Discover these five exotic oriental countries with a touch of history from the ancient civilizations by joining our Central Asia immersion tour to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
The 15-day tour starts from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to explore its unforgettable natural beauty. Fly to Almaty in Kazakhstan and experience the most developed country in Central Asia. Continue to Tajikistan where Dushanbe shows off the country's modern side. Cross the border into Uzbekistan and appreciate the classic beauty of Samarkand, Bukhara, and the walled city in Khiva. Camp at the Darvaza gas crater for an unforgettable night under the shining stars, and finish your tour in the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, which is a city full of white marble buildings.
Highlights
- Enjoy breathtaking views of the snowcapped mountains and stunning waterfalls at the Ala Archa National Park.
- Enjoy a glass of champagne with a boat ride on Issyk-Kul Lake.
- Admire the splendor of the monuments and ancient blue-tiled mosques in Samarkand and Bukhara.
- Wander through the narrow mudbrick alleyways in Khiva and discover the locals' lifestyles.
- Camp at the Darvaza gas crater and enjoy a fire-cooked meal.
98.8% Positive Customer reviews among 10,000+
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Great Experience
WOW! I’ve traveled Asia some & I must say Sharon & Asia Highlights made this trip so much more enjoyable and easy More
Stephen Hollis,
Aug 2023
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Alisa has has been great to work with
Alisa with Asia Highlights has has been great to work with. Very friendly and responsive. More
Ana Rausch,
Aug 2023
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Using Sharon right now to book our…
Using Sharon right now to book our upcoming trip to Thailand. She has booked everything that we asked for. Has answered all of my inquiries, which has been many! Looking forward to having a great girls trip in Thailand More
Tracy,
Aug 2023
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Thailand, Singapore, Bali
In Thailand, Tanny and Nori(Suparp), were both incredible! They were both fun, funny, and full of knowledge and made sure we got the full experience. They went the extra mile and always made sure we had cold bottled water and towels to cleanse our hands. In Singapore, Nicole was an absolute gem. She was so kind and knowledgeable and guided us in the right direction to make our day as enjoyable as possible. She helped us choose a top notch local lunch and coffee spot in China Town and taught us so much about the country! In Bali, Emon was an absolute joy. He was very knowledgeable and kind and absolutely made sure we were feeling comfortable and was willing to be flexible with us. He was fun to converse with and made our time traveling between destinations so enjoyable! I cannot recommend Asia Highlights enough! Accommodations, travel arrangements and guided tours were all a breeze. More
Cassi Thunker,
Jul 2023
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Very supportive
Very supportive ! I have received eticket for Sky Lattern Festival very fast More
Chi?n Nguy?n Ng?c,
Jul 2023
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My experience in Chang Mai with Asia Highlights
I greatly enjoyed my experience with Asia Highlights for a trip I booked to Thailand.All of my interests were catered too. My guide in Chang Mai Gemma was excellent.I truly felt the soul of Thailand culture and Buddhism. More
Richard,
Jul 2023
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A pleasure to plan with
Well, this has been a painless and pleasurable process to find such a wonderful company. I had specific dates and places to be and Sharon worked with me diligently to refine the schedule and costs to suit my travel needs and budget. She informed me of a special tour on the dates I am to be in Thailand and I added that to my previous plans. More
Chris Williams,
Jul 2023
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Large multi-generational holiday in Thailand
The holiday was wonderful. Our guides, Mr Monchai (Bangkok), and Ms Tipagorn (Tippy) (Chiang Mai) were exceptional. Travelling in a large multigenerational group with many children requires patience and our guides truly understood that. Mr Monchai and Ms Tippy shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. While everyday was busy, having them greet us with patience and a smile truly made this a memorable holiday. The hotels we stayed at were equally wonderful and went above and beyond to celebrate not only my parents 50th anniversary but also celebrate 2 milestone birthdays that occurred. We will cherish this holiday for many years to come. We hope to use Asia Highlights again. More
CL,
Jul 2023
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I never used a travel agent in my life
I never used a travel agent in my life, but Sharon for Asia Highlights did a phenomenal job helping planning and coordination a family vacation. The best part of working with Sharon was that she maintained an open line of communication and provided answers to my question well within 12-24 hours. Additionally, Sharon was flexible and customized our vacation to my families needs. Overall great experience. More
Antione Barry,
Jul 2023
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Great company to plan a trip to Southeast Asia!
