Premium Central Asia

As there are a couple of long travel days, plenty of time spent on your feet and days can be hot and dusty, you'll need to be reasonably fit to get the most out of this trip.

The Central Asian diet relies heavily on meat-based dishes. Dietary restrictions, such as vegetarian and gluten free, are not well known in Uzbekistan, and may have very limited options.

Our accommodation is all carefully selected, but keep in mind that the standard in this part of the world does not always live up to the Western expectations you might be used to. Rooms can be small, water pressure can be unreliable, and some amenities might not always be available.

Winter weather in Uzbekistan is unpredictable with cold, sunny conditions as likely as rain or snow in certain locations. At this time of year, it is important you prepare for the various weather conditions you may encounter and to pack accordingly – plenty of layers, waterproofs and appropriate footwear.

Your yurt accommodation is comfortable, but relatively basic. We think this is an essential part of visiting the region, and worth sacrificing some amenities for a memorable night in a spectacular place. Because these are sacred dwellings, there are no bathrooms within the yurt. Shared facilities will be available.

A decent level of physical fitness is required to fully enjoy this trip as it involves quite a lot of walking - both to enjoy the natural highlights of these beautiful countries, but also to cross the international borders. At the borders, you will be required to handle your own luggage as no porters are available to help.

The border crossings on this trip are unpredictable – they can be deserted, very busy or somewhere in between. So an open mind, patience and an appreciation that this is all part of the joy of travelling in this fascinating part of the world will help.

A single supplement is not available on Day 14 at the yurt camp.

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you'd prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip, with the exception of day 14, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. The domestic flight from Urgench to Tashkent has a luggage allowance of 20kg for checked luggage and 5kg for carry on. The international flight from Tashkent to Almaty has a luggage allowance of 20kg for checked luggage and 8kg for carry on.
4. Due to changes to the airline’s flight schedule, on some departures the domestic flight to Tashkent on Day 9 will be in the afternoon instead of the morning. All included activities will remain unchanged.
5. This trip is a combination of two trips. Please review the Itinerary for details of when your fellow travellers and leader will change.

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible, ensuring that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Help will be on hand in most locations, but there may be times you need to handle your own luggage, for example in airports and train stations.

A lockable suitcase with wheels is ideal for this trip. It is recommended that you keep your main luggage weight around 15kg and certainly no more than 20kg. A small or medium-sized backpack (45-50 litres) is another good option.

You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, jacket, etc. when you’re exploring during the day.

Below is a link to our ultimate packing list, a guide to get you started:
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

Hotel Inspira-S Tashkent, 6a Abdulla Kadiry Street, Tashkent, UZBEKISTAN, Phone: +998 781401001

Alternate Joining Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
16 Sep 2025 (KFPUK250916)
Ateca Suite
Kohinur St 44A
Toshkent Shahri
Tashkent
UZBEKISTAN

A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. Please give your flight details to your booking agent no later than 14 days before departure to book an arrival airport transfer.

For your confirmed arrival transfer, once you arrive, your driver will wait outside of the airport as they are not allowed to enter the building. You will need to follow below directions to meet your driver:

- Exit the airport building after you’ve cleared customs and turn left (there’s only 1 exit)
- Follow the white arrow on the ground outside the airport
- Walk past the official taxi stand on your right and continue
- From the airport exit, you’ll walk for about 30 meters until you’ll see iron fence on your right.

You driver will be waiting for you behind the fence, wearing a red Intrepid cap, and holding an Intrepid sign with your name on it. If you have any trouble finding the driver or should you have issues with flight delay or lost luggage that may delay your arrival, please contact our local team via the emergency number to inform them of the arrival time change.

A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. Please give your flight details to your booking agent no later than 14 days before departure to book an arrival airport transfer.

For your confirmed arrival transfer, please following these instructions to meet your driver if you are flying standard class:

- After passing through passport control you will enter main hall of the airport where you will collect your luggage.
- In the middle of this hall there is a round counter with a sign which says, ‘Taxi Airport’. On this counter will be a board with the Intrepid logo and your name.
- The representative at the counter will point you in the direction of the airport exit where your driver will be waiting.-
- They will be wearing a red Intrepid cap and holding an Intrepid sign with your name on it.

If you are flying business class, you will exit from a different part of the airport. Before your flight, please send a WhatsApp to +998 93 333 72 48 and +998 91 520 68 33 stating that you are arriving by business class. Your driver will be waiting at the business class and will be wearing an Intrepid cap and holding an Intrepid board with your name on it.

If you have any trouble finding the driver or should you have issues with flight delay or lost luggage that may delay your arrival, please contact our local team via the emergency number to inform them of the arrival time change: +998 93 333 72 48 and +998 91 520 68 33.

Renion Park Hotel, Kunayeva 66, Kunaev Street 66, Almaty, 050000, KAZAKHSTAN, Phone: +7 727 313 1012

Alternate Finish Point

Departure transfers can be booked through your booking agent. Alternatively, the hotel can book you a taxi with the normal price being between 5000 and 7000KZT. Uber is also available.

Breakfasts included: 16

Lunches included: 4

Dinners included: 9

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

CENTRAL ASIA
The Central Asian diet relies heavily on meat based dishes.There are options available for vegetarians, however these may at times be limited to plain noodles, bread, fruit, nuts, yoghurt, cheese, eggs etc. Those with particular dietary needs may choose to supplement meals with supplies bought from home or stock up at markets and supermarkets as you travel.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Uzbekistan: Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +99893 3337248, +99891 5206833

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan: Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +996555303025

Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +99893 3337248, +99891 5206833

Local Bishkek Office: +996555303025

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Check in for Tashkent is generally 2:00pm. If you plan on arriving earlier, we recommended you book a ore-night in advance to guarantee you will be able to check in immediately, as hotels are often full during high season.

Accommodation may not always live up to western expectations and may lack some amenities you would expect from other Premium accommodation. The accommodation chosen will be among the best available, it will be well-located and comfortable.

Your yurt accommodation is comfortable, but relatively basic. We think this is an essential part of visiting the region, and worth sacrificing some amenities for a memorable night in a spectacular place. Because these are sacred dwellings, there are no bathrooms within the yurt. Shared facilities will be available.