Kazakhstan

A 12-day self-launched overland route from Bishkek to Almaty hitting the same highlights as the G Adventures group trip — Burana Tower, the Dungan lunch stop, Chon-Kemin, Issyk-Kul Lake, Skazka (Fairytale) Canyon, Barskoon Waterfall, yurt-building in Barskoon, Karakol's Dungan Mosque and hot springs, the Kegen border crossing, Charyn Canyon and Almaty. Instead of a private vehicle and tour leader you'll use shared taxis, marshrutkas and occasional negotiated private drivers, stay in hostels, guesthouses and yurt camps, and book any guides locally on arrival. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP and assume shared accommodation and self-arranged meals.

Travel Crew

~£690

This self-launched itinerary covers the best of Central Asia — from Bishkek's Soviet boulevards and Ala Archa's alpine trails, through yurt stays on Son-Kul Lake, horseback rides in Chon Kemin Gorge, Karakol's multicultural old town, and the submerged forest of Kaindy Lake, finishing with Charyn Canyon and cosmopolitan Almaty. By swapping private tour vehicles for shared taxis and marshrutkas, booking local guesthouses and CBT (Community Based Tourism) yurt camps directly, and self-booking activities via GetYourGuide or on the ground, you can replicate this spectacular route for a fraction of the operator price. All costs are approximate estimates per person.

Travel Crew

~£543

A self-launched version of G Adventures' National Geographic Signature "Northern Stans & the Silk Road" trip. Instead of five-star hotels, private vehicles and an Expedition Leader, you'll travel the same Bishkek–Almaty–Tashkent axis on marshrutkas, shared taxis and cheap regional flights, staying in guesthouses and budget hotels. You'll still see Burana's minaret and balbals, the Golden Man in Almaty, snow-leopard conservation work in Bishkek, and Silk Road bazaars and madrasas in Uzbekistan — just booked yourself, at roughly a fifth of the price. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights to Bishkek / home from Tashkent.

Travel Crew

~£595

A self-launched independent version of G Adventures' 19-day National Geographic Signature expedition across the Five Stans — from Bishkek to Ashgabat. Trace the Silk Road through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan using overnight trains, shared taxis, budget flights and marshrutkas. Swap five-star hotels for well-rated hostels, guesthouses and boutique budget stays, and replace private guided access with self-bookable city tours, local guides and independent visits to the same madrasahs, mausoleums and mountain landscapes. Roughly £2,000-£2,300 per person versus the operator's ~£9,200 asking price.

Travel Crew

~£2,150

A 21-day self-launched version of Penguin Travel's "5 Stan-s" tour, tracing Genghis Khan's Silk Road across Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan — Bishkek's Soviet squares, Chon-Kemin yurt country, Issyk Kul and Karakol, Charyn Canyon, Almaty, the Fann Mountains and Seven Lakes, Khujand, Samarkand and Bukhara's madrassas, Khiva's walled Ichan Kala, and finally the Darvaza gas crater and Ashgabat's white-marble monuments. Using public buses, shared taxis, Afghan-built shared 4x4s to the crater, local guesthouses and self-booked day guides, you get the same route for roughly a third of the guided group price. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP; border-crossing bureaucracy and Central Asian roads are the real challenge here, so build in buffer days.

Travel Crew

~£1,310

Eight days of alpine valleys, nomadic yurt stays, ancient towers, and canyon rims — done independently at a fraction of the price. This self-launched version follows the same Bishkek-to-Almaty route as G Adventures' Northern Stans tour, swapping group-tour logistics for local transport, self-booked guesthouses, and community yurt camps you can book direct. You'll still learn to build a yurt, explore Charyn Canyon, wander Bishkek's bazaars, and cross the Kyrgyzstan–Kazakhstan border on foot — just without the operator markup. Costs are approximate estimates based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£365

Three weeks across five former Soviet republics along the ancient Silk Road — from Almaty's Tien Shan foothills to the marble city of Ashgabat. This self-launched version swaps the guided group minibus for shared taxis, marshrutkas, local trains and one internal flight, and replaces group hotel rates with budget guesthouses and mid-range hotels you book directly. You'll hit every major highlight — Charyn Canyon, Issyk-Kul, Burana Tower, Bishkek, the Fergana Valley, Khujand, the Seven Lakes, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and the ruins of Merv — at a fraction of the Exodus price. Visas are the most complex logistical element: Uzbekistan is visa-free for many nationalities, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are easy e-visa or visa-free, Tajikistan requires a GBAO permit if travelling to the Fann Mountains, and Turkmenistan requires a tourist visa arranged well in advance through a registered Turkmen agency (unavoidable and included in cost estimates). Allow extra time at border crossings — some can take up to two hours. Costs below are approximate per-person estimates for a solo budget traveller sharing twin/dorm accommodation where possible.

