Four Stans Odyssey: Self-Launched Through the Heart of Central Asia

Arrive at Almaty International Airport and take a public bus (route 79 or 86) or cheap Yandex taxi (~£3-5) into the city. Check into a hostel in the city centre. Spend the day exploring Almaty's highlights independently: wander the Green Bazaar for fresh fruit and local snacks, stroll through Panfilov Park and admire the wooden Zenkov Cathedral, pay respects at the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame, then take the cable car up Kok-Tobe Hill for panoramic city views. Head to Medeo skating rink and ride the cable car up to Shymbulak Ski Resort for mountain views.

🚌Public bus from airport ~£0.50 or Yandex taxi ~£4. Local buses and taxis within Almaty ~£1-3 per ride.

🛏Stayokay Hostel or Almaty Backpackers — dorm ~£12-15/night, private ~£25-30/night

• →Visit Green Bazaar — free entry, great for sampling local produce
• →Stroll Panfilov Park and Zenkov Cathedral — free
• →Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame — free
• →Cable car to Kok-Tobe Hill (~£4 return)
• →Medeo skating rink visit (~£2 entry)
• →Cable car to Shymbulak Ski Resort (~£8 return)

Take a shared minibus or join a budget day-tour from Almaty to Charyn Canyon (~3 hours, £10-15 each way in a shared taxi/marshrutka from Sayakhat bus station). Walk the Valley of Castles trail (about 3km along the canyon floor) and down to the Charyn River. Continue onward to Kolsay Lakes for the night, staying in a local guesthouse. Lunch at a small café near the canyon; dinner is typically provided by guesthouses in the area.

🚌Shared marshrutka/taxi Almaty to Charyn Canyon ~£10-12. Onward shared taxi to Kolsay ~£8.

🛏Local guesthouse at Kolsay Lakes — ~£12-18/night including simple dinner and breakfast

• →Valley of Castles hike at Charyn Canyon — national park entry ~£3
• →Walk to the Charyn River viewpoint
• →Afternoon drive to Kolsay Lakes — shared taxi ~£8-10

Morning visit to the stunning submerged Kaindy Lake, famous for its ghostly spruce trees rising from turquoise water. Horseback riding to the lake can be arranged with local families on-site (about £15-20 for 2 hours). Afterwards, take a shared taxi across the border into Kyrgyzstan and on to Karakol (allow 4-5 hours including border crossing). Check into a guesthouse in Karakol.

🚌Shared taxi Kolsay to Kaindy ~£5. Shared taxi/marshrutka to Karakol via Kegen border ~£10-15.

🛏Guesthouse in Karakol (e.g. Yak Tours Guesthouse or similar) — ~£12-16/night

• →Visit Kaindy Lake — entry to the area ~£2-3
• →Optional horseback riding arranged with local herders ~£15-20
• →Cross into Kyrgyzstan at the Kegen border crossing
• →Arrive and settle in Karakol

Explore Karakol's unique multicultural heritage on foot. Visit the ornate wooden Dungan Mosque (built without a single nail), the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, and the small but fascinating museum dedicated to explorer Nikolay Przhevalsky. In the afternoon, hire a local taxi or join a shared trip (~£5-8) to the dramatic Jety-Oguz Gorge and the famous 'Broken Heart' rock formation.

🚌Walking and local taxis within Karakol ~£5-8 total for the day.

🛏Guesthouse in Karakol — ~£12-16/night

• →Dungan Mosque — free entry
• →Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity — free
• →Museum of Nikolay Przhevalsky — ~£1 entry
• →Jety-Oguz Gorge and Seven Bulls rock formation — taxi ~£6 return, free entry

Take a marshrutka west along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul toward Bokonbaevo (~2 hours, £3-5). Stop at Skazka ('Fairy Tale') Canyon — a free, easily walkable canyon of red and orange eroded rock formations. Near Bokonbaevo, arrange a falconry/eagle hunting demonstration with local hunters (bookable through local CBT — Community Based Tourism — offices, ~£10-15 per person). Continue by shared taxi to Kochkor for the night.

🚌Marshrutka Karakol to Bokonbaevo ~£3-5. Shared taxi Bokonbaevo to Kochkor ~£4-6.

🛏CBT guesthouse in Kochkor — ~£12-15/night, usually includes dinner and breakfast

• →Skazka Canyon walk — free entry
• →Falconry/eagle hunting demonstration near Bokonbaevo — ~£10-15 via local CBT office
• →Scenic drive along Lake Issyk-Kul shoreline

Before departing, join a felt-making (shyrdak) master class arranged through the Kochkor CBT office — a hands-on session making traditional Kyrgyz felt rugs with local women (~£8-12). Take a marshrutka or shared taxi to Bishkek (~3 hours, £4-6). Explore Osh Bazaar in the afternoon — a sprawling, colourful market selling everything from spices to Soviet-era trinkets. Free to explore.

🚌Shared taxi/marshrutka Kochkor to Bishkek ~£4-6. Taxi within Bishkek ~£2-3.

