Tour Caucasus & 5 Stans Group Overland Tour

Accommodation

You will spend 50% of the time on this expedition camping in your tent and 50% of the time staying in local hotels, guest houses & hostels. When we are camping quite often we will wild camp by ourselves out in the bush or in the desert and other times we will use designated campsites with amenities. The majority of our wild camp locations are usually very scenic and we always strive to find the perfect spot on the banks of a river, overlooking a canyon, behind a dune in the desert, etc. but sometimes we just have to camp wherever we can find a spot. From past experience on expeditions of this length and nature we have found that people prefer to supply their own tents as they are then not forced to share and they can pick a tent that suits their needs. As a general rule, try and choose a good quality lightweight and waterproof free-standing tent that is easy to erect, take down and carry. When we are not camping (usually in cities) we always try to use decent, clean budget hotels, guest houses and hostels, however, taking into consideration the sometimes unpredictable nature of this expedition and the remoteness of some of the areas we visit, please be aware that in some circumstances we just have to take what we can get – good or bad. When staying in hotels, guest houses & hostels you can expect to share your room with other expedition members of both sexes. In many of the places we stay there are upgrade options available so should you prefer not to camp or you just want some time alone you can often rent yourself a private room at your own expense.

Guide

A driver/guide is provided on this tour.

Others

Services of your expedition leader/driver Use of our own custom-built expedition vehicle and equipment Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to the vehicle Ferry tickets (when travelling as a group) An average of 2 meals a day while camping (usually breakfast and the evening meal) An average of 1 meal per day when staying in hotels (usually breakfast) All accommodation costs (approx. 50% camping, 50% hotels, guest-houses & hostels) National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicle Local transportation costs (if required)

Transport

We will be travelling in a purpose-built Madventure overland vehicle 100% of the time on this expedition. A standard bus simply wouldn’t be able to tackle many of the roads we travel on. The overland vehicle we use is a custom-built expedition truck which can accommodate up to 36 people although most of our expeditions travel with approximately 25 people. Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery. Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your all your gear safe. Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to. There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pickaxes are also on board. We usually carry 500 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots, pans, utensils, gas cooker, BBQ grate, etc. for when we prepare meals on the truck. All our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast, lunch & dinner food only for when we are preparing meals on the truck. For personal food & drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use. Fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days. Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet & head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the hotels we stay at. We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we recommend you bring your own for general use.

Meals

Eating well is a very important factor on our expeditions and good food is vital for everyone’s health and well-being. When we are camping we usually eat breakfast and the evening meal from the truck. For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare. Occasionally we may prepare lunch on the truck when we are in remote areas. When staying in hotels, guest houses & hostels (usually in cities) we always strive to provide you with one healthy, wholesome and plentiful meal every day, usually breakfast at the hotel. Lunches and evening meals are at your own expense when we stay in hotels. Local food is generally very cheap so if you are on a budget then eat what the locals eat. Western restaurants tend to be more expensive. When it comes to shopping and cooking while camping we will divide ourselves up into groups of 3 or 4 people (depending on group size) who will shop for and prepare the day’s meals and clean up at the end. This will work out that you roughly get to cook once every 10 days (depending on numbers). Fresh food is generally available daily so when we are camping we try and eat meat and vegetables for every main evening meal. We do also cater for vegetarians but we cannot cater for fussiness. In these group situations everybody must appreciate we cannot cater for individual likes and dislikes. Don’t worry if you are not a gourmet cook as your crew are also always there to give advice. All our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast, lunch & dinner food only for when we are preparing meals on the truck. For personal food & drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use. Cleanliness plays an important role throughout this expedition and your crew will make sure an acceptable level of general hygiene is maintained throughout your journey to ensure the wellbeing of the group.

Not included:

Insurance

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour. You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first. There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for a comprehensive reliable policy that includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, Telephone: +44 20 7938 1734, https://microsite.campbellirvinedirect.com/madventure/. They are familiar with what we do so if you mention Madventure and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you. For people based in North America a company called Allianz offers good cover – Telephone: +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.com If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and make sure your policy includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation.

