We are now “unfortunately” getting used to Dutch life again after we came home four weeks ago.

Our trip has been fantastic and Turkmenistan and especially Uzbekistan have contributed enormously to this. The arrival in Uzbekistan went very smoothly, the airport was a huge chaos, but as soon as we got outside, Anton and the driver were waiting for us. This all went very smoothly.
All drivers during the trip in Uzbekistan were neat. All drove well and the cars were neat. We received bottled water and perfect service everywhere.
We actually all liked the hotels in Uzbekistan. The hotel in Bukhara, Lyabi House, was particularly pleasant. The restaurant here in particular stole my heart. Really beautiful. And the hotel in Khiva was really fantastic because of its location. So I would definitely continue to use those two.

In Turkmenistan we were amazed. To start with the border crossing. That actually went quite smoothly. During the first part, our driver from Bukhara helped us on our way and as soon as we arrived at the first border office in Turkmenistan, our guide was already waiting for us. So he took care of all our paperwork. In the end, we didn’t even have to do the Covid test. At least, halfway through they ask you to first take a simple rapid test and then all the other people at the border office take a PCR test, we did not have to do the latter (and did not have to pay).
The hotels in Turkmenistan were absolutely good and the Yurt camp was absolutely fantastic. We enjoyed that immensely. We slept outside because it was so warm.

The only thing I have to complain about on our trip in Turkmenistan was that the seat belts were not all in order. We have actually had a seat belt in every car that did not work. We saw that the guide, drivers and babysitter all don’t wear seat belts either, so apparently they don’t find that very exciting, but I sometimes found it quite scary because the traffic is quite bizarre according to our standards. Anyway, everything went well so now we laugh about it.

We had a great time and especially really enjoyed Registan in Samarkand and everything in Khiva (it’s so beautiful there!). Everything was well arranged and contact with Anton was very easy.

Thomas and Lysanne from The Netherlands on their two week tour with young children in Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan in June-July 2024

I booked my trip to Turkmenistan through Central Asia Tours.

Very positive about the entire experience, I received many tips and was well prepared for my trip. Once there, the various guides were also extremely helpful and provided a lot of information.
Super special country Turkmenistan, from the gigantic imposing buildings and monuments in Ashgabat, to horse riding, to the gas crater in the middle of the desert, and all the extremely friendly people. It is of course politically complex, but I saw it as a very cool and unique experience. Thanks Ardjan for the fantastic help and time in Turkmenistan!

Julius Bax from Rotterdam in The Netherlands on his short trip in Turkmenistan in October 2024

Salom Ardjan,

Here’s a short feedback. I had a fantastic trip! Everything went well. I had a nice stay with Anwar in Hayot, in the mountains. Anwar drove me from Samarkand; a very pleasant man. Speaks good English, is smart and knows a lot about economics, culture and Islam/Sufism. A beautiful country, quiet and friendly people and breathtaking architecture! Good food, cheap and very comfortable hotels.

Thanks for the organization. And thank you Anton from me too.

Katta rahmat (Kind regards), Bert

Bert Logtmeijer from Bussum, The Netherlands, on his week long tour in Uzbekistan in October 2024

Last July we booked via centralasia-tours.com

a tailor-made trip to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Even though we already have quite a bit of travel experience, we found it difficult to plan this trip ourselves. Especially because we wanted everything “One way”. That’s how we eventually ended up at this organization.

The suggested travel options on the website did not quite match what we were looking for. We couldn’t get 24 days off and wanted a nice change between guided and independent travel. That is why we contacted the organization, who listened carefully to all our wishes and then put together a tailor-made trip. It became a perfect combination of the best of both worlds.

The trip was fantastic because there is little tourism in these countries. The people are friendly and helpful, and not after your money. The centuries-old culture exudes a rich and complex history. Nature is very diverse, with many different landscapes. It felt very safe, but adventurous at the same time.

We are so enthusiastic about centralasia-tours.com because all our specific wishes and requirements have actually been met. This made the trip really special and personal for us.

