Current as of: December 22, 2024 - 05:59
The Five Stans of the Silk Road Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group
- Destination: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
- Programmes: Culture
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Activity Level:
3 out of 7 - Moderate
- 23 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: AXK
- Carbon Footprint: 24kg CO2e
Trip Overview
Five countries, three weeks, one epic trip along the Silk Road through the heart of Central Asia
Vast deserts, rolling steppe, fertile valleys and majestic mountains form the backdrop to the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which are commonly known as the five Stans. Among this changing and varied landscape are traditional villages, ancient towns and modern cities, which tell a tale of advancing Greek and Persian armies, marauding Mongolian hordes, traders selling wares along the Silk Road, philosophers, astronomers, Communist experiments and post-Soviet eccentrics. Journey past giant burning gas pits, intricately tiled mosques, alpine lakes bordered by yurt camps, grand monuments, rural villages and colourful markets on this epic trip through the heart of Central Asia.
About this trip: We have two versions of this trip, one starting in Turkmenistan and ending in Kazakhstan (Ashgabat to Almaty) and the other running in reverse, starting in Kazakhstan and ending in Turkmenistan (Almaty to Ashgabat). Apart from the direction of travel, the two itineraries are similar, the main difference is the route taken through Kyrgyzstan and the accommodation there. The Ashgabat to Almaty itinerary includes Son Kul lake and there are three nights staying in yurts in Kyrgyzstan. The Almaty to Ashgabat itinerary includes Chon-Kemin and Bishkek and stays in guesthouses and hotels rather than yurts. Both itineraries include a night in a yurt in Turkmenistan.
At a Glance
- Accommodation from Ashgabat to Almaty (AXK1) – 18 Classic nights (16 hotels, 2 guesthouses), 4 Simple nights (yurt)
- Accommodation from Almaty to Ashgabat (AXK2) – 21 Classic nights (18 hotels, 3 guesthouse), 1 Simple night (yurt)
- Most travel is by minibus
- Single supplement available (excludes nights in yurts)
Highlights
- Follow the footsteps of ancient traders on a journey along the Silk Road
- Witness the ‘Door to Hell’ at night, a giant burning gas pit in Turkmenistan
- Experience the life of a nomadic shepherd with two nights in a yurt camp
- Discover the great Islamic architecture and ruins of five different countries
- Explore the villages and lakes of the Fann and Tien Shan mountains
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
Over a relatively short period, we visit a vast array of sites, both cultural and natural, and cover five fascinating countries, which share a common history but are now developing individually. It covers a lot of distance in three weeks and there are several places where we only spend one night (especially during the section through Tajikistan and southern Kyrgyzstan).
While this is not an active trip, the pace and distance covered can be tiring. There are also some hikes, particularly in Kyrgyzstan. These are not challenging and can vary depending on the preferences and abilities of the group.
Drives: Most tend to be four to five hours’ long with the odd six-hour drive.
Comfort: Central Asia doesn’t always have great infrastructure and you shouldn’t expect the same comforts you would get at home.
- Most nights are in hotels, though we also stay in yurt camps and guesthouses, which will be more basic
- Hot water is normally available, but is not always reliable
- Toilets might be squat toilets and showers may be outside the main building in the more basic accommodation
- Some nights you may have to share a room with more than one person; we make every effort to ensure men and women who are not travelling together don’t have to share a room, but this cannot be guaranteed. On these nights, single supplements do not apply. We stay in these places, however, as there are very limited options in some areas we visit
Smoking: Smoking in public is illegal in Turkmenistan (though smoking in private is fine, which means more people smoke indoors than outdoors) and you should not smoke outside the airport on arrival or in the street in Ashgabat. Also, you can only bring two packs of cigarettes into Turkmenistan.
Clothes: When visiting mosques and other religious buildings, women should wear long skirts and have their shoulders covered, we also advise bringing a scarf and covering your head on such occasions. Knee-length skirts/dresses, shorts and sleeveless tops are fine in other circumstances.
