What little-known destination would you recommend visiting?

[burmans]

Hey @stm1sydney that looks amazing. Did you visit in winter? We are looking to go this December/Jan and it's hard to get much info about visiting then.

December/Jan is definitely off season and will be extremely cold, tourist season starts early April. At the other extreme July/August extremely hot, even mid June on my recent Stan’s trip it was around 40 most days in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Can highly recommend a trip to all 5 Stan’s though, amazing sights. Nature in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, historic sites in Uzbekistan and just weirdness (in a good way) in Turkmenistan.

 

[BelindaJK101]

Thank you @burmans - yes I'm excited. I know winter will be cold - we'll avoid the really cold places like the mountains - unfortunately it is the only time of year we can go. Most of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are fairly mild in winter from what I can tell, and we'll keep to the south of Kazakhstan and the plains of Tajikistan....but it is hard to find info on what you can do (other than museums, historic buildings etc) at that time of year.

 

[burmans]

Have you contacted a travel agent, our guide had a side gig organising travel, he said they get lots of questions and are happy to answer even if you don’t end up booking with them. Have heard Kalpak travel in Uzbekistan are very good.

 

[drron]

Dapto. Don't knock until you've tried it.

Indeed home of the world famous Dapto dogs. immortalised in song along with Wollongong by the Farrelly Bros.

And don't forget Wollongong the home of Aunty Jack and Norman Gunston.

 

[RB]

Dapto. Don't knock until you've tried it.

I know a good coffee shop in Thirroul!

 

[BelindaJK101]

Have you contacted a travel agent, our guide had a side gig organising travel, he said they get lots of questions and are happy to answer even if you don’t end up booking with them. Have heard Kalpak travel in Uzbekistan are very good.

Yes I did contact them a while ago - they did warn us it would be cold. But now we have a bit more of an idea of what we are looking to do I’ll get back in touch - thanks for reminding me!

 

[woodyren]

Dapto. Don't knock until you've tried it.

Bong Bong Rd.

 

[Matt_01]

Dapto. Don't knock until you've tried it.

Been there several times, my parents live just down the road in Kiama

 

[stm1sydney]

Hey @stm1sydney that looks amazing. Did you visit in winter? We are looking to go this December/Jan and it's hard to get much info about visiting then.

We visited first half of April (several years ago), 5-15 April in fact. The weather was probably ideal at that time, mid 20s during the day. I suspect Dec/Jan will be unpleasantly cold and there will potentially be issues getting around.

We travelled independently, we directly booked various inter-city train trips online as well as all our hotel bookings mostly by email. Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent, Kokand, Margilan/Kumtepa, Tashkent.

 

[burmans]

We visited first half of April (several years ago), 5-15 April in fact. The weather was probably ideal at that time, mid 20s during the day. I suspect Dec/Jan will be unpleasantly cold and there will potentially be issues getting around.

We travelled independently, we directly booked various inter-city train trips online as well as all our hotel bookings mostly by email. Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent, Kokand, Margilan/Kumtepa, Tashkent.

While I took a tour I'd agree that Uzbekistan would have been (by some degree) the easiest to do independently of the 5 Stans, the other less so (Kazakstan probably OK). Turkmenistan of course you need to be on a tour to even get the LOI required for a visa but if you look on Caravanistan you'll probably see the definition of a 'tour' has varying interpretations.

Post automatically merged: Jul 25, 2023

Dapto. Don't knock until you've tried it.

I must have blinked on my many times driving through it.

 

[CaptJCool]

Take the high road: the man who visited every country in the world – without boarding a plane

At 34, Torbjørn Pedersen embarked on a seemingly impossible journey that would take 10 years – and involve cerebral malaria and being held up at gunpoint. He reflects on the highs, the lows and the joy of getting married en route

www.theguardian.com

lots