Independent travel in Central Asia - Recent Topics

How to get from Dushanbe to Penjikent and join a trip to the Seven Lakes?

Tricker — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:07:14 +0000

Hello everyone!
In three weeks, I’ll be travelling independently from Dushanbe to Penjikent. Could you please advise me on how best to plan the trip to Penjikent? Is it possible to find a guide locally who could take me to the Seven Lakes? Ideally, of course, I’d like to join a group.

Do I Need Hiking Boots and Trekking Poles for Almaty’s Mountain Trails?

marrader — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:56:45 +0000

Hello!

I’m planning to come soon and spend some time walking different trekking routes — things like Bukreev Peak, Furmanov Peak, the waterfalls, etc. One-day routes.

Could you please tell me whether these routes can currently be done in regular trail-running shoes rather than hiking boots, and whether trekking poles are absolutely necessary?

If they are needed, is there somewhere I can rent them locally, or would I have to buy them somewhere, like Decathlon? I don’t really want to drag extra stuff with me on holiday.

How to Get to Big Almaty Lake (BAO)?

Andrey — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:00:56 +0000

Good day!!! How can I get to BAO??

Travel insurance-what should I check before buying?( For Georgia)

Samm56 — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:38:28 +0000

I’m planning a trip to Georgia later this year and I’m trying to sort out insurance in advance. I’ve found quite a few options online, but the policies seem to vary quite a lot. For people who have travelled to Georgia recently, what did you actually check before choosing a policy? Things like medical limits, emergency assistance, activities such as hiking, or whether the insurance certificate needs to show anything specific. If you’ve used particular provider and had straightforward experience, I’d also be interested to hear about it.

Bukhara or an Extra Day in Samarkand?

algebra — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:21:23 +0000

Hello everyone!

Could you please advise whether it is worth going to Bukhara if Samarkand is already planned? Are they fundamentally different from each other? Or would it be better to stay in Samarkand for the extra day and go to the mountains instead? I’d be glad to hear your opinions.

Georgia travel insurance question

Tonygrant — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:32:43 +0000

Hello everyone,

heading to Georgia next month for about 3 weeks, mostly Tbilisi and Kazbegi, maybe renting a car if the weather looks ok. I’m not sure which travel insurance should I get and matters the most there, especially for mountain stuff or if plans change.

anyone who’s been recently, did you buy insurance before going or just rely on your normal coverage?

how to get from Tashkent to Samarkand when train tickets are sold out?

Ravil — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:32:57 +0000

Hello everyone. Could someone please advise how to get to Samarkand? There are no train tickets available. If I go straight to the bus station, will I be able to buy a bus ticket there and leave right away?

Getting to Urungach (Jade Lakes) from Tashkent

Kosmos — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:22:56 +0000

Good morning. Could anyone tell me whether there are any minibuses or buses running from Tashkent towards Urungach (the Jade Lakes)? We would like to visit them independently, without a guide or a rented car.

How to pay for Public Transport in Almaty?

Annet — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:14:15 +0000

Could someone advise how a Russian citizen can pay for public transport in Almaty? I don't have any local bank cards.

Almaty to Tashkent by Bus or Train?

Limanchik — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:57:48 +0000

Hello everyone!

Could someone who has recently travelled from Almaty to Tashkent by bus or train advise how long the queues at the border are at the moment?

Which is better to take? According to the schedule, the bus takes 12 hours and the train takes 17 hours. How realistic are these travel times when you take the border crossing into account?