Details
Important
Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the program information on this page. Our programs are quite adventurous, and we find that travelers who review the full trip details are happier with their experiences.
Trip Notes & Expectations
ACCOMMODATION
Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation (see "Single Travelers" below if you do not have a travel companion and would be interested in a private room). Our accommodations are chosen to provide a safe, conveniently located place to sleep. While you may be pleasantly surprised, please don't expect luxury, as we prioritize keeping our programs affordable. Sometimes the accommodation is not air-conditioned.
Yurt and Homestays: Nights 3 and 17 will be spent in Yurt camps, where occupancy is up to four people per yurt. Nights 10-11 you will be at a Lake homestay with up to three people per room. There are no private rooms available at any of these stops.
TRANSPORTATION
We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days and nights of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. The transportation will often be an adventure in itself.
LUGGAGE
You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack. Carrying your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.
ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE
This trip involves a lot of walking and some hiking, with daily distances around 10,000–20,000 steps (5–10 miles) on active days. You’ll also encounter optional hikes that range from moderate to more challenging, especially in areas like Charyn Canyon, where steep gravel inclines and high heat are part of the experience.
Comfortable walking shoes are not enough—we recommend trail runners or hiking shoes with good grip. Sneakers may struggle on loose or uneven terrain.
This program is best suited for participants with at least average fitness who are comfortable being on their feet for long stretches. Some hikes can feel more strenuous in the summer heat, so please read the itinerary carefully and pack accordingly. You’ll need a daypack, sun protection, water bottle, and snacks for longer stretches between meals.
CULTURE
Central Asia is a region that may be very different from anything you have experienced before. A mixture of Soviet heritage and Islam, summer heat, religious conservatism, traffic, and crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge.
Dress: Though you can see lots of people in traditional clothes, Central Asia has adopted western style clothing as well. Don’t hesitate to pack your usual travel clothes: in summer it can be shorts and t-shirts, sandals, etc. We recommend not to bring tank tops/singlets and any types of clothes with bare shoulders and backs – it is unacceptable in most areas, even in bigger cities. Our tour takes us to many religious sights, where the dress code is very strict. We recommend women to have a headscarf in their day bags to cover up when going inside mosques (it’s also a great help in the heat in summer). The best things to pack for the hot Central Asian climate is loose, long clothing – long trousers and sarongs or long skirts for women.
COMFORT CONSIDERATIONS
Bathrooms: Be prepared for basic bathrooms, including squat toilets and occasional outdoor/nature stops, especially in rural areas and on long drives. Hygiene standards vary, so we recommend bringing toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes.
Heat: Expect hot weather, especially in summer. A cooling towel, small travel fan, or hat can go a long way in staying comfortable during walks and bus rides.
Water Access: There is no cooler or shared water supply on the bus, so you’ll need to plan ahead each day. Buying and carrying enough water can be a daily task, especially in remote areas. Consider packing a refillable bottle or hydration bladder, and refill whenever you can.
ALTITUDE CONSIDERATIONS
This trip operates at altitudes over 800m (max altitude 3016m at Song Kul). While we travel slowly allowing plenty of time to acclimate, you may experience headaches, nausea, and lethargy, especially when visiting Song Kul and Iskanderkul. It is important to be aware of the effects of altitude, especially on long driving days.
MONEY
Due to the restrictions on changing money in the Central Asia region, only notes/bills printed after 1996 and in good condition will be accepted for exchange. Usually, 50 and 100 USD/EUR notes get a better exchange rate. We recommend to bring smaller denominations as well – many vendors accept them if you don’t have local currency.
FLIGHTS
If you decide to book a flight with Turkish Airlines, make sure that all connecting flights are through a codeshare partner. This means that the connecting airline is in the Star Alliance. We had multiple people have serious flight issues when they bought a flight with Jet Blue to connect with their Turkish Airlines flight on one ticket. These airlines functionally do not communicate with each other, making booking seats difficult, and if anything goes wrong with your flight, neither will take responsibility for rebooking you.
