Reviews

“Long weekend from Dubai. One hotel in old Tbilisi, a day to Kazbegi, a day in wine country, a free day for the baths. Late starts, long lunches, no stress. The guide, Giorgi, was excellent company. Already planning the 9-day.”

“I had four days between meetings in Tashkent and this tour used every hour of them well. Trains instead of cars, a different guide in each city (both excellent), hotels a few minutes’ walk from the sights. Bukhara at night, with the Kalyan minaret lit up and almost nobody around, was the moment. If you only have a long weekend, do this.”

“Akhror, thank you for your arrangemant ❤️ Our group are really enjoy the whole journey. Althought the flight was delayed and we were tired. (But it is Centrum Air's fault as we all know) It is still an Unforgettable memories. 😂”

“Very enjoyable and authentic. Four stars because the group that day was eight people, a little large for the kitchen. The plov was excellent.”

“Does what it says. Cold at night in October, bring layers. The driver knew a spot on the rim away from the other camps.”

“Our first time in the Caucasus. Everything was easy. Gergeti church in the morning mist, the Prometheus cave, the Black Sea at the end. Guide Tamar spoke beautiful English and even some Japanese words. We felt looked after from airport to airport.”

“Two countries, one booking, zero stress. The Uzbekistan half was polished and beautiful, the Turkmenistan half was an adventure, and the handover at the Shavat border took twenty minutes. Our group of ten became friends. We particularly liked that the itinerary did not pretend the long desert days away — it listed them, and that honesty is why we booked.”

“Five days was the right length for a first visit to Armenia and this itinerary squeezes in every major monastery without ever feeling rushed. Khor Virap with Ararat behind it at 8 am — our guide Anna insisted on the early start and she was right; by 11 the mountain had vanished in haze. Geghard, Noravank in its red canyon, the lavash baking, the brandy tasting. Yerevan is a relaxed, cafe-filled city to come back to each night.”

“Chose the 9-day over the 8-day for the extra Samarkand night and I am glad we did — it gave us a slow morning at Siab bazaar and the paper mill in Konigil, which turned out to be one of my favourite stops. Our guide Nilufar was superb with the children (ours are 10 and 13), turning Timur into a story they still talk about.”

“Led a group of fourteen from our congregation. Guided Travels arranged Shabbat in Tbilisi, kosher meals where possible, and meetings with community leaders in Quba and Tbilisi that we could never have organised ourselves. The Oni synagogue in Racha was deeply moving. Professional, respectful and flexible throughout.”

“Il nostro viaggio di nozze. Organizzazione impeccabile, guida preparatissima (Akmal), alberghi nei centri storici. Samarcanda di notte è magica. Unica nota: il prezzo è salito rispetto all’anno scorso, ma vale ogni euro.”

“Baku surpreendeu! Cidade velha, arquitetura moderna, os vulcões de lama. Guia simpático e pontual. Um pouco caro para comer fora, mas a viagem valeu muito.”

“Turkmenistan is a strange and wonderful place and you need a company that knows how the permissions work. Guided Travels handled the letter of invitation, met us at the border and never missed a step. Camping beside the Darvaza crater — the heat on your face, the dark all around — was the single best night of a two-month trip. Ashgabat is like nowhere else; white marble, empty avenues, a guide who answered every question honestly.”

“All five in fifteen days. It is fast — that is the point and they say so — and if you want depth, take the 21-day. For me, with limited leave, it was perfect. Guides and logistics faultless. Knocked a star off only for pace, which I chose.”

“Two weeks and not a single day I would have cut. Shakhrisabz, the Nuratau mountains with a homestay and a hike, the Aral Sea ship graveyard — this is the whole country, not just the postcard cities. The homestay night is basic (outdoor bathroom) and they tell you so; it was also the night we remember best.”

“I had read a lot before booking and was still not prepared for how good this was. Our guide Bekzod has a history degree and it showed — he could answer anything, but he also knew when to stop talking and let us look. The Registan at 8 in the morning with nobody there is something I will not forget. Hotels were small and family-run, exactly as promised, and the one in Khiva was inside the walls. Only tiny criticism: the desert drive to Khiva is long. They warn you about it, and the fortress stops help, but it is still six hours.”

“Baku to Tbilisi overland with two guides, two cuisines and the Lagodekhi border crossed on foot with our suitcases — which sounds dreadful and took twenty minutes. The Azerbaijan half is fascinating; the Georgian half is delicious. Finishing with a day in Kazbegi was the perfect last chapter. Both guides (Elvin and Mariam) were outstanding.”

