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Holidays

Mountains and Marvels of Central Asia

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
7 reviews
View Dates & Prices
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
MODERATE MODERATE

Enjoy a 5-day trek in Tajikistan's Fann Mountains then cross the border to discover Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities

Trip Code: MCA
Holiday Grades

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Mountains and Marvels of Central Asia

Highlights
  • Camp beside azure-blue lakes on a 5-day trek through Tajikistan's pristine Fann Mountains
  • The mosques and mausoleums of Khiva, Bukhara and the fabled city of Samarkand
  • A perfect Central Asian cross border adventure, combining trekking, sightseeing and culture
  • Enjoy a warm welcome at our Tajik mountain village homestay
At a Glance
  • Group Size 4 to 12
  • 5 days trekking
  • 10 days touring and sightseeing
  • Max altitude - 3630m
  • Join In Dushanbe, End in Tashkent
Accommodation & Meals
  • All meals included
  • 2 nights Homestay
  • 5 nights Guesthouse
  • 3 nights Hotel
  • 4 nights Camping
Overview

This trip is the perfect Central Asian cross border holiday, which combines trekking in Tajikistan's pristine Fann Mountains and exploring Uzbekistan's Silk Road Cities and all in just 2 weeks. Flying into the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, we head to the north side of Tajikistan's Fann Mountains to begin our 5 day fully supported trek in the most picturesque section of the range, culminating in a visit to the crystal coloured Alaudin Lakes. With lakeside campsites, the trekking and camping is idyllic. We should also encounter the local Tajik shepherds, who spend the summer months grazing their flocks in the high and remote pastures of the Fann Mountains. After saying goodbye to our trek crew we take the interesting drive across the border into neighbouring Uzbekistan. Our Silk Road extravaganza begins in Samarkand, one of the pearls of the East, and the home to Tamerlane.  Situated on an ancient trade route, with its turquoise blue domes, a visit here is essential for anyone interested in the romance of the Silk Road. We then head west to the holy citadel of Bukhara with its Ark fortress and beautiful surrounding mosques and madrassahs. Following the River Oxus west, we finally arrive in the ancient city of Khiva, which was home to the warring Khans of time past, from where we fly to our journey's end in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. 

Is this holiday for you?

This is the ultimate Central Asia cross border adventure with the perfect mix of trekking and sightseeing. The first week in Tajikistan includes 5 days trekking in the Fann Mountains and the second week is primarily a sightseeing tour of Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities. In the Fann Mountains trekking conditions are  good, following clear paths albeit through rocky mountain terrain. The route …

This is the ultimate Central Asia cross border adventure with the perfect mix of trekking and sightseeing. The first week in Tajikistan includes 5 days trekking in the Fann Mountains and the second week is primarily a sightseeing tour of Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities. In the Fann Mountains trekking conditions are  good, following clear paths albeit through rocky mountain terrain. The routes followed are those used by shepherds and their animals for generations. Walk times will be between 4 - 7 hours daily, and the ascent to Lake Mutny on day 4 is optional. The trek is fully supported and you will only be required to carry a day pack each day. There are 4 nights camping and 2 nights in simple, but welcoming, village homestay accommodation.  Note that whilst sightseeing in Uzbekistan accommodation will be in comfortable guesthouses, and some historic city visits will be made on foot. Temperatures in the summer months in the Fann Mountains are temperate, but it will feel much hotter in neighbouring Uzbekistan.

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Why KE?

We’re proud to say that this Central Asian cross-border adventure featured in The Guardian’s 2019 Travel Hotlist. With the reopening of the border at Penjikent, there has never been a better time to visit Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and, with all meals included, this holiday is excellent value for money.

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Itinerary

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Arriving in Dushanbe in Tajikistan in the early morning, we meet our local guide and transfer to the group hotel. Your holiday begins with access to rooms for a couple of hours rest. After breakfast, we visit the botanical gardens and the local bazaar. Later, we drive to the village of Chourmash (2000m), the starting point of our trek. Approx 5hrs driving. Overnight in local homestay accommodation.

Accommodation

Homestay

Meals

B L D
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Our first morning we have breakfast at camp and pack up before setting off on a relatively easy trail that follows the local jeep track. Our ponies carry our baggage for the duration of the trek and these will be packed up as we set off. We walk through a very picturesque steep sided valley with lush green pastures surrounding the river that we are following. We pass through the traditional villages of Passroude and Morguzor, giving us an insight into how rural life works here in the Tajik mountains. Our first campsite is by a river in the meadows near the settlement of Sangi Safed (2452m). Here we meet our baggage and trek crew and set up camp for the night.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

800 M

Descent

250 M

Time

6 hrs trekking

Distance

18 KM
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After breakfast at camp we continue our walk in a westerly direction following a further two valleys before taking the faint trail up to the Chapdara Pass (3430m). We have stunning views of the northern side of the rugged Chapdara Peak with possible glimpses of the glaciers coming off these high peaks. From today’s highest point at the pass we enjoy a steep descent to the shores of the beautiful turquoise-blue Alaudin Lakes. Situated in a rocky bowl and surrounded by stands of pine trees, this is a beautiful place. Altitude at camp 2777m.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1000 M

Descent

700 M

Time

7 hrs trekking

Distance

12 KM
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We walk in a southerly direction today into the high mountains for an exploration day up to Mutny Lake (3500m). It's a 6km ascending trail with a height gain of 800m, leading through the gorge of the Chapdara torrent into an alpine world of steep moraines, rock walls and hanging glaciers. There are increasingly impressive views of some of the biggest peaks of the range, including Kaznok, Zamok, Energia and Chimtarga. On arrival there is a general lack of vegetation reaffirms to us that we are in the high mountains. The high camp here is the gateway for climbers ascending the glaciers of Chimtarga and peaks Energia and Mirali, the highest in the range. After some lunch and some time enjoying the views we return by the same route to our camp at Lake Alaudin for a second night.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

800 M

Descent

800 M

Time

6 hrs trekking

Distance

13 KM
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Our trek continues westwards through this dramatic and stunning landscape. Our route descends slightly at first, following the river valleys and climbing up to the Kulikalon Pass (Laudon) at 3630m – our highest point on the trek. We then skirt around Alaudin Peak (4134m) for views of today’s destination the Kulikalon Lakes spread below us. The descent takes us down to these turquoise lakes with great views of the impressive ‘Kulikalon Wall’ of rocky peaks all above 4500m. We also have splendid views back towards the snow-capped summits of Chapdara and Bodhona. We set up camp near the lakes at approximately 2800m.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

1000 M

Descent

925 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs trekking

Distance

10 KM
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Our last day of trekking takes us on a gentle contouring ascent up to Choukrak pass at 3180m. We cross the high pastures, where local Taijik herdsmen spend the summer in simple huts tending their grazing flocks of sheep and goats. We then descend down to the shores of Lake Choukrak (2435m) before making the descent to the village of Artuch where we spend the night in friendly homestay accommodation. Tonight is a great opportunity to celebrate the end of the trek.

