Central Asia Exploration - 5 Stans

An early morning train carries you into the fertile Fergana Valley (private transport is available as an alternative). In Kokand, once the seat of a powerful khanate, visit the Palace of Khudoyar Khan, the Jami Mosque and the museum of the poet and playwright Hamza Hakimzade Niyazi.

A short drive (about 1 hour) brings you to Rishtan, Uzbekistan's centre of ceramics. At the home workshop of master potter Rustam Usmanov, whose work has been shown internationally, you'll watch pieces being made and see the town's signature blue-green glazes up close.

Continue to Fergana (about 1 hour) for dinner in the home of a local family. It's a chance to taste homemade plov, kazan kabob, fresh tandoor bread, fruit and sweets, and to hear about everyday Uzbek family life.

• Breakfast / Dinner
• Fergana

Cross into Kyrgyzstan at the Dustlik–Dostuk border. Once you're through both checkpoints, your Kyrgyz guide will be waiting with a name sign.

Continue to Osh, one of Central Asia's oldest cities and, according to legend, founded by King Solomon.  During Osh sightseeing tour Climb Suleiman-Too, the sacred mountain above the city, visit the National Museum of History and Archaeology, and explore the Osh bazaar, which has traded on the same spot since the days of the Silk Road.

In the late afternoon, fly to Bishkek.

• Breakfast
• Bishkek

Drive about 50 minutes into Ala-Archa National Park – located about 40 km south of Bishkek, this spectacular alpine park offers an easy introduction to the dramatic landscapes of the Tian Shan Mountains. The park features forested valleys, rushing rivers, glaciers, and snow-capped peaks rising above 4,000 meters. Visitors can enjoy scenic walks or hikes through the gorge and take in panoramic mountain views. Take time to hike or simply enjoy the scenery.

Return to Bishkek dor Bishkek sightseeing tour. Explore Kyrgyzstan’s relaxed capital, known for its wide tree-lined streets, Soviet-era architecture, lively squares, and mountain views. Visit Ala-Too Square, the White House, Oak Park, and the bustling Osh Bazaar, where you can experience local life and browse traditional foods, spices, textiles, and handicrafts.

• Breakfast
• Bishek

Travel east toward Lake Issyk-Kul (about 4 hours). On the way, stop at the Burana Tower, an 11th-century minaret standing alone in the Chui Valley with snowy mountains behind it. It marks the site of Balasagun, once a thriving city of the Karakhanid state. Around it lie ancient balbals, carved stone grave markers left by Turkic nomads.

Continue to Issyk-Kul, the "Pearl of Central Asia". Set at 1,600 m and ringed by the Tian Shan mountains, it is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world. Its slightly salty water rarely freezes, even in winter. Arrive and settle into your hotel on the north shore.

• Breakfast
• Issyk - Kul

Drive along the lakeshore toward Karakol, stopping at an open-air museum of petroglyphs. Here, boulders are scattered across the hillside, carved with ibex, deer, hunters and snow leopards between the 5th century BC and the 8th century AD.

Karakol, at the eastern end of the lake, is a pleasant town of wooden houses and tree-lined streets. During Karakol sightseeing, visit the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, built entirely of wood, and the Dungan Mosque. The mosque looks like a Chinese pagoda and was built by the Dungan community without a single metal nail. Visit the museum of Nikolai Przhevalsky, the famous 19th-century explorer of Central Asia, who is buried nearby.

In the evening, enjoy dinner with a Uyghur family. Kyrgyzstan is home to many peoples, and tonight you'll taste Uyghur specialities such as hand-pulled noodles while learning about their culture and traditions.

• Breakfast / Dinner
• Karakol

After breakfast, drive to Jety-Oguz Gorge (40 km), one of the most beautiful spots in Kyrgyzstan. Its name means "Seven Bulls", after a row of red sandstone cliffs that, according to legend, are seven bulls turned to stone. Nearby stands the "Broken Heart", a split red rock with a tragic love story behind it. Walk among spruce forests and flower-filled meadows, then enjoy a picnic lunch in the valley.

Continue along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul to the village of Bokonbaevo, known for its traditions of yurt-making and eagle hunting. Spend the evening with a local family.

• Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Homestay with a local family

After breakfast, drive back to Bishkek airport (about 5 hours), with views of the lake and mountains along the way. Take the evening flight to Almaty (55 minutes), where your driver will meet you and take you to your hotel.

• Breakfast
• Almaty

Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, sits at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains, a green, relaxed city of parks and mountain views. Your guide meets you in the hotel lobby to start the day.

Begin Almaty sightseeing in Panfilov Park, home to the colourful Zenkov Cathedral. This wooden cathedral was built in 1907 without nails and survived a powerful earthquake just a few years later. Nearby, visit the Museum of National Musical Instruments, where you can see and hear the dombra and other traditional Kazakh instruments (closed Mondays).

In the afternoon, drive 25 km into the mountains to Shymbulak, Central Asia's best-known ski resort. Ride the cable car high above the valley for breathtaking views of the snowy Tian Shan peaks.

