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The Five Stans of The Silk Road

21 days
From Bishkek to Ashgabat
4.4
14 traveler reviews
The Five Stans of The Silk Road - Explore!
From
US $7,620
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Price based on per person in Twin Share for departure 30 June 2025

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Plan your adventure:
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Guided in English
Group Size 7 - 16
Age range 16 to 85
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Bishkek's main monuments and Oak Park
  • Witness horseback wrestling and polo in Tokmok
  • Learn yurt-making and felt carpet weaving
  • Tour Karakol's historic sites and wooden churches
  • Visit the majestic Registan Square in Samarkand

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Join trip in Bishkek and have an afternoon exploring the city
  2. Day 2 Drive to Burana Tower and visit a stadium for horse games. Drive onto Chon Kemin and learn how to make Kyrgyz fried bread
  3. Day 3 Drive onto Lake Issyk Kul to sleep in a yurt
  4. Day 4 Explore Skazka Canyon on foot and then drive onto Karakol for a city tour
  5. Day 5 Cross the border into Kazakhstan and explore Charyn Canyon before driving to Almaty
  6. Day 6 Tour the wide boulevards and green parks of Almaty
  7. Day 7 Morning flight to Dushanbe. Afternoon orientation tour of the city
  8. Day 8 Further exploration of Dushanbe including Navruz Palace and the market
  9. Day 9 Full day drive into the Fann Mountains. Picnic stop for a scenic lunch and walk to a waterfall
  10. Day 10 Drive to the 'Seven Lakes' for a half day walk among the picturesque lakes
  11. Day 11 Drive to historic Samarkand to discover Registan Square and Gur Emir Mausoleum
  12. Day 12 More highlights of Samarkand and free time in the afternoon
  13. Day 13 Morning train to Bukhara, discover blue-tiled domes and minarets; learn about the city's history
  14. Day 14 Another day exploring Bukhara
  15. Day 15 Drive from Bukhara to Khiva
  16. Day 16 A full day wandering the narrow streets of the 'Open Air Museum' of Khiva
  17. Day 17 Free day in Khiva; Optional half day trip to the desert fortresses
  18. Day 18 Cross the border into Turkmenistan and drive onto Darvaza to camp by the flaming crater
  19. Day 19 Continue onto Ashgabat, stopping via the Erbent Desert community
  20. Day 20 In Ashgabat, visit Nisa Fortress and Gypjak Mosque
  21. Day 21 Trip ends in Ashgabat
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Operated by

Explore!

Number of tours

455

Age Range

16 to 85 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

80%

Explore is a global adventure travel company with 42 years’ experience in providing exciting and authentic travel experiences. With over 350 trips in around 100 countries, Explore’s expertly crafted itineraries combined with award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and a commitment to...

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Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Guide
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.2
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.4
  • Food
    Good
    3.9
  • 4.5
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • A
    · May 29th, 2023
    So many wonderful experiences it's difficult to pick just a few. Goat polo with family lunch, Yurt stay with musicians, Concert in Dushambe "Music Museum", Walking in Tajikistan at Seven Lakes, Top Gear across the desert in Turkmenistan and overnight at Darvaza Crater.
    Show more
    Trip date: May 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · May 30th, 2023
    The three famous towns of Uzbekistan are obvious highlights but having seen them before I am choosing different ones for this trip. Two absolute highlights stand out. The day on the south side of Issyk Kul, where we constructed a yurt, met an eagle hunter and watched how a felt rug is made from scratch was then topped off with a local family of musicians performing for us over dinner. I will remember this day for a long time. One stunning experience after another! The other outstanding day for me, was the day which was the main reason for my doing the trip. This was the day in Nukus and the visit to the Savitsky art gallery. What a fabulous place!
    Show more
    Trip date: May 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · May 30th, 2023
    The Devaza gas crater. Also the friendliness of everybody I met
    Trip date: May 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · May 30th, 2023
    Tatiana Potanina our guide from Kolpak Travel was outstanding- very thoughtful and always eager to keep everyone happy
    Trip date: May 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · June 1st, 2023
    Visiting the mountain lakes, staying in charming accommodations, exploring the historic sights, especially Khiva
    Trip date: May 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · August 16th, 2023
    Khiva and Darvaz gas crater
    Trip date: July 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · August 17th, 2023
    The eagle hunter in Kyrgyzstan was fascinating. The musical evening on our last night in Uzbekistan was delightful.
    Trip date: July 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · August 28th, 2023
    Day 4 was the best - Yurt making, Eagle hunters and felt maker which is a shame as it peaked a bit early!!
    Trip date: July 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · September 25th, 2023
    Too many to mention! The eagle hunter in Kyrgyzstan, 7 lakes in Tajikistan, Charyn Canyon walk in Kazakhstan, first glimpse of the Registan in Samarkand, ‘Door to Hell’ in Turkmenistan, to name a few!
    Trip date: September 2023
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · September 27th, 2023
    Kygrstan in general and in particular the golden eagle. Samarkand. And Turkmenistan like nowhere I’ve ever been.
    Trip date: September 2023
    Review collected by Explore!

Dates & Availability

21 days
The Five Stans of The Silk Road
From Bishkek to Ashgabat

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    Monday
    5 May, 2025
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    25 May, 2025
    English
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    26 May, 2025
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    15 Jun, 2025
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    15 Sep, 2025
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    5 Oct, 2025
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    22 Sep, 2025
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    12 Oct, 2025
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Can’t find the answer to your question?
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Good to Know

Tour ID: 209747

  • Currencies
    Tenge
    Kazakhstan
    с
    Som
    Kyrgyzstan
    ЅМ
    Somoni
    Tajikistan
    $
    US Dollar
    UZS
    Uzbekistan Sum
    Uzbekistan
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, I. As a traveler from England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, I, A, B. As a traveler from Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, A, B.

    Type C
    Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
    Type E
    Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
    Type F
    Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
    Type I
    Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
    Type A
    Turkmenistan
    Type B
    Turkmenistan
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Rabies - Recommended for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Ideally 10 days before travel.
    • Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Cholera - Recommended for Tajikistan. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before March 8th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after March 8th, 2025, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Explore!. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 75 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Explore! will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Explore!" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

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