The 5-Stans
Stretching east from the Caspian Sea to Mongolia and extending from Iran to Russia, Central Asia is made up of former Soviet Republics known as the Five-Stans; Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Each country offers a unique perspective of the region with varying landscapes from vast mountain ranges to seemingly never-ending grasslands and deserts. Lined with deep history as part of the ancient silk road, visitors can soak in the culture through its welcoming locals, historic architecture, and unique culinary flavors.
Be in the know before you go
Entry Requirements
Uzbekistan
Citizens of the United States will need to obtain an e-visa before departure for Uzbekistan. Your passport will need to be valid for at least six months beyond your intended date of departure from Uzbekistan.
Be careful not to bring any sleeping pills or painkillers into Uzbekistan as they are illegal, and customs officials are on the look-out for medications such as codeine, Valium, Xanax, and Temazepam. All medicines should be in their original packaging.
Turkmenistan
All foreigners need visas to enter Turkmenistan. A tourist visa is arranged based on a Letter of Invitation arranged by a local travel agency (LOI/visa support – prior approval of State Migration Service of Turkmenistan is required). The LOI authorization at Migration Service takes about 3 weeks from the application day as an average (subject to change, sometimes the LOI can be ready a little earlier or issued later than expected). To avoid any delays with the LOI and visa procedure, it is recommended to submit the docs for the LOI not later than 1 month before a tourist’s arrival day to Turkmenistan. The earliest when we can submit the docs to Migration Service to get the LOI is three months before a tourist’s departure date from Turkmenistan.
Tajikistan
All foreign citizens (EU & US, Australia, Canada) need to apply for an e-visa before entering the country.
Kazakhstan
Under usual circumstances, all US, Canadian, and EU/UK citizens are allowed to enter Kazakhstan with a visa-free regime. Due to COVID-19, a visa is required until further notice (US, Canada, UK, and EU).
Kyrgyzstan
All US, Canadian, and EU/UK citizens are allowed to enter Kyrgyzstan with VISA FREE regime and stay in the territory for 60 days.
Health and Wellness
Uzbekistan
No vaccinations are legally required in order to enter Uzbekistan. Doctors recommend all travelers are current with immunizations against hepatitis A, typhoid, and tetanus, and some travelers should consider hepatitis B and rabies. Please visit the CDC website for more information.
Turkmenistan
Please refer to the CDC website for up-to-date information on recommended and required vaccinations and general health travel tips for Turkmenistan, please refer to the CDC website. Please consult with your physician for clarification or concerns regarding recommended or required vaccinations.
Please advise us of any dietary restrictions or medical conditions that may affect your touring or any other special requests in general at this time in writing so that we may make the appropriate arrangements.
Tajikistan
Please refer to the CDC website for up-to-date information on recommended and required vaccinations and general health travel tips for Tajikistan, please refer to the CDC website. Please consult with your physician for clarification or concerns regarding recommended or required vaccinations.
Kazakhstan
Please refer to the CDC website for up-to-date information on recommended and required vaccinations and general health travel tips for Kazakhstan, please refer to the CDC website. Please consult with your physician for clarification or concerns regarding recommended or required vaccinations.
Kyrgyzstan
Please refer to the CDC website for up-to-date information on recommended and required vaccinations and general health travel tips for Kyrgyzstan, please refer to the CDC website. Please consult with your physician for clarification or concerns regarding recommended or required vaccinations.