25 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 9 dinners

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

CULTURE

Central Asia is a region which may be very different to anything you have experienced before. Mixture of Soviet heritage and Islam, summer heat and winter cold, religious conservatism, traffic and crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge.

FLIGHT NOTE

Please note that the group will fly without a CEO between Almaty and Dushanbe.

DRESS CODE

Though you can see lots of people in traditional clothes, Central Asia has adopted western style clothing as well. Don’t hesitate to pack your usual travel clothes: in summer it can be shorts and t-shirts, sandals etc. We recommend not to bring tank tops/singlets and any types of clothes with bare shoulders and backs – it is unacceptable in most areas, even in bigger cities. Our tour takes us to many religious sights, where dress code is very strict. We recommend women to have a headscarf in their day bags to cover up when going inside mosques (it’s also a great help in the heat in summer). Best things to pack for the hot Central Asian climate is loose, long clothing – long trousers and sarongs or long skirts for women. In colder months (from the end of October through the end of April) it can rain and snow – bring warm clothes, jackets and comfortable warm shoes for walking.

ALTITUDE CONSIDERATIONS

This trip operates at altitudes over 800m (max altitude 3016m at Song Kul). Whilst we travel slowly allowing plenty of time to acclimatize you may experience headaches, nausea, lethargy, especially when visiting Song Kul & Iskanderkul. It is important to be aware of the affects of altitude on one’s tolerance especially on long driving days.

MONEY

Due to the restrictions on changing money in Central Asia region, only notes/bills printed after 1996 and in good condition will be accepted for exchange. Usually 50 and 100 USD/EUR notes get better exchange rate. We recommend to bring smaller denominations as well – many vendors accept them if you don’t have local currency.

INTERNET

The phone network and internet are heavily regulated by the government in Turkmenistan. E-sims, roaming, and apps like WhatsApp, etc. are not available.

RAMADAN

According to the lunar cycle, Ramadan will fall between Feb 17th – Mar 19th 2026. Please note that Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some limitations to services and disruptions to schedules during Ramadan, but generally our tours still operate effectively during this period and food is available to non-Muslims throughout the day. It is very important to display increased cultural sensitivity during Ramadan. Please wear loose fitting clothes, that cover knees and shoulders, and try to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public out of respect for those who can’t at that time.

COMBO TRIP

Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

Please note, Turkmenistan have strict advisories on prohibited medications which can be taken into the country.

If you require further details, please reach out to our Sales team who will be able to advise further.

IMPORTANT: if you are extending your stay in Turkmenistan, G Adventures CANNOT grant the additional days to your LOI unless the services are booked directly through our Local Supplier. If you have any questions or require more information to extend your stay, please reach out to our Sales team. Turkmenistan trip extensions MUST be booked and confirmed through our Local Supplier no later than 40 days before the start of your tour.

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.

Standard hotels/guesthouses (19 nts), yurts (3 nts), CBT homestays (2 nts), tented camp (1 nt). Please note that there will be shared bathroom facilities when staying in the yurts.

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking though, you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage (please see below for exceptions), and though you will not be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes) we recommend keeping the weight under 10kg/22lb.

Suitcases are not recommended for G Adventures travellers! Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags with wheels are acceptable, although we recommend your bag has carry straps as well, as you may be required to negotiate bus and railway station steps. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day walks and day trips.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Trace mountain roads to emerald Iskandarkul Lake, storied in local lore of Alexander the Great. Follow a short trail to the thundering Iskander-Darya waterfall, nicknamed the “Fann Niagara.”

Feel cool spray in a gorge carved by glacial waters, and appreciate the stark beauty of the Fann Mountains, where rock, sky, and alpine flora meet in dramatic contrasts.

Gain perspective on Uzbekistan’s modern capital with a guided city tour that weaves together broad avenues, Soviet-era landmarks, and contemporary public spaces. Hear how the city rebuilt and reimagined itself across the 20th century.

From civic squares to parks and cultural facades, Tashkent reveals a confident blend of heritage and modernism anchored by grand boulevards and lively neighborhoods.

Ride the elevator to the Tashkent Tower viewing level for a bird’s-eye sweep of boulevards, parks, and modernist landmarks. On a clear day, the city’s grid and greenbelts stretch to the horizon.

This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, a concise way to pair urban context with far-reaching views of Uzbekistan’s capital.

