Messages: 20,814 - Threads: 4,423
09-Jul-2008 12:47
Irene_Adler
last reply
06-Jun-2009 05:33
Irene_Adler
0
replies
,
1,893
views
Welcome to the Central Asia branch!
Welcome to the Thorn Tree's Central Asia branch.
We hope you find plenty of useful information about travelling to Central Asia here. It is highly recommended that new users check out the Central Asia FAQ thread before posting a new thread as you may find many of the answers you seek there. It also contains helpful information about how to search the forum, advice for how to post your questions, and obsolete information was deleted as recently as July 2008! If you are a returning user or know the 'stans like the back of your hand, please help us keep the FAQ thread up-to-date by adding important information which is absent, or pointing out information which is no longer being represented accurately.
Choosing a country to post to:
When you make a post and choose a country from the drop down menu, your pos...
more »
24-Mar-2004 21:14
everbrite
last reply
12-Nov-2009 17:50
flower_2008
101
replies
,
64,527
views
The countries covered by this FAQ are: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
It also de facto covers Xinjiang (China), Pakistan (being that it is a 'stan), and Northern Iran which are historically and technically part of Central Asia. In addition there are often questions asked here about Mongolia and Russia and occasionally the three Caucasus countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
For Pakistan consider cross posting on the Indian subcontinent branch; for Xinjiang (China) and Mongolia, the North East Asia branch; for Iran, the Middle East branch; and for the others, the Eastern Europe & the Caucasus branch.
Here's some tips to make life easier:
1. Do your homework
The web is filled with basic information on Central Asia. Google is your best friend. Get your basic info first, then you can ask intelligent questions on the Thorn...
more »
19-Jan-2010 17:22
Yakkalot
last reply
30-Jan-2010 16:51
reefdog
7
replies
,
644
views
location: Afghanistan
Since the demise of the old security thread, and the number of frequently asked I thought it might be a good idea to start a new 'Afghan FAQ' thread attempting to cover the most frequently asked questions and provide up to date information in one thread on not only security, but the most frequently asked questions about flights, travelling the Khyber pass and the classic 'is it safe?', since so many gems of information get lost in individual threads.
Hopefully everyone here, both our regulars and recently present tourists and workers will contribute here with areas they know best, experience, and handy tips and we'll try compile a great resource on the amazing country that is Afghanistan.
Can we try and keep politics and personal issues out of this thread too, as much as possible.
Intro: Afghanistan is Awesome. There, you heard it here first folks. It is a truly amazing desti...
more »
Are all the central asian republics-the Stans use the cyrille letters (Russian) for names of streets,menu transport etc.
Any Roman letters at all?
Thanks for your help.
10-Feb-2010 00:46
kanyakumarin
last reply
10-Feb-2010 00:46
kanyakumarin
0
replies
,
10
views
location: Turkmenistan
Hi!
As someone already posted below: Turmne Embassy Berlin is not issuing any visa in the moment. Does anyone knows how it works to get a transit visa in Iran , we have already the Uzbek Visa.? How long does it take, where do we have to apply? Is it possible to get the visa at the border?
Thanks for the help... Cheers Sandra
My husband and I are leaving for a long cycle trip in a few weeks (cycling from London to Sydney). As part of our journey we are intending to cross from Baku by ferry to Turkmenbashi, then head via Ashgabat to Uzbekistan. Sounds like it would be an absolute nightmare to get a tourist visa so we are aiming to pick up a transit visa in Baku (or earlier if we can). However, we won't have time to cycle all the way from Turkmenbashi to Uzbekistan via Ashgabat in the 5 or so days we will get on the visa.
So we are thinking of taking the train/bus/plane to Ashgabat and cycling from there. I understand plane is cheapest, but it is a pain to fly with a bike so would rather not (have to partially disassemble bike etc).
Bus sounds quickest but does anyone know are the buses over there big enough to take bicycles? Is that possible? Do we need to take a particular type of bus?
If not, wh...
more »
09-Feb-2010 18:56
davidjp227
last reply
10-Feb-2010 03:31
ainsan
3
replies
,
35
views
location: Tajikistan
Does anyone know if it possible for a US passport holder to get a Tajikistan visa at the border with a LOI?
09-Feb-2010 18:54
davidjp227
last reply
10-Feb-2010 03:26
ainsan
1
replies
,
19
views
location: Turkmenistan
I've heard it is possible to get a Turkmenistan visa at the border with a LOI. Has anyone done this?
09-Feb-2010 06:59
andrea_375
last reply
09-Feb-2010 19:07
andrea_375
0
replies
,
40
views
Hi there,
My friend (British) and I (German) are thinking about travelling from Tehran to Almaty in April/May. Now I am wondering whether it is possible at all to get all the necessary visa in time (i.e. within about 6-7 weeks).
I'd be happy if you could tell me from your experience, how long it took for you to get:
A) a Kazakh tourist visa in London or Bonn (Germany); seems as if no LOI is required.
B) an Uzbek tourist visa in London or Frankfurt; is it correct that in either case British citizens require an LOI whereas Germans don't?
C) a Turkmen transit visa in London; the Turkmen embassy in Berlin doesn't seem to issue visa at the moment (http://www.botschaft-turkmenistan.de/deu/index.html).
