u/dmd_of

EXPERIENCE

So much to say. These three countries are one of the most beautiful and safest countries that I ever visited in my life. Also, they still don’t have many tourists, so everything is raw, natural and affordable, without any potential travel scams.

Uzbekistan was the cheapest one, and people were unbelievable kind to us, especially when they notice you’re tourist, they put all their effort. Architecture is just amazing and old for centuries.

Traveling from Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan was quite experience, but so, so exhausting, because the bus took 18 hours to come from Tashkent to Bishkek. If we took plane, it would be less than 2 hours.
But anyway, if I would need to make decision again, I would take a bus again! It’s just something you barely can find in the world.

Kyrgyzstan nature is beautiful, and the food is the best. We took a horse ride through the mountains and it was just amazing.

Kazakhstan nature is even better, we took a 3 day tour where we visited canyons similar to Grand canyon, beautiful lakes, amazing forests and mountains, super clean rivers… and we slept with locals in the mountains. For $90, they cover travel expenses, food (3 meals) and accommodation for 3 days.

All expenses were $900 (flight tickets from Europe, accomodation, food etc.)

CONCLUSION

I recommend you to travel there while these countries are still not overwhelmed with the tourists. They have so much potential that is just matter of time when tourists are start coming there in big numbers.

Photos:

1. Almaty, Kazakhstan
2. Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan
3. Kolsay Lake, Kazakhstan
4. Sharyn Canyon, Kazakhstan
5. Sharyn Canyon, Kazakhstan
6. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
7. Ala Archa, Kyrgyzstan
8. Chong Kemin, Kyrgyzstan
9. Tashkent, Uzbekistan
10. Samarkand, Uzbekistan
11. Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Some of you gave me tips here before we came, so here's the follow up. Two weeks based in Almaty, first time in Kazakhstan. We expected something grey and half empty and got the exact opposite.

Kolsai and Kaindy were the highlight of the trip. Charyn Canyon was right up there too, even if the heat down in the canyon was rough.

And then the Green Bazaar. We went in for a look and kept coming back for the fruit and veg. The tomatoes are better than anything we get at home. Didn't expect the produce to be the thing I'd miss most about this country.

Photos are from the last two weeks.

We're coming back, that's not a polite line. Next trip is either Mangystau or Katon-Karagay in the east, which one would you do first?