Lupine Travel

The 5 ‘Stans of Central Asia: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan are an underappreciated world of their own. This region is home to a little bit of everything. Friendly and diverse locals, tasty food, Islamic architecture, and alpine national parks are just the beginning of what makes these five countries a must for any traveller.

Itinerary

Day One, Jul 19 2025
Arrive in Ashgabat

• Arrive in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat and transfer to the hotel.

• There are no arranged activities today, so you are free to spend the day at leisure. Your tour leader will be able to help with recommendations for things to do, or you are free to relax in the hotel.

• This evening, your tour leader will arrange a welcome dinner where you will also meet your fellow travellers.

• Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day Two, Jul 20 2025
Archaelogical site of Nisa

• We’ll start the day visiting the Sunday Bazaar outside of Ashgabat, before heading to the Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque.

• Next we’ll head to the UNESCO archaeological site of Nisa which has mud brick remains of fortifications and palaces, temples, ceremony halls and treasury buildings. It covers the remains of the Parthian civilisation, which combined traditional Turkmen art and culture with Greek and Roman elements. Nisa is presumed to be the first capital of Parthia.

• In the afternoon we’ll set off for the underground cave of Kov-Ata for an optional swim. The cave features a unique hot-water sulphur lake which is 35C all year round.

• Afterwards, we proceed to an Akhal-Teke private horse farm. The Akhal-Teke horses are one of the most prized breeds in the world. It is believed they are the last remaining strain of the Turkman horse, which has existed since 2400BC.

• In the evening we’ll take a night drive around Ashgabat to see the city lights.

• Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day Three, Jul 21 2025
Darvaza ‘The Gates of Hell’

• This morning we will take a tour of Ashgabat, seeing sites such as The Tower of Neutrality, Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque and Independence Monument.

• After lunch, we will transfer into 4x4s and start our journey (approximately 5 hours) to the Darvaza Gas Crater. Once we leave the main roads of Ashgabat and enter the Karakum Desert, the roads become rough and bumpy, so be prepared for a tiring but rewarding journey.

• We’ll stop along the way at two lesser-known craters before finally arriving at Darvaza in the early evening.

• Our local team will prepare dinner whilst we take this time to relax and enjoy the massive campfire-like aura of “The Gates of Hell”.

• Overnight in 2/3 bed yurt camp near the crater.
Day Four, Jul 22 2025
Konye Urgench

• This morning, you will have the opportunity to witness the sunrise over the crater while our local team prepares breakfast.

• After breakfast, we will head north in our 4x4s (approximately 6 hours) to Konye Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing the remains of the Achaemenid Empire’s capital, Khwarazm.

• The roads are similar to yesterday, but we will make several stops along the way, including a lunch stop at a local roadside cafe.

• We will then drive onwards to Dashoguz, where you will have the evening at leisure.

• Overnight in Dashoguz.
Day Five, Jul 23 2025
Khiva

• This morning, we say goodbye to our Turkmen guide before crossing the border into Uzbekistan, where our Uzbek guide will be waiting for us.

• Upon crossing the border, we’ll drive for approximately 90 minutes to Khiva, arriving early in the afternoon.

• After lunch, we’ll take a walking tour of the city, visiting the legendary Ichan Kala fortress. This ancient site was the last resting place for caravans about to cross the desert to Persia. It contains minarets, a madrassah, mosques and mausoleums.

• You will then have the evening at leisure to enjoy Khiva at your own pace.

• Overnight in Khiva.
Day Six, Jul 24 2025
By Road to Bukhara

• After breakfast, we will depart on a 7-hour drive across the desert to Bukhara.

• We will stop for lunch along the way at a Chai Khanah (Uzbek tea house).

• Upon arriving in Bukhara, we will check into our hotel and you will then have the evening free to spend at leisure.

• Overnight in Bukhara.
Day Seven, Jul 25 2025
Bukhara

• Today we will start with a half-day tour of Bukhara, visiting the Samanids Mausoleum, Poi Kalon complex, trading domes, the Lyabi-Hauz complex and Chor Minor.

• After lunch, you will have the rest of the afternoon to spend at leisure, exploring the city’s Jewish quarter and covered shopping areas.

• Overnight in Bukhara.
Day Eight, Jul 26 2025
Shahi Zinda Necropolis

• After breakfast, we will drive approximately 5 hours to the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand.

• We’ll stop en route at the Gijduvan ceramic workshop. Here we’ll have the chance to learn a new skill, either suzani sewing or pottery making.

• We’ll continue our journey to Samarkand to visit the Shahi Zinda Necropolis and the Meros handicraft centre.

• After checking into our hotel, we’ll have the rest of the evening at leisure.

• Overnight in Samarkand.
Day Nine, Jul 27 2025
Samarkand

• Today we’ll have a full-day tour of Samarkand.

• We’ll have the evening at leisure in the city.

• Overnight in Samarkand.
Day Ten, Jul 28 2025
Ulugbek Observatory and Plov

• This morning, we’ll explore more of Samarkand, visiting the Ulugbek Observatory, Afrasiab museum and wall paintings, plus St.Daniel’s Mausoleum.

