Central Asia Highlights: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan & Tajikistan in 15 Days
Overview
For travellers who have done Uzbekistan or want the mountains first: the Kyrgyz loop with Son-Kul, three nights in Almaty with Charyn, then Dushanbe and Khujand, ending in Tashkent. Small group, max 12.
Tash Rabat caravanserai replaces Son-Kul in the shoulder months.
Highlights
Is this trip for you?
- Travellers who already know Uzbekistan
- Mountain people who want a few cities at the end
- You have not been to Samarkand yet — go there first
Our honest opinion
- Son-Kul and Charyn in one trip
- Khujand is unvisited and charming
- The Dushanbe–Khujand road is six hours
- Only four departures a year
Pairs perfectly with our 4-day Uzbekistan train tour added at the end.
The trip in numbers
Your route
Line style shows how you travel each leg: solid = train, dotted = car, dashed = flight.
Day by day
Airport pickup, Ala-Too square, the Osh bazaar and a welcome dinner.
Burana tower, a Dungan family lunch in Iskra, the north shore of Issyk-Kul.
Petroglyphs, two alpine gorges and Karakol’s Dungan mosque.
Red cliffs, waterfalls and a south-shore guesthouse with an orchard.
Fairy Tale canyon, eagle hunters, felt-making in Kochkor.
Over the pass to the lake at 3,000 m and a yurt camp with a shepherd family — horses, kumis and a sky full of stars. (Tash Rabat caravanserai replaces Son-Kul in March, April, October and November.)
Down from the plateau and across to the Chon-Kemin valley.
Korday border; evening in Almaty.
Medeo, Shymbulak, the Green bazaar and Kok-Tobe.
Day trip to the Valley of Castles and the Charyn river.
Flight to the Tajik capital; evening on Rudaki avenue.
Hissar fortress, then north over the passes to the Syr Darya.
Citadel, the Panjshanbe bazaar and the Arbob palace.
Border and the capital; farewell dinner.
City tour and the airport.
What’s included
What’s not included
Where you’ll stay
Or equivalent, depending on season. Hotels are inside or beside the historic centres wherever the town has one.
Good to know
Most nationalities enter Uzbekistan visa-free for 30–90 days. If your passport needs an e-visa, it takes 2–3 working days online — we check your case and guide you at booking.
The local currency is the Uzbek som (UZS). Visa and Mastercard work in city hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; keep some cash for bazaars, taxis and tips. ATMs dispense som and sometimes USD.
April–June and September–November are warm and clear — ideal for walking the old cities. July–August afternoons exceed 35°C; winter departures run at reduced prices.
Uzbekistan uses European plug types C and F, 220V. Travellers from the UK, US and Asia need a standard Euro adapter — one per device is enough, hotels have plenty of sockets.
Everyday dress is relaxed across all four cities. Inside mosques and madrasas, shoulders and knees should be covered; headscarves for women are only needed in a few active mosques — your guide will tell you when.
Your included eSIM is activated on arrival, so you’re online from the airport. Hotel Wi-Fi is reliable in all four cities; your coordinator stays reachable on WhatsApp or Telegram throughout.
Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. 50% refund up to 15 days before; after that the booking is non-refundable, but you can move to another date once for free.
Medical insurance for the tour days is included. We still recommend personal travel insurance covering cancellation and baggage — we can suggest trusted providers.
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