Itinerary changes: Given the bureaucracy in the region, particularly in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, we may be forced to change the route or activities due to government decisions beyond our control.
Leaders and border crossings: As we travel through several countries, we usually have three different local tour leaders over the course of our trip. Border crossings can be chaotic and require patience. In some cases, you need to walk through a neutral zone with your luggage. A tour leader will cross the borders with the group, except the Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan border.
Group
The group will generally be between five and 16 people. There will be a Western leader for the duration of the tour who will be supported by a different local leader in each country. Due to legal restrictions, each local leader will say farewell to you at the border and you will meet the next local leader on the other side.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Ashgabat
- End City: Almaty
Accommodation
A selection of hotels, guest houses, and yurts
On this adventure through The Silk Road, we spend 19 nights in hotels and guest houses, and 3 nights in traditional yurt camps (only 1 night on the reverse itinerary). The accommodations typically used can be found on the day-to-day itinerary. However, below are a selection used on this trip.
Ashgabat: Sport Hotel
Sport hotel is a 4-star hotel located in the heart of Ashgabat close to the city’s major attractions. The hotel offers spacious and well appointed rooms, as well as a number of amenities, including wi-fi, a swimming pool, fitness center, sauna, and a on site restaurant.
Bukhara: Kavsar Boutique Hotel
Taking over an old mansion, this small boutique hotel is one of the standout accommodations on this itinerary. It’s embellished with intricate design features and plenty of antiques, while an atmospheric central courtyard provides a wonderful place to gather as a group.
Darvaza, Son Kul and Issyk Kul: Yurt Camps
Yurts are traditional housing for nomadic communities across Central Asia and are generally quite cosy.
On the itinerary starting in Ashgabat and ending in Almaty: we have four nights in yurts: one night in Darvaza near the Door to Hell crater, and two nights at Son Kul Lake and a night by Isyyk Kul lake.
For the two nights in the yurt camp at Son Kul (days 17 and 18), you may have to share with four people to a yurt. Men and women who are not travelling together don’t usually have to share a yurt, but this cannot be guaranteed.
The yurts at Son Kul have western-style toilets and a ‘shower yurt’ with proper showers and wash basins. There is hot water when the generator is running (usually morning and evening) but it is not wholly reliable.
On the itinerary starting in Almaty and ending in Ashgabat: we only have one night in a yurt – at Darvaza in Turkmenistan. This itinerary runs later in the year when the weather can be too cold for yurt stays in Kyrgyzstan, so we stay in hotels or guesthouses instead and follow a different route.
Almaty: Uyut Hotel
In the centre of Kazakhstan’s largest city, this modern hotel is a 25-minute drive from Almaty International Airport. It has a heated indoor pool, sauna, laundry service, bar and restaurant serving Asian, European and Eastern cuisine.
Worth knowing
- If you prefer to have your own room, a limited number of single supplements are available on a ‘first-come, first-serve’ basis on some nights of the tour – please request this at the time of booking. Please note, a single supplement is not available at the yurt camps.
- In Turkmenistan, hotels charge a daily tourist tax of around US$2 per person per day – this is included in the holiday price for the main tour, so you needn’t worry about it. However, if you book extra nights’ accommodation in Ashgabat before the tour, you will need to pay directly to the hotel yourself. If you book pre-tour accommodation in Turkmenistan (and will be staying in the country for more than three days plus your arrival day), you will be required by law to register your passport with the State Service of Turkmenistan – our local partner will assist with this.
Single supplement from £ 705
Food & Drink
Common dishes in the region include shish-kebabs and plov (rice usually with mutton, onions, carrots, spices, raisins and peas). The kebabs can be from different meats, including lamb and beef, while plov is a rice-based dish (variants elsewhere are known as pilaf or pilau rice).