Discover Almaty’s elegance and energy, from leafy promenades to monumental squares. Step inside the colorful Zenkov (Ascension) Cathedral, stroll Panfilov Park, and take in the civic scale of Independence Square and its WWII memorial.

Hear how Almaty developed as a cultural hub, its wooden cathedral surviving earthquakes and time, and why parks and public art anchor community life in Kazakhstan’s largest city.

Survey Tajikistan’s capital on a guided tour that links past and present. See the Ismaili Somoni Monument, the soaring State Flagpole, and the collections of the National Museum of Antiquities.

From Sogdian artifacts and Hellenistic finds to grand new boulevards, the city tells a layered story of empires, independence, and civic pride in the shadow of the mountains.

Spend a night in a village community guesthouse, sharing regional dishes and conversation with hosts who know the Fann valleys intimately. Rooftop terraces and garden courtyards invite quiet views of serrated peaks.

Learn how this initiative supports local livelihoods while giving travellers a genuine window into mountain hospitality—a simple, savory, and human-scaled experience.

Follow the Voru River on a gentle hike to Voru village, among the Fann’s oldest settlements. Visit a local blacksmith workshop to see hand-forged tools take shape on the anvil.

Enjoy tea with villagers and hear how craft, farming, and seasonal rhythms knit communities together in these dramatic highland landscapes.

Stop in Istaravshan, a Silk Road–era town, to step inside a local mosque and reflect on centuries of spiritual life and learning in northern Tajikistan.

Then view the city’s Lenin bust, noted for its imposing scale, a striking reminder of Soviet heritage amid bazaars and crafts that predate the 20th century.

Explore Khujand’s layered history at the Museum of Sughd and the Mausoleum of Sheik Muslekheddin, then mingle with locals in the bustling Khujand market, the country’s largest.

Discover how trade along the Syr Darya shaped the city’s fortunes, and browse stalls laden with nuts, dried fruit, spices, and bright textiles that animate daily life.

Walk into the heart of Timurid Samarkand at Registan Square, encircled by madrassas tiled in lapis and gold. Continue to the vast Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the jewel-like necropolis of Shah-i-Zinda.

Between monuments, drift through the bazaar’s spice mounds and bread stalls, absorbing the cadence of a city that once dazzled caravans crossing Central Asia.

Step beneath the azure dome of the Gur-e-Amir, final resting place of Amir Timur. Intricate muqarnas and inscriptions honor the conqueror whose empire radiated from Samarkand in the 14th century.

Discuss the Timurid legacy—arts, astronomy, and architecture—that shaped Central Asia’s skyline and reverberates through Timurid dynasty monuments across the region.

Visit the pilgrimage site at Chashma Complex, where a holy spring feeds ponds beside the Juma Mosque. Locals come for blessings and quiet contemplation beneath ancient mulberry trees.

Climb to the ruins of the Fortress of Alexander the Great, founded in 327 BCE, and look out over desert foothills that long guarded the routes between oasis towns.

Settle into a desert camp to overnight in a yurt near shimmering Aidarkul. As the light fades, share an authentic Uzbek dinner under the stars and warm to the rhythms of an evening Kazakh singing show.

Between campfire embers and dunes, this evening captures Central Asia’s caravan spirit—music, hospitality, and the hush of vast steppe nights.

Join a local guide through Old Bukhara’s maze of madrassas and trading domes. Enter the Ark Citadel, linger in the grand courtyards of the Poi-i-Kalon complex, and contemplate the brick artistry of the Samanid Mausoleum.

Between monuments, browse artisan courtyards and sip tea near Lyabi-Hauz, where mulberry trees reflect in a historic pool ringed by caravanserai facades.

Wander within the mudbrick walls of Ichon-Qala, a museum-city of blue domes, carved pillars, and labyrinthine lanes. Visit madrassas and mosques, and hear tales of caravans, khans, and slave caravans that once passed these gates.

Climb viewpoints for a sea of sand-coloured rooftops, trace the cool halls of Juma Mosque, and feel the atmosphere of a Silk Road city preserved in time.

Explore the former Khorezmian capital, today a haunting ensemble of mausoleums and minarets in the steppe. Gaze up at the 60-metre Kutlug-Timur Minaret and admire the geometry of Turabek-Khanum Mausoleum.

Abandoned in the 18th century, the site preserves architectural transitions across centuries, inviting a contemplative walk through UNESCO-listed history and silence.