🛏Hostel in Bishkek (e.g. Bishkek City Hostel or Apple Hostel) — dorm ~£8-12/night, private ~£20-25/night

• →Felt-making (shyrdak) master class with local women via CBT — ~£8-12
• →Marshrutka to Bishkek — ~£4-6
• →Explore Osh Bazaar — free entry

Morning exploring Bishkek's Soviet and post-independence landmarks: the Monument to Manas, the Changing of the Guard at Ala-Too Square, the State Historical Museum (~£1 entry), and a stroll through Oak Park. Visit the Fine Arts Gallery (~£1 entry). In the afternoon, travel to Tashkent — the cheapest option is a budget flight (Uzbekistan Airways or FlyArystan, ~£40-70 if booked in advance) or an overnight shared taxi (~10-12 hours, ~£15-20). Arrive Tashkent and check in.

🚌Budget flight Bishkek to Tashkent ~£40-70 (book via Skyscanner). Alternatively, shared taxi ~£15-20 overnight.

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Tashkent (e.g. Art Hostel or Malika Hostel) — dorm ~£8-12/night, private ~£20-28/night

• →Monument to Manas and Ala-Too Square — free
• →Changing of the Guard ceremony — free
• →State Historical Museum — ~£1
• →Oak Park and Fine Arts Gallery — ~£1
• →Travel to Tashkent by budget flight or shared taxi

A full day exploring Uzbekistan's buzzing capital on foot and by metro. Start at Khast-Imam Square (the Islamic centre of Tashkent) and the Hazrat Imam Library housing a 7th-century Quran. Head to Chorsu Bazaar — one of Central Asia's great markets, with its iconic blue-domed hall. Visit Independence Square and Amir Temur Square. Don't miss Tashkent Metro — one of the world's most ornate Soviet-era metro systems (single ride ~£0.10), famous for its palatial station architecture.

🚌Metro and walking — ~£1-2 total for the day.

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Tashkent — ~£10-25/night

• →Khast-Imam Square and Hazrat Imam complex — free
• →Chorsu Bazaar — free to explore
• →Independence Square and Amir Temur Square — free
• →Tashkent Metro art tour — ~£0.10 per ride

Travel from Tashkent to Khujand (Tajikistan's second city) by shared taxi via the Oybek/Fotima-Bibi border crossing (~3-4 hours, £10-15). Obtain your Tajikistan e-visa in advance at evisa.tj (~£30). Explore Khujand: wander the vast Panjshanbe Bazaar (one of Central Asia's largest covered markets), visit the Museum of Khujand, and walk along the ancient fortress walls of the Khujand Citadel. Dinner at a local chaikhana.

🚌Shared taxi Tashkent to Khujand via border ~£10-15. Border crossing on foot.

🛏Guesthouse in Khujand (e.g. Sugd Hotel or local B&B) — ~£12-20/night

• →Panjshanbe Bazaar — free to explore
• →Museum of Khujand — ~£1-2 entry
• →Khujand Fortress walls — free

Take a shared taxi from Khujand south toward Istaravshan (~1.5 hours, £4-6), a perfectly preserved Silk Road town. Wander the colourful bazaars and visit the striking turquoise-tiled Kuk-Gumbaz Mosque. Continue by shared taxi to Penjikent (~2-3 hours, £6-10), a small ancient town at the foot of the Fan Mountains. Check into a local guesthouse.

🚌Shared taxi Khujand to Istaravshan ~£4-6. Shared taxi Istaravshan to Penjikent ~£6-10.

🛏Guesthouse in Penjikent — ~£10-15/night

• →Explore Istaravshan old bazaars — free
• →Kuk-Gumbaz Mosque, Istaravshan — free
• →Arrive and explore Penjikent old town

Morning visit to Sarazm UNESCO World Heritage Site (one of the oldest settlements in Central Asia, ~4500 BC) and the Rudaki Museum. Browse the local bazaar. Then hire a local driver (~£25-35 for the car, shareable among several travellers) for a stunning drive into the Fan Mountains to visit six of the Seven Lakes of Marguzor — a series of rainbow-coloured alpine lakes. Traditional lunch near the fourth lake can often be arranged with local families (~£5-8). Continue over the Anzob Tunnel to Samarkand (~3-4 hours, £10-15 in a shared taxi).

🚌Local driver for lakes excursion ~£25-35 per car (split between group). Shared taxi to Samarkand ~£10-15.

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Samarkand (e.g. Bibi Khanum Guesthouse) — ~£12-20/night

• →Sarazm UNESCO site — ~£2 entry
• →Rudaki Museum — ~£1 entry
• →Drive to Seven (Marguzor) Lakes — shared car hire ~£25-35 for the vehicle
• →Traditional lunch with a local family near the lakes — ~£5-8
• →Shared taxi to Samarkand via Anzob Tunnel — ~£10-15

A full day at one of the world's great ancient cities. Begin at the magnificent Registan Square, flanked by three stunning madrasahs (Ulugbek, Sher-Dor, Tilla-Qori) — entry ~£5. Visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum (Timur's tomb, ~£2), the vast ruined Bibi-Khanym Mosque (~£2), and the hauntingly beautiful Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis (~£3) — a lane of intricately tiled mausoleums. End the day at Ulugbek Observatory on the hill above the city (~£2). Book the Registan night show (optional) via GetYourGuide ~£8-12.

