Name: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to China
Brand: African Trails
SKU: N/A
Price: 3532.49 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

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Kyrgyzstan Cultural Trips & Packages Tours & Trip Packages

Asia

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan Cultural Trips & Packages

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Kyrgyzstan Cultural Trips & Packages Tour & Trip Reviews...

Exodus Adventure Travels

Intrepid Travel

G Adventures

World Expeditions

Audley Travel

SpiceRoads Cycling

African Trails

The trip introduced me to many aspects of the history of Central Asia of 
which I knew little. It has inspired me to read more on the subject. I was 
also possible to gain a little appreciation of the culture of the three 
countries I visited.
There was not one single inspirational moment. The combination of places we 
visited and the information provided by our excellent guides stimulated much 
food for thought. I find that  often inspiration comes after a period of 
reflection.


Both of our guides were excellent. They were both different but equally good 
at their job. There were no problems when travelling throughout  all three 
countries.


Try to find the time to read about the histories of the countries before 
going.


I have been on many Exodus trips and they have all been good. This one lived 
up to my expectations. I would recommend anybody who has a sense of adventure 
and a thirst for knowledge go on the Silk Rd.

The Silk Road

When I told people I was going to three of the 'Stans', their question was 
always why ?
To be honest, I wasn't sure myself until I'd been, but they are very 
different countries, not subject to mass tourism, with different cultures, 
lovely people and a joy to explore.
My personal highlights were, the mausoleums at Shakhi Zinda, talking to the 
students learning English in Registan square and Bukhara - all in 
Uzbebikistan.  However, being allowed to hold the eagle hunter's Golden Eagle 
in Kyrgyzstan was an honour.


We had two group leaders
In Uzbekistan, Dilshod was confident and highly knowledgeable and he would 
tell us interesting stories of his personal life growing up in Uzbekistan 
under Soviet rule. He provided advice daily and was always checking 
everything was OK.

In Kazakhstan and Kyrgzystan, Ermek was equally engaging but with a quieter 
manner. He enjoyed imparting knowledge of his home country, Kyrgzystan, and 
keen to learn and join in with our English sense of humour.  Alexi, our 
driver in Kazakhstan and Kyrgzystan, was amazing, fixing the coach when we 
broke down.


Make sure your dollars are clean, any marked or slight tears and the money 
exchange will not accept them.
There are ATM's available (for top ups) for example at the Hotel Asia in 
Bukkhara and the Kass Hotel in Almaty. (Tip: If you do happen to stay in the 
Kass Hotel, get your picnic lunch from the deli which is 2 minutes walk, turn 
right at the main road)
As a rough guide, I spent $85 in Uzbekistan, $60 Kazakstan (drinks at hotel 
were a bit more expensive), $100 in Kyrgzystan plus dollars for tips for the 
guides and drivers
For the yurt stay - if you drink, make sure you buy alcohol to take with you 
as they don't sell it!  Also, we were a group of 14 and they were able to 
mostly put the couples together (rather than the gender separation mentioned 
in the notes).  We went in early June and it rained and was a bit cold in the 
evening, so pack a waterproof and a fleece (just in case)
At the home stay meal in Karakol - buy your wine at the house (cheaper than 
the Green Yard Hotel prices) - but breakfast at the Green Yard is amazing!
The food was better than I had anticipated, I ate lots of salads, kebabs and 
pasta.  Meals are not expensive and the vodka and beer are cheap.
Shopping is best in Bukhara with some free time for exploring.  Would 
recommend The Old Bukhara and Minzifa restaurants in Bukhara
Ladies, make sure you take a scarf for your head/shoulders, but respectable 
shorts and t shirts were fine for the most part, with only a few places where 
knees needed to be covered as well.


