sightseeing the Central Asia's best tourist attraction
April 20 to 25, 2018
"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world."
My 57th solo backpacking trip, 1st and 2nd country to visit in Central Asia Region, total of 66 countries visited so far and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. I did not research that much for this countries as I'm expecting that language barrier will be a huge challenge to make the itinerary successful.
Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a South-Central Asian Union country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. What would become modern Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1876 and became an independent country with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It has the most liberal tourist visa policy in Central Asia and one of the more progressive post-Soviet governments in the region.
https://wikitravel.org/en/Kyrgyzstan
timezone - UTC +0600H capital - Bishkek
language - Kyrgyz / Russian currency - Som (KGS) 1 USD = 67 KGS
visa - Philippine passport holders are visa upon arrival (30/90 days visa issued upon arrival for $50/$100)
Interesting Facts about Kyrgyzstan:
Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a South-Central Asian Union country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. What would become modern Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1876 and became an independent country with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It has the most liberal tourist visa policy in Central Asia and one of the more progressive post-Soviet governments in the region.
https://wikitravel.org/en/Kyrgyzstan
timezone - UTC +0600H capital - Bishkek
language - Kyrgyz / Russian currency - Som (KGS) 1 USD = 67 KGS
visa - Philippine passport holders are visa upon arrival (30/90 days visa issued upon arrival for $50/$100)
http://www.kgembassy.org/en/consular-issues/applying-for-a-visa/general-visa-information/
Tajikistan, Tajik Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia that borders Afghanistan to the south, Xinjiang in China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and Uzbekistan to the west and northwest. The ancient Silk Road passed through it.
https://wikitravel.org/en/Tajikistan
timezone - UTC +0500H capital - Dushanbe
language - Tajik / Russian currency - Somoni (TJS) 1 USD = 8.8 KGS
visa - Philippine passport holders are eligible to apply for E-Visa (45 days e-visa for $50)
https://www.evisa.tj/index.evisa.html
Tajikistan, Tajik Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia that borders Afghanistan to the south, Xinjiang in China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and Uzbekistan to the west and northwest. The ancient Silk Road passed through it.
https://wikitravel.org/en/Tajikistan
timezone - UTC +0500H capital - Dushanbe
language - Tajik / Russian currency - Somoni (TJS) 1 USD = 8.8 KGS
visa - Philippine passport holders are eligible to apply for E-Visa (45 days e-visa for $50)
https://www.evisa.tj/index.evisa.html
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| 5 Days Solo Trip in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (Glacier on mountains) |
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| 5 Days Solo Trip in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (visa sticker) |
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| 5 Days Solo Trip in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (visa stamp) |
Interesting Facts about Kyrgyzstan:
1. There are over 88 major mountain ranges in Kyrgyzstan, the mountainous Tian Shan region covers 80 per cent of Kyrgyzstan and the country has even been described as the “Switzerland of Central Asia”. Its highest point is Jengish Chokusu, at 7,439 m (24,406 ft).
2. Kyrgyzstan has the lengthiest epic in the world. “Manas” a Kyrgyz epic poem with 500,000 lines.
3. Kyrgyzstan does have the consolation of Issyk-Kul, the world’s second largest high-altitude lake (behind Titicaca in South America). It is 113 miles long, 37 miles wide and reaches a depth of 668 metres (2,192 feet)
4. Kyrgyzstan is one of the world’s least crowded countries!
5. The name of Kyrgyzstan comes from a word in the Kyrgyz language meaning “we are forty”, thought to be a reference to the original 40 clans which unified to form the country.
Interesting Facts about Tajikistan:
1. The Fann Mountains is one of the largest tourist attraction in Tajikistan. Mountaineering, rock climbing, and ice climbing are some of the activities that can be enjoyed here not to mention the great scenery.
2. Surrounded by the Fann Mountains, the Iskanderkul Lake is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Tajikistan. It is 2.5 km long and 1 km across and sits at an altitude of 2,255m above sea level with turquoise and calm water.