Sharon Haung has been wonderful to work with! Very patient and accommodating. Responds immediately given time change and is prepared, prompt, and professional. More
Debi Hinerfeld,
Jul 2023
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We took a 15 days trip (10 days Vietnam and 5 days Thailand …
It was an amazing experience the guides and drivers were there awaiting for us at each airoport for a transfer to the hotels also on time for all the tours all the guides were so lovely , very experienced and spoke very good English , one of the days on tour in Thailand I lost my phone in a temple in Bangkok mr chai went out of his way in a middle of thousands of visitors and managed to find an bring it back to me I found that amazing , also while on a trip I contacted Jason li out tour organizer few time via whatup and he replied and helped on the spot I recommend asiahilights 150% The quality of the service hotels the guides the drivers outstanding From start to finish ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ???? More
SIMO el ghobar,
Jun 2023
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Wonderful Guides and Experience
Our large group arrived in Bangkok with Tanni as our guide. She was wonderful! An absolute joy to spend time with. She is knowledgeable, kind, and extremely funny. I don’t know what we would have done without her! After Bangkok, we traveled to Chang Mai, where Indy was our tour guide. She was a delight! She is kind, knowledgeable, and so patient. Our trip to Thailand was an adventure of a lifetime and these two women helped make it memorable. I would definitely use Asia Highlights for any future travel in Asia. More
Jessica Bennett,
Jun 2023
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Guide - Chai
We travelled from Vietnam to Bangkok and were blessed to have a guide named Chai. He was a superb guide and it is a pity we couldn't bottle him and take him home. He was very knowledgeable and an absolute gentleman. He could not have done enough to facilitate us and imparted so much knowledge about the Temples, Buddism and the History of Thailand in general. Not only did he give us a great overview of the past and current ways of living in Thailand but I also feel I came away a much better person having interacting with him. I will carry many of his teachings with me for the rest of my life and know that having met him was a very special blessing in my life. More
Customer,
Jun 2023
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Our guide Tanni was kind
Our guide Tanni was kind, knowledgeable, funny and beyond accommodating for our group. We felt like we'd made a friend and it enhanced our trip in the most positive way. Everything was coordinated perfectly which is not easy to do in a large traveling group. Excellent experience! More
Marissa Manson,
Jun 2023
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We are only on day 5 of our 15 day trip…
Our first stop so far was in Hanoi where our guide Trong was just so awesome! He shared about his culture and family life which showing us sites through a city tour. He was so funny making lots of jokes and always made sure we were having fun while learning about everything! He checked on us frequently even when we were no longer with him since we then went on a cruise in Halong Bay! Halong Bay and the cruise on Paradise Elegance went way above anything I expected. The scenery was breathtaking, the ship was so beautiful and clean with such fresh, good food! And I can’t sing enough praise for the staff who took care of us- especially Anna and Belle! They went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed every aspect from eating meals with Anna to every other detail with Belle! I highly recommend Asian Highlights to help plan these extraordinary trips! This already has been a trip of a lifetime and we still have so much more to see all thanks to Cathy!! More
Diane Creitz,
Jun 2023
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Tanni for the win!