Why do you want to go to the Stans? Because they are different, the 
architecture and history of Uzbekistan is amazing and the scenery of 
Kyrgyzstan is beautiful. Neither will disappoint,

If you like history, visiting beautiful buildings and tasting local food, 
this is the trip for you. Yes there are some bad roads to contend with, but 
that's a small price to pay. The highlights? Bukhara, meeting the eagle 
hunter and brilliant local guides.
Getting up close to a golden eagle.


We had two leaders. Dilshod in Uzbekistan was brilliant - his knowledge of 
local history was amazing and he also had a great sense of humour. Ermek in 
Kazakhstan and Kyrgystan was also a great guide - conscientious and a fund of 
information, particularly about the recent history of the region.


Enjoy the different cultures of Central Asia.


We found the local people very friendly and all three countries a lot more 
laid back than we were expecting.

This is a trip full of contrasts and culture.
Uzbekistan was the best part of the trip, with an enormous amount of history 
and beautiful buildings.  As a nation, they seem to have totally reclaimed 
their national identity following their independence.
During our night in the mountains staying in a yurt, the magical, mesmerising 
Milky Way was also clearly visible (and even better with binoculars).


The group leaders really knew their stuff, and if they didn't know the answer 
to a question, they came back to us with it the next day.
The leaders were willing to answer questions on social matters, like 
marriage, Russian influences/legacies, school, cotton picking. This gave us a 
better understanding of each country.


Make sure you buy your souvenirs in Uzbekistan (ikat prints, scarves, 
pottery, rugs) as there really is very little opportunity to buy anything 
worthwhile in either Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan.  You'll regret it if you 
don't.  Be prepared to haggle a little bit.
The currency exchange app a fellow traveller told me about, XE Currency, was 
extremely useful for converting all currencies.
Take a fork and spoon for picnic lunches, and socks for the night in the 
mountains.
No medication containing Codeine is allowed in Uzbekistan.


Don't expect 'western' standards.  Embrace the quirks and idiosyncrasies of 
each country and admire each country for how they have developed their own 
identities.
Make sure you experience as much of the local food as you can.  It really is 
very good, especially the lamb.

a simply amazing tour.
not sure about describing this tour as  inspirational but to see part of the 
old silk rd was/is part of our desire to see as much of it as possible.


in Uzbekistan, Dilshod was as good as you could possibly get. For the rest of 
the tour the guide was very helpful and friendly but sometimes difficult to 
understand.


definitely have medicine for upset stomach. .  You  will need to be 
reasonably fit.  Take warm clothes for the mountains and bathers for the 
fantastic Issyk Kul lake.


we hope you have a tour from Uzbekistan   say   Tashkent- 
Kieva-Mary-Ashkhabad  then into iran

Really exciting trip, very full on and packed with seeing the best of all 3 
countries that you visit.
Be prepared for long but very rewarding days of sightseeing and travelling. 
Go with the flow!
Very friendly and hospitable people.
Eating out is cheap and there is plenty of choice of good quality meat (lamb, 
beef) kebabs/ pasties!     (or the nearest thing to them, yummy) dumplings, 
paste/noodle/bread and salads. Local beer very acceptable and even the best 
vodka is very cheap and taste great..
Great photo opportunities and load of very interesting architecture such as 
Madrasah's and mausoleums to see!
Scenery up in mountains is stunning with waterfalls and turquoise lakes.
Staying in the Yurt in the mountains in Kyrgyzstan was wonderful. No light 
pollution so you can see the milky way and shooting stars! But be prepared 
for it to be very basic and rustic! We ended up playing hand ball with a 
international team of people staying at the camp site and then sitting round 
the camp fire singing and drinking vodka watching the night sky.
Staying in the Yurt in the mountains in Kyrgyzstan was wonderful. No light 
pollution so you can see the milky way and shooting stars!


Dilshod was a composite professional and very knowledgeable
Lisa was a lovely person who worked hard, and would certainly benefit from a 
bit of training (fine tuning) to make her even better :)


See comments above in summary.


See comments above in summary.