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May 18, 2013 6:44 PM
gladiador

last reply
May 19, 2013 6:23 AM
ferurza

2 replies
70 views
location: Uzbekistan

Tashkent to Dunhuang overland - Itinerary and time help

Fellow travellers!

I’d like to ask for suggestions about places & estimated time to do part of the Silk Road overland (buses-trains) between Tashkent and Dunhuang (China).

The plan is to start in Tashkent to get visa on arrival and end up in Dunhuang before flying back from Beijing or somewhere else in China. Do you reckon about 30 to 35 days is reasonable for the journey?

So far, the idea is to:
1. Arrive in Tashkent
2. Visit Samarkand, Bukhara and eventually Khiva (is it worthy to do the 3 cities or too much of the same?)
3. Backtrack to Tashkent and move to Bishek
4. Osh
5. Kashgar
6. Move to Urumqui and quickly continue to Turpan
7.Dunhuang
8.Train or flight to Beijing and then home

Any suggestion will be much appreciated!
Thanks a lot!

May 18, 2013 12:23 PM
loopydog

last reply
May 18, 2013 12:24 PM
loopydog

0 replies
34 views


Taraz - worth a visit?

I'm trying to decide a rough itinerary around north Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan. We arrive and depart from Bishkek, and I want to see Turkestan as a must do. Now I'm trying to figure where else is worth seeing. I've heard that Taraz is worth a visit but can't find much about what to do there. Interested in hiking (with a 7yo) and architecture and culture.
thanks

Edited by: loopydog

May 18, 2013 11:44 AM
Embe

last reply
May 18, 2013 2:34 PM
Embe

2 replies
78 views
location: Kyrgyzstan

Traveling with own car, obligation for a guide and fixed itinerary or not?

To get a visa we need the LOI. Therefore we need a travel company, and it seems that they want a fixed itinerary, for each night. We would like to be freer than that and also to camp where we can. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.

May 18, 2013 11:01 AM
Embe

last reply
May 18, 2013 11:01 AM
Embe

0 replies
39 views
location: Uzbekistan

Independent travel with own vehicle in Uzbekistan

We are 2 adults traveling from Turkey through Iran then through the Stans ( about September )to Kashgar.We have been told 3 things:
1. we need a guide with us in the car in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan 2. Also that we need to make bookings for places foe every night in advance and we cannot just drive and then decide when we arrive in the town or city 3. We need signed slips from each place when we get to the border.
Please can some one help who would know if this is correct, all 3 facts? Thank you to all .

May 18, 2013 5:49 AM
carowilli

last reply
May 18, 2013 9:01 PM
Tramtararam

1 replies
72 views


Which 'stan should I go to?

I have just two weeks and I like to travel slowly.
I will be travelling solo ( lone female) but happy to join on small tours.
Whilst very interested in architecture, history etc, I want to see the culture of how people live outside of the cities now..
I would like to do some activities such as trekking, cycling, horse riding as a means of seeing the country (although not too hardcore)

Having looked at the various 'stans I am still unsure about the best place to go and would appreciate any advice.
Could really do with some help on things such as safety, tour guides, lone travel, places to stay, but ultimately which 'stan to go to!

I am leaning towards Kyrgyzstan at the moment. Not sure why.

I have been to Mongolia and had the most amazing adventure and I suppose I am looking to match it.

May 18, 2013 3:04 AM
danabanana76

last reply
May 18, 2013 8:59 PM
Tramtararam

1 replies
238 views


need urgent advice about registration in uzbekistan

Hello everyone,

I'm about to leave Uzbekistan tomorrow after staying here 2 weeks.
I am now in Tashkent for a day and will miss the registration slip for the day because I'm staying with a friend here.

I have registration slips for all other 12 days.

Does anyone knows if there might be a problem leaving the country if I'm missing just 1 registration slip for my last night here?

I will go to tajikistan from here from the border that everyone says is generly hassel free (khujand).

I need your urgent advise to know if to go sleep in an hotel or if it's ok to just miss one registration slip.

Thanks a lot!!!!
dana -and i dont have internet to much so if u can writ to my maill it will be great
kulambnyzonot@gmail.com
tenx a lot

May 17, 2013 7:09 AM
arkhangai

last reply
May 17, 2013 7:09 AM
arkhangai

0 replies
58 views
location: Tajikistan

Travel to Pamirs - suggestions for tour company / people to share jeep

We (2 people) are travelling from Dushanbe to Pamirs and back to Dushanbe in the last two weeks of July (somewhere between 17th and 28th of July).

Is anyone else travelling there during that time - maybe we could share the jeep and costs?
Or have you already made a trip to Pamirs and can recommend a company to organize the travels?