“Very good tour and guide. I would have liked to see Tatev, which is not included (it is a long day south, they offer it as an add-on). Otherwise no complaints — Sevan, Geghard and the Areni wine cave were highlights.”

“This is a trip about people. Lunch with a Mountain Jewish family in the Red Settlement, the Udi church at Nij, coppersmiths in Lahic, three nights with Svans in Mestia, the Molokan village in Armenia. Three countries, three guides, two borders on foot, several very long days — and the richest two weeks of travel we have done. Be realistic about the driving; the itinerary is honest about it.”

“Beautiful landscapes and a very professional operation. I would have liked one less driving day and one more walking day — the distances in Kazakhstan are enormous. Food outside Almaty is repetitive. Charyn at sunset, however, was one of the best moments of the year.”

“Adding Tajikistan to the classic Uzbekistan route was the right decision. The Seven Lakes day is spectacular and Dushanbe was far nicer than I expected. Border crossings were handled smoothly. The Dushanbe–Khujand road is long, as warned.”

“Kazbegi, wine country, the cave city, Borjomi, Kutaisi, Batumi — nine days and every one different. Our guide Nino is a historian and a storyteller; our driver Gia never once made us nervous on the mountain roads. The supra in Telavi, with the family’s own qvevri wine and a toastmaster who made us all cry, was the best evening either of us can remember. Late September for the grape harvest was a brilliant tip from Guided Travels.”

“I am from the region and still learned something every day. Twenty-one days, five countries, five border crossings, and not one thing went wrong that the team did not fix within the hour. The guides in each country were locals who clearly loved their work. The Pamir–Wakhan stretch and the Darvaza night were the peaks; the Registan at sunset the perfect ending. If you have three weeks, this is the one.”

“Loved it. Guide and driver were great, the itinerary is well thought out. Four stars because the minibus was cramped for eleven people plus luggage on the long days — a bigger vehicle would have made a real difference. Son-Kul alone is worth the trip.”

“Group of nine, four nationalities, everyone got on. The fast train between Samarkand and Bukhara was a joy after years of buses on other tours. Our Bukhara hotel had a courtyard where we ate breakfast under a vine. Ellen’s highlight was the plov class we added in Samarkand; mine was the evening the guide took three of us to a chaikhana nowhere near the tourist area. Would use Guided Travels again without hesitation.”

“Magnifique. Un point en moins pour la maison d’hôtes à Mestia (salle de bain partagée, chauffage capricieux en septembre) — mais l’accueil de la famille compensait largement. Ushguli sous la neige fraîche, inoubliable.”

“Nine hours each way and worth every one. Kel-Suu is a turquoise lake wedged between cliffs that almost nobody visits. The permit was arranged without fuss. Yurts are basic. Bring a good camera and a warm hat.”

“We are in our seventies and wanted the four cities without a long desert drive. The day in Nukus at the Savitsky museum was the surprise of the trip — a world-class collection of banned Soviet art in the middle of nowhere. The Khiva guesthouse owner carried Alan’s bag up two flights without being asked. Little things.”

“Burana tower is small but atmospheric and the stone warriors are wonderful. The hot springs are a Soviet-era sanatorium — charming in its way, don’t expect a spa. Good day out from Bishkek.”

“Alles hat funktioniert. Pünktliche Abholung, saubere Hotels, ein Guide mit Humor und Wissen. Khiva bei Sonnenuntergang von der Stadtmauer – unbezahlbar. Das Essen ist viel Fleisch und Reis, Vegetarier sollten vorher Bescheid sagen (meine Frau hat es getan und wurde gut versorgt).”

“Our second trip to Georgia and this time we wanted the places tourists skip. Racha is quiet and green and the Khvanchkara in the family cellar was the best wine of the trip. Bakhmaro at dawn — standing above a sea of cloud — was worth the long road. Not a tour for people who dislike driving.”

“The Kyrgyz loop plus three days in Almaty with Charyn Canyon — great combination. Charyn is a mini Grand Canyon and we nearly had it to ourselves. The Korday border crossing was quick. Almaty is a proper, pleasant city to finish in with good restaurants.”

“Arrived in Bishkek a day early and did this — walk to the Ak-Sai waterfall, then horses in Chunkurchak. Perfect way to shake off the flight. Guide Aziz was great.”

“Three days, two nights in a yurt, one free day with a horse. Simple, cheap, unforgettable. Cold at night even in August — take the extra blanket they offer.”