Accommodation

Homestay

Meals

B L D

Ascent

195 M

Descent

1250 M

Time

6 hrs trekking

Distance

14 KM
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Today we say a final goodbye to our trekking crew. Our vehicles arrive early in the morning and will be loaded for our drive across the Tajik Uzbek border, near Pandjakent, to Samarkand in Uzbekistan. From the border it is just a one hour drive to Samarkand. On arrival, we check in at a our comfortable guesthouse in the centre of the old city.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D
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After breakfast we start our sightseeing tour of this amazing town, exploring in the footsteps of Tamerlane. The visits today include the Gur Emir, where the tomb of Tamerlane lies beneath an enormous slab of dark green jade. The interior of the mausoleum is ornately decorated with blue and gold panels, which shine brightly. Our tour will also include the Bibi Khanym Mosque built for Tamerlane by his favourite wife, Bibi Khanym, and the Shah i Zinda, a mausoleum which is one of Samarkand's most atmospheric sights.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D
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There is plenty to see in this town and we have a second day for sightseeing. Our tour of the city today will include the Registan, one of the most magnificent squares in the Islamic world and the undoubted highlight of the tour. The 3 Madrassahs (Islamic colleges); Ulug Beg Madrassah, Tillya Kari Madrassah and Shir Dor Madrassah, that border the square have been restored to their former glory. We'll also pay a visit to the astronomer King Ulugbek's observatory and the Afrosiab History museum. We spend a second night at the guesthouse in Samarkand.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D
Hide Details

After breakfast we depart for Bukhara. The drive is a scenic one across the Uzbek countryside and should take 4-5hrs. We should arrive into Bukhara in time for lunch. In the afternoon we head out to discover the old city. Bukhara is another important Silk Road city and dates back thousands of years. It is the most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia, with a structure that has remained largely intact. Bukhara was one of the largest cities of central Asia, owing its prosperity to its site on a rich oasis and at the crossroads of ancient trade routes. It became a major cultural centre of the Caliphate of Baghdad in 709, and in 892 the capital of the independent Samanid Kingdom. It was destroyed in 1220 by the Mongol horde of Genghis Khan. Amongst the sites we will visit this afternoon will be the Ulugbek Madrassah and the Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah, the 11th century Kalon mosque and minaret, and the Poi-Kalyan group, including Madrassah Mir-i-Arab. We will also visit Tok-i-Zargaron, or the 'Dome of the Jewelers' before returning to our guesthouse accommodation.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D
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This morning we continue our exploration of Bukhara with excursions to the Tim Abdullah Khan (covered market), where we find beautiful hand woven silk Ikat, the Magok-i-Attari mosque, the ancient Zoroastrian temple, the Kukeldash Madrasa and the Nodir-Devon Begui. We will also take a walk in an old Jewish quarter and visit the synagogue. The whole historic part of the city is, in effect, an open-air museum and we will have a full guided tour of the city known as the 'Pearl of the Desert'. Of particular interest is the Ark Fortress, former home of the Bukhara Khans, where, in the 19th century the Emir of Bokhara had the English officers Stoddart and Connolly imprisoned and killed. Much of the "The Great Game", the battle between Imperial Britain and Tsarist Russia for control of the Central Asian states was played out in this part of the world. We have the afternoon free in Bukhara before spending a second night at our guesthouse in the World Heritage Site of Bukhara.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D
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Today, we make a reasonably early departure for the long drive to Khiva in the west. We first cut through the striking landscape of the Kyzylkum Desert before turning to follow the course of the Oxus River, locally known as the Amu Darya. Here, we are following in the traces of Alexander the Great, whose army passed this way in 329BC. Work has been carried out on the road in the last couple of years between Bukhara to Khiva and, but please note that in places the road surface is not in very good condition and the journey could take around 8 hours. On arrival into the ancient city of Khiva, which is close to the border with Turkmenistan, we check into our comfortable hotel which is within the city walls, with time to freshen up before dinner.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D
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We have a day for sightseeing, with a guided tour of the city. Khiva is an ancient settlement, with a long and turbulent history. There may have been a city on this spot for more than 1500 years. More recently, Khiva was the capital of an important Khanate in the 17th century and was a major Silk Road trading centre. The Ichan Kala (historic centre) has more than 50 important monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums and madrasahs (schools of Koranic learning). Later in the day there will be some free time to take it easy or to do some independent exploration. The ancient city looks particularly magical as the rays of the sun fade towards the end of the day - best viewed from the minaret of the Juma (Friday) Mosque. We spend a second night at the accommodation in Khiva. (Please note that the itinerary on this day can be subject to change depending on schedules/availability on the domestic flight from Urgench to Tashkent.)

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D
Hide Details

After breakfast we transfer to airport to check in for our flight to Tashkent. Arriving into Tashkent we have a guided tour of the city before heading to our hotel where we have time to freshen up and repack ahead of our journey home. In the evening enjoy a final dinner together as a group to celebrate the end of our holiday. (Please note that the itinerary on this day can be subject to change depending on schedules/availability on the domestic flight from Urgench to Tashkent and the timing of the preferred international flight back to the UK)

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D
Hide Details

You holiday ends this morning. An early morning transfer to Tashkent Airport is provided.

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The Route
Airport Airport
Point Point
Direction Direction
Transfer
Trek
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Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • A professional and qualified tour leader and support crew in Tajikistan
  • A professional and qualified tour leader in Uzbekistan Single timed airport transfers on arrival & departure All land transport and domestic flights involved in the itinerary
  • All accommodation as described
  • All meals
  • Full service camping on trek including all camping equipment
  • All activities/excursions/entrance fees mentioned except where specified as ‘optional’

  • Travel insurance
  • Uzbekistan and Tajikistan visa fees
  • Tips for local guides and support staff
  • Fees for using a camera at some of the monuments in Khiva Bukhara and Samarkand
  • Miscellaneous expenses - souvenirs and drinks etc

The group will meet at breakfast time at the group hotel in Dushanbe on the morning of Day 1 of the land only itinerary.

A single timed transfer from Dushanbe Airport to the group hotel will be provided. This transfer will meet the arrival of the Turkish Airlines flight from the UK in the early hours of Day 1 of the itinerary.

At the end of the holiday there will be a single group transfer from the hotel in Tashkent toTaskent Airport timed to meet the check in for the Turkish Airlines flight departing in the early morning. This transfer will actually be on the evening of Day 14 of the land only itinerary

Anyone may join the group transfers by prior arrangement. Travelling as a group or on public transport saves energy. If this is not practical, we can provide private transfers at an additional cost. Taxis are also available.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided in your booking confirmation.

