This tour was incredibly poor. I feel cheated out of experiencing 5 amazing countries. This company needs to step up...
Dear Kevin,
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback regarding your Five Stans journey with us. We are sorry to hear that parts of the experience did not meet your personal expectations. As this review contains several specific concerns, we would like to respond to them individually and provide additional context regarding the nature of this expedition-style tour.
Regarding the guiding and use of headsets, this is an adventure-style journey through Central Asia, where tours are conducted in a more local and flexible travel style rather than with headset systems or large-scale group infrastructure. This approach reflects the nature of travel in the region and the style of experience the tour is designed to offer.
We appreciate your comment that the tour leader was kind and supportive throughout the journey. His role was to manage the smooth operation and coordination of the tour across all five countries, ensuring logistics, timing, and overall group support. As explained in the pre-tour information, historical and cultural guiding is provided by licensed local guides in each destination, allowing travelers to experience each country through local expertise and perspective.
Regarding the pre-tour communication, detailed travel information was sent to the booking owner approximately 30 days before departure through our “Before You Go” documentation, which included practical information for the destinations. In addition, hotel vouchers were sent 10 days prior to arrival with details about the properties and available facilities. Our team also strictly follows a maximum 24-hour response time for all pre-tour communication and traveler questions. While swimwear was not specifically listed as essential equipment for this itinerary, many travelers choose independently whether to use hotel wellness facilities during the trip.
The itinerary is a well-balanced program that has been successfully operated for years and is designed as an explorer-style journey across Central Asia rather than an in-depth cultural/history tour, as clearly presented in the tour description. The experience is intended to combine history, landscapes, local life, and regional highlights across five different countries within a limited timeframe.
Regarding the Medeu ice skating rink near Almaty, it is considered one of the most historically significant high-altitude skating rinks in the world and is known for numerous world records achieved there over the decades. As your departure took place in April, which marks the end of the winter season in the region, seasonal conditions may naturally have influenced the overall atmosphere and activities available at certain mountain locations compared other departures. Overall, the itinerary is intentionally designed to offer a diverse and varied experience throughout the region.
We appreciate your positive comments regarding the hotels used during the tour. The selected properties were carefully chosen for comfort, quality, and logistical balance throughout the journey. In all destinations, the hotels were located within approximately 10–15 minutes walking distance from the historic or central areas, which is considered a very convenient location standard in large Central Asian cities where distances and city layouts are significantly broader.
A detailed itinerary was provided before the tour, while optional activities and additional suggestions were regularly communicated by the tour leader and local guides throughout the journey, allowing travelers to decide individually which experiences they wished to join.
The daily schedule was designed to balance sightseeing with rest throughout a long multi-country journey. It is standard procedure for departures to take place between 8:00 and 9:00 AM, depending on the plan for the day, road distances, andactivities included in the itinerary.
Regarding May 9th celebrations, the itinerary on that date included travel through the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan on the way to Darvaza, which made participation in city celebrations unfortunately not possible. As this is a multi-country expedition with fixed border crossings, long travel distances, and pre-arranged logistics, major itinerary changes during the tour are often not feasible.
Vehicle selection throughout the tour was adapted to the terrain and road conditions in each country and was communicated in the tour information beforehand. The group consisted of 15 participants. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, smaller 20+1 vehicles were used for part of the journey due to mountain roads and off-road driving conditions between Days 2–6, where larger buses are not practical or safe.
For the remainder of the tour from Days 6–14, larger modern 30+1 and 50+1 vehicles were used for the group. In Turkmenistan, 4x4 vehicles were specifically arranged for desert travel comfort, with only three participants per vehicle in order to provide additional space during the journey.
Central Asia is a region where multiple languages and alphabets are used, including Cyrillic scripts in several destinations visited during the tour. This is precisely why local English-speaking guides accompany the group throughout the journey, helping travelers understand the history, cultural context, and local terminology in English. We understand that some names and historical references may still feel unfamiliar due to linguistic differences, especially across five countries with diverse cultural backgrounds.
While we fully respect that this style of travel may not match every traveler’s expectations, we believe the tour delivered the explorer-style Central Asia experience that was presented in the itinerary and pre-tour documentation. We genuinely regret that your personal impression of the journey was negative and appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective.
Kind regards,
Adventure Bound Team
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