Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Three countries of Central Asia
Eighteen days from Almaty to Tashkent. Mountain lakes and canyons in Kazakhstan, hot springs and a yurt on Song-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, then Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan by fast train.
Why it made the cut
The three countries are very different, and doing them in one trip shows it. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are about mountains and open land. Uzbekistan is about cities, with mosques and madrasas that have stood since the time of Timur.
We keep the slow, road-based part in the mountains and save time where it matters: one short flight from Bishkek to Tashkent instead of a long drive back through Kazakhstan, and the Afrosiyob train between the Uzbek cities. Samarkand is about two hours from Tashkent by train.
Eleven days in the mountains, then a fast train into Samarkand.
How the days feel
Day 1
Almaty. Airport pick-up. In the evening, the cable car up Kok-Tobe if you have the energy.
Day 2
The city and the mountains above it. Panfilov Park, the Zenkov Cathedral and the Green Bazaar in the morning. Medeu and the Shymbulak cable car in the afternoon.
Day 3
Charyn, then Saty. A walk through the Valley of Castles to the river. On to Saty village for the night, about five hours of driving in all.
Day 4
Kaindy and Kolsai. Kaindy with its sunken spruce trunks, then a walk along the first Kolsai lake. Second night in Saty.
Day 5
Into Kyrgyzstan. Across the border at Karkara to Karakol, about four hours. The Dungan mosque, the wooden Holy Trinity cathedral and the bazaar.
Day 6
Altyn-Arashan. A 4×4 track up to the hot springs at about 2,500 metres. Night in a mountain guesthouse.
Day 7
A free day in the valley. Walk or ride up towards Ala-Kul as far as you like, or stay by the springs.
Day 8
The south shore of Issyk-Kul. The red cliffs of Jeti-Oguz and Skazka canyon. In the evening, an eagle hunter shows his bird near Bokonbayevo. Night in a yurt camp by the lake.
Day 9
Song-Kul. Through Kochkor and over the pass to the lake at 3,016 metres. Night in a yurt camp.
Day 10
Down to Bishkek. A slow morning at the lake, then about six hours to Bishkek, stopping at the Burana tower.
Day 11
Ala-Archa and Osh Bazaar. A morning walk in Ala-Archa National Park, the afternoon in Bishkek’s biggest market.
Day 12
Fly to Tashkent. A flight of about an hour and a half. In the afternoon, Chorsu bazaar and a few stations of the Tashkent metro, which are worth seeing for the interiors alone.
Day 13
Train to Samarkand. The morning Afrosiyob train. The Registan in the afternoon and again after dark, when it is lit up.
Day 14
Samarkand. The Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, the Bibi-Khanym mosque and the Siyob bazaar, then the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum, where Timur is buried.
Day 15
Train to Bukhara. About an hour and a half. An evening walk around Lyabi-Hauz, the old pool square in the centre.
Day 16
Bukhara. The Kalyan minaret and mosque, the Ark fortress, the covered trading domes and the four towers of Chor Minor.
Day 17
Back to Tashkent. The train back, about four hours. A last evening in the city.
Day 18
Departure. Transfer to Tashkent airport.
Stays and what’s included
- Stays
- 3–4★ hotels in Almaty, Karakol, Bishkek, Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, guesthouses in Saty and Altyn-Arashan, two yurt camp nights
- Included
- Private transport, English-speaking guides in each country, 4×4 on mountain tracks, border help at Karkara, Afrosiyob train tickets, park and museum fees, breakfasts, full board in yurt camps
- Not included
- International flights, the Bishkek–Tashkent flight (we book it for you), lunches and dinners in towns, visas if you need one, tips
- Group
- Private, only your group
Good for you if
- You have close to three weeks and want the whole region.
- You like both mountains and old cities.
- Two nights in yurt camps sound good.
Maybe not if
- You can only travel in winter. Song-Kul and the Karkara crossing are summer only.
- You want one hotel for the whole trip. You change beds ten times.
- You have two weeks or less. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in 15 days fits better.