Bishkek to Ashgabat
Trip Code: KFSRC
Why we love it
Explore Central Asia – a fascinating and unique mix of ancient Silk Road culture, post-soviet culture and redefined nations living in post-independence., Discover the history of the Silk Road – see the much-photographed Registan in Samarkand (one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture), spend time in World Heritage-listed Bukhara (a 6th-century city), visit the UNESCO-protected town of Khiva and explore the sprawling ruins of Mary., Be treated to traditional hospitality and get a unique insight into the daily life of locals during a Kyrgyz homestay, a night in a guesthouse in Uzbekistan and the rare chance to stay with a local family in Turkmenistan., Marvel at the beautiful natural landscapes in this ever-changing land – see Son-Kol Lake’s flocks of sheep, goats and horses, witness the majesty of the Kyrgyzstans Mountains, visit Issy-Kul Lake, watch the ever-burning flames of ‘The Gates of Hell’ and take in the vast desert of Turkenistan., Rub shoulders with locals, bargain in the bazzars and sit down for a homemade plov meal – with your expert leader by the side, you’ll really get into the local insight and learn what’s common and what’s different between these three stans.
Is this trip right for me?
Central Asia is a remote destination, perfect for intrepid travellers in the true sense of the word! You will venture well away from cities, right off the beaten track and be able to immerse yourself in local food, life and culture.
There is one night of camping on this trip. This is, of course, all part of your adventure in the Karakum Desert. Sleeping bags, mattresses and tents are provided, but there are no facilities at the campsite.
Accommodation may on occassion be more basic than what you are used to in homestays, guesthouses and yurt stay, usually in multishare arrangement. Shower and toilet facilities will be limited in some places and shared. While the comfort level won't always be high, the rewards of living in true local style in this far-out part of the world are immeasurable.
This is an overland journey, so there will be some very long days of travelling and driving, often over rough terrain. This can be tiring at times and will require a great deal of patience at others, especially at border crossings.
Tourism is strictly controlled in Turkmenistan, with Letters of Invitation needed in advance in order to apply for your visa (which you can then get on arrival) and guides tending to be protective of what tourists see and fiercely proud of their nation and its leaders. Those used to more freedom of exploration and tour guides with a more global perspective may find their experience here different from in other destinations. Please see the ‘Passport and visas’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
Important information
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 3 to Day 7, Day 18 (overnight train), Day 21 (Yurt) & Day 22 (Guesthouse) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This is a multi-country trip. Please read the visa section of the Essential Trip Information carefully for the visa requirement. Turkmenistan visa requires a letter of invitation to be organized no later than 3 months before your trip.
3. Independent travel is not allowed in Turkmenistan. If you have pre trip accommodation booked with us, you won't be allowed to leave your hotel without a guide in Ashgabat. Please consult with your booking agent if you need to book post-trip accommodation in Ashgabat.
What to bring/pack
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. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances.
Many travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller suitcases or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry or handles. A lockable bag or small padlock is useful as your luggage may get stowed separately and unattended while you travel on public transport or trains.
Where Intrepid covers the cost of luggage storage during included day trips, we allow for one bag/backpack only, so it's advisable that you travel lightly and keep luggage to a limit of one item (plus your day pack). Extra luggage storage will be at your own expense.
Below are some ideas and helpful tips on what you specifically need for this trip.
ESSENTIALS:
- Day pack: for carrying essentials when exploring destinations like water, camera, snacks, jacket, etc.
- Lightweight clothing: A mixture of covering lightweight clothing and some warm layers (depending on the season) are recommended. It is best to check the weather and seasonal information before travelling. Please also bring clothing that covers arms and pants/skirts that go past the knee for entry into local religious sites. For women travellers, a light scarf is also a good idea for covering shoulders and arms.
- comfortable shoes for full day walking/trekking: Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through cities as well as bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings
- Wind and waterproof jacket
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip balm
RECOMMENDED:
- Personal medical kit: we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes, Band-Aids and insect repellent.
- Water bottle: We recommend at least a 1.5 litre capacity. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
- Spare batteries. Our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras most days but we recommend you take spare batteries for your camera.
