https://www.evisa.tj/ Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. And, anyone with a soft spot for archaeology will enjoy the Museum of National Antiquities, which opened in 2001. Current status: this is a recurring tour, so always check with operator to see if it's still offered. Sleeping bags, mattresses and tents are all provided, but there are no bathing or permanent toilet facilities at the campsite. Amazingly, the lake was created by an earthquake in 1911 which caused a limestone landslide causing a dam in the forest. Tourism is strictly controlled in Turkmenistan, with Letters of Invitation needed in advance in order to apply for your visa (which you can then get on arrival) and guides tending to be protective of what tourists see and fiercely proud of their nation and its leaders. All rights reserved. 9 spaces left. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Join your leader in the evening for an included local dinner tonight. Skirting the border with Afghanistan, get glimpses of the other side, from the hair-raising Afghan-built footbridges (ovrings) to the exotic imports on display in Khorog's local bazaar. Continue the journey to Jana Ozen (approximately 2.5 hours), crossing Karagie, one of the worlds deepest depressions. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. There is a ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco to those under 20. A range of different accommodations are used on this trip, including yurt camp, home stay, guesthouse, hotels and camping. . Head to Tashkent (approximately 4-5 hrs on private vehicle), the capital city of Uzbekistan. This city is known as Alexandria Eskhata (Alexandria the furthest) and believed to have been founded by Alexander the Great in 6th century BC. Day 10: Almaty KAZ/KGZ Border Crossing Karakol, Day 18: Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan Border Crossing Murgab, Day 27: Tajikistan/Uzbekistan Border Crossing Samarkand, https://www.intrepidgroup.travel/contact-us, Boszhira Valley Ustyurt Plateau salty lake, Almaty - Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, Karakol - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, Dushanbe National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan, Dushanbe Haji Yakoub Mosque & Madressa - Free, Samarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory - UZS30000, Samarkand - Paper making workshop & home cooked lunch, Tashkent - Museum of Applied Arts - UZS25000, Tashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum - UZS40000, Tashkent - State History Museum of the Timurids - UZS25000, Tashkent - History Museum of the People of Uzbekistan - UZS10000, Tashkent - Art Gallery of Uzbekistan - UZS20000, Ashgabat - National Museum of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat - Turkmenbashy Ruhi Mosque & Family Mausoleum of the First President of Turkmenistan. To get to the fort you'll follow very windy, narrow mountain roads, so for safety reasons this journey will be made well before nightfall. Sign up for free and earn commission on every booking by registering as an accredited TourRadar Agent. Please see the Health section of the Essential Trip Information for more important information on this. Then, well explore Dubovy (Oak) Park, where you'll find a few open-air cafes and lush, century-old oaks. Group identifier - leave blank The images, carved into the rocks high above the village, depict goats, caravans, horses and Ismaili symbols. A great mix of Silk Road splendours with rural retreat. Travel onward from Toktogul to Kyrgyzstan's second city, Osh (approximately 8 hours). A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Best Cruise: Linblad Expeditions. Also watch out forovrings, the spectacularly scary footbridges that Afghans have built along the cliff faces in order to be able to commute from one village to another. Learn More Plan your adventure: Download PDF Brochure Ask a Question You can also see Bakty mountain, as depicted on the 1000 KZT banknote. We kick things off at 6 pm this evening with a welcome meeting where youll meet your fellow adventurers and group leader before going over a few details of your epic trip. It is a unique monument of pre-Islamic culture in Central Asia dating back to the fifth to eighth century AD. You'll find all kinds of things on sale here from spices and fruits to clothes and carpets. See the best of the Silk Road and deep dive into the fascinating history, captivating landscapes and beautiful culture that is intertwined throughout this region. This region is inhabited mainly by Kyrgyz people. Soviet oil prospectors started drilling in 1971 expecting to find oil, and the ground collapsed to form the crater. UZBEKISTAN VISAS Deals of The Week: Discover Peru! Depending on the time of your flight today, you may have an opportunity to explore the city at your will this afternoon, otherwise grab an early night and get prepared for a jam-packed day of sightseeing tomorrow. While you're in Ptup you'll visit the stunningYamchun Fort, which some claim is the most spectacular sight in the country. Now, Nur-Sultan is one of the most vibrant cities in Central Asia. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. For any enquiries, you can, 14 days Single supplement is subject to availability. From here, continue to a central square called the Registan, which features three of the most famous madrassahs in Uzbekistan - standing as true pinnacles of Islamic architecture. These vast lands are still oft bypassed, despite offering outstanding beauty and fascinating sights. Today is free to do as you please in Tashkent, perhaps taking in some of the contemporary architecture from the observation deck at Tashkent Tower, which offers sweeping views over the city. Conveniently located in the Alai Valley, bordering Tajikistan, Sary Tash is a junction for explorers heading off in many direction Today we drive to Murgab (approximately 67 hours). Youll experience varying temperatures in the desert and out on the steppe or in the mountains from below zero to over 40 C, so check the weather forecast online before you visit and pack accordingly. The allure lies in the heritage of the Silk Road, where