All meals are included in the holiday price.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water is supplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles. Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water when in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

On trek, the food is a mixture of local and Western dishes using ingredients purchased locally and cooked by trek cooks. Breakfasts consist of porridge or eggs, bread, tea and coffee. Lunches are usually a healthy picnic with a choice of canned fish, tinned meats, cheese, sausage, tomatoes, cucumbers served with potatoes, rice or pasta. Dinner taken in a group ‘mess’ tent will consist of a starter and main course followed by fruit. On our touring section of the trip in Uzbekistan our meals are either taken at our overnight accommodation or in local restaurants. Breakfasts consist of yoghurt or eggs, fruit juices, bread, tea and coffee. Lunch will be mostly taken in restaurants, although packed lunches will be provided on some occasions. Dinner is a three-course meal and will usually include a selection of salads and bread, sometimes soup, a main course that could be a "pot au feu" style stew or the local plov (rice pilau) speciality followed by cake or fresh fruit for dessert. All meals in Uzbekistan are served with copious amounts of delicious green tea. Please note that vegetarianism is not a concept widely understood in Central Asia and choices for vegetarians will be much more limited. If you are vegetarian please remember to inform us of your dietary requirements before you travel. You may also wish to bring along some snacks from home to use during the course of your walking days.

For those arriving in the early hours of the morning of Day 1, we will have access to rooms at a local 3 star hotel in Dushanbe, where we can take a few hours rest.

We will spend 2 nights in a basic village homestays in Chourmash and Artuch. At the homestays the sleeping arrangements will be non-segregated, dormitory style, with shared bathroom facilities.

We will spend 1 night in a 3 star hotel in Tashkent, 2 nights in a guesthouse in Khiva, 2 nights in a guesthouse in Bukhara and 3 nights in a guesthouse in Samarkand. In the hotels and guesthouses, all rooms are en suite.

Whilst on trek there will be a total of 4 nights camping. Whilst camping we will sleep in 2 person tents. There will also be a kitchen tent, a mess tent and toilet tents.

Hotel, guesthouse and tent accommodation is allocated on a twin-sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired with another single traveller of the same sex. A limited number of single rooms and/or single tents are available for a supplementary cost. If you are planning to extend your holiday, additional nights are available on request.

In Tajikistan the group will be led by a professional and qualified tour leader. Whilst on trek the tour leader will be supported by a trek crew including cook, pack animals and their handlers. After crossing into Uzbekistan the group will be led by different professional and qualifed tour leader.

This holiday involves going to high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 3500 metres. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude. You can also talk to one of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude. On this trip we carry a portable altitude chamber (PAC-bag) and/or bottled oxygen for use in emergencies.

Approximately $200 should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses and tips. We recommend that you take your travel money in the form of US dollars cash. Money can be changed at a reasonable rate at Dushanbe Airport or at authorised money changers near to the hotel. Credit cards are of limited use in Tashkent and Samarkand and foreign cards are not generally accepted in ATMs. Please note that whilst better rates of exchange can be obtained on the black market in the bazaars, unofficial exchange is illegal and can result in imprisonment. For this reason we advise you change money only at accredited bureaux.

In Central Asia, it is usual to tip the members of your trek crew, including your local guide, if you are happy with the services provided. We suggest a guideline of approximately $80 for your trek crew, tour guide and drivers tips. You will have to tip your trek crew at the end of your trek in Tajikistan and then your guide at the end of the trip in Tashkent. The guide will help the group to determine an appropriate level of tipping for each crew member.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage, which should be a soft and sturdy duffel bag and a daypack. Your bag on trek will be carried by porters or pack animals and should not weigh more than 15kg. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

If you have a UK passport you can enter Uzbekistan as a visitor for stays of up to 30 days without a visa. For stays longer than 30 days you can apply for an e-visa via the Uzbekistan e-visa Portal

Other nationalities, should check entry requirements with the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in their own country.

Visa Tajikistan

UK, US, Australian, New Zealand, Irish, and Canadian passport holders can apply for a Single Entry visa via the Tajikistan e-visa Portal: https://www.evisa.tj/index.evisa.html

Our agent in Tajikistan has offered to expedite Tajikistan e-visas for KE customers. Please contact KE if you would like to take advantage of this service. We will require a single scan of both pages that face each other in the passport, not just a scan of the information page of your passport. There will be a fee of $60 in total ($30 Tajikistan e-visa fee + $30 admin fee). The $60 fee will be converted into the currency you are paying KE at the prevailing exchange rate. We will e-mail your Tajik e-visa to you once it has been issued. Please ensure you cross-check ALL details on your Visa prior and inform us of any errors immediately.

The e-visa is valid for a period of up to 90 days from the date specified in your application, although you can spend no more than 60 days within the country.

If you are arranging your own visa, the Tajikistan e-visa portal recommend applying for the e-visa at least 2 weeks ahead of travel, however we have found these timings can sometimes be quite tight and would recommend applying 4 weeks ahead of travel to allow for any unexpected delays. * Please note that recent Tajik Visa applications have required a letter of invitation and we will be sending these out to any customers applying for their own visa.

The information you provide for the e-visa needs to exactly match your travel documents or you may be refused entry to the country.

Please enter the following on the application form:

Where asked if you need a GBAO Permit tick - NO
Group identifier – KE Adventure Travel / Paramount Journey
Address in Tajikistan - Shumon Hotel, Niyozi 34, Dushanbe 734000

You will be asked to upload a copy of your passport. Please use a scanner, rather than a phone camera, and make a single scan of both pages that face each other in the passport, not just a scan of the information page of your passport. Only use the supported formats listed for your passport scan and ensure the file size is less than 1MB.

Important: if your occupation is in journalism or government service such as the military or police, please contact the KE office before making your application.
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If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

VACCINATIONS

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

Getting some additional exercise before coming on an active holiday makes a lot of sense. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience.

You should be aerobically fit and comfortable with walking 3 to 6 hours for consecutive days. Hill walking, with a good amount of ascent and descent, is the best training. Running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

In Dushanbe, Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, the temperatures in July and August will be hot, with daytime temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Centigrade, and sometimes warmer readings. Once we get up into the mountains, it will be much cooler, with average daytime temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Centigrade and night-time temperatures at our highest camps in single digit degrees Centigrade. The weather is generally excellent throughout the summer, with clear skies and little rain or snow. However, weather in mountainous areas is notoriously difficult to predict, and short-lived storms can occur at any time of the year.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

  • The Golden Road to Samarkand, Odyssey Guides. Mcleod and Mayhew. (By far the best guidebook on Uzbekistan)

  • The Lost Heart of Asia. Colin Thubron.