“Proper trekking: Altyn-Arashan, Ala-Kul at 3,500 m, the Jyrgalan valleys, tents and yurts, horses carrying the heavy bags. Our guide Nurlan was a mountain professional and the cook, Gulnara, produced miracles on a gas stove. The Ala-Kul pass day is hard — be fit. Best two weeks I have had in years.”

“The Pamir Highway had been on my list for fifteen years. Nine days in a Land Cruiser with a driver who has done the road a hundred times, homestays in the Wakhan where the family cooks for you, hot springs at Bibi Fatima, the Karakul lake at 3,900 m. It is not comfortable — it is better than comfortable. One request: pack warm, the nights at altitude in August were close to freezing.”

“We are a family of five with teenagers and a private tour was the right call. The guides adjusted the pace to the kids, the driver was endlessly patient, and the train to Khiva (an overnight sleeper!) was the thing our 15-year-old told everyone about afterwards. Thank you Akhror and team.”

“Svaneti is the Caucasus you imagine: towers, glaciers, villages in the clouds. Three nights with a Svan family in Mestia — the grandmother’s kubdari pies, home-made chacha, stories about the towers. The Chalaadi glacier walk is easy, the Ushguli jeep road is not for nervous passengers. Martvili canyon on the way back was a lovely gentle finish.”

“Hotels got three stars from me only because there are no hotels — they are homestays, and I would not swap them. The driver, Davlat, is a legend. The scenery is impossible to describe. Book it.”

“Added this to the group tour as an extra day and it was the best decision — a second night at the lake, a four-hour horse trek to the petroglyphs and a quiet evening with the family. The stars are ridiculous.”

“We wanted Kyrgyzstan at our own pace and this private tour gave us exactly that. We asked to skip the eagle show and spend longer at Son-Kul, and the guide just made it happen. Our driver Bakyt was careful on the gravel. Highly recommended for couples who like a flexible plan.”

“Twelve days on horseback through the Tian Shan with a Kyrgyz horseman as guide. I ride at home and the horses here are tough, sure-footed and well cared for. Sleeping in yurts and tents, washing in rivers, eating what the family eats. Not for everyone; absolutely for me.”

“Nine days of lakes, mountains and some of the kindest people I have met anywhere. The yurt night at Son-Kul was cold, dark and perfect — a shepherd family, horses in the morning mist, milk tea, a sky I have never seen the like of. Guide Aigerim was wonderful and our group of eleven got on brilliantly. Roads to the lake are rough, be ready for that. The swimming in Issyk-Kul in July is glorious.”

“Long day (14 hours) but Charyn and the two lakes in one go is efficient and the driver was excellent. Kaindy’s sunken forest is unreal. Lunch in a village house was a nice touch.”

“Four stars only because June was hotter than we expected and two afternoons were a struggle — go in spring or autumn if you can, which the website actually says. Everything else was five: the guide, the train, Shah-i-Zinda, the night walk in Bukhara. The hotel in Tashkent was a bit ordinary compared to the others.”

“As a Swiss I am picky about mountains. Kyrgyzstan passed. Jeti-Oguz, the Fairy Tale canyon, Son-Kul — each different, each superb. Guesthouses are simple but spotless and the food is better than its reputation. The eagle hunter demo felt a little staged; the felt workshop in Kochkor did not.”

“Two very different countries in one well-planned trip. The Sheki–Signagi day was my favourite: palace in the morning, border at lunch, a Georgian winery by afternoon. Hotels good throughout. Slightly expensive for two people; cheaper in a group of four.”

“Booked solo and was welcomed like family. Three hours, lots of laughing, far too much food. The recipe card actually works.”

“Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai and Kaindy lakes (the sunken forest is extraordinary), the singing dune in Altyn-Emel, and Almaty with its cable car and bazaar. A week is right. Our guide Aliya was superb — sharp, funny, well read. The Kolsai guesthouse is simple and the food plain; the lakes make up for it.”

“Four countries without Turkmenistan, which suited us (no visa worries). Kyrgyz lakes, Charyn, Tajik mountains, Uzbek cities — the order is clever, nature first and the big monuments at the end. Group of eight, great guides, honest briefings about the long days.”

“Lovely trip, fantastic driver (Rustam), the yurt night by Aydarkul lake was fun and the camel ride short enough to stay fun. One star off because Khiva deserved two nights rather than one. Good value for a fully private tour.”