Another main staple is bread, especially in Uzbekistan where it is freshly baked and sold everywhere; in Turkmenistan, churek is a flat, round bread baked in clay ovens. Other traditional dishes include chorba, a meat and vegetable soup; manty, steamed dumplings filled with lamb; qu’urma, a lamb dish; ichlekli, a meat and onion pie; and gutap, a pie filled with meat, potatoes, spinach and pumpkin. There are normally a couple of opportunities to try home-cooked meals. Tea is also plentiful, both black and green, and drunk with most meals and throughout the day.
Please note, vegetarian food choices are limited. If you are vegetarian or have any special dietary requirements, please notify us well in advance. In this region, the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, eg gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring such specialised dietary items from home.
Drinking water is included and where possible will be provided in large containers for you to refill your bottle from – please bring a reusable bottle with you.
Transport
The transport we use varies depending on group size and we change vehicle every country. We normally use local ‘tourist class’ minibuses/coaches. Larger groups may be split across two vehicles or in a larger bus in some countries.
Some of the drives are long but they are mostly on sealed roads with just a few sections on dirt roads, including the desert road to the burning pit at Darvaza, and heading to Son Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan. We use SUV/4×4 vehicles for the journey to Darvaza as the last 6mi (10km) to the crater is off-road.
If you decide to do the Astana extension, you will travel by internal flight.
Weather & Seasonality
Covering a large area, from the deserts of Turkmenistan to the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, the climate varies a lot. Summer (July and August) can be very hot in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan but pleasant in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, while spring and autumn (May/June and September/October) can be cooler in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan but more pleasant in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
As we visit regions ranging from deserts to high mountains, you can expect temperatures exceeding 30C (86F) as well as close to freezing and need to be prepared for both. Winters are very cold and some areas are impassable (especially to Son Kul in Kyrgyzstan) for most of the year, which is why the season for this trip is relatively short, lasting only from June to mid-October. Later dates (ie September into October) can be particularly cold at Son Kul.
From early September onwards, we run this trip in reverse, starting in Almaty and ending in Ashgabat and take a different route through Kyrgyzstan avoiding the higher altitudes. On this route, you are likely to avoid the highest temperatures in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Joining Instructions
Ashgabat to Almaty – AXK1
Start hotel: Hotel Sport. 10-Yyl Abadanchylyk Street, 744000, Ashgabat.
Phone: (+993 12) 461956
Recommended arrival time: Between mid-afternoon on Day 1 to early morning on Day 2.
Airport: Ashgabat Airport (ASB)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 15 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel for any flight landing on arrival day. All those taking advantage of the free airport transfers must provide full flight details for both arrival and departure in advance; unless specified otherwise, the transfer will be to the Exodus start (or pre-tour) hotel; transfers to other hotels in the same city may attract an extra charge; transfers may be shared with other Exodus customers on the same flight, or on a flight with similar arrival times. It is Turkmen law for the inviting party (as per your LOI or Turkmen visa) to organise an arrival transfer from Ashgabat Airport for tourists. Therefore, if you are not joining the group transfer, you will still need to pre-book an arrival transfer through Exodus.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to Almaty Airport (ALA) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer at additional cost.
Location start: Ashgabat
Location end: Almaty
Almaty to Ashgabat – AXK2
Start hotel: Uyut Hotel. Gogol St 127/1, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan.
Phone: +7 (727) 2795111
Recommended arrival time: before 10 am on Day 1
Airport: Almaty International Airport (ALA)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 35 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel for any flight landing on arrival day. All those taking advantage of the free airport transfers must provide full flight details for both arrival and departure in advance; unless specified otherwise, the transfer will be to the Exodus start (or pre-tour) hotel; transfers to other hotels in the same city may attract an extra charge; transfers may be shared with other Exodus customers on the same flight, or on a flight with similar arrival times.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to Ashgabat Airport (ASB) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer at additional cost.
