central asia travel reddit

Take a cable car to Shymbulak, walk all the way back to Medeu, visit Green Bazaar, do pub crawling in the center. By the way: best Georgian food is in Almaty, best Uzbek food is also in Almaty. Then would focus on Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and would spend at least 2-3 days in each of them.

Cannot imagine why Kazakhstan is recommended. Have been many times and see very little attraction. Kyrgyzstan is the easy winner. Uzbekistan does have the sights, but the season matters on all of the above. If you see the CIS page on travelindependent.info there is a lot more info I have written.

In Central Asia you show up at any bus station and there will be private cars with destination cities on the window. Once 2-4 people are there they take off. Never used a bus in central Asia. Only small marsutka (mimi bus) for short travel. Private taxi are cheap, this is the mode of transport getting around.

Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now. Or check it out in the app stores   ... Planning a 2-3 weeks trip in Central Asia. Travel Hi all, I am currently planning a trip to central Asia at the end of the year. I would love to get some input about our itinerary! Myself and my girlfriend will be traveling together.

Most people from North America don't go to Asia since they're priced out. I did a quick google search and found it would cost about $2500 per person to get to Central Asia from my home airport in economy class even when booked months in advance. I'm sure it's beautiful but it's not realistic.

Why does no one talk about central Asia as a tourist destination? Maybe you're looking in the wrong places (this isn't a travel sub, for one). Lots of people do indeed talk about central Asia as a tourist destination. I've been to 4 of the 5 Soviet Stans (couldn't be bothered with the Turkmenistan visa) on 3 separate trips in 2016, 2017, and 2023.

Somewhere to discuss travel. Not to dump your vacation photos. Pose a question. Share a trip report. Recount a funny/unique travel related story. Offer advice or ask for it. **Note that images are 100% welcome as part of a longer, thought-out text post. Photos are a great way to augment your story. Simply embed them within your text post.**

Persian is very useful from an educational standpoint. If you have a serious intention to learn the languages of Central Asia, Persian historically was the most influential language in the region before Russian, so having knowledge of it makes all the Turkic languages much easier to learn and understand, whether it's Uzbek or Kazakh.

Aside from the travel essentials (see 2. Central Asia Travel Essentials above), rain gear and day hiking essentials (see the above lists), here is a list of everything you need when hiking and camping for a few days in the mountains. Note: You can rent camping and cooking equipment in Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek, Karakol and Osh) and Tajikistan (Dushanbe).

Central Asia travel pro-tips. Though improving, visas and border crossings in Central Asia still require a bit of preparation, especially if you don't want to get stuck waiting around in the capital cities. Kyrgyzstan is the easiest, with 60 passports now able to travel visa-free for up to 60 days. Kazakhstan is just behind, with a recent ...

Although a visit to Southeast Asia kicked off our around-the-world journey, the former Soviet Union - the Caucasus and Central Asia (known as the 'Stans) — was the real impetus for our trip. Before we'd set off, Audrey had worked with these countries (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan) remotely from a desk in Prague, Czech Republic for over four years.

Central Asia Travel Tips: Final Thoughts. Despite the challenges, Central Asia is a really special and magical place to visit. Aside from a few culture shock-related challenges, you'll be amazed at the pure generosity and kindness of many of the people in all five countries of this region. Many people approach travelers with a kind of ...

Most of Central Asia is covered with deserts and mountains, so expect extreme weather; scorching summers and deadly winters. Spring and autumn (May and September) are the best seasons to visit, as temperatures are milder and conditions not as harsh. From October to March, some of the mountain passes, such as Torugart Pass, may be closed.

Stringent visa requirements are one of the reasons Central Asia has remained under the radar as a travel destination for quite so long. These days though, the relaxing of visa requirements is only making it easier to visit. Most nations can visit Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan visa-free, while Tajikistan requires a no-fuss e-visa.

Our Complete Central Asia Itinerary. 25 April 2018. Wedged between China, Russia, Iran and Afghanistan, Central Asia or 'the 'stans' are slowly gaining momentum as the next big travel destination. Striking mountains and the boundless desert set the scene for epic hikes and bucket list worthy road trips, while harsh Soviet cities and ...

Best time to visit Central Asia. I visited the region in April/May 2019. While this is a perfect time to go to Uzbekistan with bearable temperatures, it's not ideal for hiking conditions in Kyrgyzstan or mountainous regions of Kazakhstan. It is still possible to do some hikes in the lower parts of the mountains, or in the canyons, as well as visiting higher peaks with proper equipment.

Visa for Kyrgyzstan - Most nationalities can get a 2-month free visa on arrival. In my experience, this was the best country to visit in Central Asia. Lush green meadows, 7,000m-high snow-capped peaks, remote nomadic camps, and the land of horses. Kyrgyzstan is the ultimate destination for mountain lovers and adventurous travelers, a country ...

From Karakol, the must do hike is the 3-day trek to Ala Kul (Ala Lake) via the village of Altyn Arashan. 8. Roam the Fairytale Canyon. The unique Fairytale (Skazka) Canyon is a colourful canyon filled with eroded rock formations. The canyon is located on the southern shore of Issyk Kul (Issyk Lake). 9.

Central Asia, at the heart of the legendary Silk Road, boasts mesmerizing ancient cities and untouched natural wonders. Explore Uzbekistan's Registan Square and Turkmenistan's Darvaza Gas Crater, promising adventurers an exploration of remarkable beauty and historical depth. Read More.

Day 1 - 2: Almaty, Kazakhstan (2 Nights) Almaty is a great place to start your journey in Central Asia since it is the travel hub of this region, with many flights flying to and from Almaty via Air Astana and other international airlines. Getting here should not be a problem.

Prices Start from. £5,980pp (ex. flights) Travel through five very different countries, crossing desert, mountains and grasslands, seeing the finest architecture in Central Asia and mingling with the many different ethnic groups that inhabit the region. This fascinating journey takes in the highlights of the 'stans', a region known for its ...

1 Guaranteed departures 2024. 11 days: from 1710 USD. . The Five Stans of Central Asia is is amazing travel itinerary through the five former USSR republics of Turkmenistan -Uzbekistan - Tajikistan - Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan, also known as the Stans, includes the main tourist attractions and must-visit destinations at the centre of ...

We've got 254 tours going to Central Asia, starting from just one day in length, and the longest tour is 56 days. The most popular month to go is September, which has the highest number of tour departures. ... Central Asia Travel LP . 20% Off . Duration 15 days Price per day $240 From US $3,595. View tour Download Brochure Save and compare this ...