Greetings Jelle and Diana

Diana and Jelle from Eindhoven, The Netherlands, about their 24-days tour in four countries of Central-Asia in July 2024

We traveled through Kazakhstan for 18 days,

a roots trip for our son who was born in Almaty.
Thank you Ardjan for the perfect organization. Drivers, guides and fixers on site were always there at the agreed time and managed to captivate us with their explanations. Almaty certainly surprised us because it has evolved enormously since our last visit 13 years ago and has become a hip city with many dining options. We visited some places in nature parks where we were almost or completely the only visitors. So there is still a lot of room for development in terms of tourism, although we hope that authenticity and nature will not be lost… The variety of cities and nature made our itinerary very interesting and varied.
And the accommodations, although sometimes primitive, offered the necessary comfort and cleanliness that we expect as spoiled Europeans.
For future travelers, be sure to follow Ardjan’s tip to buy a SIM card with internet on site, which makes communication on site a lot easier.

Frank Delporte from Belgium on his 18-day trip with his family in Kazakhstan in August 2024

Great experience with this cultural-historical tour through Uzbekistan!

Ardjan has put together a program for me and my 17-year-old son to explore Uzbekistan. We have indicated that we are particularly interested in the history and culture of the region. And at the same time that we have never been to Central Asia and do not speak the language.

Nothing but praise for the program, the local drivers and guides and the hotels we stayed in! From the start in Tashkent we arrived at a beautiful and quite chic hotel. The next day we were picked up by the driver and guide to be immersed in the city; the mosques, one of the oldest Korans in the world, relics from the old Soviet era and the beautiful metro stations that Tashkent has to offer.

We took a modern express train to Samarkand, where we stayed for a few days and made a trip to Sharisabz (the birthplace of Emir Timur, where we visited his enormous palace). Here too we were immersed in history and culture; our guides were able to tell so many interesting stories, it was beautiful! Then we continued to Bukhara and Khiva; 1001-night fairytale places where much of the history has been preserved and beautifully restored. The hotels in Bukhara and Khiva were equally beautiful and are located in the historic centers of these cities. Here too, the guides were able to tell us a lot about the local and regional history, which is different from that of Samarkand and Tashkent. What an experience and what a journey. Compliments to Ardjan and his local people!

Aad Francissen from Enschede, The Netherlands, on his two week tour with his son in Uzbekistan in May 2024

In May 2024 we made a 12-day trip to Uzbekistan, an unforgettable trip! We saw so many beautiful things and learned a lot about the country.

During the planning process, Ardjan thought along with us and gave us all kinds of options to tailor the trip to our interests as much as possible. We delved deeper into Soviet history in Tashkent, traveled through the country by night train, and visited the rugged area of ​​Karakalpakstan and the Aral Sea. The guides are nice and know a lot about their city, and the hotels are neat.

And with a little Russian, the long car journeys between locations are easy to survive because of all the wild stories the drivers tell you. We are one experience richer!

Greetings, Fabienne and Stefan

Fabienne and Stefan from Voorschoten, The Netherlands, on their 12-day tour in Uzbekistan in May 2024

Fascinating

With four people we had a well-organized trip to Uzbekistan and part of Tajikistan in the spring of 2024. They are quite complex countries, but safe, clean and easy to travel. Good preparation and good guides on site are crucial. Ardjan, from Central Asia Tours, proved to be a good discussion partner. He listened to our specific wishes (as no longer working travelers) and made good recommendations. It was crucial that what he organized turned out to be correct on the spot.

We felt absolutely safe everywhere. The people we met turned out to be nice and hospitable. The advantage of the various guides is not only that they tell a lot, but also that you can start a conversation. They are fascinating countries.

That fascination lies in the history, in the culture and in the people. Many buildings from the famous Silk Road have been restored as heritage, but the many archaeological sites have a richer past. Much of the heritage is located in present-day Russia, but the possibilities for visualizing it are endless. Keeping your eyes open makes it possible to get a good idea of ​​the experience of Islam and man-woman relations. Just like the influence of Russia and China. It is hoped that Uzbekistan and Tajikistan can continue to develop without too much outside interference.

The cities of the Silk Road are a must. But it really helped the balance in our 3 weeks that we included both the mountains, the Fergana valley and Karakalpakstan in western Uzbekistan, in our trip. The museum in Nukus, for example, turned out to be a gem.