  • Foreign Devils on the Silk Road. Peter Hopkirk

  • The Great Game. Peter Hopkirk

  • Setting the East Ablaze. Peter Hopkirk

  • Xinjiang, the Silk Road. Islam’s Overland Route to China. Peter Yung

  • Shadow of the Silk Road. Colin Thubron

  • Eastern Approaches. Fitzroy McLean

  • A Carpet Ride to Khiva. Christopher Aslan Alexander

EWP Fann Mountains Map and Guide

1:100,000 - 3 colour topographical map 1:100,000 - 2 colour ridge map 1:5,000,000 - 2 colour location map

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.

The packed weight of your bag whilst trekking should be no more than 15kg.

You must bring the following items:

  • Hiking boots

  • Trainers or sandals for river crossings

  • Sleeping bag (comfort rated -10°C)

  • Thermarest or similar sleeping mat (please note that thin sleeping mats are provided)

  • Socks

  • Underwear

  • Trekking trousers

  • Waterproof overtrousers

  • Waterproof jacket

  • Thermal baselayer - leggings

  • Thermal baselayer shirts (2 short sleeve, 2 long sleeve)

  • T-shirts

  • Shorts and/or swimsuit

  • Fleece jacket or warm jumper

  • Warm jacket (down)

  • Sunhat

  • Warm hat

  • Sunglasses

  • Warm fleece gloves

  • Buff/neckerchief (to protect against dust)

  • Small padlock (to lock your kit bag)

  • Selection of dry bags (to keep kit bag contents dry)

  • Daypack 30 to 40 litres

  • Headtorch and spare batteries

  • Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)

  • Water bottles 1 litre / 1 quart (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)

  • Water purification tablets

  • Washbag and toiletries

  • Antibacterial handwash

  • Small towel

  • Basic First Aid Kit. Including: antiseptic and antihistamine cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).

The following items are optional:

  • Spare laces

  • Trekking poles (optional, but highly recommended)

  • Swimwear (we will be camping near mountain lakes on several nights)

  • Insect repellant – (DEET)

  • Water purification tablets (boiled water is provided morning and evening at camp, but if you want to fill bottles during the day there are many streams)

  • Sleeping bag liner

  • Pen-knife (remember to pack sharp objects in hold baggage)

  • Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)

  • Camera

  • Travel clothes

  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Notes:

Every night camping you are usually beside a lake or river, so it is possible to wash yourself and your clothes providing you bring biodegradable soap.

Many of the equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive a 12.5% discount with Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock and Runners Need. The discount code can be downloaded from your MyKE account and you can use this code at the checkout, either in store or online.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 from 7 reviews

Very good trip, spectacular scenery on the trek and architecture in the cities ★★★★★

The group flight arrived in Dushanbe in the early hours of Monday morning, this afforded us some sleep before our 10:00 departure. It could have been a bit more as the Tadjik ground agent gave each guest a different answer to the question, “what time is breakfast?”. Anyway after a slightly dubious start things quickly improved and we embarked on a mini tour of Dushanbe. This was followed by a safe drive to the start of the trek where we overnighted in a basic but clean homestay. The followin g day the trek commenced with an easy walk to our first camp site. For the next 4 days we trekked through beautiful scenery and camped by rivers and lakes. The trek crew were excellent, the camping equipment was in full working order and the camp food good, nobody got sick at all. At the end of the trek we transferred to a homestay before heading across the border into Uzbekistan. The entry into Uzbekistan was trouble free and much to my surprise there was no paperwork to fill in at the border! On arrival at our centrally located hotel in Samarkand we were offered, tea and snacks and made to feel very welcome, we stayed at this excellent hotel for three nights and during this time visited Samarkand’s spectacular mosques, minarets, mausoleums, museums and madrassas. We then transferred to a centrally located hotel in Bukhara which was OK but more basic but what disappointed me was the poor attitude of the staff, especially the group of men who just sat around, eating, drinking and ignoring the paying guests. From Bukhara we headed to Khiva which was a long old drive (about 10 hours I think) but we still had a little time to stretch our legs before the evening meal. Here we stayed in another reasonably basic but centrally-located hotel, this time just for one night. From Khiva we transferred to the local airport for the domestic flight to Tashkent where we arrived just before midnight, the flight and transfers were trouble free. The final day in Tashkent was a bit dull, by this stage I was ‘mosqued-out’ and wanted to see something different but after the early departure of our Uzbek leader we then embarked on a quick tour of the Tashkent underground and its fantastic Soviet-era stations. The holiday ended with a 23:30 transfer to the airport for a flight at 02:50 the next day. Hints and tips: [1] Take a bag on wheels or just pack light, the Tadjik-Uzbek border is a long way when carrying a trek bag, easily 200m or so of weightlifting. There are streams and lakes to wash your clothes and body in whilst on trek as well as a very cheap laundry service in Samarkand ($6 for a big bag). [2] Understand your capabilities. One of our group was clearly not up to the trip and spent all bar the first morning trekking by donkey. The trek is graded 5/12 which sounds like a walk in the park, it is not, the trekking days are easily a grade 7 (see the ascents and descents in the trip notes) but this is averaged out by the sightseeing days. [3] I did the 16th September departure. The equipment list said to take a sleeping bag comfort rated as minus 10 but the climate notes said that the overnight temperatures would be in single digits, I took a bag comfort rated at 0 degrees and with a liner was just about warm enough as the overnight temperature really dropped off and came very near to 0 degrees at the first camp, a slightly warmer bag would have been welcome! [4] You don’t need to exchange any money when entering Tajikistan as there is nowhere to spend it and you can tip the crew in USD. [5] Finally be warned about the repetitive food. I was aware that the veggie options would be limited (main meal minus animal parts) so in that respect my expectations were managed but what I couldn’t get was why we needed to eat a bland time consuming 3 course meal at lunchtime and then a virtually identical bland 3 course meal in the evening which always consisted of salads, soup, stodge, melon and tea. There was also absolutely no choice which is an irritant of mine. Sorry to end the review on a negative as overall it was a good trip.
By Jeanette from Penrith | 18 October 2019

