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Q // How easy it is to
arrange a trip to the
’Stans? What do I
need to know?
IMAGES: GETTY; ISTOCKPHOTOFor starters, the ’Stans include
Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan. While you can
explore the them alone, bear in
mind English is not widely spoken
(a little Russian goes a long way)
and public transport options are
limited. You’ll be able to see much
more in a short space of time
by booking with a recognised
tour operator, who can assist
with multi-centre options and
visas. For Kyrgyzstan, visas can
be arranged upon arrival, but
visas for Uzbekistan need to be
arranged a month in advance.
The ’Stans are considered safe,
with no FCO restrictions on travel,
although there are warnings
about potential flashpoints onsome of the borders. For first-time
visitors, it depends if you’re more
interested in natural beauty, or
the history and culture of the
Silk Road. For nature, head to
Kyrgyzstan, a land of towering
mountains, flowing rivers, crystal-
clear lakes and clean air. This
is typical nomad country, and
you’ll spend much of your time
staying in yurts in a rustic back-
to-nature experience.
For culture, Uzbekistan offers
unrivalled Islamic architecture
in its Silk Road cities of Khiva,
Bukhara and Samarkand.
A tour combining these two
countries offers a great overview
of the area but, for something
different, visit Turkmenistan (apply
for a visa a month ahead), home toone of the world’s more unusual
tourist attractions, the Darvaza
Gas Crater (aka the ‘Door to Hell’),
the result of a Soviet engineering
accident that’s been ablaze since- Turkmenistan is also home
to the Silk Road city of Merv
— infamously and ruthlessly
sacked by Genghis Khan — and
the bizarre capital city of Ashgabat
with its many spectacular marble-
clad buildings.
Contrary to popular opinion,
the food is pretty good, with
influences from the Caucasus,
China, the Middle East
and India very much
evident. Be ready for
the odd neat vodka, too, a
welcome hangover from the
Soviet era. MICHAEL PULLMAN
156 natgeotraveller.co.uk
TRAVEL TALK