The area of Central Asia is in the center of Eurasia. It is not just a geographical area but a cultural and historical area.
Other individuals equate Central Asia to the Great Silk Road. It is full of nomadic cultures, mountainous landscapes and distinct culture.
Few visitors are aware of the countries that constitute central Asia. Is it one culture? One language? One people?
Let’s find it out together with Travel Land.
Which countries are part of Central Asia?
In the modern and most common understanding, Central Asia consists of five countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union:
- Kyrgyzstan — the Tien Shan mountains, high-altitude lakes like Issyk-Kul, Son-Kul, as well as yurts, horses, and nomadic heritage.
- Kazakhstan — steppes, the Cosmodrome Baikonur, cities Astana and Almaty, the Charyn Canyons, and the mountain lakes of Kolsai and Kaindy, etc.
- Uzbekistan — architectural gems of the Great Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and bustling Tashkent.
- Tajikistan — the harsh and majestic beauty of the Pamirs, the legendary Pamir Highway, and the border areas with Afghanistan.
- Turkmenistan — the Karakum Desert, the Darvaza gas crater, ancient fortresses, and the proud Akhal-Teke horses.
Some researchers also include Afghanistan and Mongolia in this region due to geographical and cultural similarities. However, in international practice, Central Asia includes these five countries.
Five countries — five cultures
Although these countries have much in common: a shared history, nomadic roots, Islam as the dominant religion, and a Soviet legacy, they are five independent states, each with its own culture, language, national currency, system of government, and unique traditions.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are Turkic-speaking countries. Tajikistan is a Persian-speaking country, culturally closer to Iran and Afghanistan.
Russian remains the language of interethnic communication, especially in cities and among the older generation, but this does not mean that it is widely used in everyday life.
Why Central Asia special for travelers?
First of all, Central Asia is a place where nature, history, and culture come together. There are big mountains like Tien Shan, Pamir, and Alay, as well as crystal clear alpine lakes.
Of course, the land is very different in many places. These countries are rich in steppes, deserts, canyons, glaciers, and fast rivers. It is a great place for people who like hiking, horse riding, camping, and being close to nature.
Central Asia has ancient cities from the Great Silk Road, like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, with their beautiful old buildings like madrasas, mausoleums, and minarets. Thanks for these buildings, we can see the history of these places and the rich culture of the great civilizations lived here.
Today, not many people know about Central Asia; maybe they have heard about it, but don’t realize what it is exactly. For example, there are many places very popular among tourists, but sometimes you might be the only foreign visitor in some remote but special places.
As said before, today tourism has just started to develop, and travelers have a real chance to see the real life of local people as it is. People in Central Asia, especially in villages, are very kind, friendly, and open. They often invite guests for tea or dinner just because it is our culture here.
If you like adventure, Central Asia has many exciting things to offer. You will find a lot of hiking trails that last many days, travel by car on mountain roads is another option for you, sleep in yurts (nomad tents) under the stars, or ride horses.
When to go?
The best time to travel to Central Asia depends on the country, of course, your travel goals, and the season. Generally, it is possible to travel throughout the year. But there are some circumstances. For example, some places are not available in the winter season, like high mountainous roads or mountain lakes, etc.
If you would like to combine the trip through all the Central Asian countries, you have to choose the right season. For example, the best season for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is spring and autumn – months like April, May, September, and October. Again, winter is also a good time to travel if you don’t mind cold weather. Summer is very hot, especially in the deserts, but despite this, even in the hot summer, these countries are popular among travelers.
For Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Southern Kazakhstan, the best season is late spring, summer, and early autumn, months like late May, June, July, August (which is high season), and September. At this time, many mountain passes, hiking trails, and high mountainous lakes are open and accessible for cars and hiking, etc. Also, to these countries, possible to travel in other months, especially Kyrgyzstan is very popular for ski and free-ride lovers.
How to get around Central Asia?
The fact is, that Central Asia is on the way to development. For today, we have planes between Central Asian countries, fast trains in Uzbekistan.
There are regular flights that connect Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Main airlines in the region:
- Air Astana (Kazakhstan)
- Uzbekistan Airways (Uzbekistan)
- Tez Jet (Kyrgyzstan)
However, it is important to understand that flights depend on the season, country, etc. Some directions have flights every day and some 2-3 times a week.
When it comes to train rides between the countries of Central Asia, today, train runs only between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. But it is not the most convenient way of travel as the ride takes a long time.
Another option is to cross the land border by car or bus. But there in the high season can be expected queues and delays. Today, this is the most common way of travel.
Entry to Turkmenistan is usually possible via international flights (often with a stopover in Istanbul). There are no direct flights between Turkmenistan and the other 4 countries. An alternative way to go to Turkmenistan by land from Uzbekistan. There are two land borders to cross: one is from Bukhara side and the other from Khiva side.
Within the country, for example, in Uzbekistan, trains are the most convenient way to travel. The high-speed Afrosiyob train runs between Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, providing fast and comfortable travel. To Khiva, you can also take a train from Bukhara, but it is less comfortable, so traveling by car is recommended. Khiva you can reach also by domestic flight from Tashkent.
Since Central Asia is still developing, there are not many public transport or absent in remote and mountainous areas. Taxis are popular for city and regional travel.
Tours with a private driver and guide are the optimal choice for comfortable and rich travel experiences, especially in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, where public transport is limited or unavailable in remote areas.
If you prefer a trip full of great discoveries, Central Asia is the right choice and Travel Land travel agency is here to help you make it happen.