The Stans
 

Hi Guys

We are planning a trip through the stand and into China.
More specifically through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyztan.
Does anyone know what the safety situation is like?
Also anyone aware of any travel permits required? We have visas and carnets for all countries.

Cheers
Max

Travelled through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in 2014. Despite warnings on the FCO website, I didn't encounter any problems at all. I would say that both countries are safe for travellers.

Had a friend mountain bike Kyrz or kaz a couple times in the past four years, she had a wonderful time, Ashe was solo btw.

Iran Pretty safe apart from horrendous driving. Police can waste a lot of your time, but are not threatening

Turkmenistan Like all police states, it's very safe, but be careful to avoid the police, who can be nasty. Do not get caught off your transit route.

Uzbekistan Probably the safest of the lot. Not really a safety issue, but the only place I ever got food poisoning in over 5 years of rough travel.

Tajikistan Security problems flare up in Khorog occasionally, and there has been the very occasional hold-up on the M41 from Dushanbe to Khorog (not the Afghan border road), but overall a very safe country too.

Kyrgyzstan Nasty police in places (Osh Bazaar in Bishkek), inter-ethnic violence flares up occasionally in Osh and surroundings, also heard of foreigners getting attacked at night in Osh. People can get very aggressive when drunk. Although you can (and many people do) travel perfectly safely here by being a bit careful, it's the only country on your list where you have to take a bit of care (in my experience).

There is no such thing as a travel permit, where did you get this idea from?

Enjoy these fantastic countries!

EO

The Stans
 

Hi Max, My partner and I are currently in Uzbekistan, have just transited Turkmenistan and spent the last month in Iran. I can confirm that the only problem we have encountered is getting the transit visa for Turkmenistan. The countries themselves have been very safe and Iran was such an amazing surprise. The warmth and generosity of the Iranians I personally think we in the west could learn a lot from. Carnet is needed for Iran but not Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan. Only real tip is make sure if you are a dual passport holder that your visa for Usbek is in the same passport as the application for Turkmenistan. Mine was not and transit visa was rejected outright. Ended up having to fly back to Tehran and trying again at the embassy. This worked but was painful.

I understood that a GBAO permit is required for travel in some areas of Tajikistan in addition to the Tajik visa. (GBAO = Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast region).

GBAO permit for Pamir Travel | Caravanistan

Good point, I'd forgotten that one. :oops2: