06 Apr 2027
Twin share
£8,460pp
Escorted tour
Central Asia Overland: Astana to Ashgabat via the Five Stans – 37 Days
All five Stans overland from Astana to Ashgabat, with yurt camps, homestays and the Silk Road's greatest cities.
37 days
From £7,930
Tour overview
This 37-day overland journey crosses all five of the Central Asian 'Stans' – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – following the old Silk Road from the futuristic Kazakh capital to the marble city of Ashgabat. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 16 and over, with local leaders throughout and specialist guides at key sites. You stay thirty-six nights in small locally run hotels and guesthouses, with nights in yurt camps, family homestays and two overnight sleeper trains. Breakfast is included daily, with lunches and dinners on many days, including home-cooked meals with local families and a winery lunch near Almaty.
Your journey begins in Astana, a city of bold modern architecture, before a flight to Turkistan and the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum, then an overnight train to Almaty. From there you hike to waterfalls in Turgen Gorge, stand on the rim of Charyn Canyon and walk to the Kolsay and Kaindy lakes, before crossing into Kyrgyzstan. In Karakol you visit the wooden Dungan Mosque, and after Bishkek you spend nights in yurt camps on the shores of Issyk-Kul and the high summer pastures of Son-Kul, where nomadic herders graze their horses, with a yurt-making workshop in Kyzyl-Tuu.
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Crossing the Suusamyr Valley, you reach Osh and the sacred Sulaiman-Too mountain, then enter Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley to meet the silk weavers of Margilan and the potters of Rishtan. In Tajikistan you explore Khujand, founded by Alexander the Great, and ancient Panjakent, before returning to Uzbekistan for the turquoise domes of Samarkand's Registan, with a plov cooking demonstration, and the grand city of Tashkent.
An overnight train brings you to the walled city of Khiva, with its minarets, palaces and madrasas. In Turkmenistan you drive into the Karakum Desert by 4WD to watch the sun set over the Darvaza gas crater, known as the Gates of Hell, and sleep in a nearby yurt camp. You stay with a family in the mountain village of Nohur, visit a farm breeding Akhal-Teke horses, explore the ancient Parthian city of Nisa and the UNESCO-listed ruins of Merv, and end among the white marble monuments of Ashgabat.
The physical rating is medium, with long travel days, border crossings and simple accommodation. This journey suits adventurous travellers with time to spare who want the ultimate Silk Road adventure.
Trip highlights
-
Charyn Canyon and Kolsay Lakes (Days 7–8)
-
Yurt camps on Issyk-Kul and Son-Kul (Days 13–15)
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Sulaiman-Too in Osh (Day 19)
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Samarkand's Registan (Day 25)
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The walled city of Khiva (Days 29–30)
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The Darvaza gas crater (Day 31)
Your route
37 stops from Astana to Mary
- Astana Days 1–2
- Turkistan Day 3
- Otrar Day 4
- Shymkent Day 4
- Almaty Days 5–6
- Charyn Canyon Day 7
- Saty Village Day 7
- Kaindy Lake Day 8
- Karakol Days 8–9
- Jety Oguz Day 9
- Cholpon-Ata Day 10
- Bishkek Days 10–12
- Burana Tower Day 13
- Issyk-Kul Lake (Kyzyl-Tuu) Days 13–14
- Kochkor Day 15
- Song-Kol Lake Day 15
- Kyzyl-Oi Day 16
- Kök-Bel Day 17
- Uzgen Day 18
- Osh Days 18–19
- Margilan Day 20
- Rishton Day 20
- Kokand Days 20–21
- Khujand Day 22
- Marquzor Lakes Day 23
- Panjakent Day 23
- Samarkand Days 24–25
- Tashkent Days 26–28
- Khiva Days 29–30
- Dashoguz Day 31
- Darvaza Crater Day 31
- Ashgabat Day 32
- Nohur Day 32
- Ashgabat Days 33–34 & 36
- Nisa Day 34
- Ancient Merv Day 35
- Mary Day 35
Why choose this tour
All five Central Asian republics in one epic journey. Yurt camps, homestays and the great Silk Road cities.
Best suited to
- Adventurous travellers with time
- History and culture lovers
- Solo travellers looking for a small group
- Travellers who want somewhere new
Day-by-day itinerary
37 days from Astana, Kazakhstan to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
-
Day 1 · Astana Astana
A welcome Kazakh dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Bayterek Tower, Khan Shatyr Astana
A tour of the modern capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 3 · Turkistan Turkistan
Fly south to the spiritual heart.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 4 · Yasawi Mausoleum, Otrar Otrar
A mausoleum and the night train.
- Hotel
- Sleeper train
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 5 · Lake Issyk, Turgen Gorge Almaty
A lake, a waterfall and a winery.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 6 · Zenkov Cathedral, Green Bazaar Almaty
A city tour.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 7 · Charyn Canyon, Saty Saty
A canyon and a mountain homestay.
- Hotel
- Homestay
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 8 · Kolsay Lakes, Kaindy Lake Karakol
Lakes and into Kyrgyzstan.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 9 · Dungan Mosque, Jeti-Oguz Karakol
A town tour and a valley hike.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul Bishkek
Petroglyphs and a lake cruise.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 11 · Bishkek Bishkek
A free day.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 12 · Ala-Too Square, Osh Bazaar Bishkek
A city tour.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 13 · Burana Tower, Issyk-Kul Issyk-Kul
A family lunch and a lakeside yurt.
- Hotel
- Yurt camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 14 · Kyzyl-Tuu Kyzyl-Tuu
A yurt-making workshop.
- Hotel
- Yurt camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 15 · Kochkor, Son-Kul Son-Kul
High summer pastures.