Perfect combination of trekking and sightseeing ★★★★★

Just back from this wonderful trip. I have read previous reviews and would like to add my 2 cents to what has been previously said. I think that KE have made a very good effort at tweaking this trip to make it much better and more logical. Trekking bit first. The trekking team were very good and professional, Sorbon (our guide) made sure we were well taken care of and actively participated in everything, The food provided was very good and I feel that the cook really made a great effort to provi de varied, nutritious breakfasts and dinners. Salads, soups and meat dishes were always provided, along with a nice variety of biscuits, nuts and dried fruits. Standards of hygiene seem to have been really improved and we noticed that all the crew took care to use hand sanitizers and wash hands often when dealing with food. We were always provided with soap and warm water to wash our hands before eating. No tummy trouble was reported during the trek in fact. We always camped near lakes or rivers so it was easy to wash stuff. Tents were of good quality though I do recommend taking an inflatable mattress to make things a bit more comfy. Toilet tent always set up too. The scenery was absolutely amazing and I have never seen such clear and multi-coloured lakes! Most of us had a quick dip to wash off the days dust and sweat, though be warned they are freezing and you won;t last more than 20-30 seconds in it before you start turning blue! Temperatures were very warm during the day but dropped considerably at night, and a good sleeping bag and jacket are certainly needed.I didn't change any money in Tajikistan, and never really needed any. Uzbekistan. Absolutely beautiful Silk Road cities. We crossed the border and headed to Samarkand, then Bukhara, then Khiva, flew to Taskhent in the evenng, had a day in Tashkent and took night flight back home. A much more logical itinerary. Our local guide was competent, had very good English and always tried her best to keep everyone happy. She even arranged for us to keep our rooms in the Tashkent hotel until we left for our flight, and that was something you will really appreciate when your flight is at 3am. Accommodation standards were good, always excellently located and always with ensuite bathrooms. Most of your group did have a bit of tummy trouble after what we think was lunch in a Samarkand restaurant, but nothng serious and everyone easily managed the rest of the trip. Long drive from Bukhara to Khiva on quite bad roads, but our driver was always careful, friendly and made sure to make it as sooth as possible. One of our highlights was when he took us to his cousin's wedding! Money-wise there are ATMs, but many places accept (clean, untorn) dollars or euros. Beer is about 2.5 euros a bottle, and good quality. Official money exchange offices are few on the ground though Tipping. We gave $30pp to the 3 donkey porters (hopefully the hard working donkeys also got an extra carrot for their troubles), $15pp to the cook, $15pp to the trek guide and $20pp to the overall Tajik guide ($80 total pp). In Uzbekistan we gave $20pp to the driver and another $20pp to the guide. Some people added something small extra for when the guide or driver went out of their way with something they needed. We felt it was a good amount and they seemed to appreciate it . A small note. In Uzbekistan we nearly always had huge 3 course meals and dessert. Most of us felt that it was a bit too much, especially lunch, and by the end of the trip most of us were skipping a lot of courses. Maybe at least lunch could be a bit shorter and lighter, would also save some time because often we stayed at restaurant for 1.5/2 hrs, when a lot of us would have rather been out sightseeing. Overall it was a really great trip and I feel that KE have done a great job with it. If anyone needs any more tips or info feel free to get in touch (adriancardona@hotmail.com)
By Adrian from Birkirkara | 01 October 2019

Wild, beautiful scenery & wild, unspeakable long-drops ★★★★

A brilliant holiday with wild & beautiful scenery in the Fann mountains & wild, unspeakable long-drops. They featured prominently because 9 out of 11 (all experienced) travellers joined the Tajik Tummy club to varying degrees, from mild discomfort to full explosions from both ends. Take more loo roll, hand sanitizer, baby wipes & underwear than usual. Charcoal tablets, antibiotics & Imodium were all deployed with varying degrees of success. This was mainly during the camping & although we all had our own mugs there was nowhere to wash them & the handwashing station in camp was intermittent. A suggestion to provide separate serving cutlery was implemented but I’m not entirely sure extra precautions would have made much difference? Tipping. This caused too much discussion, with no guidance around splitting $80 between Tajikistan & Uzbekistan. In the end we split $50:$30, but in retrospect would have loaded more towards Tajikistan. The friendly efficient trekking team expected set amounts so e.g. 6 would have to cover the same total: $60 x4 Donkey team; $65-75 x2 Cooks; $5 x3 Drivers (from homestay village to boarder). We tipped our excellent Guide & hard working Interpreter $100 each, though again there were huge discussions around giving $200 to our Guide (also owner of the local agency), to share at his discretion or giving the (essential) Interpreter her’s direct. The former was decided on by a majority vote – so much for gender equality! Very little need for Tajik currency (possibly a couple of beers); the market visited was interesting but it was a local working market & most who had changed any money had to swap it right back before crossing the border. The driver from the Uzbek boarder to the hotel & then to Tashkent airport also expected a tip. We gave $5, in line with Tajikistan – no idea if this was correct. In Uzbekistan our Guide booked all meals & helped celebrate someone’s birthday, organising a cake & local bubbly (!) for a tiny contribution to cover the cost. However his knowledge of the stunning sights was patchy & didn’t always match the guide books. He also wanted us to stay in the lobby of the hotel at the end of our trip & was disappointed when we all insisted on having the 3 hours in our rooms to shower, repack & rest a little before leaving for the airport at 11.30pm (initially insisting our flight was 8.30am instead of 2.40am). We split the remaining $30 between our main driver (very safe & kept the bus immaculate) & the Guide at our own discretion, having reached tip-discussion fatigue point. Lots of craft markets in Uzbekistan & prices in $ were generally better than in Uzbek som. Som were required for supermarkets, evening drinks & for many toilets (carry a wodge of 1,000 notes) which sometimes you don’t have to pay for if you are eating/ drinking at the establishment & sometimes you do; our Guide wasn’t at all clear on this, though he got cross when we got it wrong! As warned there was a lot of time spent on the bus on poor roads, so we were all massively looking forward to a train journey as a change. This prospect hovered like an oasis in the desert but proved to be a mirage. We never found out the actual reason because the stories from KE & the Uzbek agency never entirely tallied. KE said the agency said the train was fully booked as soon as it came on line, 2 months in advance & our Guide said KE said that the fast train (leaving at the right time) was too expensive. I suspect the likelihood of a train journey actually happening is like the promise of jam tomorrow & should be removed from the itinerary. I hope you find the info above useful & enjoy your trip!
By Claire from Shifnal | 15 November 2017

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your detailed review, which I am sure will be helpful to future travellers to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. We are pleased that you had such a good trip despite the tummy troubles you describe. We believe this was most likely a bug being passed around from one trekker to another and we have now introduced additional defences to guard against this. We do have to correct you on one factual inaccuracy in your review.  Your group drove to Tashkent because there were no tickets available on the afternoon train.  In fact tickets for this train were sold out as soon as booking opened, 2 months prior to departure! The only other available train would have seen the group arrive in Tashkent just hours before their international flight departures, and we therefore arranged for the group to travel by private vehicle. The majority of our 'Mountains and Marvels' groups have taken the train to Tashkent and there was no cost saving whatsoever to KE by your group travelling by road.

