Written by the people who run the tours
Travel guide
Honest, practical answers to the questions we get every week: when to go, what it costs, how the trains work, what to eat, what to pack. No sponsored content — just what we tell our own guests.
Practical
What to pack for Central Asia (and the etiquette our guests wish they had known)
The short packing list that covers mosques, mountains and 40-degree afternoons, plus the small customs — tea, bread, shoes, photographs — that… Read the guide →
Planning
Five Stans in one trip: how to combine Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
Deserts, high mountains, Silk Road cities and a burning crater — the five republics are very different trips. How long you need,… Read the guide →
Planning
How much does a trip to Central Asia cost? Real numbers from our bookings
Flights, hotels, trains, guides, food, visas, tips — what a week or two in the Stans actually costs at three comfort levels,… Read the guide →
Destinations
Khiva in a day: an insider’s walk through Itchan Kala
I grew up inside these walls. Most visitors give Khiva half a day and leave with the photo everyone has. Here is… Read the guide →
Food & drink
What to eat in Uzbekistan: 12 dishes and where we take our guests
Plov is only the beginning. From the bread you will dream about to the green noodles of Khiva, this is the food… Read the guide →
Practical
Trains in Uzbekistan: how the Afrosiyob works and how to actually get a seat
The high-speed train is the reason a Silk Road trip no longer means days in a car. Here is how the network… Read the guide →
Planning
Best time to visit Uzbekistan: a month-by-month guide
Spring and autumn are the classic answer — but every month has a reason to go and a reason to wait. Here… Read the guide →