Journey Through Central Asia: the… (trip)

Journey Through Central Asia: the Five 'Stans

  • Almaty Airport, Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • Culture & Nature
“"I would strongly recommend this trip to any one of my friends. It exceeded my every expectation. I loved the… ”
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Asia

from $7,195* per person21 DaysApril, May, August-October
Luxury accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: MIR Corporation 16 people max
More than 2,000 years ago, the great trade routes that linked Europe and China opened Central Asia to foreign cultures, customs and religions. Join a modern-day caravan on an epic journey to five of these exotic countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan - visiting eight awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way.

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Locations visited/nearby

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Asia

2 testimonials about this trip

  1. Reviewer: N. Smith located in Washington, DC USA
    "I would strongly recommend this trip to any one of my friends. It exceeded my every expectation. I loved the people and their way of life. On this trip we saw so many varied lifestyles, from nomads living in yurts to families living in modern day housing. I would like to add that our tour manager was probably the most professional, efficient and knowledgeable guide that I have ever encountered."
  2. Reviewer: M. Williams located in Dana Point, CA USA
    “A very education trip. I never realized how much I didn’t know about Central Asia.” “(Favorite part-) The bazaars/marketplaces- because of the people and the vibrancy. Uzbekistan- especially Bukhara which exceeded my expectations.”

3 testimonials about the provider, MIR Corporation:

  • Reviewer: K. Knack located in Malibu, CA USA
    Every day I am grateful for this fabulous trip. The destinations you specialize in are of much more interest now that I know what a well-delivered service you provide.

    MIR's tour manager made my trip more deeply meaningful and made sure that everyone on the train came away with a greater appreciation for this vast country. Thank you so much for your great itinerary, for the tremendous abilities of your staff... You can be certain I will recommend your company.



  • Reviewer: The Tobys located in Rockville Center, NY USA
    …It is safe to say without the expertise of your superb cadre of guides in the country we never could have put it all together. In fact, we were totally dependent on them to benefit from the extraordinary experienced of visiting three regions of [Ukraine] within a two-week time period.

    Clearly, MIR Corporation has a well-deserved reputation for superb customer service. We support that well-deserved reputation, which is possibly rooted in the fact that your associates like their jobs and that job satisfaction has been transferred to customer and client relations….

    Honestly, we were duly impressed with each of the regional guides and the drivers who accompanied us. Their local knowledge of the unique features of their respective region was so evident, impressive, and unmatched by any we have encounters over our 40 years of visiting 140 countries.

    I want to thank you for a most stupendous trip; 5 stars plus. Loved Ukraine, the people, the sites, the precision of our tour; the fine quality of the guides and drivers - how much they care, how much they know and how much they kept our interests foremost in their hearts and their minds. It was just stupendous.

    It was so fabulous we cannot stop talking about it. Again, thank you very much. And I will certainly recommend MIR Corporation when it is appropriate for our friends & colleagues.

    It was excellent beyond all expectations.


  • Reviewer: The Repkos located in Princeton, NJ USA
    We don’t know where to start – a perfect itinerary which satisfied all of our needs, excellent accommodations superbly located, flawless execution of all aspects including visas, vouchers, theatre tickets, etc., and last but certainly not least, truly outstanding and professional guides and drivers.

    …We only wish that MIR provided tours everywhere, in which case we would never use another tour company again..

    MIR Office in Seattle was outstanding…We have already told several friends about MIR and how wonderful they are! You all put together a trip for us that was perfect to our budget, time frame and interests. Russia is a fabulous destination – wonderful history, magnificent sites we can’t say enough about MIR and Russia.

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Special information

  • May accommodate certain types of disabilities. Contact the operator for more information.

Itinerary

Days 1-4: Almaty, Lake Issyk-Kul, Bishkek

Begin the tour in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, driving into the majestic Tien Shan mountain range. Cross into Kyrgyzstan and spend a night at beautiful alpine Lake Issyk-Kul before exploring Bishkek, the country's capital.

Days 5-7: Osh, Fergana, Margilan, Rishtan, Khujand

Fly to the lush Fergana Valley, divided among three of the five 'Stans. Ascend to UNESCO-listed Suleiman-Too Sacred Mountain, one of the holiest Islamic sites in Central Asia, rising from the outskirts of Osh, where you meet with a group of locals. In the Uzbek portion of the valley, visit Margilan and Rishtan, villages specializing in silks and ceramics. Cross the border into Tajikistan for an overnight in historic Khujand, founded by Alexander the Great.

Days 8-16: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Nukus

Journey overland to the Uzbek capital of Tashkent and admire one of the oldest Korans in the world. Explore the blue-tiled mosaics of Samarkand, Tamerlane's UNESCO-listed Ak Sarai Palace in Shakhrisabze, the interlocking brickwork of Bukhara and the winding alleys of Khiva. Drive through the Kara Kum (Red Sands) desert to the astonishing Savitsky Museum of avant-garde Russian art in remote Nukus, capital of Karakalpakstan, for an overnight.

Days 17-21: Kunya Urgench, Tashauz, Ashkabad, Nisa, Merv

In Turkmenistan explore the ruins of Khorezm's Kunya Urgench, the Parthian city of Nisa and mythical Merv, all three of them UNESCO Sites. Get a final taste of Turkmen culture in the modern capital, Ashkabad, browsing its Golden Age bazaar, piled with deep red carpets and crowded with merchants, shoppers and livestock.

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