GROUP LEADER
All GEEO/G Adventures trips are led by a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight—giving you the best of both worlds.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Single Travelers
Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same.
Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion.
Want a private room? Most trips offer a
“My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the
Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.
My Own Room Exception: Receive private accommodation every night except nights 3 and 17 (Yurt camp), and nights 10-11 (Lake homestay).
Emergency Contacts
Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
If your call is specifically concerning airport transfer complications, please call the local G Adventures transfer provider directly: Mr. Arlan (+996700602090) or Mrs. Asel (+996777202888)
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:
Mr. Laziz Otayarov (Operations Manager - Central Asia)
Mobile 1: +99890 963 4779 (24h)
If you are unable for any reason to contact G Adventures’ local office, they have a toll-free line which will connect you directly with their Toronto office:
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
Packing List
See our blog post of
staff recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring
one small or medium backpack or rolling bag (22-30lb) and
one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel.
For the
internal flight on this tour, each passenger is allowed
1 checked bag up to 15 kg (33 lbs). If your bag exceeds this limit or you bring additional luggage, extra charges may apply. These fees are the responsibility of the traveler, so pack accordingly.
As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination on a site like
Weather Spark for the time of year you will be traveling.
SuggestedOptionalDocuments
- Clothes for mosques (shorts that go below the knees, shirts that cover shoulders and arms, headscarves for women)
- Light windproof/waterproof jacket and/or poncho
- Small towel and swimwear
- Sun hat(s)
- Personal clothing for cool to hot weather – we recommend packing 10 days of outfits so you only have to do laundry twice. For women we recommend having at least some clothing that covers knees and shoulders.
- Warm clothes for wearing while in the mountains (a compact warm top and long pants will do the trick)
- Day pack
- Sturdy shoes (trail runners and/or hiking boots)
- Sport sandals
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Electrolyte powder packets - one per day
- Toiletries (biodegradable)
- Flashlight or headlamp (or use your phone) (or use the one on your phone)
- Lightweight silk sleep sheet (this really comes in handy on this trip!)
- Eye mask (some of the accommodation has flimsy curtains, so this will help you sleep later)
- Camera (or use your phone)
- First-aid kit, including: lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking. Please note tampons can be hard to find in this region
- Money belt
- Travel pillow
- Water bottle
- Phone/tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
- Chargers for electronics as well as converters/adapters, if needed
- AirTags or Tile trackers
- Packing cubes
- Earplugs
- Umbrella (for the sun)
- Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can also buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy
- Ziplock bags for wet clothing
- Reading/writing material
- Hand sanitizer/baby wipes
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
- Travel insurance ID card
- Flight itinerary/boarding pass(es)
- USD/EUR cash
- Credit/debit card
- G Adventures vouchers
- GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent a few days before departure
: Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. You can also use a local laundromat, if necessary. If you want to do your own laundry, we suggest you bring your own non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Passports and Visas
Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries.
PASSPORT
All travelers must have a passport valid for
at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps.
Need to apply or renew? Start here.
ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the
U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary.
Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.
Money Exchange
In general, Central Asia is a cash operating region. Due to bank restrictions, only banknotes printed after 1996 can be exchanged. Please make sure your USD bills are in good condition (i.e., not torn, wrinkled, or marked on in any way) and dated recently. We recommend bringing about $100 USD in small denominations: $1, $5, and $10 USD notes. While USD may be accepted for transactions, we recommend that you obtain local cash from ATMs while traveling; they will dispense the local currency.
Uzbekistan
The currency preferred by merchants and service providers in Uzbekistan is often the U.S. dollar. There are lots of ATMs to withdraw the local currency, the sum (also som, soum, UZS), and banks to exchange USD or EUR. Some banks in Tashkent allow USD cash advances, but this option depends on the amount of USD cash in the bank.
Kazakhstan
The preferred currency for local transactions is the tenge (KZT), and local establishments rarely accept credit cards, so keep cash on hand. ATMs in Kazakhstan are accessible in the larger cities. There are many currency exchange locations available to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, Russian roubles, Kyrgyz som and Chinese yuan.