Take the pulse of Turkmenistan’s north on a guided city overview. See the emblematic Gorogly Monument, the central square and flagpole, and the distinctive Dashoguz Wedding Hall.

Hear how Soviet planning and post-independence projects shaped this commercial crossroads, connecting it to the archaeological riches of the Amu Darya delta.

Journey across the Karakum Desert, where dunes roll to the horizon and camel tracks etch the sand. Stop at an otherworldly mud crater, a sunken bowl with a turquoise pool at its heart.

Stretch your legs on the sand dunes, gather photos of stark desert textures, and appreciate the vast scale of Central Asia’s arid interior.

Stand before the blazing Darvaza gas crater, nicknamed the Gates of Hell, where a collapsed drilling site ignited decades ago and continues to burn. As darkness deepens, flames roar against a dome of stars.

The surreal glow, heat, and silence of the surrounding desert create a singular photo moment and a vivid memory of Turkmenistan’s natural drama.

Unpack Turkmenistan’s capital on a guided tour linking grand symbolism and daily commerce. Visit the Monument of Independence, the National Museum of History and Ethnography, and the elevated Arch of Neutrality.

Conclude amid the bustle of the Gulistan market, where fresh produce and textiles brighten aisles beneath Ashgabat’s marble glow.

Walk the windswept ruins of Ancient Nisa, the Parthian royal centre from the 3rd century BCE. Mudbrick fortresses, storerooms, and temple precincts hint at a powerful empire straddling Iran and Central Asia.

From the citadel’s ramparts, trace trade routes and imperial ambitions that shaped this UNESCO World Heritage Site and the region’s long arc of history.

Glide up to Kok-Tobe Hill by cable car for sweeping views of Almaty’s skyline and the snow-tipped Zailiyskiy Alatau. Wander the summit paths and cafés as the city spreads beneath you.

This optional outing is at additional cost and bookable on tour, ideal for late-day light and panoramic photography over Kazakhstan’s cultural capital.

Visit the serene Tomb of Prophet Daniel on the banks of the Siyob. A pilgrimage site shared by multiple faiths, it offers a contemplative counterpoint to Samarkand’s grand squares.

This quiet interlude is at additional cost and bookable on tour, inviting time for reflection amid shady paths and softly echoing prayers.

Step into the vaulted chambers of a historic hammam for a steam, scrub, and massage ritual long prized by Silk Road travellers. Stone benches, domed ceilings, and perfumed soaps set a timeless scene.

This restorative wellness experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, perfect after a day exploring courtyards and echoing caravanserai.

Take a seat for a charming traditional puppet show staged in an old caravanserai courtyard. Lively characters, music, and folklore bring Central Asian tales to life in an atmospheric setting.

Tickets are at additional cost and bookable on tour, offering an evening of family-friendly performance rooted in local craft and humor.

Venture to the monumental Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in Gypjak as the day cools. Its marble arcades and gold-capped dome glow in the last light, mirrored across vast courtyards.

This atmospheric visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour, ideal for photography and a quiet moment of contemplation beneath symmetrical minarets.

Sit down to a home-cooked traditional dinner at a village guesthouse in the tranquil Chon-Kemin Valley. Share steaming plates of plov, fresh salads, and breads while stories and toasts flow around the table.

Experience Kyrgyz hospitality in a rural setting where mountains hem the fields and time moves gently. This intimate meal celebrates seasonality, family recipes, and the pleasure of gathering at a shared table.

Settle into a traditional felt dwelling to overnight in a yurt on the alpine pastures of Song Kul Lake. Feel the hush of open steppe, grazing herds, and distant ridgelines as you warm by the stove and savor hearty, home-style dishes.

Learn about seasonal migration, felt craft, and horsemanship central to nomadic life. When night falls, step outside to a sky bright with stars and the crisp scent of high mountain air.

Join a local household in Kochkor for a convivial lunch with a local family. Sample regional flavors—pillowy bread, fresh herbs, and savory mains—while learning about daily routines, celebrations, and hospitality traditions.

Conversations over tea open windows into village life and the rhythms of Kyrgyz countryside communities, where guests are welcomed with generosity and the table becomes a place to share stories and laughter.

Get hands-on at a felt-making workshop to see how wool is cleaned, dyed, and pressed into vibrant patterns for rugs and wall hangings. Watch artisans lay motifs and roll the felt in time-honored fashion.

