Zen Oriental Journeys | 5 Stans: Another Asia - Journey through the 5 Stans

Bachtian Camels at sunset, Kalta minor Minaret between the Kuhna Ark Fortress and the Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah in Khiva, Uzbekistan

5 Stans: Another Asia - Journey through the 5 Stans

18 March to 10 April 2027

This one’s for the truly adventurous spirit! Welcome to Central Asia’s 5-Stans Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

In Central Asia, along the famed Silk Routes between China and the West, this tour encounters central Asia’s cradle of culture for more than two millennia with some of the most glorious examples of ancient Islamic art, architecture and landscape. Here in the lands of Tansoxiania, the extraordinary countries of the ‘5 Stans’ hold magnificent blue-glazed tiled mosques, madrassas, (seminaries) intact streetscapes and people in traditional attire. Thoughts of the dazzling towns along the route evoke images of turquoise domes blazing in the sun, marvellous arched walls of glazed tiles, ancient caravans, mystical dervishes, serpentine desert caravans and of renowned scholars. You will be entranced by the lack of modern intrusions in the old walled cities which house some of the most beautiful secular spaces in Central Asia. You’ll drive through unspoiled landscapes (evoking scenes from Tolstoy’s novels) of verdant fields, adobe villages, tree-lined avenues and farms, catching glimpses of the route (and the mighty Oxus) of Alexander the Great in 329BC to arrive in some of the glories of central Asia, with a grandeur that remains today. The architecture in the ‘5 Stans’ spans over a thousand years and still towers above a timeless streetscape. These buildings remain as an awesome reminder of the brilliant achievement of the mathematicians, scientists and artists of the ancient Persian Islamic world. There’s plenty to witness in the local life of the bazaars, or indulge your interests in streets and courtyards festooned with colourful carpets, textiles, pottery and handicrafts. Until recently shut off from the outside world and still shrouded in legend and mystery, the personality of each of the ‘Stans’ makes an extraordinary journey into the greatest remaining story-book history in world travel today.

For a detailed itinerary please contact Zen Oriental Journeys by emailing Lee Grafton or ring 0401 123 347

IN UZBEKISTAN YOU WILL:

• See Samarkand, which has the most resplendent historic buildings of perhaps anywhere in the world
• Be breath-taken with the ‘Noblest Square in the World’, the Registan
• Explore Kiva, the most intact and homogenous townscape of the Islamic world
• Discover sacred Bukhara, one of the most esteemed cities in Islamic civilization
• Visit Bukhara’s vibrant trading domes where traders sell local goods and handicrafts
• Travel across the great Kyzyl Kum Desert on the legendary Silk Road

IN TURKMENISTAN YOU WILL:

• Overnight stay at the extraordinary Darvaza gas crater– known locally as ‘The Door to Hell, (IF OPEN)
• Visit the World Heritage site of Nissa, the 2000-year-old capital of the Parthian Empire
• See the famous golden horses, the ‘Akhalteke’
• Tour the fascinating capital, Ashgabat

IN TAJIKISTAN YOU WILL:

• Enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful mountain lakes, Iskanderkul, in the Fann Mountains

IN KAZAKHSTAN YOU WILL:

• Visit Almaty’s ‘St Basil’s’ – the stunning Cathedral – made entirely of wood with no iron nails
• Enjoy an excursion to Kok Tube Hill for a panoramic view of Almaty

IN KYRGYZSTAN YOU WILL:

• Take a boat ride on the magnificent Issy Kul Lake
• Visit Ala Archa National Park, an alpine park in the Tian Shan Mountains
• See the 11th century tower at the Burana National Park

DURATION:

Departure date: 18 March 2027
Duration: 25 days (land only)

PRICING:

Indicative price per person twin share (Land only): TBA

Prices may fluctuate due to changes in charges, taxes and currency. Prices and flights are correct at time of preparing this program and are subject to availability at time of booking. Special conditions and seasonal surcharges to airfares and package prices may apply depending on date of travel. Flight times are subject to change by the airline. Please visit: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au or ring 1300 139 281 for information on current Government travel advice.

Bookings will be processed in order of receipt. Any bookings after this date will be accepted subject to visa processing, flight availability, land content and room availability. Such booking must be paid in full after confirmation of your acceptance in the tour. Special conditions and additional charges to airfares and package prices may apply depending on date of booking.