Kyrgyzstan
The preferred currency for local transactions is the som (KGS), and local establishments rarely accept credit cards, so keep cash on hand. There are many ATMs accessible in Bishkek and other larger cities, such as Karakol. Larger cities will also have currency exchange points that will trade USD, EUR, and roubles; some locations will trade GBP and Chinese yuan.
Tajikistan
The preferred currency for local transactions is the somoni (TJS), and local establishments rarely accept credit cards, so keep cash on hand. You may be able to pay in USD and EUR in some places, but it is recommended that you withdraw somoni from ATMs in Dushanbe; there are very few ATMs outside of Dushanbe, and those that do exist are less dependable.
Tipping
Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. Please make sure any U.S. bills that you offer as tips are in pristine condition, kept flat and unwrinkled throughout your trip, as banks in Central Asia will not accept wrinkled currency. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit:
- Service providers/Waiters:
3-5%% of the bill.
- Local guides and drivers:
$2-3 USD per person per day.
- G Adventures tour leader (CEO):
$20-25 USD per person per week.
(We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group)
Tipping Kitty: On some trips, your CEO may suggest a
“tipping kitty” where everyone contributes at the start of the tour, and the CEO uses that pooled amount to tip service providers for the group as a whole (not including your CEO). If your CEO doesn’t mention it and you’d like to use a kitty, we recommend asking about it early in the trip. Your CEO will advise the suggested amount and preferred currency for the kitty.
Vaccinations
GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting
Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the
CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination.
Flights
Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bear responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed.
This program
begins in Bishkek and
ends in Tashkent. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Bishkek. You may want to arrive in Bishkek one or more days early in case you have flight disruptions. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our 6:00 p.m. Welcome Meeting on Day 1. You can depart from Tashkent any time on the final day of the program, or stay longer to see more of the city.
Plugs and Converters
Central Asia uses
European-style Type C plugs, and the voltage is
220V. To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider:
1.
Adapter (plug shape)
Adapts your U.S. plug to fit another type of socket. See our recommended
all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post.
2.
Converter / transformer (voltage)
Steps the outlet voltage down to 120V for U.S. appliances that can’t handle higher voltage.
How to know which you need: Look at the fine print on the plug or power brick. An
“Input 100-240 V” means the device is dual-voltage and works worldwide with only an adapter—phones, laptops, and most camera chargers fall into this category. If the label shows
“Input 120 V” (hair dryers, curling irons, some shavers), it could be damaged on high voltage. Pack both an adapter and a travel voltage converter. Converters are inexpensive and sold online or in the travel aisle of many stores.
Weather
The weather varies greatly throughout this trip. In the mountains, it can be cool and rainy, whereas other times during this trip it will be extremely hot and dry.
Advice From Past Participants
“Bring an umbrella. And a good hat. Lots of sunscreen. And bring something that will help moisten your nose (I used carmex). Worked pretty well! Lot of tissues or wet wipes. “
“We could have been better prepared with a traveler’s package of rehydration salts and antibiotics for stomach issues. Imodium is not enough.”
“You need a flashlight for the yurt camp to find your way to the bathroom.”
“Unfortunately, you will probably get diarrhea. Most people in our group had some stomach issues. A few more seasoned travelers brought probiotic supplements with them and took them every day and that seemed to help.”
“I know it can be scary looking at the expected temperatures but it is bearable and most of the guided tours take place in the morning and early afternoon so you can rest and cool off when it is the hottest outside.”
“It is in the itinerary and we are adults who know these were oasis towns, but I think it could be made a little clearer that a participant will spend every other or 3rd day on long bus rides."
“Bring sandwich-sized ziplock baggies to the markets so you can limit the size of the purchases. They love to sell you a year’s worth of stuff.”
“Possibly bring some uniquely American tokens as small thank you gestures. I wish that I had some small things with American flags on them. Possibly pencils, magnets, or even stickers from the dollar store.”
“Remind people to check the dates on their visas. One participant didn’t and found it had expired before we got to Uzbekistan.”