• For lunch, we’ll have an authentic cooking experience with a local family, where we can learn the secrets of cooking the most famous Uzbek meal.

• The rest of the day is spent at leisure.

• Overnight in Samarkand.
Day Eleven, Jul 29 2025
Ancient Penjikent

• We’ll have an early breakfast before crossing the Jartepa border from Uzbekistan to meet our Tajik guide.

• From the border, we’ll drive 20 minutes to ancient Penjikent, where we can explore the ruins of an old Sogdian town founded in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. We’ll see the excavated ruins of house foundations, the city bazaar and the citadel containing Zoroastrian fire temples. Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, who is considered the father of Persian poetry; we will visit the museum showcasing some of his work.

• Afterwards, we’ll head for lunch and then drive for approximately 5 hours to Dushanbe, passing through the 5km long Anzob Tunnel a.k.a. The Tunnel of Death, a vital roadway which connects Tajikistan’s two largest cities.

• Overnight in Dushanbe.
Day Twelve, Jul 30 2025
Day at Leisure

• Today is a well-earned day of rest. You can use the day to relax or explore independently.

• For those interested, our local guide can lead an optional tour to show you the city’s highlights.

• Overnight in Dushanbe.
Day Thirteen, Jul 31 2025
Iskanderkul Lake

• Start the drive to Khujand in the morning, passing back through the 5km long Anzob Tunnel.

• En route, we arrive at the emerald-coloured Iskanderkul Lake, where we’ll have the afternoon to swim, hike to the waterfall, or go on speed boat rides around the lake (approx $10 pp).

• Later, we will continue to Khujand to check into our hotel and spend the evening at leisure.

• Overnight in Khujand.
Day Fourteen, Aug 1 2025
Khujand

• Today we’ll visit the Shikh Muslihiddin Mosque, Oriental bazaar (the biggest in Central Asia), Arbob Palace and Lenin Monument.

• After lunch we’ll head to the ancient city fortress of Timur-Malik. This castle was a vital stop on the Silk Road for many centuries.

• Overnight in Khujand.
Day Fifteen, Aug 2 2025
Fergana Valley

• After breakfast, we will head to the border and say goodbye to our Tajik guide and cross into Kyrgyzstan.

• After crossing the border, we will travel approximately 5 hours to Osh, before checking into our hotel and spending the evening at leisure.

• Overnight in Osh.
Day Sixteen, Aug 3 2025
Tien Shen Mountain Range

• This morning, we will visit the sacred Sulayman Mountain, before setting off on our journey toward the capital city of Bishkek.

• Today’s drive is long (approximately 8 hours), but the road rivals the Pamir Highway for the most beautiful and scenic journey in Central Asia. We pass huge mountains, canyons and valleys as well as crossing a host of different climatic zones and vegetation levels. We’ll see the natural and cultural divide of the country through the Fergana Valley and the Tien Shan mountain range.

• We will stop overnight in Toktogul and enjoy dinner with a local family.
Day Seventeen, Aug 4 2025
Bishkek

• Today we have another long journey (approximately 6 hours) and we will continue the scenic journey to Bishkek over the Ala-Bel and Tyua-Ashuu Passes, stopping along the way to admire the views.

• You will have the afternoon and evening at leisure to explore the capital.

• Overnight in Bishkek.
Day Eighteen, Aug 5 2025
Day at Leisure

• A well-earned rest day.

• Spend the day as you wish, perhaps checking out the Soviet architecture and monuments of the capital.

• Overnight in Bishkek.
Day Nineteen, Aug 6 2025
Jeti Oguz Gorge

• Leave Bishkek for Issyk-Kul. Along the way, we visit the Burana Tower.

• Our drive continues up into the mountains before we finally get to Issyk-Kul; the tenth-largest lake in the world.

• Enjoy a swim in this massive body of water.

• Overnight stay at Jeti-Oguz Gorge in a yurt camp.
Day Twenty, Aug 7 2025
Karakol

• Free morning at the yurt camp. Various excursions can be arranged for you, such as hiking or horse riding.

• Drive to Karakol for lunch and take a short tour of the city’s Chinese-style mosque and Orthodox Church.

• Overnight in Karakol.
Day Twenty-One, Aug 8 2025
Charyn Canyon

• Depart Karakol and bid farewell to Kyrgyzstan.

• After crossing the border into Kazakhstan, we head to Charyn Canyon, taking the 45-minute walk in and out of the canyon.

• You’ll have a chance to paddle in the Charyn River before continuing the drive to Almaty.

• Overnight in Almaty.
Day Twenty-Two, Aug 9 2025
Almaty

• We’ll have a day tour of the city, seeing the sights. We’ll visit Panfilov Park, home to the bright-yellow towers of Zenkov Cathedral and also head to see the view of the city, amongst other things.

• In the evening, we’ll head out for a final farewell dinner.

• Overnight in Almaty.
Day Twenty Three, Aug 10 2025
Tour Ends

• After three weeks of travel, our tour sadly ends today.

• You can depart Almaty at any time, or you are welcome to add extra nights in Kazakhstan on request.