My Journey across 5 States: 19 days that changed me

Kazakhstan: where everything began

I arrived in Alma-Ata early in the morning. First thought: how quiet and green it is here! After check-in we went on a sightseeing excursion. Panfilov Park, wooden Zenkov Cathedral, and Central Museum – everything is very soulful. But most of all, I remembered Green Bazaar, where I first tried local homemade cheeses and bought some aromatic spices.

On the second day, we explored Kazakhstan natural gems: there was the Bolshoi Almaty Canyon and Medeo resort – where the air is so clean that it seems you are breathing for the first time in your life. The view from the canyon was like a postcard: mountain peaks, fog. I stood and didn’t believe that it was real.

What concerns the gastronomic experience here I tried beshbarmak which is hearty made with tender meat and wide pieces of dough and it really felt like a traditional family meal and I also loved kuyrdak which is fried meat with onions rich in flavor and perfect after a long day and every meal was served with fresh flatbread and ayran – a local fermented drink.

Kyrgyzstan: mountains, lakes

The next day our travel to Kyrgyzstan started. We passed the customs and headed to Bishkek. That was a nice 3-hour trip passing by beautiful natural areas.

The next day my dream came true: we drove to the legendary lake Issyk-Kul. This is an incredible place, where the water is reflected in shades of blue, like space. We visited local family who treated us to national buttermilk, we listened their interesting stories about nomads and laughed to tears.

Uzbekistan: pearls of the Great Silk Road

Uzbekistan became a real cultural and historical find. The first day of our arrival we had a rest and the next day was devoted to the exploration of Tashkent. It amazed with its contrast: ancient madrasas are mixed with modern squares. We explored its architectural masterpieces, visited the Museum of Applied Art and tasted national dishes.

The next day I plunged into a real oriental fairy tale as we visited Samarkand. It is a historical city on the Great Silk Road, a prominent trading hub in the past.

Bukhara was also my delight: narrow streets, minarets, ancient caravanserais, magical stories from our guide – I fell in love with this city.

Uzbekistan was a dream for food lovers because I finally tasted real Uzbek pilaf with spices and tender meat and it was unforgettable and samsa straight from the tandoor was hot flaky and full of flavor and fresh non bread was served with almost every meal and somehow it tasted better than any bread I had before.

Tajikistan – lakes and ancient ruins

After Samarkand we went to Panjakend located in Tajikistan. It is an old city with a history of many thousands of years, and then to the Seven Lakes – the water there is so clear and turquoise that you want to jump in and stay there forever.

Turkmenistan – white city and desert flames

Turkmenistan was our next destination. It differed a lot from the countries we had visited before. It seemed more isolated and unexplored. We reached Mary city by passing world-known Karakum Desert which is the hottest one in Central Asia.

Ashgabat was vast, empty with white marble buildings, huge fountains, unusual monuments – everything is like from a movie about the future.

We visited Darvaza – a stunning natural phenomenon. We spent the evening next to this burning gas crater in tents, listening to the crackling of the fire and feeling the heat of the desert – an impression that cannot be conveyed in words.

Final Thoughts

I met amazingly kind and hospitable people in all countries. The welcomed us in their houses, treated us to homemade camel milk, and in the evening we listened to local songs by the fire.

Food! Kazakh beshbarmak, Uzbek pilaf, samsa and the sweetest buns – I ate, tried, smiled and even tried to learn local recipes (it didn’t work yet, but I tried!).

This tour gave me not just a list of cities and attractions – it gave me emotions, roads, smells of bazaars, starry nights in the mountains and the flame of Darvaza, which will forever remain in my heart. All of this wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the Arara tour. I am sincerely impressed and I can confidently say that I have never had such memorable days.