7 reasons why you should go to Central Asia

Blend of nature and mesmerizing architecture
Undiscovered and authentic
Very affordable
Unbeatable hospitality
Easy to get visa to most of Central Asia
It is safe to travel in Central Asia
Bucket list types of things

Traveling Central Asia with our 1-year-old daughter is one of our most memorable travel experiences. Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan), is a hidden jam for adventurous travellers and yet very few people go there.

I am still trying to figure out why this part of the world is off the radar for mainstream tourism.

Is it simply lack of information and marketing?

If yes, then here I am to change this.

Read these 7 reasons why Central Asia should be on your travel bucket list.

1. Blend of nature and mesmerizing architecture

There is just so much to see and to do in Central Asia.

1. Get fit in the Alpine mountains in Kyrgyzstan. The country offers unforgettable treks of different strength and length done either by foot or horseback. Read about our experience here.

   

2. Experience nomadic life in the wilderness among locals in traditional yurts in Kyrgyzstan

   

    

3. Conquer the world’s third highest yet least discovered range of the mountains in Tajikistan, the Pamir mountains whose highest peaks are above 7000m (24000ft)
   

   

    

4. Go on an expedition with views of nearby glaciers

   

    

5. Enjoy a train ride through seemingly endless steppes with nothing but horses and flowers in Kazakhstan

   

    

6. Get amazed by a rapidly growing capital, Astana, built on oil money in Kazakhstan

   

7. Get lost in the labyrinth of streets full of perfectly restored glittering minarets, opulent domes, mesmerizing mosaics, ornate mosques, mausoleums and madrasahs (religious schools) in Uzbekistan

   

8. Visit Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva- one the of the most important trading cities of the ancient Silk Road

   

9. Witness human’s stupidity by visiting a once mighty port and now a ghost town with a boat cemetery in western Uzbekistan (Aral sea)

   

10. Time travel to Soviet Union, the country that doesn’t exist anymore. Bishkek, Tashkent, Dushanbe and Almaty are the best cities to understand and feel what Soviet Union looked like

    

11. See how 75 years of Soviet rule of banning religion change people who are now rediscovering Islam in a much different way than its middle eastern neighbors. Have beers after mosque anyone?

    

12. Visit forever burning crater of gas, known as The Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan.No picture here since our visa was denied and we didnt get a chance to see this crater 🙁

 

Doesn’t matter if you are a nature person or a history/architecture lover, Central Asia wont leave you disappointed.

2.Undiscovered and authentic

The best part about these places is that it is still undiscovered.

There are travellers of course but days if not weeks may pass before you see one.

Organized tourism is at the earliest stage and it is very unlikely you see a tour bus at a point of interest. For now you have a chance to have all the beauty for yourself.

Central Asia lets you feel truly adventurous, at least for now!

3.Very affordable

The bright side of being off the tourist radar is how cheap everything is in Central Asia: transport, accommodation, food, entertainment, souvenirs.

As for souvenirs, Central Asia has some of the best choices, from silk scarfs to leatherwork to handmade wooden crafts that you haven’t seen anywhere before because it is not mass produced.

The downside of being off the beaten track is that even though the prices are low, the service you get is also quite basic. For Western standard hotels that are a rare find anyway, you should expect to pay a western price.

But things change rapidly. Tourism is on the rise. So is the price and so is the influx of tourist.

Hurry up!

4.Unbeatable hospitality

I should probably write a separate post about hospitality in Central Asia.

We never experienced a warmer welcome anywhere else in the world.

We were invited into homes way too many times for tea and dinner. Several times we even spent the night or few days at people’s house as if we came to visit our own relatives.

In small villages people would come out with bread and milk and would invite us over again and again.

On top of that people were always willing to help show you around, or to find your way or simply to have a good laugh together…

5.It is safe to travel in Central Asia

Even though tourism is not well developed yet in those countries, you feel very safe and protected.

We didn’t feel any danger even at the Wakhan valley where we were driving for a week along the Afghan border.

The climate is also pleasant in the summer months. No malaria, dengue or other foreign diseases.

6.Easy to get visa to most of Central Asia

Central Asia starts opening its border to international tourists.

Kazakhstan- visa free for up to 30 days for USA, Canada, EU, Australia, Great Britain nationals and many other countries. Read more in details here and contact the embassy in your countries for any updates.

Uzbekistan- visitors of only 17 countries need a visa for Uzbekistan, check here which ones.

However if you need a visa, it is very easy to obtain from your country of origin or from a neighboring country in the region. Read about our experience to get an Uzbek visa in Almaty, Kazakhstan here.

Kyrgyzstan- Currently gives visa exemption to citizens of 61 nations, check the website  to see if your country is on the list.

Tajikistan- only visitors from 9 countries are exempt from visa, however from 2016 visitors from 121 countries can obtain E-visa. Read more about here.

Turkmenistan -the only country that still holds back. In accordance with the law, citizens of all countries require a visa. Read more about it here.

Unless you are on the organized tour the chances of getting a tourist or even transit visa is less than 50%. For example ours was denied.

7.Bucket list types of things

Things you can do in Central Asia are truly unique and can easily make it to one’s bucket list.

Just to name the few:

• To hike, drive or bicycle the Pamir Highway-the second highest road in the world.

Read this article article to see why.

We did it with our daughter Lia and you can read about our experience here.

• Attend the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.

We are coming back for this one for sure!

https://www.nomadasaurus.com/ultimate-guide-world-nomad-games-in-kyrgyzstan/

https://www.lostwithpurpose.com/world-nomad-games/

Get inspired with these great articles.

• Visit Baikonur Cosmodrome-launch site for Soviet and Russian space missions.

Gotta save up for this one though.

• See the Gates of Hell-forever burning crater of gas in Turkmenistan.

This crater was an initial draw to Central Asia for us but alas…no visa, no crater and no pictures :D. I guess we will try again one day…

• Spending a night in a yurt miles from even a paved road.

• Multiday/week horse trekking- feel like you’ve traveled back in time spending half your day taking care of your horse and the the rest riding through amazing mountain scenery to end each day around a fire sleeping in yurts or home-stays along the way.

• Trace the steps of millions over thousands of years through places that seemingly havn’t change along the ancient Silk Road.

And many more experiences await you in Central Asia, just give it a try!

 

If you have any comments or questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

 

And few more pictures…