D) an Iranian tourist visa in London or Frankfurt; in the past my British partner needed to go through an agency to get an Iranian visa whereas I could easily obtain one by...
more »
09-Feb-2010 02:57
Tigerandleopard
last reply
09-Feb-2010 02:57
Tigerandleopard
0
replies
,
37
views
location: Uzbekistan
Hello
I will be in Uzbekistan during Navruz this year and heard that apart from Samarkand, Boysun is particularly recommened for Navruz. However Lonely Planet doesn't cover the town and so far I've not found much about it online.. has anyone been? Any details re: getting there, places to stay, general tips for things to see and particularly any information about their Navruz celebration would be most welcomed.
Alternativey, if anyone has been in Samarkand for Navruz I'd love to hear what it was like...
thanks!
Han
08-Feb-2010 23:32
yvettka
last reply
09-Feb-2010 21:38
yvettka
2
replies
,
37
views
location: Uzbekistan
Hello,
Could somebody please provide me with the address of the Registry Office in Tashkent for the registration of marriages? I have looked all over but I could not find it.
Many thanks,
Yv.
08-Feb-2010 06:58
blarkan
last reply
10-Feb-2010 01:18
pq
6
replies
,
83
views
location: Tajikistan
Hello friends,
I'm heading for Tajikistan this April for around 10 days. I will arrive at Dushanbe airport where I plan to pick up my visa on arrival. I really want to head to Bartang valley and possibly go all the Pamir Highway and have some questions related to this plan:
1. Can I get a GBAO permit before I have acquired the Tajik visa at the airport? If so, recommendations?
2. Does Bartang valley require GBAO?
3. Is the middle of April a good time to travel the Pamir Highway?
Thanks a lot!!!
All best
Gustaf
08-Feb-2010 03:11
stefanieclaeys
last reply
08-Feb-2010 21:23
pq
3
replies
,
77
views
Just an idea...
from Europe to Asia on foot or on horseback.
dangerous, life changing, plain nuts...
i've been rolling this idea through my mind for some time now and sometimes i think i would be crazy to take it on, but the urge to get out of here and see the world is stronger than fear.
Asia has many hands that pull me. Took some flights there, came back by train, time for something else.
But will i be strong enough to keep going? Many questions arise...
Has anyone got any experience in long distance hikes? All suggestions, objections, tips are welcome.
Again, it is just an idea, no plans yet, this is not something to go over lightly
tx
stef
07-Feb-2010 20:26
davidjp227
last reply
09-Feb-2010 18:40
davidjp227
5
replies
,
91
views
location: Uzbekistan
Has anyone had experience with getting a Uzbekistan visa in London? The Uzbekistan embassy website says that it takes 10 working days to get a visa. Does it really take that long? Can you get this visa at the border?
07-Feb-2010 17:31
leo22
last reply
08-Feb-2010 20:13
Aleksey15619
2
replies
,
76
views
location: Uzbekistan
Hi there,
we have Uzbek tourist visa for 30 days. Only now we realized that we misunderstood the validity period - we thought it would be valid 30 days from the entry date, but it seems that it's fixed dates only, meaning that we're now illegal in UZ :-(
Our plan was to apply for Kazakh visa in Tashkent (where we are now) and continue our trip there.
What is the best advice so that we will be able to continue our trip? We heard that if we would have a Kazakh visa, we could be deported to there without paying a fine. Is this true?
Will the Kazakh embassy check the validity of our UZ visa before giving us a new Kazakh visa?
Thanks a lot!
07-Feb-2010 13:44
cavalcamondi
last reply
08-Feb-2010 05:01
Giora
1
replies
,
52
views
Salam travelers
I ll be traveling soon in western kazakhstan and just want to know if anyone of you has some recent information about a supposed direct train from atyrau and aktau (and back!!!)... is this fact confirmed? is there a direct train (round-trip) from atyrau to aktau? how many times per-week? some more infos?
many thanks.
07-Feb-2010 12:21
Hakka_Moy
last reply
09-Feb-2010 23:50
fkarimov
3
replies
,
103
views
location: Uzbekistan
My partner and I would like to visit Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in May. The Canadian government has issued a non essential travel advisory for these countries. I am just wondering what is happening at this point. As for those are in these countries, what is the situation? Any advises?
I want to see Uzbekistan sometime soon...but, i am having trouble finding out the costs of flying in there since i am not able to find online deals from the USA to Tashkent.
What carriers go there, and what is the easiest way to get there? Is it direct via uzbek airlines (the website doesnt allow bookings) or through Aerofloat or a european carrier like Lufthansa? How much does it cost to go from NYC to TAS?
Posted By: VenessaP -- 28-Jan-2010 15:01
Posted By: VenessaP -- 09-Dec-2009 17:01
Asia is a spectacular assault on the senses, whether you're riding the trans-Siberian railway, gazing up at the temples of Angkor, struggling with the immense tide of humanity in India, or trying to s... more »
Multi-country guide. Borat may not have been the most savoury of ambassadors, but at least he shone a light on Central Asia.buy it »
Booking hotels is simple with Lonely Planet. See our reviewed and recommended hotels and book online.
Tweak your wanderlust
With you all the way
Tweets, feeds and more
Go behind the scenes
Travel inspiration to your door
© 2010 Lonely Planet. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission.
