Central Asia Itineraries
Sample itineraries written by our Central Asia experts
Our Central Asia travel specialists have written the following itineraries to help plan your trip. Not sure where to begin? Contact us now and we'll connect you with a specialist tour operator for expert Central Asia advice.
14 days
Essential Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan
Explore the historical heritage of Persian Central Asia
10 days
Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan tour
Explore the lakes and landscapes of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
21 days
Four Stans itinerary
Explore the Four Stans of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan
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Kazakhstan
A land for wanderers
Dwarfing the rest of the Five 'Stans – twice the size of the other four combined – Kazakhstan is an enigmatic land, and not just for its colossal size... -
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
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Astana
Gleaming constructions of glass and steel by the world’s top architects, rising out of nowhere from an inhospitable desert... -
Charyn Canyon
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Altyn Emel National Park
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Turkestan
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Shymkent
This busy town in the south of Kazakhstan, is one of the country’s ancient settlements... -
Aktau
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Ustyurt Plateau
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Almaty
The most populated city in Kazakhstan and former capital, Almaty is surrounded by mountains, with streets lined by trees and parks scattered across the city... -
Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve
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Karaganda
For a different view of Kazakhstan, take a day trip to Karaganda... -
Huns Village
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Kyrgyzstan
Moutains and nomads
Kyrgyzstan, straddling the Pamir and Tian Shan ranges, is an adventure traveller's dream and most people come here to trek its stunning landscapes of mountains and lakes... -
Bishkek
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Lake Issyk Kul
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Cholpon Ata
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Song Kul Lake
Located in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, Song Kul is a high-altitude, alpine lake perfect for hiking and horseback riding, although the area is covered in snow for the majority of the year... -
Karakol
Karakol, on the eastern side of Lake Issyk-Kul, is a traveler’s favourite... -
Kochkor
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Osh
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Arslanbob
Arslanbob is the perfect spot for those looking to escape the cities in favour of walking and hiking... -
The Karkara Valley
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The Suusamyr Valley
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Kyzart
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Kilemche Jailoo
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Jety Oguz
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Telety
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Ala Kul Lake
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Altyn Arashan Valley
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Chon-Kemin Valley
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Tamga
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Tian Shan Mountains
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At-Jailoo
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Engilchek Glacier
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Merzbacher Lake
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Ortok Pass
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Ala-Kol
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Kurgak Tor Gorge
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Kol Tor lake
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Shamshy Gorge
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Naryn
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Jyrgalan
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Turgen
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Keldike Valley
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Almaluu Valley
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Boz Uchuk Lakes
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Jergez Gorge
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Almaluu Gorge
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Karakol Gorge
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Telety Camp
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Djeti-Oguz
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Tajikistan
Sky high mountain trails
Tajikistan is one of the most spectacular trekking destinations you've never heard about... -
Yagnob Valley
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Dushanbe
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Fann Mountains
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Panjakent
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Seven Lakes
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Khujand
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Khorog
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Iskanderkul
A glacial lake in the mountains of Tajikstan, located in the Gissar Range popular for swimming, boat rides and star-gazing... -
Nofin
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Kalai Khumb
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Khorog
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Yamg
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Bulunkul
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Keng Shiber
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Jarty Gumbez
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Murghab
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Karakul
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Sawnob
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Jizev
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Ishkashim
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Langar
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Bashgumbez
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Shirkent National Park
Shirkent National Park is a real hidden gem and is one of my favourite places to hike anywhere in Tajikistan... -
Pamir Mountains
Connecting Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan by road through the Pamir Mountains, the M41, commonly referred to as The Pamir Highway, is the second highest highway in the world... -
Tajik National Park
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Bachor
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Kavch Spring
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Chashin Lake
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Zaroshkkul Lake
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Kulen Lakes
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Uchkul Lake
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Chapdarkul Lake
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Turkmenistan
Surreal cities and burning deserts
Turkmenistan is the most closed-off (and most frequently bizarre) of the Five Stans... -
Ashgabat
Ashgabat is a wonder, in that it is a huge, richly decorated, marble clad capital city that’s streets are largely empty of people... -
Darvaza
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The Karakum Desert
The Karakum Desert covers a huge portion of Turkmenistan, bar the lizards, camels and other hardy wildlife, it is sparsely populated, with little rain falling across the area... -
Konye-Urgench
Konye-Urgench is just across the border from Khiva in Turkmenistan... -
Merv
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Mary
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Dashoguz
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Avaza
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Uzbekistan
Mosques, mausoleums and madrasahs
Central Asia’s showstopper, Uzbekistan is synonymous with the famed Silk Road which weaved its way through much of this historic country... -
Khiva
The walled city of Khiva is made up of mud-brick buildings and has over 50 historic monuments meaning you will need a few days to explore the city... -
Bukhara
Bukhara is over 2,000 years old, built on the site of a former Buddhist monastery, it has hundreds of minarets, mosques and madrassas with key sites being the Kalyan minaret, that's tower is a prominent landmark of the city, the Ismail Samani mausoleum and Bolo Haouz Mosque, one of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city... -
Samarkand
A rebuilt 14th-century city, Samarkand is a striking place to visit with mosques covered in ceramic tiles and sand coloured buildings... -
Tashkent
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Termez
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Derbent
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Fergana Valley
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Urgench
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Urgut
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Nukus