Kyrgyzstan
Four to six hours' strenuous hike from the alplager, Ratsek hut has a glorious setting ringed by rocky spires with a view of the glacier from a small…
Must-see hotels in Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan
Founded as a resort in 1886, the health-giving waters of springs on the hillside above Jalal-Abad here have attracted visitors and patients from across…
Nukus
Surely the winner of Central Asia's 'least likely location for a budget hotel', the Kizil-Kum is southwest from the centre in a truly forlorn stretch of…
Kyrgyzstan
If you've ever wanted to try the Kyrgyz pastime of drinking kymys (fermented horse milk) all day, this health resort built from repurposed shipping…
The Pamir Highway
With an open-sided verandah overlooking an orchard, travellers sit for hours here swapping tales and it's become a firm favourite with overlanders,…
Tajikistan
Offering a cosy and comfortable room with a veritable nest of colourful bedding, this homestay offers the luxury of a hot shower and super-clean drop…
Kyrgyzstan
The best digs in town are the 18 CBT-affiliated homestays scattered around the village. These aren’t always easy to find or centrally located, so call…
The Pamir Highway
This two-floor hotel at the central bend of the Pamir Hwy is the town's only hotel and is not only a handy landmark but is also the main rallying point…
Karakol
The mother-and-son team here both speak excellent English, the daughter French; and they offer 10 rooms with spotless bathrooms, hot showers and sit-down…
The Pamir Highway
With single beds in small, neat and newly decorated rooms, a large, traditional-style dining area and over eight years of experience catering to…
Tajikistan
In a traditional house set in a shaded vegetable garden, this recommended homestay is in the heart of Artush village, around 7km along a rough road (4WD…
Tashkent
This old dinosaur towering over central Amir Timur maydoni has reinvented itself as Tashkent’s best-value top-end hotel. Helpful receptionists have…
Uzbekistan
Right next to Ayaz-Qala, this somewhat charmless yurt camp has eight concrete-based yurts lined up in a row, each big enough to hold five to eight people…
Fergana Valley
This unglamorous but good-value Russian-style homestay has six comfortable rooms with king-sized beds and shared bathrooms in two neighbouring Soviet…
Uzbekistan
Tucked away in a cone of sand dunes, this appealing yurt camp is located just 10km away from Lake Aidarkul. About a dozen charmingly decorated yurts have…
Kazakhstan
In Tulkibas, 18km west of Zhabagly village, amiable, English-speaking Misha offers homestay accommodation with good meals in his simple family home with…
Khiva
This friendly little guesthouse, located just a few steps outside the West Gate, is firmly aimed at shoestringers. The grungy four-bed dorms share cramped…
Kyrgyzstan
Easily the cleanest and most comfortable yurt-camp near Tash Rabat, though the 7km between here and the caravanserai make it impractical for those who don…
Bukhara
Sarrafon has forged a reputation for being great value due to its ideal location, friendly host family and quality breakfasts. It may be rather low on…
Zhenja & Lyuda’s Boarding House
Kazakhstan
This cosy guesthouse-cum-small-hotel on Zhabagly’s main street has rooms with two comfy single beds and private bathroom, and vegetarian meals can be…
Bishkek
The eight plain, high-ceilinged, en-suite rooms are very fair value, and are set in a walled garden so peaceful that getting anyone to let you in might…
Kazakhstan
Run by a Kazakh-Dutch family, Ruslan has six good rooms at their main house in the village, and four twin-bed rooms in a lovely country property on the…
Tajikistan
This popular homestay in the tiny village of Hisor, just a few kilometres from Langar, offers a range of accommodation from a mattress in the shared…
Samarkand
Set in the shadow of Gur-E-Amir, this B&B serves up basic yet cosy rooms with narrow beds and tiny bathrooms. However, there's a tantalising view from the…
Samarkand
A well-signposted Old Town guesthouse, this good-value place is run by the family behind Bahodir B&B. The two-floor courtyard property has simple, clean…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
This friendly, well-kept little hostel in the old city is unsigned and hard to find, so contact them ahead of arrival. It offers spacious four- and six…
Kazakhstan
The health resort of Rakhmanovskie Klyuchi nestles in a mountain valley, 30km up a track from Berel village, and offers the Altay's cosiest accommodation…
Dushanbe
This friendly family-run hotel has two 'twin' properties on-site, joined by an Escheresque staircase. Each wing has its own character; the west wing is…
Tashkent
This 20-room, three-star place by the Circus is run by the people behind Mirzo Guesthouse. Rooms are arranged medressa-style around a central courtyard…
Kyrgyzstan
This family-run guesthouse in the centre of town has just seven beds in three shared rooms, but the friendly and accommodating hosts make guests feel at…
Tashkent
This budget place has five modern rooms set around a small courtyard, with shared bathrooms, new mattresses and constant hot water. The two 'national…
Kyrgyzstan
It's nothing fancy, but the comfortable guesthouse up the small Kegeti gorge is the perfect starting point for hikes to Köl-Tör or elsewhere into the…
Khiva
This 22-room hotel in the heart of the Ichon-Qala is one of Khiva's most modern and comfortable choices, making it popular with tour groups. The…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Handily central yet away from the main concentration of developments and traffic, this modern 60-room resort has its own stretch of beach and…
Osh
TES is notable for its peaceful garden setting where there are two bedded yurts rented out dorm-style (no lockers) in summer. Rooms are faultlessly clean…
Dushanbe
Around 8km north of central Dushanbe, this modern mansion with its manicured garden, sweeping double staircases, marble floors and gilded flowers manages…
Khiva
Popular with tour groups, the Shahrizada is a spacious hotel with high ceilings and fresh, clean rooms set around an oddly decorated dining room. There is…
Bishkek
The large common space and guest-accessible kitchen are in the best international style, and the attached cafeteria serves up cheap and tasty local dishes…
Tajikistan
The Sogdiana Hotel refers to the five quality rooms occupying the upper floor of this friendly establishment. The Elina Guesthouse refers to the rest! The…
Kyrgyzstan
Friendly Klara lets out four comfortable guest rooms to travellers in her home a few minutes' walk from the town's major tourist site. Leaving the museum,…