End the day at Kok-Tobe, a hilltop park at 1,100 m. A 10-minute cable car ride lifts you from the city centre to a panoramic viewpoint over Almaty and the mountains, especially beautiful in the late afternoon light.

• Breakfast
• Almaty

Set off on a full-day trip to Charyn Canyon (220 km, 3–4 hours each way), one of Kazakhstan's greatest natural wonders. Often compared to the Grand Canyon, it stretches for some 154 km through the steppe of eastern Kazakhstan.

Walk through the famous Valley of Castles, where millions of years of wind and water have sculpted the red and orange rock into towers, turrets and walls that glow in the sun. Charyn National Park also protects a rare grove of relict Sogdian ash trees, survivors from the Ice Age.

After a picnic lunch and a rest, continue exploring the canyon on foot before returning to Almaty in the late afternoon.

• Breakfast / Lunch
• Almaty

After breakfast, fly to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. The city's name means "Monday", after the weekly market that once took place here. Check in to your hotel.

In the afternoon, during Dushanbe sightseeing discover Tajikistan’s elegant capital, with its wide tree-lined avenues, grand squares, and impressive monuments. Visit Rudaki Park, Ismail Somoni Monument, the National Museum, and the lively Mehrgon Bazaar, offering a glimpse into local life, traditions, and cuisine.explore the city. Visit the Haji Yakub Mosque, and the National Museum of Antiquities, home to a 13-metre reclining Buddha discovered at the Ajina-Tepa monastery. Then visit the Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments, a charming private collection of traditional instruments from across the region.

• Breakfast
• Dushanbe

Continue your tour of Dushanbe with the Ismoil Somoni Monument, honouring the founder of the first Tajik state, and green Rudaki Park, named after the father of Persian poetry. Then drive out to the Hissar Fortress, whose massive gateway once guarded the residence of the local governor. Visit the old madrasah (Madrasah-i Kuhna) opposite it.

In the afternoon, head north into the mountains toward Penjikent (270 km, 4–5 hours). The road climbs through spectacular scenery over the Anzob Pass (3,300 m) before descending into the Zeravshan Valley.

• Breakfast
• Penjikent
• As we travel into the more remote parts of the Fann Mountains, tourist infrastructure becomes simpler. We will stay in the best available local hotel, housed in a Soviet-era building. Please expect more basic amenities than in the larger cities; this is part of the experience of travelling in the mountains and staying in less-developed areas.

After breakfast, drive into the Fann Mountains to the Seven Lakes (80 km, 1.5–2 hours). This chain of lakes climbs one above the next through a narrow valley, each with its own colour, from soft turquoise to emerald and deep violet. At Hazorchashma, the highest of the lakes, enjoy a picnic surrounded by mountain peaks.

Return to Penjikent, once a wealthy Sogdian city that flourished in the 5th century before being destroyed by Arab armies in the 8th. During Penjikent sightseeing, visit the ruins of ancient Penjikent, sometimes called the "Pompeii of Central Asia", where archaeologists uncovered houses, temples and remarkable wall paintings. See the Rudaki Museum, the local bazaar and mosque.

In the late afternoon, cross the border at Jartepa. After passing through both checkpoints, your driver will be waiting with a name sign on the Uzbek side to take you to Samarkand.

• Breakfast / Lunch
• Samarkand
• The road to the Seven Lakes passes through mountainous terrain. Some sections are unpaved and quite bumpy, especially beyond the fourth lake, and the journey may be uncomfortable for travellers prone to motion sickness.

Today is devoted to Samarkand, one of the oldest cities in the world and the jewel of the Silk Road. Once the capital of Amir Timur's empire, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Start Samarkand sightseeing at the breathtaking Registan Square, framed by three grand madrasahs covered in shimmering tilework. Visit the vast Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built by Timur and among the largest mosques of its time, then stroll through the colourful Siyob Bazaar next door, a great place to try Samarkand's famous round bread.

Continue to the Observatory of Ulugbek, the scholar-king whose 15th-century astronomical tables were remarkably accurate. Walk the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, an avenue of mausoleums decorated with some of the finest tilework in the Islamic world. Finish at the Gur-e-Amir, the elegant ribbed-dome mausoleum where Amir Timur rests beneath a slab of dark jade.

• Breakfast
• Samarkand

Continue exploring at the Afrasiab Museum, built on the site of ancient Samarkand. Its highlight is a set of 7th-century murals showing foreign ambassadors arriving at the court of a Sogdian king. Then visit the Tomb of Saint Daniel, a peaceful shrine on a hill above the Siyob River. Christians, Jews and Muslims all revere it.

Next, drive to the village of Konigil to discover how Samarkand paper was once made. At the Meros workshop, watch craftsmen turn mulberry bark into smooth, durable paper using water-powered mills and techniques that are centuries old.

Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the city at your own pace.

• Breakfast
• Samarkand

After breakfast, take the morning fast train to Bukhara, a holy city of the Islamic world with more than 2,000 years of history. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 140 architectural monuments.