- Electrical travel adapter plug
- Inner sleep sheet/bag for trains or overnight stays in yurt
- Money belt
- Torch or flash light
- Hand sanitizer
OPTIONAL:
- Ear plugs to guard against street noise and snorers.
- A good book, a journal and music player for overnight train rides and longer drives.
- Images from home: During our trip there will be many opportunities for you to meet and talk with locals. One way to start any conversation is with pictures. We recommend that you bring some photos / postcards of your family, home, city or country where you live, animals peculiar to your country etc.
VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your hotel safe. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
MORE!
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WARM CLOTHING:
Temperatures can get very low overnight in Kyrgyzstan. Please ensure you have adequate warm clothing, including to sleep in during our yurt stay.
Physical rating
Joining your group
Rich Hotel, 111, Timiryazeva St, Bishkek, KYRGYZSTAN, Phone: 996 312 322038
Alternate Joining Point
For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
04 Apr 2025 (KFSRC250404)
18 Apr 2025 (KFSRC250418)
25 Apr 2025 (KFSRC250425)
02 May 2025 (KFSRC250502)
09 May 2025 (KFSRC250509)
16 May 2025 (KFSRC250516)
23 May 2025 (KFSRC250523)
10 Jun 2025 (KFSRC250610)
25 Jul 2025 (KFSRC250725)
08 Aug 2025 (KFSRC250808)
12 Aug 2025 (KFSRC250812)
15 Aug 2025 (KFSRC250815)
22 Aug 2025 (KFSRC250822)
12 Sep 2025 (KFSRC250912)
19 Sep 2025 (KFSRC250919)
23 Sep 2025 (KFSRC250923)
26 Sep 2025 (KFSRC250926)
30 Sep 2025 (KFSRC250930)
03 Oct 2025 (KFSRC251003)
10 Oct 2025 (KFSRC251010)
03 Apr 2026 (KFSRC260403)
17 Apr 2026 (KFSRC260417)
24 Apr 2026 (KFSRC260424)
01 May 2026 (KFSRC260501)
08 May 2026 (KFSRC260508)
15 May 2026 (KFSRC260515)
22 May 2026 (KFSRC260522)
29 May 2026 (KFSRC260529)
09 Jun 2026 (KFSRC260609)
26 Jun 2026 (KFSRC260626)
24 Jul 2026 (KFSRC260724)
07 Aug 2026 (KFSRC260807)
11 Aug 2026 (KFSRC260811)
14 Aug 2026 (KFSRC260814)
21 Aug 2026 (KFSRC260821)
11 Sep 2026 (KFSRC260911)
18 Sep 2026 (KFSRC260918)
22 Sep 2026 (KFSRC260922)
25 Sep 2026 (KFSRC260925)
29 Sep 2026 (KFSRC260929)
02 Oct 2026 (KFSRC261002)
09 Oct 2026 (KFSRC261009)
Rich Hotel
111
Timiryazeva St
Bishkek
KYRGYZSTAN
Phone: 996 312 322038
Joining instructions
Finishing your trip
Sport hotel, 10 yil Abdanchylyk str Olympic complex Ashgabat Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, TURKMENISTAN
Alternate Finish Point
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 25
Lunches included: 6
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.
Climate & seasonal information
In case of emergency
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:
For general enquiries or questions about your booking, please contact your agent or adventure specialist, or visit us at www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local operator on the number below.
Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +996555303025
Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +99893 3337248, +99891 5206833
Accommodations
Accommodation is clean and simple. You'll mainly stay in small, locally-run, 2-3 star hotels and guesthouses, which reflect the character of the area,generally these will be a twin room with private facilities. Sometimes you'll stay in larger, more comfortable hotels or occasionally rustic accommodation with basic facilities. We use a variety of accommodation on most trips; chosen for their value for money, location and atmosphere. We also try and incorporate unique accommodation experiences, such as a night with a local tribe, or sleeping under the stars in the desert.
HOMESTAYS:
Please note that at our homestays you might be required to share a room with people of other genders, or with your leader. Because we stay at real people's homes, beds might be pull-out couches or mattresses on the floor, or even a yurt in their backyard. Some of the accommodation along the way is very basic, staying in local guesthouses, yurts and homestays with limited facilities. Some facilities are shared and some accommodation has cold water only or no bathroom facilities.