- Hotel
- Yurt camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 16 · Kyzyl-Oi Kyzyl-Oi
Along the Kokomeren River.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 17 · Suusamyr Valley, Toktogul Kok-Bel
Across a high plateau.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 18 · Uzgen, Osh Osh
To the capital of the south.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 19 · Sulaiman-Too Osh
A sacred mountain.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 20 · Margilan, Rishtan Kokand
Silk weavers and potters.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 21 · Khudayar Khan Palace Kokand
A khan's palace.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 22 · Khujand Khujand
Into Tajikistan.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 23 · Marguzor Lakes, Panjakent Panjakent
Alpine lakes and Sogdian ruins.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 24 · Samarkand Samarkand
Back into Uzbekistan.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 25 · Registan, Shah-i-Zinda Samarkand
The Registan and a plov dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 26 · Tashkent Tashkent
By train to the capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 27 · Tashkent Tashkent
A free day.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 28 · Chorsu Bazaar, Khast Imom Tashkent
A city tour and the night train.
- Hotel
- Sleeper train
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 29 · Ichan Kala Khiva
A walled Silk Road city.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Lunch
-
Day 30 · Khiva Khiva
A free day.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 31 · Dashoguz, Darvaza Crater Darvaza
The Gates of Hell at sunset.
- Hotel
- Yurt camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 32 · Kopet Dag, Nohur Nohur
A mountain village homestay.
- Hotel
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 33 · Gyz Bibi Cave, Ashgabat Ashgabat
Akhal-Teke horses and the capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 34 · Nisa, Anau Ashgabat
Ancient Nisa and the white city.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 35 · Merv Mary
The ruins of Merv.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 36 · Ashgabat Ashgabat
A final evening.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 37 · Ashgabat Trip ends
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Astana (2 nights) Hotel
- Turkistan (1 night) Hotel
- Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
- Almaty (2 nights) Hotel
- Saty (1 night) Homestay
- Karakol (2 nights) Guesthouse
- Bishkek (3 nights) Hotel
- Issyk-Kul (2 nights) Yurt camp
- Son-Kul (1 night) Yurt camp
- Kyzyl-Oi (1 night) Guesthouse
- Kok-Bel (1 night) Guesthouse
- Osh (2 nights) Hotel
- Kokand (2 nights) Hotel
- Khujand (1 night) Hotel
- Panjakent (1 night) Hotel
- Samarkand (2 nights) Hotel
- Tashkent (2 nights) Hotel
- Overnight train (1 night) Sleeper train
- Khiva (2 nights) Hotel
- Darvaza (1 night) Yurt camp
- Nohur (1 night) Guesthouse
- Ashgabat (2 nights) Hotel
- Mary (1 night) Hotel
- Ashgabat (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 36 nights in hotels, guesthouses, homestays, yurt camps and trains
- Meals 35 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 11 dinners, including daily breakfast, with selected lunches and dinners
- A flight from Astana to Turkistan and two overnight trains
- Private transport, 4WDs in the Karakum Desert and a boat on Issyk-Kul
- Guided tours in all five countries, including Samarkand, Khiva and Merv
- Hikes at Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lakes and Jeti-Oguz
- Yurt-making workshop, winery lunch and home-cooked meals
- Local leaders throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Visas and the Turkmenistan letter of invitation
- Meals not included 1 breakfast, 24 lunches and 25 dinners
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You dislike simple accommodation
- You dislike long travel days
- You want a short trip
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–28 and 30–37 · Lunch: Days 5, 8, 10, 13–17, 20, 23 and 29 · Dinner: Days 1, 7, 11, 13–17, 25 and 31–32
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £7,930 per person, twin share, tour only. 32 upcoming departures.
13 Apr 2027
Twin share
£7,930pp
20 Apr 2027
Twin share
£8,260pp
27 Apr 2027
Twin share
£8,490pp
01 May 2027
Twin share
£8,460pp
04 May 2027
Twin share
£8,585pp
15 May 2027
Twin share
£8,195pp
18 May 2027
Twin share
£8,190pp
29 May 2027
Twin share
£7,960pp
07 Aug 2027
Twin share
£8,090pp
17 Aug 2027
Twin share
£8,090pp
28 Aug 2027
Twin share
£8,560pp
07 Sep 2027
Twin share
£8,460pp
11 Sep 2027
Twin share
£8,460pp
18 Sep 2027
Twin share
£8,790pp
25 Sep 2027
Twin share
£8,290pp
28 Sep 2027
Twin share
£8,290pp
04 Apr 2028
Twin share
£8,150pp
18 Apr 2028
Twin share
£8,150pp
25 Apr 2028
Twin share
£8,390pp
02 May 2028
Twin share
£8,390pp
13 May 2028
Twin share
£8,390pp
16 May 2028
Twin share
£8,390pp
27 May 2028
Twin share
£8,390pp
05 Aug 2028
Twin share
£8,150pp
15 Aug 2028
Twin share
£8,150pp
26 Aug 2028
Twin share
£8,150pp
05 Sep 2028
Twin share
£8,635pp
09 Sep 2028
Twin share
£8,635pp
16 Sep 2028
Twin share
£8,635pp
23 Sep 2028
Twin share
£8,635pp
26 Sep 2028
Twin share
£8,635pp
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Which countries do we visit?
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Do I need visas?
Requirements vary by country, and Turkmenistan needs a letter of invitation arranged in advance. Check the latest advice before booking.
What is the accommodation like?
Small hotels and guesthouses, with yurt camps, homestays and two sleeper trains. Some nights have shared facilities.
Can I have a single room?
A supplement is available, except on train, yurt and homestay nights.
Do the leaders change?
Yes, local leaders change between countries, with new travellers joining at Bishkek and Tashkent.
How many people travel together?
Up to 12 travellers.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary