Trip to the Five Stans - Exploring the Wonders of Central Asia, 15 days

Traveler Reviews

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  Muhammad Ruzaini Naim

  January 11th, 2026
  5.0
  Overall, the Central Asia trip was exceptionally well organised, especially considering the challenge of fitting such...
  Overall, the Central Asia trip was exceptionally well organised, especially considering the challenge of fitting such a detailed and wide-ranging programme into 14 days. Covered a remarkable amount of ground in a short time, with a very good balance of history, culture, nature, architecture, and free time. For the most part, the hotels were very comfortable and well located, which greatly enhanced the overall experience and helped offset the intensity of the itinerary. In terms of transport, there were a few areas that could be improved. In Uzbekistan, it would have been preferable to have a guide accompany us continuously rather than leaving us on our own between Bukhara to Samarkand, and Samarkand to Tashkent. We were extremely grateful to the driver who waited and drove hours to transfer some passengers’ luggage, despite not being a guide himself. For long journeys (e.g. in Turkmenistan), vehicles with more legroom or additional seating would also have been appreciated, as the cramped conditions made extended rides quite uncomfortable. Regarding accommodation, it would be helpful to prioritise hotels with lifts or ramps, as the hotels in Samarkand required climbing stairs, which could be challenging for some travelers. Turkmenistan was memorable. The guide, Jabar, was fantastic - highly accommodating, helpful with money changing, and very attentive to the group’s needs. Moving around independently outside of shopping was difficult, so having a guide was essential, and the hotel’s location near a shopping mall made self-exploration easier. Immigration was surprisingly smooth, with Jabar accompanying me through the visa process and even helping me bypass long queues during the luggage checks. Connectivity was limited, with WhatsApp largely restricted, though Gmail worked and messages occasionally came through slowly. One observation - the guide’s explanations felt quite pro-government, with little discussion on the nature of the political system or the lack of flights to the rest of the Stans even though it claimed to be connecting with the rest of the world. That said, Merv felt largely skippable. The long, bumpy roads to Merv were uncomfortable, and the sights did not justify the effort. It would have been far more comfortable to fly directly from Ashgabat to Istanbul and onward to Uzbekistan, even if it involved higher costs. This could have freed up time for an additional day in Kazakhstan or Tajikistan. The overland crossing from Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan at the Farap border was particularly arduous, involving about 1.5 hours of walking, two passport clearances, checks at multiple points, and several short bus rides, making it a very tiring experience. In Uzbekistan, after the long border crossing, rest could be made a priority. So, it would have been preferable for the Uzbek guide, Akmal, to skip the lengthy introductory talk on the bus and save it for the following day. There were also discrepancies between the travel voucher and the actual programme. In Bukhara on Day 4, the morning became a walking tour of neighbourhood details such as doors, windows, and car brands, while sites like the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, and Bolo Khauz Mosque were not visited. One piece of feedback is to consider providing English translations alongside Arabic terms when introducing Islamic norms and practices, as many travelers are not aware of the Arabic meanings. I ended up translating several terms into English. In Samarkand, the guide Grigory struggled with English and relied heavily on notes prior to sharing with the group, and while an unplanned visit to the Afrasiyab archaeological site was included, the Rukhabad Mausoleum listed in the voucher was skipped. In Tashkent, there was some miscommunication regarding the morning tour with the guide Zarina, but it was resolved thereafter. The morning trip was informative and explained Islam in Central Asia in a simple, easy-to-understand manner for the group. The schedule in Tajikistan was handled efficiently despite tight timing. Amir, the guide, made a commendable effort to cover most of the lakes and even included a visit to the Panjakent Central Market Bazaar before proceeding to the land border crossing, which added a nice local touch to the day visit. Kyrgyzstan stood out very positively due to the guide. Nursultan’s humour, clear and engaging explanations, and willingness to accommodate the group’s many requests — especially stops at souvenir shops — made the experience enjoyable and relaxed. Nursultan was friendly, attentive, and an excellent guide who added a lot of value to this portion of the trip. In Kazakhstan, however, the city tour felt rushed. Rustem seemed eager to complete the afternoon programme quickly, and although the tour in the early evening, his quick departure from the group left an impression that he was in a hurry, which detracted slightly from the otherwise engaging visit. Overall, despite some logistical challenges, itinerary deviations, and comfort-related issues, the trip was a rich and rewarding journey through Central Asia. The strong organisation, dedicated guides in some countries, and the sheer diversity of experiences made it a memorable adventure, with opportunities for refinement to make future tours even better.Show more
  
  Traveled in December 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Dear Muhammad, Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review of your Five Stans journey. We truly appreciate the depth of your feedback and the balanced way in which you highlighted both the strengths of the trip and the areas where improvements can be made. We are very pleased to hear that you found the tour exceptionally well organised overall, especially given the complexity of covering multiple countries, cultures, and landscapes within a limited timeframe. It is rewarding to know that the balance between history, culture, nature, architecture, and free time worked well for you, and that the comfort and location of most hotels enhanced your experience. At the same time, we sincerely appreciate your constructive comments regarding transportation, guiding continuity, and comfort during longer journeys. Your observations about vehicle legroom, the challenges of overland crossings, and the need for more rest after demanding travel days are all very valid, and these points are already being carefully reviewed for future departures. We also take note of your suggestion to prioritise hotels with lifts or easier access, especially for travellers who may find stairs challenging. Your feedback on guiding was especially valuable. We are delighted to hear your positive remarks about Jabar in Turkmenistan, Nursultan in Kyrgyzstan, and Amir in Tajikistan, and we will be sure to pass along your kind words to them. At the same time, we acknowledge your concerns regarding inconsistencies in guiding quality, language proficiency, and itinerary deviations in some locations. These are important points, and we are addressing them internally through additional guide briefings, clearer programme alignment, and improved communication between guides and operations teams. We also appreciate your thoughtful cultural feedback, particularly regarding the use of Arabic terms without English explanations, and the desire for more balanced historical and contextual discussions. This is very helpful insight and something we will incorporate into our guide training to ensure explanations are accessible and informative for an international audience. Your comments on Turkmenistan — including the intensity of travel, the challenges of border crossings, and the question of routing options — are especially valuable for future itinerary design. While this destination remains unique and logistically complex, your suggestions will help us refine pacing and offer clearer expectations to travelers. Despite the challenges you noted, we are grateful that you still found the journey rich, rewarding, and memorable. Central Asia is a region of immense diversity and complexity, and feedback like yours plays a crucial role in helping us continuously improve the experience for future guests. Thank you once again for traveling with us and for sharing such honest and constructive insights. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again on another journey — perhaps with an even more refined and comfortable itinerary. Warm regards, Olga Central Asia Travel

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• 

  Helen

  November 6th, 2025
  3.0
  There were some long days on extremely rough roads Really going to see the gas crater was a big anticlimax Getting...
  There were some long days on extremely rough roads Really going to see the gas crater was a big anticlimax Getting back to the Accom after midnight for a 0430 hotel departure meant we were all very exhausted - this timing should be improved and itinerary changed Going to visit the 7 lakes was also a big waste of time - I’m sure there is interesting cultural things to do in that country others than driving 3 hrs on very unsafe roads to see some lakes and then driving 3 hrs back Most breakfasts provided were ok If I’m paying single supplement I don’t want a single bed - I had to ask for a double bed some places Some of the hotels were in not in central city locations with easy to get food areas Some guides were not interested in directly us to local restaurants - telling us it’s not their job Some of the transport buses were hard to get into and out of and had poor visibility out the windowsShow more
  Traveled in October 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Dear Helen, Thank you for your valuable and honest feedback. We’re truly sorry that your experience wasn’t entirely positive. We will take your comments into account and work on improving the issues you mentioned. We would be happy to welcome you back again and hope your next visit will be much more enjoyable. Kind regards, The Central Asia Travel Team