HV (from the Netherlands)

HV from The Netherlands on a 19-day tour for four people in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in April-May 2024

Fascinerend

Met vier personen hadden we in het voorjaar van 2024 een goed georganiseerde reis naar Oezbekistan en een deel van Tadzjikistan. Het zijn best wel complexe landen, maar veilig, schoon en prima te bereizen. Goede voorbereiding en goede gidsen ter plaatse, zijn cruciaal. Ardjan, van Centraal-Aziëreizen, bleek daarbij de goede gesprekspartner. Hij luisterde naar onze specifieke wensen (als niet meer werkende reizigers) en deed goede aanbevelingen. Cruciaal was dat wat hij organiseerde, ter plekke ook bleek te kloppen.

We hebben ons overal absoluut veilig gevoeld. De mensen die we ontmoetten bleken aardig en gastvrij. Voordeel van de diverse gidsen is niet alleen dat zij veel vertellen, maar ook dat je in gesprek kunt komen. Het zijn fascinerende landen.

Dat fascinerende zit in de geschiedenis, in de cultuur en in de mensen. Veel gebouwen van de fameuze Zijderoute zijn als erfgoed hersteld, maar de vele archeologische sites omvatten een rijker verleden. Veel van het erfgoed bevindt zich in het huidige Rusland, maar de mogelijkheden om je een beeld te vormen zijn legio. Ogen openhouden maakt het mogelijk om een goed beeld te krijgen van de beleving van de Islam en de man-vrouw verhoudingen. Net als van de invloed van Rusland en China. Het is te hopen dat Oezbekistan en Tadzjikistan zich zonder te veel bemoeienis van buiten, kunnen blijven ontwikkelen.

De steden van de Zijderoute zijn een must. Maar het heeft de balans in onze 3 weken echt geholpen dat we zowel de bergen, de Fergana vallei als Karakalpakstan in het westen van Oezbekistan, in onze trip hebben opgenomen. Het museum in Nukus bijvoorbeeld, bleek een juweeltje.

HV (uit Nederland)

HV uit Nederland over een reis van 19 dagen met vier personen in Oezbekistan en Tadzjikistan in april-mei 2024

Hi Ardjan,

We returned from Uzbekistan yesterday. My son and I had a fantastic trip.

Uzbekistan is so beautiful. And how it has changed. I traveled there 30 years ago to work for the Red Cross.

And then I have been to Tashkent and the surrounding area several times since, the last time in 2014. Taskhent has become a truly modern metropolis. So nice to see that the country has developed so much.

We enjoyed the program, the beautiful cities where Khiva had a wow effect, Bukhara a 2x wow effect and Samarkand had a 3x wow effect on us. It is also very nice to sleep in the yurt camp and stay in the mountain village of Hayat.

The guides were excellent and the drivers were all friendly and helpful. Everyone was right on time.

In short, a great trip to experience with my son. Thank you for all the good care.

Greetings, Anke

Anke van Dam from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on her 11-day trip with her son in Uzbekistan in May 2024

Hi Ardjan!

I have been meaning to email you I’m sorry. We’ve just finished up skiing in Georgia the last few days. The tour in Kazakhstan was incredible. Kostya and Nastya were so kind, well-prepared and knowledgeable hosts. The highlights for me were hiking in Aktau, camping in the canyon and also walking across the big dirt mounds (I can’t remember where but we went with Nastya and had to find our way across, ending in the big goat statue). I have very warm memories of these things.

I have a thousand photos and videos to sort through at some point. If there is anywhere I can leave a review for you please send me the links, I’d be very happy to give 5 stars everywhere.

Warm regards

Maddie

Madeleine Manning from Australia on her six day adventure from Almaty with a friend in March 2024

Dear Ardjan,

We would like to share our impressions of the trip.