🚌Walking and occasional taxi ~£2-4 within the city.

🛏Guesthouse in Samarkand — ~£12-20/night

• →Registan Square and three madrasahs — ~£5 entry
• →Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum — ~£2
• →Bibi-Khanym Mosque — ~£2
• →Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis — ~£3
• →Ulugbek Observatory — ~£2
• →Optional: Registan sound and light show via GetYourGuide — ~£8-12

Morning at the Afrosiab Museum and adjacent archaeological site (ancient pre-Mongol Samarkand, ~£2 entry). Walk to the Tomb of Saint Daniel (Khizr) beside the Silantieva Hill. Visit the Khujum silk carpet factory (free or small guided tour fee) to watch master weavers, and the Meros silk paper workshop where the ancient art of paper-making from mulberry bark is demonstrated (~£2-3). End at Siab Bazaar — a living local market in the shadow of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

🚌Walking and taxi within Samarkand ~£2-4.

🛏Guesthouse in Samarkand — ~£12-20/night

• →Afrosiab Museum and archaeological site — ~£2
• →Tomb of Saint Daniel (Prophet Daniyar) — free
• →Khujum silk carpet factory visit — free or ~£2
• →Meros silk paper workshop — ~£2-3
• →Siab Bazaar — free to explore

Take the Afrosiyob high-speed train from Samarkand to Bukhara (~1.5 hours, ~£7-12, book via uzrailpass.com or at the station). On arrival, drop bags at your guesthouse and spend the afternoon exploring Bukhara's Old Town: the serene Lyabi-Hauz square and pool, Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasa, Kukeldash Madrasa, and the three historic trading domes of Toki Zargaron, Toki Telpak Furushon, and Toki Sarrafon. Evening stroll through the beautifully lit old town.

🚌Afrosiyob train ~£7-12. Taxi from Bukhara station to old town ~£2-3.

🛏Old Town guesthouse in Bukhara (e.g. Komil Bukhara or Meros Guesthouse) — ~£14-22/night

• →Afrosiyob high-speed train Samarkand to Bukhara — ~£7-12
• →Lyabi-Hauz Square — free
• →Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasa — ~£1
• →Kukeldash Madrasa — ~£1
• →Three trading domes (Toki Zargaron, Toki Telpak Furushon, Toki Sarrafon) — free

Full day in Bukhara's UNESCO-listed old city. Visit the Ismail Samani Mausoleum (one of the finest examples of early Islamic architecture), Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, and the tranquil Bolo-Hauz Mosque. Explore the towering Ark Citadel (Bukhara's ancient royal fortress, ~£3 entry) and the adjacent Zindan prison museum. Admire the Po-i-Kalyan Complex with its soaring Kalon Minaret. In the evening, book a plov (Uzbek rice pilaf) cooking class with a local family or through a local cooking school (~£15-20 including dinner) — bookable via GetYourGuide or local guesthouses.

🚌Walking throughout the old town — all sites are within easy walking distance.

🛏Old Town guesthouse in Bukhara — ~£14-22/night

• →Ismail Samani Mausoleum — ~£1
• →Chashma Ayub Mausoleum — ~£1
• →Bolo-Hauz Mosque — free
• →Ark Citadel and Zindan prison — ~£3
• →Po-i-Kalyan Complex — ~£2
• →Plov cooking class with local family — ~£15-20 via GetYourGuide or guesthouse

Morning excursions to Bukhara's outlying sights: the ornate Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Summer Palace (~£2, hire a taxi for the day ~£15-20), the haunting Chor Bakr Necropolis (city of the dead), and the important Sufi shrine of the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi. In the afternoon, take the Afrosiyob high-speed train or a shared taxi from Bukhara back to Tashkent (~4 hours by train, ~£12-18, or ~5-6 hours by shared taxi ~£8-12). Check in to your final night's accommodation in Tashkent.

🚌Local taxi for morning excursions ~£15-20. Afrosiyob train to Tashkent ~£12-18 or shared taxi ~£8-12.

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Tashkent — ~£10-25/night

• →Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Summer Palace — ~£2 entry
• →Chor Bakr Necropolis — free
• →Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi — free
• →Train or shared taxi back to Tashkent — ~£8-18

Final morning in Tashkent — grab a last bowl of plov at a local chaikhana, pick up souvenirs at the Chorsu Bazaar, or revisit any sights. Take a taxi to Tashkent International Airport (~£5-8 via Yandex taxi). Depart. Well done — you've done it yourself, through four of Central Asia's most spectacular countries.

🚌Yandex taxi to Tashkent airport ~£5-8.

🛏N/A (departure day)

• →Final morning wander in Tashkent
• →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Chorsu Bazaar
• →Transfer to Tashkent International Airport by Yandex taxi — ~£5-8