Beautiful countries, lots of culture, but could be better organized. ★★★★

In Tajikistan, the guides did not speak English (most of the time a Native Dutch-speaking Belgian had to translate the French (that one of the hiking guides spoke) to English. This caused potential problems, such as the day I asked the "English speaking guide" if there would be a stream or spring or any water that we could get on the hike during the day and was told "yes". Later when I ran out of water and asked when we would be getting to where there was water - was told &qu ot;no water anywhere". Saying that, many of us became ill - and they took wonderful care of us, which I know was difficult for them in such a remote place. So the hiking guides were good, but needed at least one actual English speaking guide for safety. The guide in Uzbekistan told - not sure what to tell you....thought he English was OK, he was not good. For example he told us that no one would take dollars anywhere and there would be no other place to change money, so we had to change all the dollars we would need for the rest of the trip the night we got into the country - and at a rate that gave him about 1/4 of the value (he made hundreds of dollars that night) when in fact most places preferred dollars and there were lots!!!! of places to change money. Soured the whole trip when we realized how badly we had been taken advantage of...... Also, that Uzbek guide knew almost nothing about the sites we went to. Would strongly suggest that a local guide be hired who knows about the history and the sites to make the most of the cultural part of this trip (like the ones we listened in on at the sites so that we would understand what we were looking at). Thus my advice - KE needs to ensure much better guides! While I understand these countries are just starting to have tourists etc. this can be better. We hired a local company in Kazakhstan and had great guides who knew a lot about the history and the sites, and the hikes AND spoke good English - so it is possible. I have been on lots of KE trips, and this one had the most inadequate guides.
By Adventure from Johnston | 14 November 2016

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are emerging destinations for adventure travel so things don't always run as smoothly as we would like. KE have been working hard with our local leaders to ensure they meet our usual high standard and in the past few years we have received some excellent feedback for this trip. We are sorry that the leadership offered by the Tajik guide fell below your expectation and we are putting additional resources into our local leader training for this part of the world. We understand from our agent that the Uzbek guide was trying to be of assistance to the group in arranging to exchange their dollars but we have now instructed all our guides that they are not to do this in future and should always take their groups to the bank to exchange the money themselves.

A good combination of trekking and sightseeing in a fantastic part of the world! ★★★★