After check-in, set off on foot with your guide through the heart of the old city. Begin Bukhara sightseeing at Lyabi-Hauz, a shaded plaza around an old pool where locals still gather for tea. Visit the Magoki-Attori Mosque, one of the oldest in Central Asia, and the charming four-towered Chor-Minor. Wander through the historic trading domes, where craftsmen sell carpets, embroidery and knives.

Stand beneath the Kalyan Minaret, a 12th-century tower so impressive that, according to legend, Genghis Khan ordered it spared. Visit the Kalyan Mosque and the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, then continue to the Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan madrasahs. Explore the massive Ark Fortress, residence of Bukhara's rulers for centuries, and the Bolo-Hauz Mosque with its slender wooden columns. Finish at the 10th-century Ismail Samani Mausoleum, a masterpiece of decorative brickwork, and the Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, built over a spring said to have appeared at the prophet Job's command.

• Breakfast
• Bukhara

Start your second day at Sitorai Mohi-Hosa, the summer palace of the last Emir of Bukhara. Its name means "Palace of the Moon and Stars", and it blends Oriental and Russian styles in its mirrored halls and gardens.

Continue to the Mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshband, founder of the influential Naqshbandi Sufi order and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Central Asia. Then visit the House Museum of Fayzulla Khodjaev, the richly decorated home of a wealthy 19th-century merchant family.

Spend the afternoon at leisure. Shop for local crafts or relax at a teahouse.

• Breakfast
• Bukhara

After breakfast, set off across the Kyzylkum ("Red Sands") Desert to Khiva (480 km, 7–8 hours), following the route once taken by Silk Road caravans. Stop along the way to enjoy the vast desert landscape and views of the Amu Darya River. Arrive in Khiva in the late afternoon and check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.

A new train between Bukhara and Khiva will start operating in October 2027.

• Breakfast
• Khiva
• The cafés and restaurants along this route are basic and have limited menus, so you may wish to take a packed lunch. Your hotel or guide can arrange one the day before. Some parts of the road are in poor condition.

During Khiva sightseeing, explored the inner walled city, Itchan Kala, was Uzbekistan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and within its mud-brick walls are dozens of madrasahs, mosques, minarets and palaces.

Visit the Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, once the largest in Central Asia, and the Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasah. Admire the Kalta Minor, a short, wide minaret covered in turquoise tiles and left unfinished when its builder died. Step inside the Juma Mosque, where more than 200 carved wooden columns create a forest of light and shadow. Explore the Tosh-Hovli Palace with its beautiful harem courtyard, and the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, dedicated to Khiva's patron saint, a poet, philosopher and champion wrestler. Finally, see the Islam Khodja Minaret, the tallest in Uzbekistan and the symbol of the city.

Enjoy a free afternoon to wander the lanes of the old town and watch the sunset from the city walls.

• Breakfast / Dinner
• Khiva

After breakfast, at 9:00, drive to the Turkmenistan border at Shavat–Dashoguz (60 km, 1 hour). After passing through both checkpoints, your Turkmen guide will be waiting with a name sign.

Head deep into the Karakum Desert (270 km, about 4 hours) to one of the most extraordinary sights in Central Asia: the Darvaza Gas Crater, known as the "Gateway to Hell". It is a huge pit of burning natural gas that has been ablaze since the 1970s. After setting up camp, enjoy a dinner cooked over an open fire. As darkness falls, walk to the rim of the crater to see the flames glowing against the desert night sky.

• Breakfast / Dinner
• Desert Camp
• e travel in 4x4 vehicles across the Karakum Desert. The route is unpaved, so expect a bumpy and exciting ride; it is the only way to reach this remote location. At the camp, you'll enjoy an authentic stay in yurts with basic, shared outdoor washing and toilet facilities.

After breakfast, leave the camp and drive to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. This remarkable city of white marble buildings, golden domes and grand monuments is unlike anywhere else in the world. Check in to your hotel.

In the afternoon, during Dushanbe sightseeing explore Old Nisa, the ruins of an early capital of the Parthian Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Turkmenbashi Ruhy (Spiritual) Mosque, one of the largest in Central Asia. Then see the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, the elegant Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque, and Independence Park with its striking modern monuments.

• Breakfast
• Ashgabat

After breakfast, take a morning flight to Mary (40 minutes), then drive to ancient Merv (30 minutes). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Merv was one of the great oasis cities of the Silk Road and a major centre of trade, learning and crafts. In the 12th century it was among the largest cities in the world.

Explore the vast archaeological park, where the remains of several cities built over 2,000 years stand side by side. See the majestic Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, the Great and Small Kyz Kala with their unusual corrugated walls, the ancient citadels of Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala, and the Keshk Fortress.

In the evening, fly back to Ashgabat and transfer to your hotel.

• Breakfast
• Ashgabat

Transfer to Ashgabat airport for your departure. End of the Five Stans tour: 23 days, five countries, and countless memories from the heart of the Silk Road.

• Breakfast
• Transfer to the airport