Travel Crew

~£1,350

Experience the full sweep of Central Asia's legendary Silk Road independently — from Bishkek's Soviet boulevards to the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan. This self-launched version follows the same epic route through all five 'Stans, swapping the group tour markup for local marshrutkas, budget guesthouses, family-run homestays, and self-booked guides. You'll sleep in yurts on the shores of Song Köl, wander Samarkand's turquoise domes, and watch the Darvaza gas crater burn at midnight — all at a fraction of the commercial price. Central Asia remains one of the world's most underexplored and affordable adventure regions, and independent travellers are warmly welcomed across all five countries. Estimated costs below are approximate and per person.

Travel Crew

~£1,450

Discover the wild landscapes and nomadic culture of Central Asia entirely on your own terms. This self-launched itinerary follows the same Bishkek-to-Almaty route as G Adventures' classic tour — Burana Tower, Song Kul Lake yurts, Skazka Canyon, Karakol, and the jaw-dropping Charyn Canyon — but replaces the private van and group markup with shared marshrutkas, local guesthouses, and direct-booked community stays. Yurt nights with nomadic families, home-cooked Kyrgyz dinners, and mountain hikes remain completely intact. Estimated cost is roughly £650–750 per person, saving you well over £700 compared to the commercial tour price.

Travel Crew

~£700

An epic self-launched journey through five former Soviet republics along the ancient Silk Road — from the marble-white streets of Ashgabat to the mountains of Almaty. This itinerary mirrors the Exodus guided route, replacing group minibus transfers with shared taxis and local transport, swapping guided walkthroughs for self-bookable tours via GetYourGuide and local agencies, and choosing guesthouses and budget hotels over tour-operator-contracted accommodation. Note that Turkmenistan requires a visa and pre-arranged arrival transfer by law; independent travellers must apply for a tourist visa in advance and book a licensed local guide for the Turkmenistan leg (typically Days 1–4). Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are significantly more accessible independently. Costs are approximate estimates per person based on budget/backpacker travel rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,450

This self-launched version of G Adventures' classic Multi-Stan route takes you through four of Central Asia's most captivating countries — Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — at a fraction of the guided tour price. You'll sleep in yurts on alpine pastures, navigate ancient Silk Road cities, hike through canyon landscapes, and connect with nomadic culture, all while booking your own transport, accommodation, and activities independently. Central Asia is one of the world's most welcoming and underrated regions for independent travel, with excellent guesthouse networks, shared marshrutka (minibus) routes, and a growing number of self-bookable local guides and experiences. Costs below are estimated per person based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,380

Follow the legendary Silk Road through three of Central Asia's most captivating countries — entirely on your own terms. This self-launched version of Exodus's classic Silk Road tour takes you from the Tien Shan mountains and Issyk Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan, across Kazakhstan's dramatic Charyn Canyon, and deep into Uzbekistan's dazzling Islamic heritage cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. You'll swap guided minibus convoys for local shared taxis, sleeper trains and fast Afrosiyob rail services, and trade group hotel blocks for well-reviewed guesthouses and boutique budget hotels. The route, the experiences and the magic are identical — at a fraction of the price. Costs below are approximate estimates per person.

Travel Crew

~£679

A self-launched 17-day odyssey through four Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — covering epic landscapes, ancient Silk Road cities, and nomadic culture. This itinerary replicates the Central Asia Travel LP group tour at a fraction of the cost by swapping guided group transport for shared taxis and marshrutkas, using well-reviewed guesthouses and hostels, and booking activities directly or via GetYourGuide. Visa-on-arrival or e-visa is available for most Western passport holders for all four countries. All costs are approximate estimates per person.

Travel Crew

~£830