This trip comprises of two parts, a week trekking in the northern Fann Mountains of Tajikistan and a week sightseeing in the cities of Uzbekistan. I choose this trip over the Ultimate Fann Mountains (UFT) primarily because I wanted to see more of Uzbekistan, although I would also have liked to do a longer trek in Tajikistan! The scenery on trek in Tajikistan was spectacular. My highlights included the views from the top of the Chapdara and Kulikalon Passes and our campsites at Alaudin and Kulik alon Lakes (Days 3-5). Each night we camped by a river or lake and so there were ample opportunities for washing, even if the water was rather refreshing! I would recommend taking a good supply of cereal bars or similar, as extra food supplies to have on trek. The people of Tajikistan are incredibly hospitable, although the country is very poor and facilities can be basic. In Uzbekistan we visited the cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. Due to the timing of our flights (Tashkent to Urgench on Day 8, and Tashkent to Istanbul on Day 15) we only had very limited time in Tashkent. If you would like to see more of this city then I would recommend booking a day or two extra at the end of the trip. We stayed in the same hotel in Tashkent on Day 7 and Day 14 (for a few hours!) and so we were able to leave much of our trekking gear in Tashkent. My highlights in Uzbekistan included Khiva and Bukhara, and I was glad to have chosen the trip which took in these additional cities as I enjoyed them more than Samarkand (which does have some very impressive sites, but has more of a ‘big city’ feel). Good pre-departure information from KE and quick to respond to queries. Looking forward to booking my next KE adventure!
By Katie from NOTTINGHAM | 29 September 2015
Read More Reviews Leave a Review
Traveller Reviews
4.3 out of 5 from 7 reviews
Leave a Review
Very good trip, spectacular scenery on the trek and architecture in the cities
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The group flight arrived in Dushanbe in the early hours of Monday morning, this afforded us some sleep before our 10:00 departure. It could have been a bit more as the Tadjik ground agent gave each guest a different answer to the question, “what time is breakfast?”. Anyway after a slightly dubious start things quickly improved and we embarked on a mini tour of Dushanbe. This was followed by a safe drive to the start of the trek where we overnighted in a basic but clean homestay. The followin g day the trek commenced with an easy walk to our first camp site. For the next 4 days we trekked through beautiful scenery and camped by rivers and lakes. The trek crew were excellent, the camping equipment was in full working order and the camp food good, nobody got sick at all. At the end of the trek we transferred to a homestay before heading across the border into Uzbekistan. The entry into Uzbekistan was trouble free and much to my surprise there was no paperwork to fill in at the border! On arrival at our centrally located hotel in Samarkand we were offered, tea and snacks and made to feel very welcome, we stayed at this excellent hotel for three nights and during this time visited Samarkand’s spectacular mosques, minarets, mausoleums, museums and madrassas. We then transferred to a centrally located hotel in Bukhara which was OK but more basic but what disappointed me was the poor attitude of the staff, especially the group of men who just sat around, eating, drinking and ignoring the paying guests. From Bukhara we headed to Khiva which was a long old drive (about 10 hours I think) but we still had a little time to stretch our legs before the evening meal. Here we stayed in another reasonably basic but centrally-located hotel, this time just for one night. From Khiva we transferred to the local airport for the domestic flight to Tashkent where we arrived just before midnight, the flight and transfers were trouble free. The final day in Tashkent was a bit dull, by this stage I was ‘mosqued-out’ and wanted to see something different but after the early departure of our Uzbek leader we then embarked on a quick tour of the Tashkent underground and its fantastic Soviet-era stations. The holiday ended with a 23:30 transfer to the airport for a flight at 02:50 the next day. Hints and tips: [1] Take a bag on wheels or just pack light, the Tadjik-Uzbek border is a long way when carrying a trek bag, easily 200m or so of weightlifting. There are streams and lakes to wash your clothes and body in whilst on trek as well as a very cheap laundry service in Samarkand ($6 for a big bag). [2] Understand your capabilities. One of our group was clearly not up to the trip and spent all bar the first morning trekking by donkey. The trek is graded 5/12 which sounds like a walk in the park, it is not, the trekking days are easily a grade 7 (see the ascents and descents in the trip notes) but this is averaged out by the sightseeing days. [3] I did the 16th September departure. The equipment list said to take a sleeping bag comfort rated as minus 10 but the climate notes said that the overnight temperatures would be in single digits, I took a bag comfort rated at 0 degrees and with a liner was just about warm enough as the overnight temperature really dropped off and came very near to 0 degrees at the first camp, a slightly warmer bag would have been welcome! [4] You don’t need to exchange any money when entering Tajikistan as there is nowhere to spend it and you can tip the crew in USD. [5] Finally be warned about the repetitive food. I was aware that the veggie options would be limited (main meal minus animal parts) so in that respect my expectations were managed but what I couldn’t get was why we needed to eat a bland time consuming 3 course meal at lunchtime and then a virtually identical bland 3 course meal in the evening which always consisted of salads, soup, stodge, melon and tea. There was also absolutely no choice which is an irritant of mine. Sorry to end the review on a negative as overall it was a good trip.
By Jeanette from Penrith | 18 October 2019
Perfect combination of trekking and sightseeing
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Just back from this wonderful trip. I have read previous reviews and would like to add my 2 cents to what has been previously said. I think that KE have made a very good effort at tweaking this trip to make it much better and more logical. Trekking bit first. The trekking team were very good and professional, Sorbon (our guide) made sure we were well taken care of and actively participated in everything, The food provided was very good and I feel that the cook really made a great effort to provi de varied, nutritious breakfasts and dinners. Salads, soups and meat dishes were always provided, along with a nice variety of biscuits, nuts and dried fruits. Standards of hygiene seem to have been really improved and we noticed that all the crew took care to use hand sanitizers and wash hands often when dealing with food. We were always provided with soap and warm water to wash our hands before eating. No tummy trouble was reported during the trek in fact. We always camped near lakes or rivers so it was easy to wash stuff. Tents were of good quality though I do recommend taking an inflatable mattress to make things a bit more comfy. Toilet tent always set up too. The scenery was absolutely amazing and I have never seen such clear and multi-coloured lakes! Most of us had a quick dip to wash off the days dust and sweat, though be warned they are freezing and you won;t last more than 20-30 seconds in it before you start turning blue! Temperatures were very warm during the day but dropped considerably at night, and a good sleeping bag and jacket are certainly needed.I didn't change any money in Tajikistan, and never really needed any. Uzbekistan. Absolutely beautiful Silk Road cities. We crossed the border and headed to Samarkand, then Bukhara, then Khiva, flew to Taskhent in the evenng, had a day in Tashkent and took night flight back home. A much more logical itinerary. Our local guide was competent, had very good English and always tried her best to keep everyone happy. She even arranged for us to keep our rooms in the Tashkent hotel until we left for our flight, and that was something you will really appreciate when your flight is at 3am. Accommodation standards were good, always excellently located and always with ensuite bathrooms. Most of your group did have a bit of tummy trouble after what we think was lunch in a Samarkand restaurant, but nothng serious and everyone easily managed the rest of the trip. Long drive from Bukhara to Khiva on quite bad roads, but our driver was always careful, friendly and made sure to make it as sooth as possible. One of our highlights was when he took us to his cousin's wedding! Money-wise there are ATMs, but many places accept (clean, untorn) dollars or euros. Beer is about 2.5 euros a bottle, and good quality. Official money exchange offices are few on the ground though Tipping. We gave $30pp to the 3 donkey porters (hopefully the hard working donkeys also got an extra carrot for their troubles), $15pp to the cook, $15pp to the trek guide and $20pp to the overall Tajik guide ($80 total pp). In Uzbekistan we gave $20pp to the driver and another $20pp to the guide. Some people added something small extra for when the guide or driver went out of their way with something they needed. We felt it was a good amount and they seemed to appreciate it . A small note. In Uzbekistan we nearly always had huge 3 course meals and dessert. Most of us felt that it was a bit too much, especially lunch, and by the end of the trip most of us were skipping a lot of courses. Maybe at least lunch could be a bit shorter and lighter, would also save some time because often we stayed at restaurant for 1.5/2 hrs, when a lot of us would have rather been out sightseeing. Overall it was a really great trip and I feel that KE have done a great job with it. If anyone needs any more tips or info feel free to get in touch (adriancardona@hotmail.com)
By Adrian from Birkirkara | 01 October 2019
Wild, beautiful scenery & wild, unspeakable long-drops
★ ★ ★ ★
A brilliant holiday with wild & beautiful scenery in the Fann mountains & wild, unspeakable long-drops. They featured prominently because 9 out of 11 (all experienced) travellers joined the Tajik Tummy club to varying degrees, from mild discomfort to full explosions from both ends. Take more loo roll, hand sanitizer, baby wipes & underwear than usual. Charcoal tablets, antibiotics & Imodium were all deployed with varying degrees of success. This was mainly during the camping & although we all had our own mugs there was nowhere to wash them & the handwashing station in camp was intermittent. A suggestion to provide separate serving cutlery was implemented but I’m not entirely sure extra precautions would have made much difference? Tipping. This caused too much discussion, with no guidance around splitting $80 between Tajikistan & Uzbekistan. In the end we split $50:$30, but in retrospect would have loaded more towards Tajikistan. The friendly efficient trekking team expected set amounts so e.g. 6 would have to cover the same total: $60 x4 Donkey team; $65-75 x2 Cooks; $5 x3 Drivers (from homestay village to boarder). We tipped our excellent Guide & hard working Interpreter $100 each, though again there were huge discussions around giving $200 to our Guide (also owner of the local agency), to share at his discretion or giving the (essential) Interpreter her’s direct. The former was decided on by a majority vote – so much for gender equality! Very little need for Tajik currency (possibly a couple of beers); the market visited was interesting but it was a local working market & most who had changed any money had to swap it right back before crossing the border. The driver from the Uzbek boarder to the hotel & then to Tashkent airport also expected a tip. We gave $5, in line with Tajikistan – no idea if this was correct. In Uzbekistan our Guide booked all meals & helped celebrate someone’s birthday, organising a cake & local bubbly (!) for a tiny contribution to cover the cost. However his knowledge of the stunning sights was patchy & didn’t always match the guide books. He also wanted us to stay in the lobby of the hotel at the end of our trip & was disappointed when we all insisted on having the 3 hours in our rooms to shower, repack & rest a little before leaving for the airport at 11.30pm (initially insisting our flight was 8.30am instead of 2.40am). We split the remaining $30 between our main driver (very safe & kept the bus immaculate) & the Guide at our own discretion, having reached tip-discussion fatigue point. Lots of craft markets in Uzbekistan & prices in $ were generally better than in Uzbek som. Som were required for supermarkets, evening drinks & for many toilets (carry a wodge of 1,000 notes) which sometimes you don’t have to pay for if you are eating/ drinking at the establishment & sometimes you do; our Guide wasn’t at all clear on this, though he got cross when we got it wrong! As warned there was a lot of time spent on the bus on poor roads, so we were all massively looking forward to a train journey as a change. This prospect hovered like an oasis in the desert but proved to be a mirage. We never found out the actual reason because the stories from KE & the Uzbek agency never entirely tallied. KE said the agency said the train was fully booked as soon as it came on line, 2 months in advance & our Guide said KE said that the fast train (leaving at the right time) was too expensive. I suspect the likelihood of a train journey actually happening is like the promise of jam tomorrow & should be removed from the itinerary. I hope you find the info above useful & enjoy your trip!
By Claire from Shifnal | 15 November 2017

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your detailed review, which I am sure will be helpful to future travellers to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. We are pleased that you had such a good trip despite the tummy troubles you describe. We believe this was most likely a bug being passed around from one trekker to another and we have now introduced additional defences to guard against this. We do have to correct you on one factual inaccuracy in your review.  Your group drove to Tashkent because there were no tickets available on the afternoon train.  In fact tickets for this train were sold out as soon as booking opened, 2 months prior to departure! The only other available train would have seen the group arrive in Tashkent just hours before their international flight departures, and we therefore arranged for the group to travel by private vehicle. The majority of our 'Mountains and Marvels' groups have taken the train to Tashkent and there was no cost saving whatsoever to KE by your group travelling by road.

