Central Asia Guided Tours

Wonderful experience – Myself and my wife decided to visit the 5 stans. I contacted Central Asia Guide as I required a visa to visit Turkmenistan. Nargiza was fantastic, responding very promptly and… read more giving me an itinerary for our 3 days there. Nargiza then passed me onto Aymurat in Ashgabat who very quickly took me through the requirements in order that a letter of invitation could be issued to us. Aymurat was exceptionally helpful and I received our letter of invitation very swiftly. When we arrived at Ashgabat Airport, we were met by our guide for the 3 days. Max. He was exceptional and could not have been more helpful. All in all our trip to Turkmenistan will be very fondly remembered as we were not sure what to expect. Absolutely stress free and I can only very highly recommend Central Asia Guide for the service we received. Could not have been better.

Gerry
Ireland

Kalys and Bek: Of course, THE BEST GUIDES! I am sure! STORM STORM STORM!!! – My friends and I (group of 8) from the Philippines spent 7 days with Kalys and Bek across Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. We went from from Bishkek, to Song-Kul, to Skazka… read more Canyon, to Jeti-Oguz, to Karakol, to Altyn Arashan, and then across the border to Kolsai Lakes, Charyn Canyon, and finally Almaty. I genuinely don’t know how to write this review without getting so nostalgic, gassed, and joyful.

We went through several tour operators and guides before choosing them, and I say this without a shred of exaggeration: we could not have made a better choice. They were THE choice– nay, the only choice! By the end of Day 2, Kalys and Bek didn’t feel like our guides– they felt very much like old friends and members of our group.

The itinerary itself was incredible– the 5 hr up horseback ride to Song-Kul via the Tuz-Ashuu Pass; the yurt night at 3,200 masl next to the frozen lake and as the snow fell; the sublime views at Altyn Arashan; the surreal calm of Kolsai; Charyn Canyon and its red and brown hues! What made it truly unforgettable was the way Kalys and Bek made us feel throughout. They were warm, funny, generous, and endlessly patient. They shared stories about their families, their culture, and their country with so much pride and love that it made every stop feel deeper and more meaningful. They told stories of their lives and their country with so much wit, personality, and character– so much so that we truly felt a part of their world.

Our group did shoot a music video to commemorate the trip, and Kalys and Bek were so patient and game with us through countless retakes and moments. They actively helped, gave suggestions, hyped us up, and even jumped in a few shots. The two leaned in with wide smiles and open hearts, and we love them all the more for it!

They also handled the logistics flawlessly. Two SUVs across some genuinely rugged and stunning terrain, border crossings, altitude changes, guesthouse coordination, meals– you name it, everything ran smoothly. Not once did we feel stressed about where we were going or how we were getting there. They took care of everything so we could just be present and enjoy the moment.

Kalys and Bek they are genuinely beautiful people who treated a group of strangers from the other side of the world like family. Kalys even invited us into his personal family home and space between Song-Kul and Bokonbaevo for some of the best homemade yogurt and borsok one could ever enjoy. It was deeply touching, personal, and humbling; we are immensely grateful for all the love, care, and hospitality the two of them have shown us all throughout (and more)!

If you’re reading this and still deciding whether to book, stop deliberating. We were in the same position weeks ago, comparing operators, reading reviews, going back and forth. I’m writing this so that you don’t have to hesitate the way we did. Choose Kalys and Bek. You will come home with a lifetime of memories and two new friends.
Thank you, Kalys and Bek. From the Philippines to Kyrgyzstan– until we meet again, of course. That, I am sure ;). One way, or another!

STORM! STORM! STORM!

From planning to goodbye, better than we could have imagined – We booked our trip to Kyrgyzstan through Central Asia Guide, and from our very first email exchange, Nargiza proved to be a true professional: organizing everything down to the last… read more detail and always ready to answer our questions.

My friend and I are two young women traveling together, and we knew we wanted a guide and an agency that would make us feel safe, so we could relax and enjoy the trip without worry.

Nargiza planned and walked us through everything in detail: accommodation, horse riding excursions, our movements between destinations, and all the transfers (which she arranged perfectly on our behalf, sparing us the stress of finding taxis or running into unexpected problems).

We came away genuinely impressed: the pre-departure planning, the activities and experiences, the breathtaking spots where we stopped to take in the views or have lunch/dinner, and the wonderful places we got to spend our nights. All of it exceeded our expectations.

Kyrgyzstan turned out to be even more beautiful than I had imagined, and I simply didn’t want to leave.

A big part of that was our guide, Bek.
He is a truly wonderful person who patiently answered every question and satisfied every curiosity we had, whether about the landscapes around us or the culture and traditions of his country. We talked for hours, and by the end of the trip we had countless memories (some that still make us laugh out loud, others we look back on with real nostalgia).
By the time it was over, Bek felt less like a guide and more like a friend, and I’d recommend him wholeheartedly to anyone who wants to experience this extraordinary country through the eyes of a young, curious local who genuinely cares about making your journey unforgettable.

I would book with them again without a second thought, and I recommend them to anyone.

Maddalena

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan – Me and my friends (group of four) wanted to visit Central Asia. Due to limited time we had to choose between the five “Stan” countries. Nargiza and her Team of… read more Central Asia Guide have been an amazing support. They accommodated all our requests and wishes, giving us also indications and advice based on local weather and season. Nargiza helped us with our itinerary creating a wonderful stay. We had a lot of guidance in preparation of the trip. Once in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Kalys, who accompanied us throughout the route in these two countries, arranged everything for us, from transport to night stays and visits. He brought us the Kyrgyz spirit with local songs, so we could feel better the place we were in. We only had to enjoy the breath-taking sceneries and his lovely company. The guesthouses were a wonderful surprise, with stunning views and people, the food was also incredible. Kalys made the difference. We also leaned on Central Asia Guide’s support for the arrangement of trains and hotels in Uzbekistan where we had only 4 days. The organization was perfect, optimizing our very limited time and the hotels were all well located and beautiful. We could not recommend this agency more! We again thank Nargiza, Kalys and team for their kind support and making our trip an unforgettable experience.