“We did this straight after the Georgia tour and Guided Travels organised the transfer from Tbilisi via Haghpat, which was a lovely bonus day. Armenia is gentler than Georgia and the monasteries are extraordinary. Hotel in Dilijan was in the forest and very quiet.”

“We are 68 and 71 and managed it comfortably, though the Wakhan days are long and the homestays are basic. Everything else — trains, hotels, guides, border logistics — was first class. Great value for what you get.”

“Travelled solo and this was the perfect way to do it. Half the group were also solo, the coordinator Dilnoza replied on WhatsApp within minutes every time, and I never once felt unsafe or out of place. The early starts are real, do not fight them, the light is worth it.”

“Sehr gut organisierte private Rundreise. Hotels in Tiflis und Batumi ausgezeichnet, das Weingut in Kachetien ein Traum. Der Tag von Bordschomi über Wardsia nach Kutaissi ist lang, aber lohnend. Georgisches Essen: man nimmt zu.”

“Five days from Almaty — city, Charyn, Kolsai, Kaindy. Perfectly organised, excellent English-speaking guide, comfortable 4×4. Ideal if you are combining Kazakhstan with Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan.”

“Meine Urgroßeltern stammten aus Helenendorf. Die Reise war für mich sehr persönlich, und das Team hat das verstanden: Zugang zur Kirche in Göygöl, ein Treffen mit einem Heimatforscher, sogar das Haus der Familie haben wir gefunden. Fachkundige deutschsprachige Führung. Danke.”

“The best afternoon of our whole trip. Shopping the bazaar with Dilnoza, then cooking in her courtyard with her mother supervising — we still make this plov at home and it comes out right about half the time.”

“The night in Sheki’s caravanserai is the reason to take this tour over the Baku city break — a courtyard full of roses and a room that has not changed much since the 1700s. The Khan’s palace is tiny and dazzling. Lahic village is real, not a museum. The road back to Baku is long and dull, as they warn.”

“Très beau circuit, rythme parfait, guide francophone sur demande (Sherzod, excellent). Les hôtels de Boukhara et Khiva sont charmants, celui de Tachkent plus standard. Le train rapide est une excellente idée.”

“The crater is as good as the photos. The desert camp is comfortable enough but basic (camp toilet, no shower), and Ashgabat hotels are big and a little soulless — not the company’s fault, there is no other kind. Guide was knowledgeable and discreet. The visa process worked exactly as they described.”

“Hired a guide for a day in Samarkand on a work trip. Got an art historian who had worked on the Shah-i-Zinda restoration. Worth ten times the price.”

“We have done about a dozen small-group tours around the world and this is up with the best of them. The thing that stood out: the free evenings. Most companies schedule every hour. Here you get two or three evenings to wander, and the guide gives you a short list of where to eat. That is confidence in the destination.”

“Dinner cooked over coals, then the crater after dark with nobody else there, then a tent fifty metres from the edge. Woke at 5 to watch it fade in the dawn. Basic camp, extraordinary night.”

“The Fergana Valley days made this tour. Margilan silk, Rishtan ceramics — we met the masters, not shop assistants. Our guide Farrukh translated everything including the jokes. Hotels in Fergana are simpler than in Samarkand but perfectly clean.”

“Great value and very efficient. Knock off one star because four days is simply not enough for Samarkand and Bukhara — but that is my fault for choosing it, not theirs, and they say so clearly. Guides were fantastic. Would come back for the 8-day.”

“Landed at 3 am in Tashkent and there was a sign with my name and a car with water and a SIM card. Exactly what you want after a night flight.”

“Perfetto per un primo assaggio della Georgia. Il passo per Kazbegi era aperto a marzo, la chiesa di Gergeti nella neve era uno spettacolo. Khinkali ogni giorno.”

“Merv at sunset with nobody else there, then Darvaza, then Kunya-Urgench on the way out to Uzbekistan. Six days is right for Turkmenistan. Long drives but good cars. Our guide Maksat deserves a special mention for his patience with the border formalities.”

“Used this as a three-night stopover on the way to Tashkent and it was a brilliant idea. Baku in winter is windy but empty of tourists; the Old City, the Flame Towers at night, the mud volcanoes (we took the Soviet jeep, do that) and the petroglyphs at Gobustan. Guide Rashad was excellent. Hotel in the Old City was lovely.”

“Jyrgalan freeride: snowcat, skins, deep powder and four of us plus two guides. Cheaper than a week in the Alps and emptier than anywhere I have skied. Accommodation is a guesthouse with a sauna, which is all you need.”