
- Almaty: Kazzhol Park, Renion Park or Renion City – 2 nights.
- Bishkek: Plaza, Ramada, Sofia or Damas – 2 nights.
Hotels are subject to availability and may be replaced with similar accommodation.
Excludes
- International flights.
- Turkmenistan visa cost and border fees (listed as US$14).
- Tajikistan visa support and consular fee (listed as US$70).
- PCR test (listed as approximately US$33).
- Flight from Dushanbe to Almaty.
- Meals and drinks not specifically listed as included.
- Optional activities and personal purchases.
- Photography and video fees at UNESCO sites and museums.
- Tips for guides and drivers.
- Medical and travel insurance.
- Any services not specified in the itinerary.
General Notes
- Driving times are estimates and do not include stops. Road and traffic conditions may affect journey times.
- Flight schedules may change. The listed baggage allowance for the Ashgabat–Mary flight is 5 kg carry-on and 20 kg checked baggage per person. Excess baggage is charged at US$2+ per kilogram.
- For stays of more than three working days in Turkmenistan, the agency will register and stamp your passport with the local Tourist Board.
- A rapid PCR test is listed as being administered on arrival in Turkmenistan, at an approximate cost of US$35.
- A packed breakfast can be arranged for early departures.
- Carry US-dollar notes in small denominations for visa and border procedures. Notes should be in good condition, not torn or damaged, and issued after 2009.
- Cash is widely used in Turkmenistan, and credit cards may not always work reliably.
- The supplier notes that Turkmen hospitality services are not included for groups of one to four people.
- If a site is closed, a suitable alternative visit will be arranged.
- Hotels and the order of the itinerary may change due to availability or local events.
The Five Stans Central Asia Tour
Highlights
Ashgabat’s White-Marble Architecture, Ancient Silk Road City of Merv, Darvaza Gas Crater and Karakum Desert, UNESCO-Listed Historic City of Khiva, Bukhara’s Magnificent Islamic Architecture, Samarkand’s Registan Square, Tajikistan’s Spectacular Seven Lakes, Majestic Tian Shan Mountains and Ala-Archa National Park
Pricing From
NZD$12,450
If you prefer to pay in AU dollars,
pay just:
AUD$10,066
Trip Ref
FSTDuration and Pace
16 Days | Pace: Mod
Commences / Concludes
Commences:
Ashgabat
Concludes:
Bishkek
Start Date:
On application
Special Offer
Earlybird: SAVE $500 pp
Offer until:
On application
Itinerary
Day 1 – Ashgabat
On arrival at Ashgabat International Airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is available from 2pm. The rest of the day is free to relax after your journey until our included Welcome Dinner tonight.
Overnight: Ashgabat Meals: D
Day 2 – Ashgabat to Mary
We explore Ashgabat, known for its striking white-marble architecture. Highlights include the Wedding Palace, Yyldyz Hotel, Ferris Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Independence Monument and Park, Ertogrul Gazi Mosque, Olympic Stadium, and the earthquake and Second World War memorials. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Mary.
Overnight: Mary Meals: B,D
Day 3 – Ancient Merv and Ashgabat
Travel about an hour to explore ancient Merv, once a major city of the Silk Road and an important centre of the Islamic world. Your guided visit includes the Greater and Lesser Kyz Gala fortresses, the Complex of Askhabs, Erk Gala and Gyaur Gala, the Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, and the mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhamed Ibn Zeid. Afterwards, drive back to Ashgabat.
Overnight: Ashgabat Meals: B,D
Day 4 – Ashgabat to Darvaza
Visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of Nissa, an early Parthian capital and an important archaeological site. Continue into the Karakum Desert to the Darvaza Gas Crater, where flames have illuminated the desert for more than 50 years. You’ll also see nearby water and mud craters and experience the vast, open desert landscape. This evening, enjoy a barbecue dinner before staying in a Turkmen yurt or private tent at the desert camp.
Overnight: Stantrips Yurt Camp Meals: B,D
Day 5 – Darvaza to Khiva via the Shavat border
After a picnic-style breakfast drive to the Shavat border crossing and complete the formalities to enter Uzbekistan. On the other side, meet your local team and continue to the historic city of Khiva.
Overnight: Khiva Meals: B,D
Day 6 – Khiva to Bukhara
Explore the most important sights of Khiva’s old city, with its distinctive architecture and atmospheric lanes. After lunch, travel through the Kyzyl-Kum Desert to Bukhara. The journey takes approximately seven to eight hours, including any stops.
