Firstly, what are the 5 Stans? Aren't there several countries with the suffix "Stan"? Which ones are these?
The 5 Stans refers to the 5 former Soviet Central Asian republics, which in English are called
Kazakhstan
,
Kyrgyzstan
,
Uzbekistan
,
Tajikistan
and
Turkmenistan
.
Historically, linguistically, and logistically, these 5 countries make a lot of sense to do in one trip. While you could spend weeks in each country, and plenty of people do, doing one trip through the 5 countries can give you a great overview of the variety that Central Asia has to offer. You visit Turkmenistan for the weird and wackiness of modern Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan for the Silk Road history and the Aral Sea (and for us the Soviet history), Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan for the untouched natural beauty, and Kazakhstan for modern cosmopolitan cities (and for us the
Semeypalatinsk nuclear test site
).
Read more about the 5 Stans
here
.
More Information
Tours
5 Stans Spring Tour
This is the tour for anyone who wants to get a great snapshot of what Central Asia has to offer. Can be done all in one whack, or in smaller sections, whatever you like!
4 Stans Spring Tour
A 17 day adventure through Silk Road settlements, vast mountain ranges, winding valleys, and some of the coolest Soviet stuff that's still around.
5 Stans Summer Tour
This is the tour for anyone who wants to get a great snapshot of what Central Asia has to offer. Can be done all in one whack, or in smaller sections, whatever you like!
4 Stans Autumn Tour
Old and new, big and small, up and down, this itinerary has something for everyone.
5 Stans Autumn Whirlwind Tour
A great snapshot into 5 amazing countries.
5 Stans Autumn Original Tour
Taking the scenic route from Almaty to Ashgabat, this tour covers everything that makes Central Asia so special, from mountains, canyons and gorges, to buzzing modern cities, and of course, the Gates of Hell.
5 Stans Autumn Mega Tour
An in-depth expedition through all of Central Asia, from Almaty to Ashgabat, through five of the most fascinating countries in the world.