Location start: Almaty
Location end: Ashgabat
All arrival and departure transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Ashgabat
Location end: Almaty
What To Take
Essential Equipment
Due to the amount of travelling and number of border crossings, we strongly recommend you pack as light as possible and use luggage with wheels as you will have to take your own luggage through the border crossings, some of which involves walking through a neutral zone.
Items you need include:
- A photocopy or two of your passport: Our local representative will collect your passport to complete the Turkmenistan registration process
- A printed copy of your Turkmenistan LOI: You will need to hand it over to the authorities to collect your visa on arrival in Turkmenistan
- Light casual cotton clothing: it is respectful to cover your legs and arms (to the elbow) in mosques. Women should also cover their hair with a scarf when visiting holy sites. Local men tend not to wear shorts.
- Sandals are useful as they are cooler and are easier to take off when visiting mosques
- Set of thermal underwear
- Fleece, hat and gloves for cold nights
- Travel towel
- Trainers (sneakers) or walking shoes/boots
- Reusable water bottle
- Anti-diarrhoea treatment and rehydration salts
Please note, some medicines are banned in both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan unless you are carrying a doctor’s prescription. These include medicines that contain tramadol, morphine, opiates, codeine or similar components often found in painkillers.
Water included
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
Reading List
- In Search of Kazakhstan: The Land that Disappeared, by Christopher Robbins
- Uzbekistan: The Golden Road to Samarkand, Odyssey Guides
- Foreign Devils on the Silk Road: The Search for the Lost Treasures of Central Asia, by Peter Hopkirk
Practical Information
Visa
This trip has some specific visa and entry requirements, please read this section carefully. We strongly recommend you apply for visas at least eight weeks before the start of the trip, this includes e-visas. Visa requirements vary by nationality and are subject to change. You should reconfirm the information provided below with the relevant consulates.
PASSPORT VALIDITY
You will require at least six months validity on your passport beyond the end date of this trip.
TURKMENISTAN
We organise a letter of invitation via the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan. With this letter, a visa can be obtained on arrival at Ashgabat Airport. The State Migration Service usually issue a group letter of invitation with all participant’s personal details on. We need the following information and documents to obtain the letter of invitation:
- Last name(s) per your passport
- First and middle name(s) per your passport
- Any other name(s) used before (e.g. before marriage)
- Occupation (if retired enter “Retired”)
- Place of work (if retired just put “Not applicable”)
- Previous visits to Turkmenistan (dates, purposes)
- Marital status
- Full name, date of birth and citizenship of spouse
- Full name, date of birth and citizenship of child(ren)
- E-mail address
- Home address
Colour scan of the photo page of your passport showing all four edges of the passport. This scan must be sharp and clear and be in either JPEG or PDF format and between 250KB and 1MB.
A digital passport photo – minimum 3×4 cm. This needs to be a proper passport photo as would be used for a passport application.
Once our Turkmen partners have applied for the invitation letter it typically takes about month to be issued. We’ll usually send the letter to you shortly before the start of your tour. You need to print the letter. You will likely need to show it to board your flight to Turkmenistan. On arrival at Ashgabat Airport, you show the letter and pay the visa and administration fees.
For UK citizens, the visa fee for a visa up to 10 days is US$115 and the administration fee is US$4. For all other nationalities, the visa fee for a visa up to 10 days is US$85 and the administration fee is US$4. Payment should be made in US dollars cash.
You may be required to take a covid test on arrival. Cost is approximately US$35.
Please note that Turkmenistan has a higher visa rejection rate than most countries. This is out of our control.
Usually on the morning after your arrival, a local representative collects your passport to register your visit with the Turkmenistan State Tourist Registration Office. Your passport will be stamped and returned to you when the process is complete. During this time, you should carry a photocopy of your passport with you.
UZBEKISTAN
Travellers with a full British, Australian, or Canadian passports can enter Uzbekistan as a visitor for stays of up to 30 days without a visa. US passport holders under the age of 55 require an e-visa in advance.
If you require a visa (or e-visa) for Uzbekistan, you need a double-entry visa as we enter Uzbekistan twice.
