The 5 Stans in 3 short weeks
I just completed my nearly 3 weeks touring the 5 Stans. Steven was an excellent tour operator and all his local guides were very competent. Steven did not personally accompany us, but he was always available to answer questions and give immediate advice. We saw so much in our time. It was a whirlwind because we covered a lot of fascinating sites in our time. The hotels were excellent. I had already been to 2 of the Stans before, in 2019, but this trip was far better. It is indescribable how different they all are, and I wouldn't have skipped any of them. One has to realize the Silk Road is no longer, but the ruins and grandeur of the past still linger in small pockets. The mountains and lakes we saw were icing on the cake. Food was interesting and a mix of Russian, Asian, and all tasty (except the horsemeat), especially all the fresh salads, plov, and dried fruits and nuts in all the bazaars. Crossing land borders provided a new layer of adventure, especially getting into Turkmenistan. Flexibility was the word of the day, as we spent 5 hours at the border because there were lots of people crossing, getting their required visas. Steven made sure we understood we had to have $105 newish US dollars for the visa, when other tour agencies did not tell their clients that. 3 had to borrow from us Americans because they had no US money. I would highly recommend Asian Odyssey, and my 4 other traveling companions agree. I highly recommend and if it gives any credence to my appraisal, Tajikistan was my 145th independent country, so I understand travel well. Thank you, Steven, for all your detail oriented work. Karin