ideas, culture and people flowed from East to West, and in the soaring mountain landscapes that still play host to a traditional nomadic lifestyle. Most nationalities do not require a visa to travel to Kyrgyzstan for up to 60 days, including Australia, Belgium, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, USA and Switzerland. Explore the Kuhna Ark, the 'citadel within a citadel' which once housed the Khan and his family in the 17th century, then get a good look at this attractive city from the Ak-sheikh Baba Observatory. It's another climb to get there, but the path is flatter in places and not as physically demanding as the hike to the petroglyphs. Perhaps enjoy a dinner at an Indian restaurant in town one of the city's best. Many global powers have laid claim to this city over the centuries, from khans to Silk Road traders and the Soviet Union. Best Budget: Intrepid Travel. Don't sweat the logistics travel providers plan for you. The views are lovely along the way, especially seeing Issyk Kul surrounded by snow capped mountains. Your adventure begins in the countrys capital of Ashgabat. For nationalities not included in the visa exemption list, including US citizens, an e-visa is available. We have a big travel day ahead of us. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. In the evening, perhaps get together with your travel mates and enjoy an optional final dinner together to celebrate a great journey through The Five Stans. Sign in to see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (It's Free) Unlock Savings Overview Highlights Venture through the little-visited backcountry of Kazakhstan on a full day jeep tour of the otherworldly Boszhira Valley. If you have any free time, you might like to visit Arbor palace an example of soviet architecture of the 1950s. Incidents of mugging, theft and pick pocketing are rare, but take sensible precautions and keep valuables out of sight. Youll visit Central Square and the colourful Zenkoff Cathedral in historic Panfilov Park, dedicated to the 28 guardsmen who died defending Moscow against Nazi tanks in WWII. After a quick stop for an optional lunch, lose yourself in the exciting Chorsu Bazaar, browsing traditional wooden cradles, handmade musical instruments, and the extensive vegetable and spice markets. Youll need a valid passport to travel internationally andmost countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary. Settle into your hotel in Ak Tau in the evening. Best Overall: Classic Journeys. And thats just a few of the highlights of this trip! For the camping at the Darvaza Crater, sleeping bags, mattresses and tents are all provided, but there are no bathing or permanent toilet facilities at the campsite. A single supplement is bookable if youd prefer not to share a room on this trip. Do not bring any medications containing these drugs into the country. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price. In the afternoon, youll enjoy a little sightseeing in Karakol, once a small Russian military post, then a bustling soviet state, this town is bursting with history just waiting to be explored. If you plan to apply with your nearest embassy for the visa, please check with the embassy directly on how long your visa can be processed and allow sufficient time for it before your travel. Road travel at night outside cities is particularly dangerous because of the condition of the roads. - Address of your joining point hotel (or if visiting Uzbekistan mid-trip, use: Today we drive to Murgab (approximately 67 hours). Some medications available over the counter or by prescription in other countries, such as sleeping tablets, may be illegal or restricted in Uzbekistan. Day 12: Iskanderkul lake/Sary Tag Village, https://www.intrepidgroup.travel/contact-us, Ashgabat - Turkmenbashy Ruhi Mosque & Family Mausoleum of the First President of Turkmenistan, Samarkand - Plov cooking demonstration & family visit, Tashkent - History Museum of the People of Uzbekistan, Dushanbe National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan, Dushanbe - Rudaki Square and Somoni Museum, Almaty - Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, Altyn-Emel National Park - Singing Sand Dune, Karakol - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, Issyk-Kul Lake - Fairy Tale Canyon picnic lunch. It is also where Genghis Khan's army is said to have fought heroically (though unsuccessfully) when the Mongols first invaded Central Asia. You can check out exhibits here from Tajikistans pre-Islamic civilizations (Greek/ Bactrian, Buddhist, Hindu and Zoroastrian). These numbers are quite powerful as they share how impressive this region is and how tourism is shifting from the typical destinations to more off-the-beaten-path places. While here, your hosts will prepare you a simple dinner and breakfast homemade bread, plov (rice pilaf) and fried eggs or porridge. Enjoy a free afternoon to spend as you wish before an optional dinner with your travel group. Many nationalities no longer require a visa for stays of up to 90 days, including most European countries, Great Britain, Australia & Canada.You can check if you are eligible for the visa free scheme here: https://e-visa.gov.uz/main Drives range from 3 to 10 hours in duration. This relatively new museum reflects Tajikistan's diverse pre-Islamic cultural heritage, with exhibits from Bactrian, Buddhist, Zoroastrian and Hindu eras. Torysh, the Valley of Balls, is your next stop another natural miracle made up of spherical rock formations. KYRGYZSTAN Check out the fascinating Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments and the State Historical Museum, which features a great collection of ancient relics. There are currently no scheduled departures on our Central Asia: Five Stans Express trip. Few travellers will experience any safety issues in Kyrgyzstan if general precautions are followed. You'll be wowed by the scale, grandeur and beauty of the monuments to iconic figures such as Tamerlane and the Persian influenced madressas, mosques and mausoleums. Youll see Rudaki square, Ismail Somoni monument overlooking city hall and friendship palace.
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