3. Nurek Dam, located in Tajikistan, is the highest dam in the world.
4. The Tajiks, whose language is nearly identical with Persian, were part of the ancient Persian Empire that was ruled by Darius I and later conquered by Alexander the Great (333 BC)
5 DAYS SOLO TRIP IN KYRGYZSTAN AND TAJIKISTAN ITINERARY (APR. 2018)
Preparation:
Tajikistan E-Visa $51.25
Dubai - Bishkek return flight 505 AED
Dubai - Dushanbe return flight 735 AED
Total: 1,428 AED
Day 0: April 19, 2018 Thursday
2300H ETD Dubai +0400H
Day 1: April 20, 2018 Friday
0500H ETA Bishkek Airport; Visa on Arrival $50; Exchange $100 = 6,700
taxi to center 600; breakfast 120; hotel check in 1,500; water 46
ramdom city walk tour; lunch & snacks 187; souvenirs 375; Shawarma chicken rice 120
Total: 2,948 KGS
Day 2: April 21, 2018 Saturday
0730H Hotel check-out; breakfast - given free by the locals
0815H ETD Osh Bazaar; Marshrutka #265 40
0930H ETA Ala Archa National Park; Hitch-hike to Main Gate, tip 100
1000H Start Trekking
1230H Ala Archa Waterfalls 2,665masl; rest and photo-ops
1300H ETD Waterfalls
1500H ETD Ala Archa National Park; Hitch-hike to Bishkek (luckily)
1600H ETA Hotel; Shawarma snacks 110; Central Hostel 700; snacks 200; Metro Pub 507
Total: 1,757 KGS
Day 3: April 22, 2018 Sunday
0300H ETD Hostel; taxi to airport 600; snacks 110
0540H ETD Bishkek
0820H ETA Dubai; 12 hours rest
2240H ETD Dubai
Total: 710 KGS
Day 4: April 23, 2018 Monday
0300H ETA Dushanbe; walk to hostel
0400H ETA Sakho Hostel; 2 nights 106; sleep and breakfast; money exchange to hostel
0900H ETD Hostel; contracted trip to Varzob Skiing Resort and Fort Hissar 8
1500H ETA Hostel; car rental + tip 452
1600H walk to City center; Rudoki Park, Somoni Statue; souvenirs 125; SFC burger meal 28
Total: 719 TJS
Day 5: April 24, 2018 Tuesday
0900H ETD Hostel
1200H ETA Iskanderkul; Trekking (3km) to Iskanderkul Falls; lunch 121
1400H ETD Iskanderkul
1700H ETA Hostel; private tour fee 880; walk to Rudoki Park; dinner 25
Total: 1,026 TJS
Day 0: April 25, 2018 Wednesday
0200H ETD Hostel; walk to airport
0220H ETA Dushanbe Airport; check-in & immigration; snacks 60
0430H ETD Dushanbe
0700H ETA Dubai
Total: 60 TJS
BUDGET TOTAL: 1,428 AED = $389; 2,948 +1,757 + 710 KGS = $81; 719 + 1,026 + 60 = 1,805 TJS = $205; $389 + $81 + $205 = $675
E-Visa in Tajikistan, Visa on Arrival in Kyrgyzstan...
1st time on Spring season, 1st time in Central Asia... #livealifeyouwillremember
Thank you very much Tajik Republic, my 66th on the list and 2nd in Central Asia :) #tajikistan #centralasia #livealifeyouwillremember
2. Kyrgyzstan has the lengthiest epic in the world. “Manas” a Kyrgyz epic poem with 500,000 lines.
3. Kyrgyzstan does have the consolation of Issyk-Kul, the world’s second largest high-altitude lake (behind Titicaca in South America). It is 113 miles long, 37 miles wide and reaches a depth of 668 metres (2,192 feet)
4. Kyrgyzstan is one of the world’s least crowded countries!
5. The name of Kyrgyzstan comes from a word in the Kyrgyz language meaning “we are forty”, thought to be a reference to the original 40 clans which unified to form the country.
Interesting Facts about Tajikistan:
1. The Fann Mountains is one of the largest tourist attraction in Tajikistan. Mountaineering, rock climbing, and ice climbing are some of the activities that can be enjoyed here not to mention the great scenery.
2. Surrounded by the Fann Mountains, the Iskanderkul Lake is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Tajikistan. It is 2.5 km long and 1 km across and sits at an altitude of 2,255m above sea level with turquoise and calm water.
