The only blog you need to read about your trip to Central Asia
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Introduction
Car Rental
With regards to our vehicle, we rented it through IndyGuide from Babur, a guy we found on IndyGuide. He turned out to be a real lifesaver on more than one occasion (wait until you hear about our drone nightmare at the Uzbekistan border).
Police Stops
Renting the car was pretty straightforward, but driving in Central Asia came with its own quirks. To rent the car, we needed an International Driving Permit (IDP), and at police checkpoints, we had to show a mix of documents: the IDP, our original driving licenses, car insurance, and vehicle registration papers.
As long as we had everything ready, the process was generally smooth. We were stopped several times in Kazakhstan, though it was just to check for registration, but it was generally smooth in other countries.
Language
The predominant languages across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan are a mix of local tongues and Russian.This added an extra layer of adventure to our trip, as we endeavored to learn basic phrases and relied on translation apps to connect with locals. We strongly suggest downloading the few popular translation app and enable the offline translation packages:
- Yandex Translate
- Google Translate
Pre-trip Preparation
Important Notes
- Not everything you need can be found there: Stock up on specific electronics, medications, and personal care items before your trip.
- Solid memory cards and backup phones: Essential for preserving photos and navigation if your main devices fail.
- Portable chargers: Critical as some areas lack proper electricity supply. Carry high-capacity ones (20k mAh since this is the limit for major airlines).
- Extension port with high wattage: Allows you to charge multiple devices efficiently, especially in accommodations with limited outlets.
Money
We found it almost impossible to get local currencies like Kazakh Tenge, Uzbek Som, Tajik Somoni, or Kyrgyzstani Som at money changers in Singapore. Instead, we brought USD, which is widely accepted for exchange in local banks and currency exchange counters.
We carried both Mastercard and VISA, and most local banks accepted them. However, we recommend bringing both options because some banks may not support certain card networks.
It’s wise to have cards from different banks, as certain cards might not be accepted at specific ATMs or establishments.
These are incredibly useful for currency conversion at competitive rates and withdrawing local cash when needed.
We withdrew local currencies (Kazakh Tenge, Uzbek Som, Tajik Somoni, and Kyrgyzstani Som) after arriving in each country, as this was the most practical option.
For Land Border Crossing Travellers:
- Major borders usually have currency exchange merchants. Remote ones in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will not have.
- Merchants will approach you to swap USD/local currency.
- Check Google for rates before exchanging.
- Rates are negotiable—haggling is common.
- Backpackers: crossing on foot is often faster than in vehicles.
SIM Card
We used a Central Asia eSIM from Mobimatter, which gave us 20GB of data and covered Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Super convenient, especially because we could activate it digitally before the trip—no physical SIM swapping needed.
The only catch? It doesn’t work in Tajikistan.
Once we crossed into Tajikistan, we had to buy a local SIM card on the ground. It wasn’t too difficult—just a bit of a detour to find a shop, and make sure to bring your passport for registration (they usually require it).
When it comes to navigating Central Asia, it’s not quite as straightforward as popping an address into Google Maps and cruising along. While the region is incredibly scenic and full of surprises (the good and the mildly chaotic), reliable navigation tools are an absolute must.
We mainly used Maps.me, and honestly, it was a lifesaver. The best part? It works offline. Before we entered a new country, we made sure to download the detailed offline maps for that region. This came in especially handy in remote areas with zero signal—think high-altitude passes in Tajikistan or valleys in Kyrgyzstan where the only other beings around were goats.
Google Maps also worked in bigger cities and towns, and we found it helpful for things like restaurants, gas stations, and more up-to-date road closures. But for actual routing, especially in areas with poor connectivity, Maps.me was our go-to.
We also kept a spare phone loaded with both Maps.me and Google Maps, just in case our main phones failed or ran out of battery.
Itinerary Snapshot
Kazakhstan
Day 1-4: Almaty, Saty, Kolsai Lakes, Lake Kaindy, Charyn Canyon
Day 5-6: Taraz, Turkestan, Shymkent
Day 7: Shymkent to Tashkent (Border Crossing from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan)
Read it here: https://www.thewanderousduo.com/6-day-road-trip-itinerary-kazakhstan-almaty-to-turkestan/
Uzbekistan
Day 8-10:Tashkent (rest and recharge)
Day 11-13: Samarkand, Bukhara
Day 14: Bukhara to Panjakent (Border Crossing from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan)
Tajikistan
Day 15-17: Fann Mountains Region – Haftkul (Seven Lakes), Kulikalon Lakes
Day 18-19: Iskanderkul, Dushanbe
Day 20-26: Wakhan Valley, Pamir Highway
Day 27: Murghab to Sary Mogul via Kyzylart Crossing (Border Crossing from Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan)
Kyrgyzstan
Day 28-30: Sary Mogul Horse Trek to Tulparkul
Day 31-34: Osh, Bishkek
Day 35-36: Naryn, Tash Rabat
Day 37: Son Kul, Kochkor
Day 38-39: Jeti Oguz, Kok Jayik Valley
Day 40-42: Jyrgalan, Karakol, Zaton, Issykul
Day 43-44: Konorchek Canyon, Chon kemin, Burana Tower, Bishkek
Day 45: Bishkek, Almaty