Uzbekistan and the Caucasus

Travel in Central Asia

We consider this program to be moderately strenuous due to the countries’ weak infrastructures outside of the capital cities. These countries’ tourism industries are developing, thus patience with local service standards will greatly improve one’s enjoyment of the trip. We expect that participants will be a self-selecting group whose interest in the places we visit far outweighs the need for creature comforts. 

Anyone of Armenian descent or with an Armenian surname may be denied a visa by the government of Azerbaijan; please call our office for more details.

Getting around

Some days require early-morning starts or late evenings. Our journey at times requires several hours of travel by motor coach, the longest drive being up to 8 hours (including comfort stops). Due to poor road repair and some unpaved rural roads, travel may be slow at times. The schedule for internal flights is not yet available; therefore, the exact timing of our itinerary is subject to change.

Activity level

Daily excursions involve 1 to 3 miles of walking on city streets, which are, in some cases, uneven or cobbled. Some of the walking takes place at ancient sites, where paths can be rocky and uneven and where stairs may be a necessary part of the tour, which can be steep and may not have handrails. Elevators at museums are limited. 

Luggage will need to be handled by individual travelers at airport customs, check-in and baggage claim points, and at the land border crossing between Georgia and Armenia, where there are no porters. This means participants must be prepared to walk up to 100 yards with luggage over paved (though occasionally roughly paved) ground.

Medical treatment and care are not always available or up to U.S. standards.