14 of my closest friends and family descended upon Bangkok ready to see the town. Asia highlights and Tanni took us on a tour that changed our lives. We experienced so much everyday. Tanni was amazing! She did all the thinking for us, so we all could just be present and enjoy the moment. I can’t recommend this company, and especially Tanni enough. More
Megan McGlynn,
Jun 2023
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This isn't my first trip with Asia…
This isn't my first trip with Asia Highlights. They are great at helping me plan, working my requests into the itinerary, and booking it all. We travel with friends and just got back from a trip to Thailand and Vietnam. Albee did a great job with all the details and we had a wonderful time. We will use them for our next adventure! More
Katie Potesta,
Jun 2023
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Amazing service
Although we have not been our trip yet I wanted to still write a review based on customer service and the ease of booking. Alisa has been extremely prompt and responsive with planning our trip to Thailand. She has had great recommendations and guidance to add to our custom itinerary. Highly recommend using Asia highlights! -Alex More
Alex,
May 2023
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I have never hear of this company…
I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. More
orge alvarez,
May 2023
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Coco Yang worked tirelessly to…
From the moment I landed in Bangkok, Ms Noi Ying was there to welcome me and get me settled into my hotel. We enjoyed several days together touring Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. Lisa arranged a last-minute speedboat tour of 5 breathtaking islands in Phuket. From start to finish, the guides exceeded my expectations!! Thank you, Asia Highlight!! Debbie Woods More
Debbie Woods,
May 2023
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Suggested Route
Itinerary in Detail
This sample itinerary is designed for reference. Follow our tailor-made guidelines to create your ideal 5 Stans tour.
Upon arrival in Bishkek, your local guide and driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own.
In the morning, you will be driven out of the city to the Ala Archa National Park (40KM). The park is located in the region's largest gorge where you will enjoy seeing beautiful mountains, snowcapped peaks, a dry riverbed, and stunning waterfalls.
After lunch, you will be driven back to Bishkek for a city tour. You will pass the city landmarks of Victory Square, Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theater, and Ala-Too Square with the Manas statue.
After breakfast, you will be driven to Cholpon-Ata (265KM), a town on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way, you will have the chance to visit and climb up the Burana Tower, which offers a panoramic view of the historical site and is rare in nomadic culture. You will also discover the nearby open-air museum of Balbas with its many carved stone figures.
In the afternoon, you will take a 1-hour boat trip on the world's second-largest alpine lake, Issyk-Kul Lake. There, you can enjoy a glass of champagne and taste the local fresh fruits while appreciating the surrounding snowcapped mountains.
You will stay overnight in a resort in Cholpon-Ata on a full board basis.
After breakfast, you will visit the Museum of Petroglyphs where you can enjoy walking among the rocks and admiring the petroglyphs from hundreds of years ago.
After returning to Bishkek, you will visit Osh Bazaar where you will have an authentic Kyrgyz experience and find lavish dry fruits, homemade honey, and colorful candies.
You will take an early evening flight to Almaty. On arrival, your guide and driver will take you to your hotel for your overnight stay.
In the morning, you will start your Almaty city tour with a visit to the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan. As you enjoy a walk through Panfilov Park, visit the colorful Zenkov Cathedral and the Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments where you can see a collection of unusual musical instruments.
You will stop at the local favorite Green Bazaar and look for some traditional Kazakh foods.
After lunch, you will take a cable car ride up to the Kok-Tobe Hill and you will enjoy the panoramic view of Almaty's skyline.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport to take a morning flight to Dushanbe, which is the capital of Tajikistan.
Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and drive you to a local restaurant for lunch.
You will visit the beautiful and modern National Museum of Tajikistan to get an overview of the nation's long and complex history. It was built with an elliptical roof and giant atrium. Outside the museum, you will find the sculpture of Cyrus the Great along with many other sculptures. There are three must-sees there: the murals from ancient Panjakent and Sarazm, the 10th-century wooden mihrab, which is a masterpiece of wood carving, and a replica of a 13-meter-long reclining Buddha (to see the real one, you can visit the National Museum of Antiquities instead).
Then, you will walk along the pathways in the extensive Rudaki Park and enjoy the beautiful canopy of mature trees and flower gardens alongside lakes and fountains.
You will depart early in the morning and start your journey from Dushanbe to Samarkand. You will pass Iskanderkul (135KM), which has another name - the Lake of Alexander the Great. Listen to your local guide tell the story about how the lake got this name.
After you arrive in Penjikent (150KM), you will visit the Penjikent Ancient Settlement, which are the ruins of old Sogdian town. From there, you can still find a citadel with two Zoroastrian fire temples, extensive yards, workshops, markets, and the foundations of houses. You will be surprised to see the picturesque and colorful wall paintings that have survived for over 1,300 years in ruins.