KAZAKHSTAN
Nationals of countries including the UK, USA, Australia and Canada can enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days without a visa.
KYRGYZSTAN
Nationals of countries including the UK, USA, Australia and Canada can enter Kazakhstan for up to 60 days without a visa.
TAJIKISTAN
Some nationalities require a visa for Tajikistan, including UK passport holders. If unsure whether you need a visa or not, check with your nearest Tajik consulate. We enter Tajikistan by land, and it is not possible to obtain a visa at land borders. Nationals of the USA, Australia and Canada do not require visas at present.
If you require a visa, we highly recommend our local operator arranges the visa on your behalf.
For UK passport holders, this has a cost of £105 which is more expensive than arranging it yourself; however, it is usually an easier and more reliable option and minimises the risk of errors. The information you need to supply us with for the Turkmenistan letter of invitation is also sufficient for the Tajikistan visa application.
If you decide to arrange your own Tajik visa
Most nationalities that require a visa can complete an online Tajikistan e-visa application: https://www.evisa.tj. The e-visa costs around US$30. Processing time varies and the process is not always straightforward. Requests are often made for extra documentation and sometimes the visa is refused without clear reason.
The e-visa type you require is ‘individual’; to the question regarding GBAO Permit, please answer ‘NO’ (this is a permit to visit a semi-autonomous region, which this trip does not visit).
There is no need to enter a Group Identifier on the e-visa application.
A letter of invitation is often requested during e-visa applications. You may receive a message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a few days after making your application requesting a letter. If so, please contact us and we can provide one.
Hotel details: Panjakent Plaza Hotel. 17 Prospekt Rudaki, Penjikent. 735500.
Please ensure that you take a printed copy of the e-visa with you.
Take care when calculating the date of entry to Tajikistan.
If travelling from Ashgabat to Almaty: you enter Tajikistan on the 11th day of the trip counting from the date of Day 1 of the itinerary (note that most flights arrive very early in the morning of Day 2 of the itinerary).
If travelling from Almaty to Ashgabat: you enter the Tajikistan on the 10th day of the trip.
It is possible to enter Tajikistan after the valid from date of the visa but not before, so if in doubt, pick a date a couple of days earlier than your trip enters Tajikistan.
If in any doubt, please doublecheck the date of entry with our customer operations team.
If you have difficulty with the application process, the Tajik consulate in London may be able to assist: https://mfa.tj/en/london
Vaccinations and Health
Uzbekistan
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Kazakhstan
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, tuberculosis and typhoid. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
You will also require a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from (or transiting through) a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
Kyrgyzstan
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Tajikistan
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Turkmenistan
Proof of vaccination against Covid-19 is required for the visa application. Additionally, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.
Prohibited medicines: Some medicines are banned in countries this trip visits. This includes medicines that contain tramadol, morphine, opiates, codeine or similar components often found in painkillers. If taking medicines with you, we recommend taking a copy of your prescription with you.
Local Time
Uzbekistan's time zone: Asia/Tashkent (UTC +05:00)
Kazakhstan's time zone: Asia/Almaty (UTC +06:00)
Kyrgyzstan's time zone: Asia/Bishkek (UTC +06:00)
Tajikistan's time zone: Asia/Dushanbe (UTC +05:00)
Turkmenistan's time zone: Asia/Ashgabat (UTC +05:00)
Electricity
Uzbekistan's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 220V, 50Hz
Kazakhstan's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Kyrgyzstan's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 220V, 50Hz
Tajikistan's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 220V, 50Hz
Turkmenistan's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 220V, 50Hz
Money
Uzbekistan's currency: Uzbekistani som (UZS)
Kazakhstan's currency: Kazakhstani tenge (KZT)
Kyrgyzstan's currency: Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)
Tajikistan's currency: Tajikistani somoni (TJS)
Turkmenistan's currency: Turkmenistani manat (TMT). It is possible to exchange US dollars (clean, unmarked, undamaged, and printed on or after 1996) at banks and exchange offices; you'll find the latter at Ashgabat Airport. However, it is strictly prohibited to exchange money on the black market with individuals in bazaars, hotels etc. Please note, it is impossible to change manat back into foreign currency, so do not change too much money as you may be stuck with manat upon leaving Turkmenistan.
