Cultural Photography Tours & Trips in Central Asia

This 26-day cultural photography adventure covers four countries, starting with Tashkent's Soviet monuments and Samarkand's Registan Square. Shoot the red rock formations at Charyn Canyon, Karakol's colorful Dungan Mosque, and Khiva's medieval streets while staying in yurt camps.

A local historian explains the ibex and deer carvings at Cholpon-Ata, where you'll photograph 3,500-year-old Turkic petroglyphs. Charyn Canyon's red rock formations look like giant skyscrapers, and Kaindy Lake's submerged spruce forest creates an eerie scene. In Almaty, photograph the golden-domed Ascension Cathedral in Panfilov Park and colorful spice stalls at Zeleny Bazaar.

This 27-day trip takes you to UNESCO sites like Samarkand's Registan Square, Bukhara's Ark Fortress, and the ancient city of Merv in Turkmenistan. Capture golden eagles in flight at Bokonbayevo, see the turquoise Issyk Kul Lake, and photograph Darvaza's fiery gas crater.

Photograph UNESCO sites like Samarkand's Registan Square with its turquoise majolica tiles, Bukhara's Kalyan Minaret, and Khiva's walled Ichan-Qala. Document ancient petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata dating back 3,000 years, capture Charyn Canyon's red rocks, and frame Kaindy Lake's submerged forest.

Follow old nomad trails through Jety Oguz valley and photograph the 20m-high Maiden Tears waterfall plus pine forests along the historic Silk Road. Chulpek valley gives you panoramic views to Mokroe valley's meadows, with Issyk Kol Lake—the world's second-largest alpine lake—framed by the Terskey Ala-Too range.

See the World Nomad Games near Issyk-Kul Lake with its thrilling Kok-Boru polo matches, eagle hunters, and wrestling competitions. The Opening Ceremony happens at Bishkek's stadium where delegates parade in national costumes, then you can walk through the yurt city.