Flights

No flights included or expected during this tour.

Optional

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Madventure so please use the list below as an approximate guide only. Georgia Sataplia National park £2 Bagrati Cathedral, Kutaisi Free Vardzia cave Monastery complex £1 Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi Free Ananuri Fortress Free Kazbegi day hike Free Armenia Genocide Museum, Yerevan Free Erebuni Fortress & Museum, Yerevan £2 Cascade Museum, Yerevan Free Khor Virap Monastery, Mt. Ararat Free Haghpat Monastery, Debed Canyon £2 Azerbaijan Sheki Caravanserai Free Khan’s Palace, Sheki £2 Palace of the Shiranshas, Baku £2 Carpet museum, Baku £3 Gobustan petroglyphs, Caspian Sea £3 Mud volcanoes, Caspian Sea Free Turkmenistan Saparmurat Hajji Mosque, Ashgabat Free Hike to Darvaza Gas Crater Free Jeep to Darvaza Gas Crater £10 Konye Urgench ruins £5 Uzbekistan Khiva highlights pass £12 Bukhara walking tour Free Registan, Samarkand £7 Tajikistan Hike round lake Iskander Kul Free Pamir Highway Free Kyrgyzstan Yurt stay, Lake Song Kol Free Horse riding (per hour), Lake Song Kol £3 Jeti Oghuz hike Free Kazakhstan Tamgaly petroglyphs £10 Cable Car, Almaty £3

Others

Personal travel insurance Personal spending money (£120 – £150 per week recommended) Visas & Letters of Invitation (approximately £500 depending on nationality) Lunches & evening meals when in hotels Lunches when camping Accommodation upgrades Entrance fees to optional sites and parks Any optional activities Any flights (no flights expected) Tent, roll mat, sleeping bag & pillow

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Day 1 Day 1-13: Georgia & Armenia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1-13: Georgia & Armenia

This tour begins in Kutaisi, Georgia’s second city and one of the world’s most ancient. Here you can explore the Bagrati Cathedral, the History Museum and the Old Jewish district.

Close by and well worth a few hours is Sataplia Nature Reserve, home to magnificent caves and the world’s largest collection of dinosaur tracks.

Vardzia is a beautiful cliff-side cave monastery site that we visit for a step back in time and a delicious trout lunch next to the river.

We now head for Armenia and their capital city Yerevan where you have a couple of days to explore the museums, churches, markets and restaurants that make Armenia such a delight.

On our journey towards the mountains dotted with ancient caravanserais we visit the monastery of Khor Virap with it’s wonderful location beneath Mt. Ararat before heading to the turquoise waters of Lake Sevan where we wild-camp on the lakeshore.

Winding our way north through the breathtaking Debed Gorge our last stop in Armenia is at the fabulously located Haghpat Monastery.

Back in Georgia we arrive at Tbilisi, the beating heart of the country where we have a day or two to wander the cobbled streets of the old town, visit the numerous historical churches, museums and fortresses and of course indulge in fine Georgian cuisine.

A trip to Georgia would not be complete without a trip up the Military Highway to the beautifully located town of Kazbegi situated within a stunning mountain range close to the Russian border. Hiking is the most popular activity here and the hour long trek up to the spectacular monastery is well worth the effort as too is the overnight trek to the glacier.
Day 2 Day 14-18: Azerbaijan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14-18: Azerbaijan

Our first stop is at Sheki, a lovely town nestled into a beautifully forested valley. The town was an important stop on the ancient Silk Route and is also home to the beautiful Khan Palace and a wonderful old caravanserai.

On the shores of the Caspian Sea, one of the world’s largest bodies of fresh-water, we visit bizarre mud volcanoes and the ancient Gobustan petroglyphs.

The cosmopolitan capital of Baku is an oil rich city and exploring the city’s old town filled with mosques, museums, galleries and palaces is a great day out.

From Baku we now take a ferry across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan. Please note that this ferry has no schedule so we can not fix dates for this journey, the ferry arrives when it arrives, usually every 3 or 4 days, so we may end up departing Baku earlier or later than originally planned.
Day 3 Day 19-24: Turkmenistan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 19-24: Turkmenistan

From the port of Turkmenbashi we head east and spend our first night at Kow Ata where you can bathe in the warm waters of an underground lake.