After the visit, you will be driven to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border. After dealing with the border pass formalities, which will take about an hour, you will continue driving to Samarkand (62 KM) with your new guide and driver.
Samarkand is a historical city known for its intricately beautiful mosques and mausoleums. After breakfast, you will visit the resting place of Timur, the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, and enjoy the splendid building. Then, you will visit the magnificent trade and crafts square, the Registan Square, which has three madrasahs surrounding it.
You will be driven to the Islamic world's largest mosque, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, where you will discover its decorated structure. Next, you will visit a mysterious and unique monument, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, which has a combination of various architectural styles, methods, and decorative craftsmanship.
You will depart early in the morning to go to the railway station and take the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Bukhara (09:50 - 11:19).
Upon arrival at the train station in Bukhara, your guide and driver will meet you to start your Bukhara city tour.
You will visit the Ark of Bukhara, which was once a former governmental center and is now a collection of museums and mosques, and Bolo-Khaouz Mosque to discover its skillful wood carvings and amazing ceiling paintings. Afterward, you will explore Bukhara with a walking tour, starting from the Kalon Minaret. It is one of the rare monuments that survived the destructive wrath of Genghis Khan who destroyed most of the monuments of Central Asia. You can walk through the Trading Domes and spend some time searching for souvenirs. Next, you will visit the Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, including Nadir Divan-Beghi Madrasah, Kukeldash Madrasah, and Divan-Beghi Khanaka.
The last stop for the day will be Chor Minor, which has four minarets.
After breakfast, you will travel to Khiva (450KM) through the Kyzylkum Desert during a long drive of over 7 hours.
You will have the chance to visit the Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa complex on the way. It was known as being the summer residence of Bukhara's last Emir.
You will arrive in Khiva in the late afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day on your own.
Khiva, known as an open-air museum, is full of historical and architectural monuments. It was divided into two parts, Ichan Kala (the inner city for the Khan's palace, high officials, and rich people) and Dishan Kala (the outer city for ordinary people).
You will have a full day to explore Khiva. The most popular sites are the blue-tiled Mohammed Amin Khan Madrasah and Kalta Minor Minaret, Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrasah, the tomb of Sayid Allauddin (a well-known Sufi), Juma Mosque, which has 212 beautiful carved wooden pillars, Tash Khauli (Stone Palace), Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum (in honor of the famous poet, craftsman, and fighter), Islam Khodja complex, which includes the tallest building in Khiva, and the ancient fortress Kunya-Ark where you can get panoramic views of old Khiva.
The morning is free for you to enjoy your last moments in Khiva so you can explore any sites you haven't already visited or do some shopping.
After lunch, you will be transferred to the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border, Shavat-Dashoguz (60KM). After the border formalities have been completed (about 1? hours) you will walk through the 1.5-kilometer neutral zone (transportation is not available) and meet your guide and driver from Turkmenistan. They will drive you to the Darvaza Gas Crater (also known as the Door to Hell), which is located in the middle of the Karakum Desert (270KM), to camp for the night. Your sleeping bag, pillow, and tent will be provided.
You will witness the fiery Darvaza gas crater and enjoy a fire-cooked meal. In the evening, gaze at the bright stars, which you won't be able to see in the cities.
After a simple breakfast, you will be transferred to Ashgabat (280 KM), which is the capital of Turkmenistan. On the way, you will stop near the community of Erbent, which consists of single-story buildings and yurts. You can admire the golden sand dunes that stretch out to the horizon before you reach Ashgabat.
The rest of the day is free for you to explore Ashgabat.
Ashgabat is a city with white marble buildings and grandiose national monuments. You will visit some of Turkmenistan's landmarks: The Gypjak Mosque, the Ashgabat National Museum of History, the Arch of Neutrality, and Independence Park.
After lunch, you will be driven out of the city to visit an archaeological site, the Parthian Settlement of Nisa (21KM) and learn more about the history of Turkmenistan.
Hand-Picked Hotels
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Our Service Includes:
- Private transfers and English-speaking tour guide
- All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Hotel accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
- Breakfasts at hotels and lunches for every guided day
- Governmental taxes
Tour code: ah-cn-2
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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