UZBEKISTAN

• The flight & transfer were easy, a little more rest time between arrival and the first tour would have been nice.
• Hospitable people and open to tourists
• Uzbekistan has a lot of mosques, mausoleums & bazaars, perhaps indicating that it is very focused on history, it would be nice if there were also a completely different attraction or sight to see,
• Excellent guides & hotels
• Trains very nice

TURKMENISTAN

• The procedure at the border crossing was an experience, sometimes a bit unclear.
• BP was apparently a border crossing and not a gas station 😂.
• Nice experience, such a completely different, bizarre form of government.
• Hotel in Ashgabat clearly dated and a bit outside the center.
• Trip through desert to Darwaza was a real experience.
• Good company Owadan, good driver, they get nervous when tourists start doing something themselves, but you can hardly prevent that.
• on-site costs were not too bad…

It was a nice combinatie-on between the two countries, a very nice trip, many impressions were gained, the whole thing was very well organised, thanks for that.

Michael & Mick

Michael and Mick Walzberg on their 15-day tour in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in February 2024

Dear Ardjan,

Sorry for this late email, we are still enjoying our fantastic trip that we booked with you. The organization, your accessibility and adaptation to proposals or changes can be an example for many potential tour organizers.

There is nothing to criticize about our 16-day trip, the ‘Classic Tour of Uzbekistan’.
The hotels, guides and drivers were TOP.

One hotel is of course more luxurious than the other, one guide speaks better English than his colleague in another city, and the same goes for the drivers, but all this is not to the extent to complain about it, because we have we enjoyed ourselves incredibly in beautiful Uzbekistan!

The rich culture, the pleasant people, the delicious cuisine and the ever-changing landscapes throughout the country were an enrichment.

Glad that we always ate locally along the way (instead of the standard restaurants with tourist buses in front of the door) and were able to discover that side. Sitting at the low tables and enjoying a delicious Plov is an unforgettable experience.

We would once again like to express our sincere thanks to our regular driver during the trip ‘Ismail’…he is a SUPER Driver, and a lovely man…we had a lot of laughs along the way, so we would appreciate it if you could contact him again through your connections in the country. would like to say hello from us.

This email can of course be used on your site, because good advertising removes doubts from the many travel offers.

Choose this trip via Ardjan and fully enjoy beautiful Uzbekistan.

Personally, we would add Nukus (for museum lovers) and skip the day off in the Fergana valley, but that is of course a personal choice and one that you think you will change afterwards if you do that trip again.

Hopefully see you again, and thanks again for this beautiful memory,

Ronny and Christine

Ronny & Christine from Mertchtem, Belgium, on their 16-days tour in Uzbekistan in October 2023

Hi Ardjan,

We really enjoyed our trip through Uzbekistan! It is a beautiful country, with an interesting history and many sights.

The trip was excellently organized for us by you. Everything was right, cars, drivers, guides, hotels, Yurt camps, train and plane. The joining of the children also went well and above all smoothly. You have arranged all organizational matters excellently. Many thanks for this.

If you would like any substantive feedback, I would certainly be happy to do so.

Sincerely,

Maarten and Maria

Maarten en Maria Vermeulen from Dussen in The Netherlands on their 17-days tour in Uzbekistan in October 2023

Ardjan,

our 3 weeks in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan went smoothly. No problem at all, agreements always kept, accommodation OK wherever, interesting program…… A thank you is in order.  Regards, Satisfied Johan and Lies.

Johan Declercq from Gent, Belgium, on his three week tour in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for two persons in September 2023

We had a very nice trip.

As for the guidance (guide, driver), excellent people, who spoke good English and with whom you can have a good conversation about anything and everything.

As for the accommodations. The first accommodation in Almaty was by far the least. An old dated hotel, where we were unlucky to be without water for a day. The room was clean, but that was it. The mattresses were probably as old as the hotel. The breakfast, location and staff were excellent. For a next trip I would suggest choosing an alternative to this.

The other accommodations were good, friendly staff and we enjoyed everything.

It was a beautiful and varied trip, both in terms of nature and culture. Although Astana was a bit of a culture shock, we had to switch from the farmer to the modern world. But again an excellent guide who made everything right.

Gerrit van Dam from Hengelo in The Netherlands on his Highlights of Kazakhstan Tour for two persons in August 2023

We would like to let you know that we had a fantastic trip to Uzbekistan! Not only a fascinating country, but the organization was also top notch.