ATM Availability
While there are ATMs across the region, they do not always accept foreign cards in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. There are ATMs in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, which normally work with foreign cards, but this is not always the case. You may be able to use a credit card in some gift shops, money exchange desks at large hotels, and larger shops. It is safer, however, to take most of your money in cash, especially US dollars.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
The amount of spending money required can vary depending on how much you spend on drinks and souvenirs; as an indication, we recommend you bring at least US$300 for meals not included and a further US$150 for souvenirs, drinks and other incidentals.
Photo fees are payable at nearly all Uzbekistan sites – they vary from 5,000 to 10,000 soum (US$0.45 to US$0.90). There are also photo fees in some Turkmenistan sites, these can be up to US$14 per photo, your tour leader can advise on when this may be the case.
As a rough guideline, you should allow approximately US$8-US$10 per meal with a drink, or US$15-US$20 per person per day.
Optional Activities
There are several optional activities, which your leader can help arrange. They are subject to schedules, weather and availability; your leader will let you know what is available and the local costs. Payment should be made locally in US dollars. Below is an indication of the optional activities and their approximate costs and duration but these may vary throughout the season or depending on the number of participants and are given in good faith as a guideline only.
- Yurt construction show at Son Kul Lake: US$70 per group (one to two hours). Watch, or take part in, a demonstration of setting up a yurt with Kyrgyz nomads and learn about these dwellings.
- National horseback riding games on the shore of Son Kul Lake: US$150 per group. Chance to watch various kinds of traditional Kyrgyz horse-riding games.
- Horse-riding at Son Kul Lake: US$12 per horse for approximately two hours.
- Folklore musical show during dinner in Bishkek city: US$100 per group (20 minutes); US$150 per group (30 minutes). Professional musicians will demonstrate the traditional musical instruments and play Kyrgyz melodies.
SIM card availability:
- You have the option to purchase a SIM card for Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan either before your trip or upon arrival.
- If you prefer purchasing a SIM card upon arrival in Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan, you’ll find several options available, including at airports, convenience stores, and local network provider outlets
Tipping
Given the nature of this trip, visiting five countries, a tipping kitty is not practical; however, your leader will advise on whether it is possible to tip as a group. Tipping has become customary in these countries, especially for tourist activities, though this is, of course, completely at your own discretion.
As a guideline, we’d suggest planning on roughly US$5 a day for tipping. Of this, a reasonable amount would be US$2 to US$2.50 a day for each local leader and the rest split between other staff. Most of the tips would go to the local leaders and drivers but you may wish to leave a tip for hotel staff too – a tip equivalent to US$1 for a hotel porter would be a nice gesture but it is entirely up to you. Tipping of your Western leader would be appreciated but, again, is at your discretion – we suggest tipping as a group at the end of the holiday.
Sustainability and Impact
At Exodus, we thrive on travel, and we firmly believe our adventures should help destinations thrive too.
As a certified B Corp, we aim to take a ‘nature positive’ approach across our adventures, including carbon and waste reduction, animal welfare and support for rewilding and conservation. We also seek to contribute to local communities, providing economic opportunity and empowerment.
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Learn more about our Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan, including our commitment to rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller
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Read about the work of the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation.
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Find out how you can travel more sustainably here.
This trip goes near an area deemed unsafe to visit by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whose advice we follow when operating our trips. While our itinerary doesn’t go to these areas, you should familiarise yourself with your local government’s advice if you are planning any pre- or post-trip travel. Any independent travel to areas currently against your local government advice is entirely at your own risk and unlikely to be covered by your travel insurance.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by Exodus should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by Exodus based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.