May 17, 2013 1:59 AM
Little_Villan

last reply
May 17, 2013 1:59 AM
Little_Villan

0 replies
58 views
location: Tajikistan

Pamir Highway & Wakhan - August

I am looking at traveling to Tajikistan at the end of August and have started looking for jeep hire for the following route:

Khorog
Roshtqala
Ishkashim
Namadut
Darshai
Zumudg
Yamchun
Yamg
Vrang
Zong
Langar
Murghab
Osh

This route is not set in stone and would take 7 - 9 days to complete the journey.

Obviously such a trip is very expensive by myself so I am interested in hearing from anyone who is planning to travel to the region around this time.

Please email me at adam_cockayne@hotmail.com if you would like more detail and chat more.

Adam.

May 16, 2013 10:03 PM
AnasMohandes

last reply
May 19, 2013 12:52 AM
AnasMohandes

2 replies
109 views
location: Tajikistan

Tajik visa in Bishkek

Hello all!
A simple question:
does anybody had an experience with tajik visa at Bishkek?
How long takes the procedure to take a visa from tajikistan at Bishkek?
greetings from Anas

May 16, 2013 10:42 AM
nimigor

last reply
May 16, 2013 10:42 AM
nimigor

0 replies
60 views


Kyrgizstan in augost

hey there,

im gonna be in kyrgizstan from augost to september (flexible).

im looking for partners to travel with...

gonna do mostly 4-7 days treks.

im 24, and would love to travel with nice people, no matter their gender or age.

contact me on my email - nimigor@gmail.com

thanks

May 16, 2013 6:33 AM
acrossasia

last reply
May 18, 2013 6:20 AM
acrossasia

2 replies
149 views


Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan on foot border opened?

Hi guys,
do you know if the trekking path between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan is open now?
Many thanks!
Cheers,
Zuzana

May 16, 2013 5:45 AM
m0918495

last reply
May 16, 2013 5:45 AM
m0918495

0 replies
64 views
location: Kyrgyzstan

C.A.T. Travel (or C.A.T. Tourism) Company in Bishkek

Carlson Wagonlit in Kyrgyzstan mentioned about the above company when we asked them for a quote for our tailor-made trip (a group of 5-6 people) to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan planned in July 2013.

CW said they did not provide trips for this two countries.

Did anyone has any experience using the above company?

Appreciate if you could share it here, in a little bit detail, whether good or bad.

Thanks !

Alan

May 16, 2013 5:43 AM
m0918495

last reply
May 16, 2013 5:43 AM
m0918495

0 replies
75 views


C.A.T. Travel (or C.A.T. Tourism) Company in Bishkek

Carlson Wagonlit in Kyrgyzstan mentioned about the above company when we asked them for a quote for our tailor-made trip (a group of 5-6 people) to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan planned in July 2013.

CW said they did not provide trips for this two countries.

Did anyone has any experience using the above company?

Appreciate if you could share it here, in a little bit detail, whether good or bad.

Thanks !

Alan

May 16, 2013 2:56 AM
aidou

last reply
May 16, 2013 3:48 AM
emmeff

1 replies
101 views
location: Kazakhstan

american in Kyrgyzstan - trying to get a double entry visa to Kazakhstan

Hi all!

Has anybody IN KYRGZYSTAN tried to get a DOUBLE ENTRY KAZAKH VISA from the consulate in Bishkek these days? I didn't quite understand the last time I tried talking to the gentleman there, but I think he said it was not possible without an LOI (letter of invitiation).

Also, anyone know a good travel company to get an LOI from?

Cheers.

edo

May 16, 2013 12:36 AM
bellenomade

last reply
May 16, 2013 12:36 AM
bellenomade

0 replies
125 views
location: Uzbekistan

Travel report May 2013

Hi all,

We're back from a fabulous 2 weeks in Uzbekistan. We did the main loop Tashkent, Samarkand (day trips to Orgut and Shahrisabz), Bukhara and Khiva. 3 weeks would have been perfect :-(

TASHKENT -

$1 = 2,800 soms
€1 = 3,500 soms
Taxi from Airport to Chorsu - $10 max. Infact, on the way back we paid $5 or 15,000 soms.
Make sure you have small denomination bills.
We took a lot of taxis on this trip and always offered 50% less than what the driver asked for. We often ended up paying just a touch more.
Most hotels accept soms and charge the $room rate at the official conversion of 2,068. This means a saving of atleast 30%. B&B's and Guesthouses only accept payment in $'s and if accepting soms use the unofficial rate. We found B&B's in general did not offer value for money.
There is no post-box at the airport. If you have leftover soms buy whatever you want bef... more »

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