Why Go to Central Asia?
Central Asia is one of the last few regions of the world that is still considered to be off-the-beaten-path for travelers who are looking for a real adventure. The region also played an important role in connecting the East to the West during the Silk Road time, hence why there are so many ancient monuments, stunning old towns, and forgotten cultures for you to explore.
Not just that, the region is extremely diverse, making it the perfect area to backpack around for a month or more. With the stunningly beautiful mountains of Kyrgyzstan, the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, the stunning architecture of Uzbekistan, the Gateway to Hell in Turkmenistan, and the rich culture of Kazakhstan, you will never get bored in Central Asia.
When to Go to Central Asia?
The best time to visit Central Asia is during Spring (April - May) or Autumn (September - November) when the weather is mild in all the countries in Central Asia and the shifting colors of forests and mountains are in full swing.
You can go during the mid-summer months, but be aware that Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are mostly deserts, so it will be very hot and uncomfortable if you plan to take public transportation.
Daily Budget
This location is moderately priced, with transportation, food, and accommodation averaging around $35 - $55 USD per day per person. It's not exactly cheap, but it's not overly expensive either.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Visas for Central Asia
No matter where you are from, getting the visa for countries in Central Asia is complicated and requires you to plan ahead before you arrive.
Kazakhstan is easy if you have a European or American passport, but for the rest of us, you will need to get a visa prior to arriving in Central Asia. They only issue visas to tourists from the embassy in their home country. You cannot get your Kazakhstan visa abroad unless there is no Kazakhstan embassy in your country.
For more info: How to get a Kazakhstan visa.
Kyrgyzstan is the easiest, as it either offers visa-free entry or Visa-on-Arrival to most countries. For visa-on-arrival, you can only obtain it at the Mana Internation Airport. Therefore, if you are from a country eligible for visa-on-arrival, you will either have to fly into Bishkek or prepare your visa prior to starting the trip.
For more info: How to get a Kyrgyzstan visa.
Tajikistan visa is pretty simple to get if you are eligible for an e-visa. You can easily apply for an e-visa here. The visa costs 50 USD + 20 USD for a GBAO Permit, which is required if you are planning to travel through the Pamir Highway. Be sure to also print everything out before you start your journey from Osh, as there will be no place for you to print anything after that. If you are not eligible for an e-visa, you will have to apply for it at the embassy.
For more info: How to get a Tajikistan visa.
Getting into Uzbekistan is easier than ever with the introduction to the eVisa portal as well as a number of countries no longer requiring visas to visit the country. If you hold a European or the US passport, you should be able to enter the country without a visa. For other countries, you can check out the Uzbekistan Visa Requirement page on Caravanistan.
Uzbekistan has recently opened up the country to tourists. It is now easier than ever to travel here with the introduction to the eVisa portal as well as a number of countries no longer requiring visas to visit the country. If you hold a European or the US passport, you should be able to enter the country without a visa. For other countries, you can check out the Uzbekistan Visa Requirement page on Caravanistan.
For more info: How to get a Uzbekistan visa.
Turkmenistan is the toughest one out of all. The country is one of the most isolated countries in the world, and in order to travel there, you will either need to get a tour (for the duration of the tour) or apply for a transit visa (5 days including entry and exit days). The criteria for visa approval are totally random, as I got rejected the first time and immediately approved the second time I applied, even though I was applying through a tour company. The same goes for transit visas.
The best way to get a Turkmenistan visa is via a tour company because you won't have to rush through the country, and they will manage the visa process for you so you can apply even while you are abroad. The cheapest tour company I found is Stantours. They are responsive and made the whole ordeal easy for me. I highly recommend them if you are looking to apply for a tourist visa.
How to Get to Central Asia?
The most connected airport to the international world in Central Asia is the one in Almaty, which is perfect since our itinerary begins there. Air Astana is the cheapest option and very well-connected throughout the world. Turkish Airlines is a great option as well. Make sure to browse through Skyscanner and Expedia to find the best deal that fits your itinerary before booking anything.
How to Get Around Central Asia?
No! Not by this.. unless you want to 😁
Like with all other post-Soviet states, marshrutka (minivan) is the cheapest way to get around the city or between cities in Central Asia. You can also fly domestically for a further route, such as Bishkek to Osh and Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi, at a low cost.
Trains are also a great way to move around in Uzbekistan without having to deal with the unreliability of buses and marshrutkas.
For the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, you will need to hire a jeep with a driver since the highway is extremely remote, and not many people are traveling the route.
For more information on the rate of hiring a jeep with the driver, visit: How to Get Around the Pamir Highway.
For Turkmenistan, you do not need to worry about it as the tour will provide you with all the transportation you need to get to the places you want. It's all-inclusive. By land, they should provide you with a jeep and a driver. For some itineraries, you might need to fly and the tour company should provide you with transportation to the airport and the air ticket without you having to do anything.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Central Asia?
You have plenty of options for internet in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Having a local SIM card is the most reliable way to stay connected, but plenty of hotels and restaurants in big cities have fast WiFi available.
For the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, you will not have any internet connection whatsoever throughout your road trip until Dushanbe. So, let people know you will be gone for a week.
Fast internet is also hard to come by in Uzbekistan, with the most reliable way to stay connected being to register and obtain a SIM card. Unfortunately, this can only be done in Tashkent, and since we are not passing through the capital city, we will have to rely on the hotel's Wi-Fi, which is passable but not reliable enough to stream YouTube videos on your phone or laptop.
Turkmenistan has extremely strict censorship when it comes to the internet, and you will only find free Wi-Fi in Ashgabat, specifically in international hotels like Hotel Oguzkent and Grand Turkmen Hotel. However, the Wi-Fi is slow. Make sure to get a working VPN before arriving if you want to access apps like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Orbot for Android works awesomely in Turkmenistan.
Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling so that you can bypass any local Internet censorship you might encounter while in Central Asia.
What to Pack for Central Asia?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Central Asia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.