3. Nurek Dam, located in Tajikistan, is the highest dam in the world.
4. The Tajiks, whose language is nearly identical with Persian, were part of the ancient Persian Empire that was ruled by Darius I and later conquered by Alexander the Great (333 BC)
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| 5 Days Solo Trip in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (marshrutka - minibus) |
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| 5 Days Solo Trip in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (Ala Archa hike to waterfalls) |
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| 5 Days Solo Trip in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (Hissar Fortress) |
5 DAYS SOLO TRIP IN KYRGYZSTAN AND TAJIKISTAN ITINERARY (APR. 2018)
Preparation:
Tajikistan E-Visa $51.25
Dubai - Bishkek return flight 505 AED
Dubai - Dushanbe return flight 735 AED
Total: 1,428 AED
Day 0: April 19, 2018 Thursday
2300H ETD Dubai +0400H
Day 1: April 20, 2018 Friday
0500H ETA Bishkek Airport; Visa on Arrival $50; Exchange $100 = 6,700
taxi to center 600; breakfast 120; hotel check in 1,500; water 46
ramdom city walk tour; lunch & snacks 187; souvenirs 375; Shawarma chicken rice 120
Total: 2,948 KGS
Day 2: April 21, 2018 Saturday
0730H Hotel check-out; breakfast - given free by the locals
0815H ETD Osh Bazaar; Marshrutka #265 40
0930H ETA Ala Archa National Park; Hitch-hike to Main Gate, tip 100
1000H Start Trekking
1230H Ala Archa Waterfalls 2,665masl; rest and photo-ops
1300H ETD Waterfalls
1500H ETD Ala Archa National Park; Hitch-hike to Bishkek (luckily)
1600H ETA Hotel; Shawarma snacks 110; Central Hostel 700; snacks 200; Metro Pub 507
Total: 1,757 KGS
Day 3: April 22, 2018 Sunday
0300H ETD Hostel; taxi to airport 600; snacks 110
0540H ETD Bishkek
0820H ETA Dubai; 12 hours rest
2240H ETD Dubai
Total: 710 KGS
Day 4: April 23, 2018 Monday
0300H ETA Dushanbe; walk to hostel
0400H ETA Sakho Hostel; 2 nights 106; sleep and breakfast; money exchange to hostel
0900H ETD Hostel; contracted trip to Varzob Skiing Resort and Fort Hissar 8
1500H ETA Hostel; car rental + tip 452
1600H walk to City center; Rudoki Park, Somoni Statue; souvenirs 125; SFC burger meal 28
Total: 719 TJS
Day 5: April 24, 2018 Tuesday
0900H ETD Hostel
1200H ETA Iskanderkul; Trekking (3km) to Iskanderkul Falls; lunch 121
1400H ETD Iskanderkul
1700H ETA Hostel; private tour fee 880; walk to Rudoki Park; dinner 25
Total: 1,026 TJS
Day 0: April 25, 2018 Wednesday
0200H ETD Hostel; walk to airport
0220H ETA Dushanbe Airport; check-in & immigration; snacks 60
0430H ETD Dushanbe
0700H ETA Dubai
Total: 60 TJS
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| 5 Days Solo Trip in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (souvenirs) |
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| 5 Days Solo Trip in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (souvenirs) |
E-Visa in Tajikistan, Visa on Arrival in Kyrgyzstan...
1st time on Spring season, 1st time in Central Asia... #livealifeyouwillremember
Thank you very much Tajik Republic, my 66th on the list and 2nd in Central Asia :) #tajikistan #centralasia #livealifeyouwillremember
Bishkek City Walk Tour
Solo Trekking and Hitch-hike to Ala Archa Waterfalls
Hissar Fortress Morning Tour
Iskanderkul Hike to Waterfalls
Dushanbe City Walk Tour
Solo Trekking and Hitch-hike to Ala Archa Waterfalls
Hissar Fortress Morning Tour
Iskanderkul Hike to Waterfalls
Dushanbe City Walk Tour
I'm curious why do u have to return to Dubai and fly to Dushanbe? Is it hard to cross the border?
ReplyDelete1st; direct flight from Bishkek to Dushanbe is very expensive. 2nd; no regular direct flights
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