Details
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read our general
FAQs, where you can find essential information that applies to all of our programs.
Resources to Learn & Teach About This Region
Visit our
recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have
lesson plans and
Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.
Terms and Conditions
It is very important for you to visit our
Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.
GEEO Program Confirmation Process
Most GEEO programs are officially confirmed to run once 4 participants have registered. If at least 8 people sign up by our designated deadline, the program will run as a private GEEO trip. Should enrollment fall between 4 and 8, the trip will still take place, but it may transition into a
shared departure with our partner tour operator, G Adventures. In this scenario, the itinerary, dates, and pricing for those who have already registered will remain unchanged, although additional travelers from outside GEEO may join the trip.A large majority of GEEO programs remain private for just educators, retired educators, and their guests. We encourage you to sign up for any program that interests you, and we’ll keep you updated throughout the process—first when 4 participants have registered and again once 8 people have signed up. As always, we recommend exercising caution when making non-refundable travel arrangements (for example, booking flights with flexible change or cancellation policies) until your program is confirmed to run.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to
travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.
- If you cancel 60 days or more prior to the start of your program, all payments will be refunded excluding your $350 deposit, which is kept on file for future use and never expires. (Exception for participants who receive grants from our university partners: To address disruption caused by cancellation from grant recipients, deposits paid by grant recipients are forfeited upon cancellation.)
- If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to the start of your program, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit will be kept on file for future use and will never expire.
- If you cancel within 30 days prior to the start of your program, you will receive no refund, but your deposit will be kept on file for future use and will never expire.
Trip Notes & Expectations
Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program contained on this page. Our programs are quite adventurous, and we find that clients who read the trip details in full are happier with their experiences.
- ACCOMMODATION: The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe place for you to sleep. Sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised, but do not expect luxury. Sometimes the accommodation is not air-conditioned.
- 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 includes light walking and hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels. There are also some optional moderate-to-difficult hikes. Make sure to bring appropriate gear if you plan to participate in the more strenuous activities. Many of our programs occur in locations where it is very hot during the day. Please make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities, which sometimes include day hikes with your daypacks. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
- 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 CODE: 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.
- 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: Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip. All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure's group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.
Single Travelers
Half of GEEO’s participants travel by themselves, so please don’t worry if you do not have a travel companion for your trip. Our program fee is for one traveler in double-occupancy accommodation, and GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender if you do not have a travel companion. Most of our programs have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that you can pay to have a room to yourself. You will only incur an additional charge if you specifically request a single room. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please find your program on our
extra services page. If you want to room alone, please email
travel@geeo.org to request a single room.
Please note that if you have booked the “My Own Room” option for this tour, you will receive your own single accommodation for all night stops except Days 3, 5, and 17 (yurt stays) and Days 10 and 11 (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
Please
read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule, we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags, which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size. No XXL bags please! A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person.
There may be a weight restriction for the internal flight on this tour. Each passenger is allowed to carry one checked bag with a maximum weight of 15 kg (33 lbs). Additional bags or excess weight charges may apply. These charges are the responsibility of the passengers.
Suggested (click to expand)
- 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
Optional (click to expand)
- 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 buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here
- Ziplock bags for wet clothing
- Reading/writing material
- Hand sanitizer/baby wipes
Documents (click to expand)
- 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
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
All GEEO programs require that the participant have a valid passport. Please see our general
FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double check the information we provide below by searching
the U.S. State Department's International Travel Guidance.
PASSPORT
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in each country visited on this tour. Make sure that your passport has at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps.
VISA
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan for stays of up to 30 days.
Tajikistan
U.S. citizens are eligible for visa-free entry into Tajikistan for stays lasting less than 30 days. Your hotel will register you with the Ministry of Interior, which allows you to skip the visa process. Please keep up with your registration document, because you will need it to depart for Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan
U.S. citizens under the age of 55 need a visa to travel to Uzbekistan. The Uzbekistan e-visa portal issues a tourist visa that allows a single entry for stays of up to 30 days and is
valid for 90 days from the date of issue. Note that your stay in Uzbekistan cannot exceed the remaining validity period of the e-visa, so we recommend waiting to apply until you are within two months of your trip to ensure you have plenty of visa validity remaining for your visit. U.S. citizens over the age of 55 do need a visa for stays of up to 30 days. You can find the application
here. For assistance, refer to
this guide.
Non-American participants should check with their government to find out if they need any visas.
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
While it is not customary in Central Asia to tip
service providers such as waiters, it is appreciated; depending on the service, we recommend
3-5%. Tipping expression of satisfaction with the people who assist you on your trip. Tipping is also one of the most direct ways that you can have a positive economic impact within the local community. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels.
There will be times during this program when you will have an opportunity to tip local guides or drivers. You may do this individually, or your tour leader may offer to collect the money and provide the tip for the entire group. Recommendations for tipping
drivers and local guides would range from $2-3 USD per person, depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your tour leader for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.
At the end of your program, if you felt your
G Adventures tour leader did an outstanding job, a tip would be appreciated. The amount is entirely your personal preference, but as a guideline,
$20-25 USD per person per week would be appropriate. 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.
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. Please take this seriously!
Flights
We find the best prices for flights are often available around 90-120 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year.
You should wait until this trip is confirmed before you book non-refundable flights. GEEO and G Adventures bear no 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
There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers (also called electrical converters). The adapter is for your device's plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two- to three-pronged power cord to fit the local outlets. The transformer/converter changes the local voltage to the voltage used in the U.S.
Central Asia uses a European-style Type C plug with two circular prongs, and the voltage is 220V. (Standard U.S. electrical outlets are 120V.) Most new devices, including phones and laptops, are made to work with the different voltage rates, but some devices, like hair dryers, may only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device's plug or manual to see what voltage range it requires. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity; for example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work with voltages between 100V to 240V. If your device can’t handle the higher voltage, you’ll need to purchase a transformer/converter. You can find world transformers/converters online or at many retail stores in the travel section.
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 GEEO 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. Secondly, what a meat culture it is, and that there are few options for vegetarians. Even many of the salads include meats. “
“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.”
