Need help on Stans itinerary
 

Hi guys!

I'm slowly planning my RTW for 2023 and I was wondering if I could get some tips regarding the Stans (Turk/Uzb/Tajik/Kyrg).

I'll be entering most likely from Iran into Turkmenistan and going through the country on a transit visa. So not much time. 1 night in Ashgabat, one at the crater and onwards towards Uzbekistan.

Now for the rest, I'm not too sure how to tackle it and how long does it take to to feel rushed in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Utlimately, I will need to cross into China at a set date from Kyrgystan.

Here's a few things I really want to see/do and some of my questions.

• Whakan corridor
• Bartang valley
• Pamir highway
• Kyrgystan lakes
• A few nights in Almaty
• Tashkent/Dushambe/Bukhara/Samarkand/Bishkek

As for the questions:

1. Is there a better direction for the Bartang Valley? From west to east would mean mostly going up which might be easier?
2. Doing both the Bartang Valley and Whakan corridor would mean going back and forth, not sure in which order I should do which.
3. Is Tashkent worth it? Looking at an itinerary, doing Uzb/Tajiki/Kyrg in that order, going back to Tashkent would somewhat of a detour after Tajikistan.
4. How many days would be a good ball park? Having a set date for the China crossing is forcing me to kind of plan a bit in advance when I should start the Stans.
5. Any must see places in Tajik/Uzb/Kyrg?
6. Any general tips?

For now, I'm planning the following number of days for each country:

• Turkmenistan: 3
• Uzbekistan: 7
• Tajikistan: 10
• Kyrgystan: 10
• Khazakstan (Almaty area): 5

Again, It's just to give me a rough idea, I'm well aware that most things will change when I'll get there and plans will move around.

I just want to allocate enough time for the stands before the crossing.

Thanks a ton for any help given ! bier

Its been 2 weeks and there has been no response to your post. It is because your questions and your schedule timings are impossible and contradictory.

It sounds to me that you will be spending more time waiting for visas than actually moving through these countries.

For example, 3 days for Turkmenistan are strictly a 'perfect' timing...provided you 1) you actually succeed on getting a transit visa, 2)you don't get held up during the border causing a domino effect on timing down the line 3) no buffer given for potential health or mechanical issues 4)its a long way, anything can happen. Your avg speed is closer to 50kph than 120kph.

Regrettably you can easily pass 10 days zigzag/ figure 8 the Pamir, the Wakan and the Shakdhara Valley (hope it doesn't rain, how does that affect your riding when its cold and slippery?). Not to mention the tougher (when I passed in 2016) north route out of Dushambe or the isolated Bartang.

The 'stans are truly wonderful and worth the time to visit, especially given the hassle to get there. Despite what you are saying that you want to 'allocate time' to the 'stans, you are better off drawing a straight line track to your China crossing and leave the stress behind.

Good luck.

Check the forums on the Carivanistan website.

Or HUBB Northern and Central Asia forum

Here's a gem:
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...ay-best-101752
There's no ferry to Turkmenistan anymore; at least there weren't in 2019, and it is next to impossible to get Turkmen visa. They only issue 5 day transit visa, you have to be coming from Iran and they give GPS tracker so you don't stray.

I think perhaps you're also confusing the Wakhan Corridor (Afghanistan) with the Wakhan Valley (Tajikistan). Note the spelling.

There has been at least one recent thread directly addressing some of your questions. It should be easily found using the site search box at upper right on this page.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I'll say that your schedule looks like you're in a rush to cross the countries rather than enjoy the ride or views or culture that this region has to offer.

In Tajikistan, definitely spend more time in the Pamir valley (GBAO region) and you will need more than 10 days in the country. Note i said Pamir Valley and not Pamir Highway which is a long stretch of asphalt in bad condition. The Pamir valley road south of Khorog (riding next to the Afghan border across teh Pamir river) is much more of an adventure going up to Murghab.

In Kyrgyzstan definitely go down to the Chatyr Kol near the Chinese border, the route taken you through some tough gravel tracks and rewarding scenery.

Can't provide inputs regarding Kazakhstan since i only did a quick transit run to the Semey border up north (i only had a 5 day transit visa to cover the 1500 kms distance) on my way to the Russian Altai.

Uzbekistan requires 12-15 days to enjoy all the sights and smells, the historic centres (which youve mentioned) and the bazaars and all that. Not a lot of dual sport riding to do since there are good roads unless you hit the North western part (Aral sea).

I keep wondering how (and if) the region and routes have changed since 2016 when i passed through on my partial RTW ride.