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  Filipinas

  November 3rd, 2025
  4.0
  Days 7,8 & 9 of the tour schedule needs to be revised for better coordination of time spent in each country...
  Days 7,8 & 9 of the tour schedule needs to be revised for better coordination of time spent in each country ,because there's not enough time to rest for having to wake up so very early to transfer to the next country. There should be a better communication of pick up when transfering to the border like what we have experienced during our transfer from Turkmenistan to Kyrgysztan where we had to ride the shuttle bus two times & then have to walk about half a mile to meet the next tour guide and then transfer to a Van to the hotel in Kyrgysztan. That was really very tiring & stressful. We had also encountered the same problem when we transfered to the border of Kazasktan , where we had to wait for more than 1 hr for the tour guide to pick us up & then later the tour guide told us that they were delayed due to car problems. The tour going to the Darvasa Gas crater was a wonderful experience & I really enjoyed it, the only set back was the rough road with so many potholes that made the road very bumpy & shakes your whole body during the trip. One of our companions in the 4 wheel drive SUV had to tell the driver to stop immediately to empty her urinary bladder under the bushes because we were in the middle of a desert. In regards to the trip to Tajikistan, the only set back was the rough & bumpy road going up the mountain to visit the 7 Lakes that took 4 hrs roundtrip. Overall I have experienced 75% positive & 25 % negative .Show more
  Traveled in October 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Dear Lina, Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We truly value your assessment. We are sorry that some aspects of the journey, particularly the transfers and the road conditions, caused you discomfort, and we apologize for this. At the same time, we are delighted to hear that your overall impressions were positive and that unique sites like the Darvaza Gas Crater left you with wonderful memories. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for an even smoother and more comfortable travel experience in the future. Best regards, Sabrina Central Asia Travel

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  Manfred Paul

  October 10th, 2025
  5.0
  I was very happy. I think it was not easy to make a programm with so many details in 14 days.
  Traveled in September 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Thank you so much for your kind words, Dr. Buhl! We’re truly happy to know you enjoyed the trip and appreciated the detailed itinerary. It means a lot to us that the program worked well for you — it’s always our goal to make every journey through the Five Stans smooth, rich, and memorable. Warm regards, Central Asia Travel team

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• 

  Walter

  October 1st, 2025
  5.0
  All the guides were good and the itinerary was comprehensive. The first couple days are pretty tough just because you...
  All the guides were good and the itinerary was comprehensive. The first couple days are pretty tough just because you generally get in early in the morning and start at a normal 9 am time and then the next day driving out to the gas crater, you get home at midnight. So the first couple days you are sleep deprived, but to do it differently you'd be wasting time. I wouldn't change it, but be prepared for a couple of tired days.Show more
  Traveled in September 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Dear Walter, Thank you so much for your kind feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed the itinerary and the guides’ work across the region. You’re absolutely right — the first days can be intense, but it’s the best way to experience as much as possible in a short time. We truly appreciate your positive attitude and hope to welcome you again on another Central Asian adventure! Warm regards, Central Asia Travel team

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• 

  ONOFRE

  September 29th, 2025
  5.0
  Each of the 5 Stan country has their own unique individual cultural and customs but at the same time has similarities...
  Each of the 5 Stan country has their own unique individual cultural and customs but at the same time has similarities due to the fact that they’re once under the governance of the former USSR. Each has their own appeal for tourist’s point of view. Wish to go back but there are more countries to visit.Show more
  Traveled in August 2024
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback, Onofre! We’re so glad you enjoyed discovering the diversity and shared heritage of the Five Stans. Each country truly has its own charm, and we’re happy you could experience that! Wishing you many more amazing travels — and we’ll be delighted to welcome you back to Central Asia one day! Warm regards, Central Asia Travel team

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  KENNETH

  September 19th, 2025
  5.0
  Exceptionally well organised tour.
  Traveled in August 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Thank you very much, Kenneth! We’re so glad to hear you found the tour exceptionally well organized — that’s the best compliment for our team! It was a pleasure to have you with us on this journey through the Five Stans. Warm regards, Central Asia Travel team