Beautiful countries, lots of culture, but could be better organized.
★ ★ ★ ★
In Tajikistan, the guides did not speak English (most of the time a Native Dutch-speaking Belgian had to translate the French (that one of the hiking guides spoke) to English. This caused potential problems, such as the day I asked the "English speaking guide" if there would be a stream or spring or any water that we could get on the hike during the day and was told "yes". Later when I ran out of water and asked when we would be getting to where there was water - was told &qu ot;no water anywhere". Saying that, many of us became ill - and they took wonderful care of us, which I know was difficult for them in such a remote place. So the hiking guides were good, but needed at least one actual English speaking guide for safety. The guide in Uzbekistan told - not sure what to tell you....thought he English was OK, he was not good. For example he told us that no one would take dollars anywhere and there would be no other place to change money, so we had to change all the dollars we would need for the rest of the trip the night we got into the country - and at a rate that gave him about 1/4 of the value (he made hundreds of dollars that night) when in fact most places preferred dollars and there were lots!!!! of places to change money. Soured the whole trip when we realized how badly we had been taken advantage of...... Also, that Uzbek guide knew almost nothing about the sites we went to. Would strongly suggest that a local guide be hired who knows about the history and the sites to make the most of the cultural part of this trip (like the ones we listened in on at the sites so that we would understand what we were looking at). Thus my advice - KE needs to ensure much better guides! While I understand these countries are just starting to have tourists etc. this can be better. We hired a local company in Kazakhstan and had great guides who knew a lot about the history and the sites, and the hikes AND spoke good English - so it is possible. I have been on lots of KE trips, and this one had the most inadequate guides.
By Adventure from Johnston | 14 November 2016

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are emerging destinations for adventure travel so things don't always run as smoothly as we would like. KE have been working hard with our local leaders to ensure they meet our usual high standard and in the past few years we have received some excellent feedback for this trip. We are sorry that the leadership offered by the Tajik guide fell below your expectation and we are putting additional resources into our local leader training for this part of the world. We understand from our agent that the Uzbek guide was trying to be of assistance to the group in arranging to exchange their dollars but we have now instructed all our guides that they are not to do this in future and should always take their groups to the bank to exchange the money themselves.

A good combination of trekking and sightseeing in a fantastic part of the world!
★ ★ ★ ★
This trip comprises of two parts, a week trekking in the northern Fann Mountains of Tajikistan and a week sightseeing in the cities of Uzbekistan. I choose this trip over the Ultimate Fann Mountains (UFT) primarily because I wanted to see more of Uzbekistan, although I would also have liked to do a longer trek in Tajikistan! The scenery on trek in Tajikistan was spectacular. My highlights included the views from the top of the Chapdara and Kulikalon Passes and our campsites at Alaudin and Kulik alon Lakes (Days 3-5). Each night we camped by a river or lake and so there were ample opportunities for washing, even if the water was rather refreshing! I would recommend taking a good supply of cereal bars or similar, as extra food supplies to have on trek. The people of Tajikistan are incredibly hospitable, although the country is very poor and facilities can be basic. In Uzbekistan we visited the cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. Due to the timing of our flights (Tashkent to Urgench on Day 8, and Tashkent to Istanbul on Day 15) we only had very limited time in Tashkent. If you would like to see more of this city then I would recommend booking a day or two extra at the end of the trip. We stayed in the same hotel in Tashkent on Day 7 and Day 14 (for a few hours!) and so we were able to leave much of our trekking gear in Tashkent. My highlights in Uzbekistan included Khiva and Bukhara, and I was glad to have chosen the trip which took in these additional cities as I enjoyed them more than Samarkand (which does have some very impressive sites, but has more of a ‘big city’ feel). Good pre-departure information from KE and quick to respond to queries. Looking forward to booking my next KE adventure!
By Katie from NOTTINGHAM | 29 September 2015
Stunning mountains and architecture
★ ★ ★ ★

Great chance to do some great trekking and learn about the culture of these unique places. You get off the beaten path, but stay safe and organized with KE. Enjoyed both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan immensely and would definitely recommend it to others.

By Kristine from SAN FRANCISCO | 25 September 2015
Perfect for any Great Game fan who loves the mountains.
★ ★ ★ ★
After most of my friends thought I might end up abducted and put on parade in an orange jump suit it was a completely relaxed atmosphere throughout! The lakes in the Fann Mountains are particularly beautiful and the north facing Koliakul wall leading to the Chimitarga summit has a similar dimension and appearance to the Eiger from Grindelwald. The organisation in Tajikistan is raw but worked fine. The food was uninspiring with plenty of carbohydrates (eg Plov) but little protein - could have don e with more eggs. Crew very friendly and enjoyed their Independence Day anniversary in most "UnIslamic" style. Although grade 5 1000m ascents and descents, but probably fair as only 5 days of actual trekking. Uzbekistan cities lived up to expectation, especially if you like blue tiled madrassahs, mosques and mausolleums. All hotels v close walking distance to main sites and one in Bokhara in memorable old building. Food was very good in many places with tasty breads, salads, dumplings and kebabs. However intestinal trouble remains a problem, probably Giardia (take a one-off dose of Tinidazole 2 gram with you in case) with 10/13 of our party with afflictions at various stages. Good to go now as Fann Mountains remain isolated and empty and Uzbekistan not to commercialised.
By Martin from HAYWARDS HEATH | 22 September 2015

KE Adventure reply

Thank you Martin. We are so glad you enjoyed the Fann Mountains. We agree with you that this is one of the most exciting, spectacular and friendly destinations for adventure travel. We love Tajikistan, where you can still feel like a welcome traveller rather than 'just another tourist' and we were pleased to read you enjoyed the combination of mountains and Silk Road cities. That's good general travel advice about stomach problems although fortunately, such instances are pretty rare in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

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