Highlights

Kazakhstan is truly off the beaten track and sees few travellers, especially outside Astana and Almaty, and for much of this trip you will truly feel the remoteness of Central Asia.

Explore Baikonur, nick named 'Star City,' where the Russian Cosmodrome is located and unveil the mysteries of space explorations.

Discover the history and architecture of the Silk Road, visiting ancient mausoleums and mosques on guided tours in the cities of Turkistan, Sayram and Otrar.

Travel alongside locals and admire wild, sweeping vistas on epic train rides across the Kazakh steppe.

Surround yourself with the surreal landscapes of the Altyn-Emel National Park, including the mysterious singing sand dunes the visit Grand Canyon's little brother, Charyn Canyon.

Stroll through the peaceful Russian town of Karakol and hike in the picturesque Jety Oguz Valley.

Experience the legendary hospitality of Central Asia. With five nights spent across Tajikistan's excellent homestay network, you'll immerse yourself in local life

Skirting the border with Afghanistan, get glimpses of the other side, from the hair-raising Afghan-built footbridges (ovrings) to the exotic imports on display in Khorog's local bazaar

Enjoy a picnic lunch as you take in the splendour of Karakul, the largest lake of some 800 in the Pamirs

Soaring along the iconic Pamir Highway is an unforgettable experience, especially in fine weather when the mighty peak of Muztag Ata rears its head

Dushanbe is perfect final stop. With included visits to the Hissor Fort and National Museum of Antiquities, you can discover the nation's capital while learning more about the country's fascinating past

You will visit the following places:

Dushanbe

Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan. Dushanbe means Monday in the Tajik language. It was so named because it grew from a village that originally had a popular market on Mondays. Until 1929, the city was known in Russian as Dyushambe, and from 1929 to 1961 as Stalinabad. As of 2014, Dushanbe has a population of 778,500. Although archaeological remnants dating to the 5th century BC have been discovered in the area, there is little to suggest that Dushanbe was more than a small village until the early 20th century.

Bishkek

Bishkek formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is also the administrative centre of Chuy Province which surrounds the city, even though the city itself is not part of the province but rather a province-level unit of Kyrgyzstan. The name is thought to derive from a Kyrgyz word for a churn used to make fermented mare's milk (kumis), the Kyrgyz national drink. Founded in 1825 as the Kyrgyz-Khokand fortress of "Bishkek", then, in 1862, named as the Russian fortress Pishpek in 1926 the city was renamed Frunze, after the Bolshevik military leader Mikhail Frunze. In 1991, the Kyrgyz parliament restored the city's historical name.

Almaty

Almaty, formerly known as Alma-Ata and Verny, is the largest city in Kazakhstan. The city used to be the former capital of the country, until 1997 when it moved to Astana. Being a financial and cultural center of Central Asia, Almaty boasts moderately-sized tourist and expatriate communities and it is a hustling and bustling place to be. The word Almaty literally means ''city of apple trees'', and because of its relatively mild climate, it has a wide range of apple trees. It is a wonderful gateway to this undiscovered and distinctive country. Kazakh people are very kind and welcoming, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the hospitality.