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  Tennille Erin

  June 19th, 2025
  4.0
  First and foremost, I'm glad I did this tour with this company. It was well organized and we covered a lot of ground...
  First and foremost, I'm glad I did this tour with this company. It was well organized and we covered a lot of ground in a short time. Even though everyone was getting "mosqued out" by the end, I think it was a good mix of history, culture, nature/scenery, architecture, and free time. The hotels were very comfortable and for the most part in great locations (wish the Almaty hotel was closer to Arbat Street restaurants/shops). The buses/vans were more comfortable than many other tours I've done. We were supposed to have 2 smaller vans but instead got 1 "bigger" van for our super long drive from Mary - Merv- Uzbekistan boarder. We were all so uncomfortable on that drive and wish they would have stuck to the original plan of giving us 2. Our guides in Turkmenistan (Gulshat) and Kyrgyzstan (Sultan) were amazing. If only we could have had them the whole time! The Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan guides were knowledgeable but condescending and at times inappropriate and unprofessional, so they definitely left the door open for improvement there, despite being amazing countries. One thing I wish was different is that it was 1 day longer, so that an overnight at the gas crater camp can be added. The first few days in Turkmenistan fly by with little sleep after long international travels, which I feel could have been avoided by adding a day. Even if we had arrived the day before the tour started, which I recommend, the combination of a really late night after driving most of the day on incredibly bumpy roads to/from the crater and a super early flight to Mary took away from what could have been a more enjoyable experience. Not to mention, a stay in a yurt would be a great experience! Traveling is never perfect so I never expect that, but with just a few small changes this could be an excellent tour.Show more
  Traveled in May 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Dear Tennille, Thank you very much for your review and for traveling with us on the Five Stans journey. We’re happy to know you enjoyed the overall organization, variety of experiences, and the professionalism of our team — especially Gulshat and Sultan, who truly appreciate your kind words. We also wanted to let you know that we’ve since discussed your feedback with our regional partners and guides to ensure even smoother coordination and better consistency in service across all countries. Your comments about vehicle comfort and hotel selection have also been reviewed, and several improvements have already been made for our 2025 departures. We completely agree that an overnight stay at the gas crater would make the experience even more special — this option remains under consideration for future itineraries. Thank you again for your trust and for helping us grow. We hope your memories of Central Asia stay warm and bright, and we’d be delighted to welcome you again one day! Warm regards, Central Asia Travel team

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  samia

  June 15th, 2025
  5.0
  Amazing tour! The no. Of people was only 7 so it felt very intimate. Guides in each Stan were very knowledgeable and...
  Amazing tour! The no. Of people was only 7 so it felt very intimate. Guides in each Stan were very knowledgeable and friendly (Gulshad for Turkmenistan, Miron and Ramiz for Uzbekistan, Sultan for Kyrgyzstan and Zhanner for Kazakhstan). The drivers were amazing too stopping whenever we requested and being present in a timely manner. Gulshad switched out the days allowing for Darwaza to be visited on day one with city tour on day 2. This was a good idea letting us rest better as the trip back to hotel from Darwaza could be past midnight. Grab a neck pillow for that car ride to and from Darwaza. Road is not the best. I was unable to go to Tajikstan as i had a single entry visa to Uzbekistan. Tajikstan is a day trip from Uzbekistan so if you require a visa to enter U'stan, make sure to select multiple entry in your application. However, i wasnt disappointed at all as Ramiz planned a trip to the Uzbekistan mountains With wonderful views and local lunch. Sultan was another friendly and amazing guide who was always available readily to take us to dinner etc after the end of the day. Zhanner made us feel like home although we spent only 1 day in Almaty with her. The tour is rich in culture and the people are very friendly. Food is amazing. 15 days pass by very quickly. Allow for flexibilty in the itinerary as things could change based on the grouo you travel or time in general. Overall, would highly recommend.Show more
  Traveled in May 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Dear Samia, Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed the journey and the company of our wonderful guides — Gulshad, Miron, Ramiz, Sultan, and Zhanner. It’s great to hear their care and flexibility made your trip so memorable. We also appreciate your helpful note about visa requirements and itinerary flexibility — it will certainly guide future travelers. We’re so happy you chose to explore Central Asia with us and hope to welcome you again one day! Warm regards, Central Asia Travel team

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  Matthew

  May 8th, 2025
  4.0
  Very interesting tour with a lot of history. Landscapes were beautiful and varied (one day you're in the desert, next...
  Very interesting tour with a lot of history. Landscapes were beautiful and varied (one day you're in the desert, next in mountains, next in steppe). Some of the hotels were great but some weren't up to scratch. Lots of travel on the road (which is in part expected as most tours for this region will do 20+ days so this tour is kind of the express option). It meant some days were back to back travelling which was exhausting (feels some cases it might have been avoidable with a flight). Still, felt like we saw everything we'd want to in region in two weeks!Show more
  Traveled in April 2025
  

  Reply from: Central Asia Travel LP

  Dear Matthew, Thank you for sharing your feedback and for joining our Five Stans adventure! We’re glad you enjoyed the diversity of landscapes and the rich history along the route — that’s exactly what makes Central Asia so unique. We truly appreciate your notes about road travel and accommodation — we’re already working with our local partners to make these aspects even more comfortable for future travelers. It’s great to hear you felt the itinerary gave you a full picture of the region in just two weeks. We’d love to welcome you again one day — perhaps for a slower-paced journey next time! Warm regards, Central Asia Travel team

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