Overnight: Bukhara Meals: B,D
Day 7 – Bukhara to Samarkand
Discover Bukhara’s historic landmarks, including the Poi-Kalon Ensemble, its mosque and minaret, Miri-Arab Madrasa, the trading domes, Kukeldash Madrasa, Nadir Divanbegi complex, Magok-i-Attari Mosque and Lyab-i-Hauz. We continue our sightseeing with Registan Square, the Ark Fortress, Bolo-Chaus Complex, Ulug Beg and Abdul Aziz madrasahs, and the Ismael Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Later we board a high-speed train to Samarkand. The scheduled journey is 4.16pm–6.05pm; times may change.
Overnight: Samarkand Meals: B,D
Day 8 – Samarkand
Explore Samarkand, one of the great cities of the Silk Road. Visit the Gur-Emir Mausoleum and the magnificent Registan Ensemble, including the Ulugbek, Shir Dor and Tillya-Kari madrasahs.
Continue to Bibi Khanum Mosque, the local bazaar and Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. Later, visit the Ulugbek Observatory, built in the 15th century and once an important centre for astronomical study.
Overnight: Samarkand Meals: B,D
Day 9 – Samarkand, the Seven Lakes and Penjikent
Travel to the Jartepa border crossing and complete passport and customs formalities before meeting your Tajik guide and driver. Continue to the Seven Lakes, known locally as Haft Kul, set among beautiful mountain scenery. Visit the lakes of Mijgon, Soya, Hushyor, Nofin, Khurdak, Marguzor and Hazorchashma. Enjoy a picnic lunch and time to take in the peaceful surroundings. Some lakes are at high altitude, with Hazorchashma at about 2,400 metres. Return to Penjikent for the night.
Overnight: Penjikent Meals: B, L
Day 10 – Penjikent to Dushanbe
Travel to Dushanbe and check in to your hotel. Visit the Museum of Musical Instruments, founded around the collection of Tajik artist Gurminj Zavqibekov. The museum displays more than 200 instruments from across Asia, including setars, dutars, rubabs and tanburs.
Overnight: Dushanbe Meals: B,D
Day 11 – Discover Dushanbe
Enjoy a full day exploring Tajikistan’s capital. Visit the Tajikistan United Museum, with collections covering the country’s history, nature and art, including its celebrated Buddha in Nirvana exhibit. Continue to the Botanical Garden, a much-loved green space, and explore the colourful oriental bazaar. Later, travel about 30 kilometres west of the city to Hissar Fortress, where the remains of the 18th-century fortress, two madrasahs and a 16th-century mausoleum tell the story of the area’s past.
Overnight: Dushanbe Meals: B,D
Day 12 – Dushanbe to Almaty
Fly to Almaty with Somon Air. Flights currently operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. After transferring to your hotel to leave your luggage, begin exploring the city. Visit Panfilov Park, the historic Zenkov Cathedral and the Museum of National Musical Instruments. Enjoy some free time on Arbat Street, Almaty’s lively pedestrian thoroughfare, before heading to Kok-Tobe hill for city and mountain views.
Overnight: Almaty Meals: B,D
Day 13 – Medeo Gorge and Shymbulak
Travel to Medeo Gorge and stop at the large Medeo Dam, about 1,733 metres above sea level. From here, enjoy views of the surrounding Trans-Ili Alatau mountains and the famous high-altitude skating rink. Continue to Shymbulak ski resort and take a gondola ride for panoramic mountain scenery. Return to Almaty, with the rest of the day free.
Overnight: Almaty Meals: B,D
Day 14 – Almaty to Bishkek
After breakfast leave Almaty at 9am for the approximately 250-kilometre drive to Bishkek. The journey takes around four hours, depending on road and border conditions. Meet your Kyrgyz guide at the Korday border crossing and continue to your hotel. Later, enjoy a city tour featuring Oak Park, Ala-Too Square and the Statue of Manas. You’ll also see the Philharmonic Hall and Victory Monument, notable examples of Soviet-era architecture.
Overnight: Bishkek Meals: B,D
Day 15 – Ala-Archa National Park and Bishkek
Visit Ala-Archa National Park in the Tian Shan Mountains, a scenic alpine area popular with local visitors. Take a gondola ride for views across the surrounding mountains.
Return to Bishkek for lunch at your own expense, then visit Osh Bazaar, one of the city’s best-known markets.
Overnight: Bishkek Meals: B,D
Day 16 – Departure from Bishkek
Our tour concludes after breakfast. Depart for the airport for onward travel.
Meals: B
THIS ITINERARY IS THE PROPERTY OF THE TOUR COMPANY AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Available dates: On application
Pricing: Available on application. Email info@travlink.net or within NZ call 0800 99 77 88 for more about this unique tour.
