THE STANS TRAVEL GUIDE




The Stans are…
The Stans aren’t…
WHAT WE RATE & WHAT WE DON'T

Active exploration
Kazakhstan

Silk Road cities

Our The Stans Vacations
The Silk Road small group tour
Discover the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China
The five stans silk road vacation
Step into the pages of history on a silk road tour
Silk Road vacation, small group
Discover amazing Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan
Small group vacation to the Stans
Tread in the footsteps of the ancient Silk Road
Central Asia overland tour, the stans
An epic journey through the five 'stans' of Central Asia
Small group tour of the Stans
Get under the skin of all five 'Stans'
Silk Road overland truck tour
Overland through Central Asia's highlights
Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan vacation, Silk Road explorer
Discover the fascinating ancient history of the Silk Road
Central Asia budget adventure tour
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on a budget!
Silk Road vacation, five Stans of Central Asia
Journey through the 5 stans of Central Asia
Silk Road vacations, Central Asia
Journey along the Old Silk Road
The five Stans of the Silk Road vacation
Journey through the 5 Stans of Central Asia
Small group tours of the Stans
History and landscapes of the Stans beyond Uzbekistan
The Five Stans vacation, Ancient Silk Road Cities
Small group adventure through the fascinating Five Stans
Highlights of the Silk Road overland tour
Visit the highlights of the 5 Stans in 3 weeks
Uzbekistan to Iran overland tour
Trace the western section of the Silk Road
Silk Road & Caucasus tour
Explore the secrets of Central Asia and the Caucasus
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan tour
The ancient Silk Route vacation, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikstan
FOOD, SHOPPING & PEOPLE
Soup is ubiquitous in the Stans, ranging from tasty noodle soup called laghman to less appetising fatty, meaty broths.
Vodka, a hangover from the Soviet era in every sense, is still popular across the region, and there are plenty of cheap but tasty local varieties to sample as you travel from Stan to Stan.
Learn how to say ‘thank you’ around the region:
Rahmat in Uzbek
Sag bolu? in Turkmen
Raqmet sizge in Kazakh



Our top The Stans Vacation
The Silk Road small group tour
Discover the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China
2021: 19 May, 24 May, 2 Jun, 16 Jun, 14 Jul, 4 Aug, 23 Aug, 30 Aug, 8 Sep, 15 Sep
2022: 18 May, 25 May, 8 Jun, 15 Jun, 22 Jun, 20 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep
SHOPPING
Ceramics are ubiquitous, from inexpensive tea bowls in Kyrgyzstan to large plates with bold patterns throughout Uzbekistan.
Most Stans have their own unique style of hat. Turkmenistan has the furry telpek, while Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have embroidered skullcaps. The kalpak has a high crown and is made of white felt or sheepskin, symbolising the peaks of the Kyrgyz Mountains.


Plov and tea for two in standard restaurant, Uzbekistan: £1.50-2.50
Kalpak hat, Kyrgyzstan: £13
Loaf of white bread, Kazakhstan: 20p
0.5l beer, Tajikistan: 35p