Discover the symbolism stitched into Kyrgyz shyrdak rugs and how this resilient craft has accompanied nomadic families for generations, insulating yurts and telling stories through traditional craftsmanship.

Walk among the wind-carved reds and ochres of Skazka “Fairytale” Canyon on Issyk-Kul’s southern shore. Narrow gullies and spires shift hue with the sun, creating a natural sculpture park of sandstone and clay.

Trace short trails to viewpoints that reveal the lake’s blue expanse framed by the Terskey Ala-Too. It’s a compact, photogenic stop where otherworldly formations meet mountain-lake horizons.

Unwind in a lakeside community where a warm guesthouse welcome sets the tone. Stroll lanes scented with apple trees, chat with hosts, and absorb Issyk-Kul’s serene shores during this Tamga village stay.

Hear how a Soviet-era cosmonaut sanatorium once defined the area and how village life today balances farming, trekking, and lake seasons. Evenings invite tea on the terrace and a gentle lakeside atmosphere.

Observe a live yurt building demonstration at the Ak-Orgo workshop, where artisans raise the wooden lattice, crown, and felt coverings with practiced ease. Learn the roles of each component in creating a portable, resilient home.

This G for Good experience preserves heritage skills and livelihoods, highlighting how traditional craftsmanship still anchors Kyrgyz identity in both form and function.

Marvel at the rust-red cliffs of Seven Bulls (Jety-Oguz) before spreading out a picnic in a valley dotted with wildflowers. Trails climb to a natural balcony where the striated formations line up like a mythic herd.

Capture the shifting colours on rock as clouds pass, and enjoy a relaxed outing that combines scenic hiking with alpine meadows and sweeping Terskey Ala-Too vistas.

Explore Karakol’s cross-cultural heritage on a guided walk. Step inside the timber Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral and admire its shingled towers, then visit the pagoda-styled Dungan Mosque, built by Chinese Muslim artisans.

Hear how communities once converged along Issyk-Kul’s trade rim, leaving a legacy of wooden architecture without nails and a rare blend of Russian and Dungan traditions.

Settle into a Kazakh household near Kolsay Lakes National Park for an immersive homestay experience. Share warming dishes, swap stories over tea, and learn about life at the foot of the northern Tien Shan.

The village setting, framed by forested slopes and pastures, highlights the cadence of rural routines and the pride locals take in traditional Kazakh meals and generous hosting.

Buckle up for a rugged 4×4 ride into the Kungey Alatau, then follow a forest path to Kaindy Lake, where a limestone landslide formed a surreal basin of submerged spruce trunks rising from turquoise water.

Learn how glaciers and seismic forces shaped this valley, and photograph the glassy surface reflecting firs and cliffs—an eerie, beautiful alpine scene.

Pause at Charyn Canyon, a ribbon of rippling sandstone where wind and water carved buttresses and towers known as the Valley of Castles. Short walks reveal layers glowing red, orange, and umber.

Enjoy time to frame the cliffs and river bends through your lens, making this one of Central Asia’s most rewarding photo stops between the mountains and steppe.

Explore the capital’s broad boulevards and leafy squares on a guided overview, pausing at landmarks that reveal the city’s blend of nomadic roots and Soviet-era planning. Take in Ala-Too Square, public monuments, and engaging street life that frames Bishkek’s everyday rhythm.

Hear how the city evolved through the 20th century and into the present, noting the contrasts between Soviet architecture and contemporary cafés, galleries, and parks that anchor civic life in Kyrgyzstan’s cultural hub.

Visit the open-air museum at Balasagun to climb the Burana Tower, a slender minaret rising from the steppe. Survey fragments of a vanished Silk Road city and admire carved stone balbals that once marked graves and routes across the plains.

Learn how this 9th–11th century center connected caravan trade and culture across Central Asia. From the tower’s top, pause for photos and reflection over the Tian Shan foothills and the historic Chuy Valley.

Meet your group and meet your CEO and group in Kyrgyzstan’s capital for a friendly introduction to the journey. Get a concise travel briefing covering practicalities, local customs, and tips for navigating Central Asia’s languages and currencies.

Set the tone for the adventure with stories of Silk Road cities and high mountain passes, and feel the warmth of Kyrgyz hospitality as you connect with fellow travellers over shared plans and first impressions of Bishkek.