The Five Stans of The Silk Road (2023)

[coyote25]

Following suggestions and recommendations in this forum way back in 2019 in the ‘before time’ I was finally able to book and undertake post COVID international trip to the Five Stans - Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan.

Surprisingly enough they don’t include Afghanistan or Pakistan . This trip also bought me close to Iran and Russia . Definitely a region not fully explored by western tourist for some reason .

I booked the trip with G Adventures but strongly considered companies mentioned by other AFF members. In the end went with G as I have many positive experiences with them and I trust them as this was a bit different type of region.

I book this 26 day tour back in 2022 when Turkmenistan was still shut. In fact they only reopened in March 2023 and based on conversations when there my group might have still been in the first 1,000 guests (they use term guests more the Tourists) for a number of years.

They even turned on an indoor Ferris wheel just for our group saying it was the first time in a while .

 

[coyote25]

This is the review I created that provides sone summary of the many many highlights.

World Trip 2023: The Five Stans of the Silk Road Tour Review

Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan – Tour Day 8 Tour Title: The Five Stans of the Silk RoadTour Company: G AdventuresTour Leaders: IIyas (days 1 to 9), Rustam (days 9 to 22), Eziz (days 22 to 26)Citie…

nathanburgessinsights.com

 

[coyote25]

Even got to use a new airline Somon Air.
The flight was supposed to be from Almaty International Airport to Dushanbe International Airport but we had a weather related diversion to Khŭjand so that was an experience!

A guide for another guide said it wasn’t weather related but they had an executive on border they need to drop off, I doubt that but it was an interesting story.

Flight Review – SZ216 Almaty to Dushanbe

Somon AirDate 17 May 2023Gate: 4Seat: 20D (Economy Class Seat)Plane: Boeing 737-800Boarded: 15:22Pushback: 16:10 (Scheduled 16:00)Arrived: 19:05 (3 hours 5 minutes late)Duration: 3 hour 35 minutesD…

nathanburgessinsights.com

 

[coyote25]

Darvaza Gas Crater


Khiva at sunset


Camping in the desert


Bukhara

 

[RooFlyer]

Fabulous; great trip (see my pic, left )

 

[kpc]

Fantastic review of your trip...I hope to do the 5 Stans one day myself.

 

[craven morehead]

Darvaza Gas Crater
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Khiva at sunset
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Camping in the desert
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Bukhara
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Awesome photos

 

[Skyring]

This trip also bought me close to Iran and Russia .

Looks great!
You don't like Iran? Persia is a beautiful country full of friendly, welcoming people. The government is nutty but they don't have enough democracy to give it a shove out the door. which they would in a heartbeat if given the chance.

 

[coyote25]

Looks great!
You don't like Iran? Persia is a beautiful country full of friendly, welcoming people. The government is nutty but they don't have enough democracy to give it a shove out the door. which they would in a heartbeat if given the chance.

I will definitely go to Iran one day. Mentioned these countries as a few people have concerns about them

 

[RooFlyer]

Surprisingly enough they don’t include Afghanistan or Pakistan

When we were in Termez, in south Uzbekistan, on the border with Afghanistan, I found a local tour group who said that they run day trips to Mazar-i-Sharif, across the border . I'd love to go back and try 'em out.

 

[stm1sydney]

Fantastic! Note: photo captioned Bukhara is actually Samarkand.

 

[coyote25]

Stan 1 - Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan – Nathan's Insights

Posts about Kyrgyzstan written by Nathan

nathanburgessinsights.com

Burana Tower


Chong-Kemin - Hiking


Song Kul


Fairy Tale Valkey


Our group constructing a Yurt


Jeti-Oguz Gorge

 

[VPS]

Excellent photos

 

[coyote25]

Stan 2 - Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan – Nathan's Insights

Posts about Kazakhstan written by Nathan

nathanburgessinsights.com

Kolsay Lakes National Park - Modern Soviet




Charyn Canyon




Almaty - Zenkov Cathedra

 

[coyote25]

Stan 3 - Tajikistan

Tajikistan – Nathan's Insights

Posts about Tajikistan written by Nathan

nathanburgessinsights.com

Dushanbe






Sarytag


Hiking to Voru Village


Khŭjand

 

[coyote25]

Stan 4 - Uzbekistan (Part 1)

Uzbekistan – Nathan's Insights

Posts about Uzbekistan written by Nathan

nathanburgessinsights.com

Tashkent. Memorial for 1966 earthquake that destroyed the city, notice the deliberate crack.


Tashkent. Soviet era metro train station.



Tashkent Market


Samarkand. Registan Square.


Aydar. Yurt accommodation.


Aydar. Fun under the stars.


Bukhara. Mir-I-Arab.

 

[coyote25]

Stan 4 - Uzbekistan (Part 2)

Bukhara. Mosque of Khoja Tabband.


Khiva

 

[coyote25]

Stan 5 - Turkmenistan
Kunya-Urgench - Turabek Khanum Mausoleum.


Darvaza Gas Crater (Gates of Hell)







Erbent Sand Dunes





Ashgabat




Old Nisa

 

[nomad52]

Following suggestions and recommendations in this forum way back in 2019 in the ‘before time’ I was finally able to book and undertake post COVID international trip to the Five Stans - Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan.

Surprisingly enough they don’t include Afghanistan or Pakistan . This trip also bought me close to Iran and Russia . Definitely a region not fully explored by western tourist for some reason .

I booked the trip with G Adventures but strongly considered companies mentioned by other AFF members. In the end went with G as I have many positive experiences with them and I trust them as this was a bit different type of region.

I book this 26 day tour back in 2022 when Turkmenistan was still shut. In fact they only reopened in March 2023 and based on conversations when there my group might have still been in the first 1,000 guests (they use term guests more the Tourists) for a number of years.

They even turned on an indoor Ferris wheel just for our group saying it was the first time in a while .

Thanks for your informative review, Coyote. I am wondering which arlines you would recommend to fly from OZ - in my case Melbourne - and if you are of any to avoid. You ranked the our fitness level 4- is that out of 5 max?

 

[coyote25]

Thanks for your informative review, Coyote. I am wondering which arlines you would recommend to fly from OZ - in my case Melbourne - and if you are of any to avoid. You ranked the our fitness level 4- is that out of 5 max?

I’m Melbourne based. I used Singapore Airlines to get to Turkey, which I did a tour of as well, and Turkish Airlines from there..

Both are very good airlines.

The fitness level is out of 5 using the rating from G Adventures. In reality just reasonable mobility is fine but you might have to not do some of the activities.

It’s a great region to visit that I highly recommend.