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Kalyan minaret and the domed bazaars of Bukhara

Places to visit

Places to visit in Central Asia

48 cities, regions, natural wonders and historic sites across five countries, with what to see, how long to stay and how to get there.

48 places

KyrgyzstanAla Archa National ParkAlpine gorge, juniper forest and glacier views an hour from Bishkek. Day trip from Bishkek
Almaty at night beneath the Tien Shan mountains KazakhstanAlmatyKazakhstan’s largest city, with snow mountains at the end of every avenue. 2–3 days
KazakhstanAltyn-EmelA dune that hums in the wind, and mountains striped like a painter’s palette. 1–2 days
UNESCO TurkmenistanAncient MervLayers of cities spanning two thousand years. 1 day
TurkmenistanAshgabatMarble, gold and monuments, below the Kopetdag mountains. 1–2 days
KazakhstanAstanaA capital built on the steppe, with landmark modern architecture. 1–2 days
Ala-Too Square in Bishkek at sunset KyrgyzstanBishkekSoviet boulevards, Osh Bazaar and the mountains at the end of the street. 1–2 days
Kalyan minaret and the domed bazaars of BukharaUNESCO UzbekistanBukharaTwo thousand years of merchants, madrasahs and domed bazaars. 2–3 days
Red rock formations of Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan KazakhstanCharyn CanyonRed sandstone towers carved by the Charyn river. 1 day
UzbekistanChimgan & CharvakWalks, cable cars and a turquoise reservoir an hour from the capital. Day trip from Tashkent
TurkmenistanDarvaza gas craterA fire in the Karakum desert, best seen after dark. 1 night
UzbekistanDesert fortresses of KhorezmClay castles in the Kyzylkum, and a yurt camp below Ayaz Kala. 1 day from Khiva; optional night in the yurt camp
Dushanbe with the mountains of Tajikistan behind TajikistanDushanbeTree-lined avenues, grand monuments and the start of the Pamir road. 1–2 days
TajikistanFann MountainsA compact range of turquoise lakes and 5,000 m peaks. 3–7 days
UzbekistanFergana ValleySilk, ceramics and the most fertile valley in Central Asia. 2–3 days
TajikistanIskanderkulA turquoise mountain lake and a thundering waterfall. 1 night
KyrgyzstanIssyk-KulA vast mountain lake that never freezes, ringed by snow peaks. 2–3 days
KyrgyzstanJyrgalanA former mining village reborn as a base for hiking, riding and ski touring. 2–3 days
KazakhstanKaindy LakeSpruce trunks rising from turquoise water. Half a day from Saty
UzbekistanKarakalpakstanDesert castles, a museum of banned art and the vanished Aral Sea. 2–4 days
KyrgyzstanKarakolA wooden mosque, a wooden cathedral and the best treks in the Tien Shan. 2–4 days
Islam Khoja minaret and the domes of Khiva at duskUNESCO UzbekistanKhivaA walled city of gates, minarets and mud-brick lanes, and our home. 2 nights
TajikistanKhujandTajikistan’s second city, with a great covered bazaar. 1 day
UzbekistanKokandA palace of tiles and a mosque of carved wooden columns. Half a day
KazakhstanKolsai LakesThree mountain lakes ringed by spruce forest. 1–2 days
UNESCO TurkmenistanKunya-UrgenchMinarets and mausoleums of the old Khorezm capital, close to Khiva. Half a day to a full day
KazakhstanMangystauWhite cliffs, stone spheres and underground mosques by the Caspian. 3–4 days
UzbekistanMargilanHand-woven ikat, from silkworm cocoon to finished cloth. Half a day to 1 day
UzbekistanMuynak & the Aral SeaA ship cemetery in the desert, and the long road to the Aral’s new shore. 1 day from Nukus; 2–3 days to reach the shore
KyrgyzstanNarynA long river-valley town on the way to Tash Rabat and China. 1 night
UzbekistanNukusAn unexpected world-class collection of avant-garde art. 1 night
UzbekistanNurata & Lake AydarkulA night in a desert yurt camp between Bukhara and Samarkand. 1 night
UNESCO KyrgyzstanOshSulaiman-Too, a great bazaar and the end of the Pamir Highway. 1 day
TajikistanPamir HighwayFrom Dushanbe to Osh over passes above 4,600 m. 10–14 days
UNESCO TajikistanPenjikentAncient Sogdian ruins and the gateway to the Fann Mountains. 1 day
UzbekistanRishtanBlue-green glazes from a town of potters. Half a day
Domed tombs and a turquoise portal in SamarkandUNESCO UzbekistanSamarkandRegistan, Shah-i-Zinda and the blue domes of Amir Timur. 2–3 days
TajikistanSeven Lakes (Haft Kul)Seven lakes of changing colour in the Shing valley. Day trip, or 1 night in a homestay
UNESCO UzbekistanShakhrisabzThe ruins of the Ak-Saray palace, over the mountains from Samarkand. Day trip from Samarkand
KazakhstanShymkentKazakhstan’s third city, between Tashkent and Turkistan. 1 day
KyrgyzstanSong-KulA high alpine lake where herders move their yurts every summer. 1–2 nights
KyrgyzstanTash RabatA stone caravanserai in a remote valley at about 3,500 m. 1 night
Aerial view of Tashkent and its TV tower UzbekistanTashkentWhere most journeys start: bazaars, metro art and a green, modern city. 1–2 days
UzbekistanTermezAncient stupas and monasteries on the banks of the Amu Darya. 1–2 days
UNESCO TajikistanThe PamirsHigh plateaus, glaciers and Ismaili villages in Gorno-Badakhshan. 7–14 days
UNESCO KazakhstanTurkistanThe great Timurid mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. 1 day
TajikistanWakhan ValleyFortresses, hot springs and the snow peaks of Afghanistan. 2–3 days
TurkmenistanYangykala CanyonStriped canyon walls in pink, red and white near the Caspian. 1–2 days
Rooftops and minarets of Ichan-Kala, Khiva, in evening light

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Darvaza Trip · Koshona street 75/1, Khiva, Uzbekistan · WhatsApp +998 91 920 94 20 · tours.uzbekistan@gmail.com · darvazatrip.com/places/

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