Winter Itinerary for the Five Stans of Central Asia

In winter, your travel itinerary should focus on visiting the capital cities of Central Asia, including Almaty in Kazakhstan, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Dushanbe in Tajikistan, and the main historical cities of Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva in Uzbekistan.

During winter, Central Asia experiences cold weather, with some roads in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan closed due to snow and ice. Consequently, it's advisable to plan a trip to Uzbekistan exclusively during these months, with train travel between cities.

Flights are available only between the capital cities of Almaty to Bishkek, Bishkek to Tashkent, and Tashkent to Dushanbe. In Uzbekistan, train travel is a viable option.

When is the best time to tour the "Five Stans"

9 Days Uzbekistan Winter Itinerary

Day 1: Tashkent – arrival, Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by our driver and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Tashkent – Chimgan: After your breakfast transfer to Chimgan, Amirsoy ski resort (about 2 hours drive). Enjoy skiing and snowboard rides. Transfer back to the hotel in Chimgan at about 4pm. Overnight at the hotel.

Day3: Chimgan – Tashkent: After breakfast transfer to Amirsoy ski resort (0.4-1 hours drive). Enjoy skiing and snowboard rides. Transfer to Tashkent in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Tashkent – Bukhara by high-speed train: Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imom Complex, The complex consists of Barak-Khan Madrasah, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari, Chorsu Bazaar, Applied Arts Museum, and Amir Timur Square. Train to Buhkara, overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Bukhara, historic center of Bukhara, Lyabi Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, legendary Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6:  Bukhara – Samarkand by high-speed train: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi, Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Train to Samarkand, overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Samarkand: Registan Square, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum, overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Samarkand – Tashkent by high speek-train: Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Tomb of Saint Daniel, Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry.   Train to Tashkent and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Tashkent – departure

20 Days Five Stans Winter Itinerary

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Day 1, Almaty/Kazakhstan, arrival 

Day 2, Almaty, city tour 

Day 3, Almaty - Charyn canyon - Kolsay lakes by road, 310 km 

Day 4, Kolsay lakes - Kaindy lake - "Kegen" land border - Karakol by road, 230 km 

Day 5, Karakol, day trip to Djety-Oguz gorde by road, 140 km 

Day 6, Karakol - Issyk-kul lake by road, 140 km 

Day 7, Issyk-kul lake - Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan by road, 240 km 

Day 8, Bishkek - Osh by flight, sightseeing in Osh 

Day 9, Osh - "Dustlik" land border - Margilan - Fergana by road, 100 km 

Day 10, Fergana - Rishtan - Kokand - Tashkent/Uzbekistan by train, 17:33-21:45

Day 11, Tashkent, city tour 

Day 12, Tashkent - Samarkand by morning train, 2 hours and city tour

Day 13, Samarkand, city tour

Day 14, Samarkand, day trip to Tajikistan, visit Penjikent town and Sarazm settlement 

Day 15, Samarkand - Bukhara by morning train, 1,5 hours and city tour 

Day 16, Bukhara, city tour 

Day 17, Bukhara - "Farap" land border - Mary/Turkmenistan, visit Merv ancient city 

Day 18, Mary - Ashgabat by morning flight and city tour in Ashgabat 

Day 19, Ashgabat, continue sightseeing 

Day 20, Ashgabat, departure