Close by and worth a visit is Geok-Depe, site of the Turkmen’s last stand against the Russians, and today home to the futuristic Saparmurat Hajji Mosque which also contains the mausoleum of the eccentric ex-president Niyazov.

We continue to the capital city Ashgabat where it seems the current president is using the country’s wealth to build an entire city out of white marble – you have to see it to believe it! Bring your sunglasses as exploring the city’s monuments and palaces is a brilliant experience.

Heading north into the blistering heat of the Karakum (black sand) desert we camp in the dunes and have the opportunity to take a 2 hour walk to the unusual Darvaza Gas Craters. More commonly referred to as the ‘Gates of Hell’ this burning crater makes for a surreal desert experience and is best viewed at night.

Leaving the harsh desert behind our last stop is at Konye-Urgench, beautiful ancient ruins that were once the centre of the Islamic world.
Day 4 Day 25-33: Uzbekistan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 25-33: Uzbekistan

The perfectly preserved world heritage town of Khiva is our first stop here where we have time to explore the blue-tiled Mosques, ancient mausoleums, glorious palaces, sky-high minarets and thriving bazaars that make this town a firm favourite.

We continue to Bukhara, Central Asia’s holiest city where it is possible to get a glimpse into the past by viewing the architectural preserve of the royal fortress and vast market complex.

Our journey now takes us through the Kyzylkum (red sand) desert where we have a chance of spotting the Uzbek nomads before arriving at the Silk Route city of Samarkand. This city of domes and minarets has some fantastic attractions including the beautiful Registan, Guri Amir Mausoleum and Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
Day 5 Day 34-42: Tajikistan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 34-42: Tajikistan

Our first couple of days in this mountainous country are spent at the beautiful lake Iskandar Kul where you have the chance to enjoy some of Central Asia’s most beautiful scenery.

With a cool backdrop of mountains, lazy tree-lined avenues and pastel-hued neoclassical buildings, we move on to Dushanbe, Central Asia’s best-looking capital.

Our journey east now takes us to an area that has been off-limits to travellers until recently – the Pamir Highway. Regarded as one of the world’s most scenic drives we now wind our way along this extremely remote high-altitude road and take in the mountain scenery of a region populated by yurts and yaks and studded with deep-blue lakes. This is wild-camping at its best!
Day 6 Day 43-53: Kyrgyzstan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 43-53: Kyrgyzstan

This is a land of magnificent mountains and ice-blue lakes and we spend our first couple of days making our way through fantastic scenery and camping in the valleys.

A winding dirt track takes us up to the alpine lake Song-Kol where we get our first experience of staying in a yurt with a nomadic tribe who set up camp here every summer on the green pastures surrounding the lake. Horse riding, hiking and fishing are popular activities in this remote area.

We now head for the beautiful lake Issyk-Kol, the world’s second largest alpine lake. Working our way around the lake we spend a couple of days at Jeti Oguz where you have the option of trekking into the lush surrounding mountains to explore the area’s natural beauty.

Bizarre Bishkek is the capital where you can sing Karaoke at a street stall, beat yourself with a birch branch at the local baths and do vodka shots at the expats bar.
Day 7 Day 54-56: Kazakhstan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 54-56: Kazakhstan

Our first day here is spent visiting bronze-age petroglyphs in a lushly vegetated canyon at Tamgaly.

Our tour ends in Almaty, a modern city with great museums and wonderful restaurants but should you wish to escape the rat-race then take the popular cable-car up to the top of a nearby hill for a fantastic view over the region, a fitting farewell to Central Asia.

56 days tour

Caucasus & 5 Stans Group Overland Tour

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip Caucasus & 5 Stans Group Overland Tour

Day 1-13: Georgia & Armenia

Day 14-18: Azerbaijan

Day 19-24: Turkmenistan

Day 25-33: Uzbekistan

Day 34-42: Tajikistan

Day 43-53: Kyrgyzstan

Day 54-56: Kazakhstan

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