From the start, telephone contact and email exchange about our wishes and the final implementation and experience, a BIG compliment.

The people were waiting for us at all agreed locations, after the plane or train journey, to take us to the reserved hotel. Even prior to the various excursions, the guide and transport were punctually arranged, everything was perfect!

The different guides – each location brought a different guide – spoke good English and took all the time for questions and further explanation. They also took the time to tell us all about their own culture and customs. Each of the guides, as well as the drivers, were extremely friendly and personable; so worth a good review!

The scheduled free time was also very enjoyable and provided space to wander through the different cities on your own. In short, we have gained a wonderful experience and have nothing but praise for this wonderful trip.

Julia Ruijgrok and Marie-Sophie van Leeuwen from The Netherlands about their 10-day trip in Uzbekistan in September 2023

Hello Ardjan,

We have been back in the Netherlands for two days now, time to look back on this fantastic journey.

All credit to the organization (by you and the Uzbeks): we were neatly picked up everywhere with a sign “Anton & Antonius”, never had to wait a single minute for guides or drivers, the hotels were impeccable, the excursions very interesting ( albeit rather tiring for two not so very young people…)

But a few minor things: driver Ismail, who transported us for most of the week — very friendly, caring and helpful — barely spoke English.

Then Hotel Atlas in Bukhara: as I said: clean, great room and breakfast, nothing wrong with that. But when we asked on arrival to indicate the hotel on a map that we had been given, total panic broke out at the desk.

All in all “minor details”, but still. Use it to your advantage!

Many thanks again for a wonderful trip, and who knows see you next time. We will definitely recommend Central Asia Tours to friends and acquaintances!

Ton Stauttener & Ton Vogels from The Netherlands on their ten day trip in Uzbekistan in May 2023

Hi Ardjan,

finally found some time to write a short report.

Very honest ? We are quite discerning travelers and this was obviously not our 1st travel destination, but we absolutely loved it!!!! Everything was arranged down to the last detail and we never had a problem.

We were expected everywhere and received warmly. Even Anton was very eager to meet us on the 1st day of travel in Tashkent.

Arrival at the airport in TASHKENT was a breeze. No papers to fill out and no questions were even asked. Baggage was not even checked.

The border crossing to Tajikistan was also very pleasant (they knew all Belgian football players by name!) and almost all officials welcomed us with “Welcome to my country”.

All drivers were very professional and the cars very comfortable.

The guides were also great, we immediately had a good click and I especially liked the female guides. We could talk about just about any subject and they were clearly used to dealing with Europeans. Their English was also very OK.

Hotels : very nice hotels in Uzbekistan and in Dushanbe : all cozy hotels with personal service and delicious breakfasts, the location of the hotels couldn’t be better : always right in the (old) center of the cities. In KHIVA we even stayed in the suite!

Homestays in Tajikistan : our tour was adapted a bit by Umed (e.g. the first 2 nights we slept in the same homestay) : obviously more basic but very pleasant, pretty neat and above all very hospitable ! Especially our stay at base camp Artuch was very nice. We shared a cottage with bathroom, together with the young guide Nicky and laughed quite a bit. The Homestay on Lake Iskandarkul even had a room with a private bathroom and TV and we had dinner and breakfast outside right on the lake…unforgettable, see photo!! The hiking was also very good.

The only minus (to mention something): it is not a paradise for vegetarians. We were definitely not hungry, but they are not just vegetarians yet. We mainly ate a lot of “garnish” (potatoes, vegetables, rice, …)

And the bread ….. unfortunately often hard & stale, very understandable in the villages of course.

What made us ESPECIALLY very happy was the balance between free roaming and visiting on the one hand and guided visits on the other. We always arrived in Uzbekistan around 13-14h and then had plenty of time to walk around and get to know the destinations. The next day we got the explanation from a guide. We found those free moments and evenings very pleasant.

And last but not least: both countries allow you to drink a pint or a glass of wine in a restaurant/hotel.

Nancy & Les from Belgiium on their 18-day tour in Uzbekistan & Tajikistan in April-May 2023